Question AIO: picking out of three

[Capt. Timeter]

Hello!

I'm building a new PC based on the 9800X3D, I intend no (significant) overclocking. After considering all the options and reading tons of reviews, I've stopped on these three AIO systems:

1. ASUS ROG STRIX III LC240
2. Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
3. MSI MAG CoreLiquid I240

However, now I don't know which one to pick. The Arctic seems to have a bit better cooling performance, but thanks to a thicker radiator which may not fit into my setup, otherwise in terms of cooling effectiveness they seem to be very similar. But how about noise? If anyone has had experience of using one of these systems, your opinions will be much appreciated!

 

[Lutfij]

I'd pick the Arctic Liquid Freezer but not a 240mm version, either a 280mm or a 360mm, it's so you have headroom in your cooling. If you don't intend to overclock then you stress the system for longer before the radiator ends up heatsoaking. What is the make and model of your case, might I ask?

 

[Capt. Timeter]

What is the make and model of your case, might I ask?

It's Montech Air 903 Base. I was considering Arctic 280 myself, but it seems the case is not spacious enough with some mobos installed.

 

[Lutfij]

I was considering Arctic 280 myself, but it seems the case is not spacious enough with some mobos installed.
You sure you read the specsheet for the case right;

Products∣Gaming PC cases, PSUs- MONTECH

Telon Co., Ltd. has been engaged in Taiwanese PC industry for more than 30 years. And its team includes experienced engineers & designers and after-sales personnel.

www.montechpc.com

? I went looking through the manual, looks like you might have room for a thick radiator+fans at the top.

Then get a 360mm and mount it at the front...?

 

[geofelt]

None of them.
Your case is an excellent one for air cooling.
It can hold even the largest of air coolers.
The processor is not particularly hot, particularly if you are not overclocking.
A twin tower air cooling will have about the same cooling capability as any of the 240 aio coolers listed.
Thermalright peerless is a good value, Noctua NH-D15s is about the best.

 

[bill001g]

None of them.
Your case is an excellent one for air cooling.
It can hole even the largest of air coolers.
The processor is not particularly hot, particularly if you are not overclocking.
A twin tower air cooling will have about the same cooling capability as any of the 240 aio coolers listed.
Thermalright peerless is a good value, Noctua NH-D15s is about the best.

I agree with this. Be careful thinking water cooling is better. The modern air coolers have meet or even surpassed some of smaller aio.

If you are going AIO go to at least 360. This would though be for reasons other than the cooling capacity. It would have to be something like you wanted to run very low fans speeds for noise issues.

Your cpu will have no issues with most midrange or better air coolers and as stated the peerless assassin is one of the cheapest but ranks near the top of the lists.

 

[Capt. Timeter]

You sure you read the specsheet for the case right;

I've already bought the case. And careful measuring shows that the VRM radiators on ASUS and MSI boards stick too high and interfere with Arctic 280's thick radiator 🙁

None of them.
Your case is an excellent one for air cooling.

I agree with this. Be careful thinking water cooling is better. The modern air coolers have meet or even surpassed some of smaller aio.

Thanks, I'll consider this option. How Thermalright is about noise?

 

[geofelt]

Noise comes with small fans running at high rpm's.
You can control this at the cost of lessened cooling.
Experiment with it.
A thermalright peerless 120 has 120mm fans which must run at higher rpm to provide sufficient airflow.
And, there are two of them:
https://www.newegg.com/thermalright-peerless-assassin-120-se-argb/p/13C-000Y-000G8
The Noctua NH-D15s uses a single 140mm slow turning fan. Adding a 120mm front fan gives minimal 2c. difference.
Of course, a better cooler costs more:
https://www.newegg.com/p/13C-0005-002Y6
But, the price is comparable to the three aio coolers you listed.

Did you know that aio coolers do not last forever?
In time, the mechanical pump fails or gets clogged.
Air will intrude through the tubes and the unit must be replaced.
Think of it as a 5 year rental.

 

[Capt. Timeter]

Noise comes with small fans running at high rpm's.

That's right, but apparently there are more variables. The Peerless 140 review at this very site shows that it's fairly loud although it uses a 140mm fan, too (however, the second is 120 mm).

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any Noctua coolers at my local retailers, but I've just discovered Arctic Freezer 36 which looks like a charm for its price. And it's performance is comparable to those Arctic AIOs!

 

[Capt. Timeter]

Did you know that aio coolers do not last forever?

Yes, I did. I particularly liked ASUS for the 0db mode — a luxury one cannot afford with an air cooler.

How does an AIO pump get clogged? I understand how it can happen in a custom DIY water loop, but in AIO? It's not an open circuit, is it?

 

[bill001g]

Metal corrodes no matter how good the coolant is and there is no easy way to replace it in a AIO. The more common issue is the water will evaporate through the tubes and most AIO there is no way to add. Even if you do the pumps tend to fail about that time frame also. So figure 5 years and you toss them.

 

[geofelt]

Yes, I did. I particularly liked ASUS for the 0db mode — a luxury one cannot afford with an air cooler.

How does an AIO pump get clogged? I understand how it can happen in a custom DIY water loop, but in AIO? It's not an open circuit, is it?

What is the ASUS 0 db mode?
If the fan on an air cooler should break, it is easily replaced(excepting proprietary coolers)
The cooler will still cool some because of case airflow to keep you going.

Fans running at 500 rpm are inaudible in a case.
900rpm will be barely noticeable.
Under load, a NH-D15s will run the fans at max speed which is 1500 RPM.
I just did a cpu-Z bench test and it is inaudible in my case some3 feet away.
With most motherboards, you have the ability to adjust the fan speed according to cpu temperature.

The coolant pipes of an aio are flexible, and a bit permeable. In time some coolant gets lost through the tubes.

 

[Capt. Timeter]

What is the ASUS 0 db mode?

A marketing name ) The fans stop completely at idle CPU loads and the cooling is achieved by simply pushing water through the radiator with the pump. The radiator cools the water passively.