Best 280mm AIO Liquid CPU Coolers - 10 Coolers Tested, 1 Winner Chosen

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  • čas přidán 1. 08. 2024
  • Recommended 280mm AIO Liquid CPU Coolers
    Best 280mm AIO Liquid Cooler: amzn.to/45toMxG
    Best Budget 280mm AIO Liquid Cooler: amzn.to/3KGcGt9
    All coolers in this video
    NZXT Kraken X63: amzn.to/3QOaQdH
    ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280: amzn.to/3OZEECt
    Corsair iCUE H115i RGB Pro XT: amzn.to/44eB23S
    DeepCool Castle 280EX: amzn.to/3qsfP97
    Fractal Design Celsius+ S28 Dynamic: amzn.to/3YLob8n
    EVGA CLC 280: amzn.to/3OZdL1w
    Cryorig A80: amzn.to/44dUH43
    Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora 280: amzn.to/44dcyZ1
    Thermaltake Floe DX RGB 280 TT Premium Edition: amzn.to/44ggwzU
    Gigabyte AORUS Liquid Cooler 280: amzn.to/3P0XgSK
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases made with product links.
    Timestamps
    Introduction 0:00
    Performance 1:19
    High-heat Performance 3:47
    Compatibility 4:46
    Appearance 6:44
    Installation & Software 8:37
    Price 11:05
    Warranty 11:58
    Conclusion 12:17
    If you liked this video, be sure to give it a thumbs up, leave a comment, and hit subscribe to see more computer part reviews coming soon. If you really want to help out, hit the share button to share this video with others on places like Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, forums, and other social media. Your support is greatly appreciated.
  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 101

  • @zcoop98
    @zcoop98 Před rokem +50

    Hardware Scientist returns! 🥳
    Always appreciate how detailed and data-driven your approach is. I semi-recently ended up with an AIO that wasn’t in the running here, but this video provides an excellent means of comparison, and does an awesome job breaking down each piece of what makes a good AIO. Awesome review, very well done! 👍

  • @JosephAraya
    @JosephAraya Před rokem +7

    Happy to see you back testing hardware! Thanks for all your work!

  • @Sirslicey
    @Sirslicey Před rokem +9

    Glad to see you back. I personally love and use the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360mm A-RGB. Couldn't have been happier, except perhaps with a 420mm model, however the 360mm model is truly more than adequate enough for an undervolted AMD R7 5800X.

  • @user-mz4ij5so8f
    @user-mz4ij5so8f Před rokem +2

    YES! I have been waiting for your new test video for over two years! Last time I was still a undergraduate student. Can't wait for other new videos.

  • @cnk191
    @cnk191 Před rokem +23

    King is back 👑

  • @hughw.
    @hughw. Před rokem +4

    Mr. Hardware Scientist. I wanted to say I appreciate the work you put into this video. Cooling, sound, aesthetics, assembly, US Dollar, warranty. By the way, I bought the 280 Liquid Freezer ii.💥👍

  • @wadadli4sun
    @wadadli4sun Před rokem +6

    Good to see you back 👍🏼

  • @PapaMav
    @PapaMav Před rokem +1

    Happy to see you back !

  • @EmmaHopman
    @EmmaHopman Před rokem +2

    Glad to see you back

  • @stevenmora1555
    @stevenmora1555 Před rokem +2

    nice to see you back, nice review, pura vida!!!

  • @MasteJonjon1
    @MasteJonjon1 Před rokem +1

    Great video! The graph in the beginning of the video was the best part. I want this for every cooler out there!:D

  • @groverm5045
    @groverm5045 Před rokem +1

    I got late, but it's great to see you back!
    After 2 of the craziest years in recent times, it's good to know you're alive and well. Your videos were always top-quality.

  • @mika4759
    @mika4759 Před rokem +1

    No way... Glad to see you back!

  • @-aleeke-2526
    @-aleeke-2526 Před rokem +2

    Nice to see you back :)

  • @Alexandra-Rex
    @Alexandra-Rex Před rokem +4

    A really great video as per usual. Great job!

  • @platinumstar2722
    @platinumstar2722 Před rokem +2

    Finaly the Legend back
    as always great video

  • @MrBurninglegs
    @MrBurninglegs Před rokem +2

    Love your videos man, Great content. And insightful!

  • @fpsnot60
    @fpsnot60 Před rokem +1

    Yesss you are back!

  • @unitcharles689
    @unitcharles689 Před rokem +1

    You're backkkkk!!!! Yoooo dude! Keep making videos so you can get sent products to test!

  • @heavymetalmixer91
    @heavymetalmixer91 Před rokem +2

    Glad to see you're back in bussiness.

  • @CopR8r
    @CopR8r Před rokem

    the goat of the hardware stuff ! i love your work

  • @robertomendez7212
    @robertomendez7212 Před rokem +1

    Thanks! Great information as always.

  • @rlifeh
    @rlifeh Před rokem +6

    The legend is back!

  • @fuss8116
    @fuss8116 Před rokem +2

    Finally Back....nice 🌻☀️

  • @curtfont
    @curtfont Před rokem +1

    Thank you! very well detailed 👍

  • @RagTagRecycling9988
    @RagTagRecycling9988 Před rokem +2

    Welcome back!

  • @johnpaulbacon8320
    @johnpaulbacon8320 Před rokem +1

    Thanks for this very well done and informative video.

  • @enthusiasticgmgaming4165

    Yes!!! Hardware Scientist is back baby!!! 🥳

  • @bencanty980
    @bencanty980 Před rokem +2

    Great review!! I HOPE and trust you'll get a patreon page set up, so we can help keep the reviews rolling!

  • @gmaxsfoodfitness3035
    @gmaxsfoodfitness3035 Před rokem +3

    Great review as usual. Been waiting for a new video from you for a while so glad to see you still around and in good health.🙂
    Edit: It'd be cool if you could test 360mm AIOs when you get a chance. New CPUs are being released over the next few weeks and they have a higher wattage than the current gen so the 360mm size will be even more likely to be used on Zen 4 and Raptor Lake chips. Anyway thanks for what you do. You are appreciated in the community.✌

  • @RichSmithify
    @RichSmithify Před rokem +2

    Very interesting video. I just selected and installed a new liquid cooler and your criteria for eliminating some of the contestants ran quite differently from my own. I eliminated the Arctic because the water block just looks ugly as hell to me and the orientation of the hoses limits your options for routing. The Kraken was eliminated as a candidate because the CAM software has a pretty bad reputation and I don't want hardware that requires a internet login to work. I went with the Corsair because it has solid performance and I liked the aesthetics. I do concur that the hoses need to be a little longer and I also found the installation instructions messy and confusing. But, I'm pretty good at figuring shit out so the sloppy instructions didn't deter me any.

  • @zhouanson3275
    @zhouanson3275 Před rokem +2

    thank you for your video, I just about want to upgrade my 240mm AIO liquid cooler to a 280mm cooler, and very confused about which brank I should choose.

  • @Bryan-T
    @Bryan-T Před rokem +2

    another excellent video.

  • @myhalil2131
    @myhalil2131 Před rokem +3

    where have you been man. glad to see you. can you share with us ? what happened ?

  • @FeelMyBirdie
    @FeelMyBirdie Před rokem +1

    Will the x63 fit in my corsair 4000d? Also got the vengance rgb ram so idk if theres clesrance issues

  • @Alexandra-Rex
    @Alexandra-Rex Před rokem +11

    Prediction: Arctic.

    • @Alexandra-Rex
      @Alexandra-Rex Před rokem +3

      Not surprised. Unless you really run your fans fast, there is no reason to for anything else. Put your fans to their max speed, and run tests, then see how slow you can run the fans before it affects the results (run your GPU at the same time unless you don't play games). And then you find the speed you can run the fans at all the time. Should something happen where you need more speed, it will be turn up by the motherboard.

    • @TakeTheRiskYT
      @TakeTheRiskYT Před 6 měsíci

      ⁠​⁠@@Alexandra-Rexwhen you say before it affects the results, do you mean cpu temp wise?

    • @Alexandra-Rex
      @Alexandra-Rex Před 6 měsíci

      @@TakeTheRiskYT Yeah. I check performance while lowering fsn speed. When it's too low and the CPU gets too hot to maintain performance, I turn up the fan speed a bit.

  • @Jerome-iwnl
    @Jerome-iwnl Před rokem +3

    I hate how the liquid freezer looks but i love that it has a vrm fan, that its priced cheaper than the others, and the fans are some of the best 140mm fans out there, especially the argb version (performs better per db of noise)

  • @yalndemirci5705
    @yalndemirci5705 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I have Lian li Lancool 216 with Msi B650 CARBON Wifi motherboard.Will Arctic 280 fit in these case?

  • @adverfolder6841
    @adverfolder6841 Před rokem +2

    Happy you're back! Love your no-fluff fact-based assessments and scientific measurements!

  • @MattGixxer
    @MattGixxer Před 8 měsíci +1

    Could the NZXT tame my 14900k? Can't fit a 360mm aio in my case.

  • @sieurpc
    @sieurpc Před rokem +2

    Welcome Back

  • @Bushwacked487
    @Bushwacked487 Před rokem +2

    He’s aliiive!

  • @marlonmangubat4146
    @marlonmangubat4146 Před rokem +1

    Hi. I think you may have been out of action for a while now. I would appreciate a air cooler version of your latest review, specifically the AK620, since there are many air coolers out there right now that are quite affordable but performs as well, if not better than other high quality air coolers like noctua.

  • @VincentAndre_HK
    @VincentAndre_HK Před rokem +5

    Thanks for the recommendation on our Liquid Freezer II. There is as well an A-RGB version that looks different, less minimalistic and a tad more expensive but with same performance.

  • @markpelayo
    @markpelayo Před rokem +1

    Can you please do 420mm cooler test as well?

  • @brunofrancis6188
    @brunofrancis6188 Před rokem +2

    I will get CLC 280 and slap some arctic fans on it. Should lower both dBA and °C. LF II 280 is just too "tall" for top mounting. I guess that one was made for big cases not mid towers.

  • @DennyPhantom
    @DennyPhantom Před rokem +2

    Oh shi this guy alive

  • @asmongoldsmouth9839
    @asmongoldsmouth9839 Před 6 měsíci +2

    *48°C vs 51.85°C for 185 watt draw is not a huge gap.(roughly 4°C). So, eleiminating the bottom half does seem right when the gap is that tiny. The Deep Cool Castle 280EX should've stayed IN the list.*
    *Remember, only 20-ish percent of users want a whisper quiet machine when putting their CPU under 100% load. Most of us EXPECT the fans to ramp up and be loud when we are doing heavy demand tasks.*

  • @wdunn06
    @wdunn06 Před rokem +1

    Great video sir. Whats your next video?

  • @headerahelix
    @headerahelix Před rokem

    Where did you go?

  • @kenshi4319
    @kenshi4319 Před rokem +2

    What about a phanteks+glacier+one+280mm?

  • @a.m.7307
    @a.m.7307 Před rokem +1

    thnx

  • @Oz-gv5fz
    @Oz-gv5fz Před rokem +6

    Arctic

  • @hughw.
    @hughw. Před rokem +1

    He's back! COVID did not get him! Right on! Keep up the great work Hardware Scientist! We missed you!👍🏆

    • @PapaMav
      @PapaMav Před rokem +1

      @Hugh-no more Mike's Unboxing for you??

    • @hughw.
      @hughw. Před rokem

      @@PapaMav Mike's unboxing is a great channel. I haven't been spending much time in computer tech..was losing quite a bit of money on it. Still interested in computer tech though. I've just been spending more time in finance, investing and trading channels on you tube. I just happen to get a notification from Hardware Scientist after such a long time, I worried something happen to him during COVID...was happy to see him back. His channel helped me choose a cooler for one of my PC's. 👍 I'll tune into Mike's Unboxing sometime as well and be sure to upvote Mike and his wife.👍

    • @PapaMav
      @PapaMav Před rokem +1

      @@hughw. mining?

    • @hughw.
      @hughw. Před rokem

      @@PapaMav i never mined before. I buy crypto every now and then and hold. Mostly I deal with stocks.

    • @PapaMav
      @PapaMav Před rokem +1

      @@hughw. yea, TBH, never understood why anyone would involve themselves in Crypto, not cool.

  • @MikeBob2023
    @MikeBob2023 Před rokem +1

    Thank you for doing this comparison! I didn't peek, but I was betting on the Arctic Liquid Freezer II from the beginning. I have a question though: Do you think I can mount the pump end of the ALF II to a mini-ITX motherboard (specifically the ASRock H670M-ITX/AX)? Please let me know what you think, and thanks again! 👍

    • @HardwareScientist
      @HardwareScientist  Před rokem +1

      Usually it will fit fine on mini-ITX motherboards, but I would contact Arctic or ASRock support to be sure.

    • @MikeBob2023
      @MikeBob2023 Před rokem

      @@HardwareScientist Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately though, I discovered that the Liquid Freezer II can't be properly installed on on the ASRock H670M-ITX/ax, because the ends of the mounting bracket (past the holes used for LGA 1700 mounting) obstruct the CPU fan header and attaching the board's M.2 heat sink.

    • @MikeBob2023
      @MikeBob2023 Před rokem

      P/S I also found a list of motherboards on Arctic's Support site which they acknowledge have 'clearance issues' with Liquid Freezer II installation. The H670M-ITX/ax wasn't on that list, but ASRock's B660 and H610 variants (both M-ITX boards) were at the top of the list.

  • @bimbocrammmm
    @bimbocrammmm Před rokem +4

    Now that I've actually used an AIO in a build, something else that might matter is the angle the tubes attach to the rad and the pump/block, or whether it's rigid or flexible. Also, same criticism as I give to GN for CPU coolers, you're not reviewing the cooler, you're reviewing the cooler with the preinstalled fans. I cannot be the only person who thinks that testing all the coolers with the same fans would be a valuable metric. In an AIO it's about the only thing you can change as the average consumer ...

  • @tomdurchholz991
    @tomdurchholz991 Před rokem +1

    here we go again

  • @ph7neutral
    @ph7neutral Před rokem +2

    👍👍👍

  • @andrewvirtue5048
    @andrewvirtue5048 Před 10 měsíci +1

    Bruh the Arctic Liquid Freezer II comes with a *_FORTY-FIVE_* centimeter tube! Most only come with 40cm tubes.

  • @johnbowser2612
    @johnbowser2612 Před 6 měsíci +1

    NO EK?

  • @jettangeles2707
    @jettangeles2707 Před 4 měsíci +1

    i'm still using h110i from all those years ago 😂

  • @mr_cramberry
    @mr_cramberry Před měsícem +1

    Thanks for your no nonsense empirical testing out there compared to the bs clickbait CZcamsrs

  • @THE3GAME3R
    @THE3GAME3R Před rokem +4

    Let’s go

  • @Kizzster
    @Kizzster Před rokem +1

    any idea how EK 280 compares?

    • @RichSmithify
      @RichSmithify Před rokem

      The EK AIO 280 was the first cooler I chose. I liked the performance tests, I really liked the aesthetics, it was easy to install and it didn't require software to work. It would have been the perfect cooler for my build except for a small problem ...it didn't work. Dead pump right out of the box. So back to Newegg it went. In checking the reviews online (yeah, I probably should have done that before I bought it) seems quality control at EK isn't the greatest and dead or dying pumps is a persistent problem.

  • @pStar58
    @pStar58 Před rokem +2

    This is a shame for the EVGA CLC because it is because of those god awful fans. The pump and design is solid , if you get some descent fans that unit is a beast. Mine is 7 years old and still going strong , and hardly any notable liquid loss in that time too , those open fans just let it down badly

    • @jorgecruzf60
      @jorgecruzf60 Před rokem

      I have the same cooler, wich fans do you recommend?

    • @pStar58
      @pStar58 Před rokem

      @@jorgecruzf60 even some of the cheaper noctua fans will be a improvement but just get the best fans you can afford

  • @Gavo172
    @Gavo172 Před rokem +2

    Goated CZcams hardware reviews are back let's go

  • @voiruzeclorum8152
    @voiruzeclorum8152 Před rokem

    7900х okay with liquid freezer 280 ii ?

  • @fuss8116
    @fuss8116 Před rokem +1

    The Liquid Freezer also exists as a- RGB Version.

  • @blahorgaslisk7763
    @blahorgaslisk7763 Před rokem +3

    You deserve every view you can get, and certainly a lot more than 15K subscribers. But it's hard to make waves in the ocean of videos that is YT. But at least one more comment should make the algorithm a bit more interested in promoting your channel.
    Have you considered trying to game the algorithm? Normally I wouldn't suggest it but your content deserves a lot more attention. The Spiffing Brit has a recent video about the subject. Now he did it for the LULs but just scheduling your video and set it as Premiere might give you a few more views than just straight uploading it. And if that's as far as you go I wouldn't even call it gaming the system...

  • @deheimer
    @deheimer Před 3 měsíci

    Unfortunately the pumphead is absolute trash looking compared to other AIOs and that's my only gripe with the LF II series. They fixed it with the III series but the prices are a little too high where I live

  • @tomdurchholz991
    @tomdurchholz991 Před rokem

    Give us the radiators :)

  • @jurapuclin
    @jurapuclin Před rokem +1

    Arctic Liquid Cooler is the worst looking in my opinion...worst of all I've seen ever actually...like a toy...i hate that about it...But I bought it anyways cause it's such a good performer and value. :D

  • @oktc68
    @oktc68 Před rokem

    How did you provide a heat source? If you used a cpu in a system then these results are meaningless. There are two many variables caused by the OS, which will give a variety of results over 10 runs with the same AIO nevermind different ones. Tested using a better methodology (ie a strictly controlled heat source that isn't a cpu/OS) results will be relevant.

    • @HardwareScientist
      @HardwareScientist  Před rokem

      Heat source is a CPU running prime95 with a locked power limit using XTU. It's a very stable and repeatable heat source.

  • @Maznweater
    @Maznweater Před 6 měsíci +1

    "280 millimeter liquid cooler"

  • @john066
    @john066 Před rokem

    Very surprised there was no cooler master 👎

  • @bobbymoss6160
    @bobbymoss6160 Před rokem

    Too bad the liquid cooler is ugly as sin. I like their fans though.

  • @user-kk4bq7mb8u
    @user-kk4bq7mb8u Před rokem +1

    Ew gross no. The Liquid Freezer II such an awful cooler I can't believe you didn't mention the literal in your face issues with it. The fans are hardwired into the setup, which means you can't change the location of the fans which means you cannot run the AIO in a front facing intake orientation with the fans on the outside (important at the very least for the RGB version). You cannot change the fans. The water pump is linked directly to the speed of the fans so if you set a low fan speed the water pump will also slow down, which means you need to run this AIO at high fan speed all the time. Also, aside from the Corsair and NZXT AIOs, none of these AIOs let you read or monitor coolant temps which means none of them let you set fan speed based on coolant temp. You can only set fan speed based on CPU temp which wildly fluctuates with modern processors. And to top it off you didn't use the new Corsair AIO. No discouragement aimed, just laying out what I actually know and have experience with.

    • @Bushwacked487
      @Bushwacked487 Před rokem +1

      Which aios allow you to monitor/set fan speed off of coolant temps?

    • @user-kk4bq7mb8u
      @user-kk4bq7mb8u Před rokem +1

      @@Bushwacked487 the NZXT X62 and Z63, and the Corsair 115i Elite Capellix do. The NZXT X63 does not; and most if not all of Corsair's flagship lineups should. You can use liquidctl, an open source program to operate these AIOs in lieu of their stock bloated software.

    • @VincentAndre_HK
      @VincentAndre_HK Před rokem +3

      The fans can actually be flipped on the other side of the radiator, they can as well be changed as they are not wired with a standard 4 pins fan connector. The pump regulation is made in a way that will not affect the performance significantly, you can perfectly run it at 50% PWM or lower.

    • @user-kk4bq7mb8u
      @user-kk4bq7mb8u Před rokem +1

      @@VincentAndre_HK the fans cannot be flipped to the opposite side of the radiator because the fan wires run through the AIO tubing sleeve, and the length of wire between the fan and the beginning of the sleeve is too short to move the fan. If you use different fans, then you are still left with the original fans dangling from where they connect into the tubing. I've not only bought and have hands on experience with a Liquid Freezer II, but I've also spoken to Arctic's technical team to ask what was going on and if this was their intended design or a product defect. The answer was that is how the product was created. I returned the Liquid Freezer II.

    • @gmaxsfoodfitness3035
      @gmaxsfoodfitness3035 Před rokem +1

      @@user-kk4bq7mb8u Vincent works for Arctic. The fan wires don't run through the tubing at all. They connect to the wires that run through the tubing. Gamer Nexus disassembled the Liquid Freezer II years ago and Steve always tested it with the fans rewired so he could plug them in directly through the motherboard and control the pump separately (they have like 4 or 5 videos with the LFII and it's at the top of the charts). It's easy to do. Many reviewers have done this and anyone who wanted (or needed) to mount the rad at the front of a case can move the fans wherever they choose. Some people even just took the Arctic fans off altogether so they can add there own fans (a guy on Amazon did this). There's plenty of tutorials on how to do it so you're just not making sense at this point.

  • @AB-IS-ME
    @AB-IS-ME Před rokem +2

    Welcome back!