What is the BEST Aura Sync Liquid CPU Cooler

[PopsiclesInMyCellar]

Shows available CPU coolers: https://www.asus.com/campaign/aura/us/Sync.html

 

Build

PCPartPicker part list: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/VWNRZ8
Price breakdown by merchant: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/VWNRZ8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor  (Purchased For $489.99) 
Motherboard: Asus - ROG MAXIMUS X HERO (WI-FI AC) ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  (Purchased For $328.69) 
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  (Purchased For $479.99) 
Storage: Samsung - 960 Pro 1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $599.99) 
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Black 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $219.99) 
Video Card: Asus - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB STRIX GAMING Video Card  (Purchased For $1004.99) 
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA P2 850W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (Purchased For $189.69) 
Total: $3313.33
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-29 16:20 EST-0500

[karsnoordhuis]

it depends....

in this 'case' , what case are you planning to use? this is kinda important for choosing the right size cooler

[PopsiclesInMyCellar]

1 minute ago, karsnoordhuis said:

it depends....

in this 'case' , what case are you planning to use? this is kinda important for choosing the right size cooler

It'll probably be an Aura Sync full-tower as well. The cooler will dictate which case.

[JaegerB]

I know CM have a few that have RGB aura compatible fans. However, what part of the AIO do you want to be rgb? If it's just the fans you can buy any decent AIO and slap some CM rgb pressure fans on it.

 

[karsnoordhuis]

1 minute ago, JaegerB said:

I know CM have a few that have RGB aura compatible fans. However, what part of the AIO do you want to be rgb? If it's just the fans you can buy any decent AIO and slap some CM rgb pressure fans on it.

 

or go full custom watercooling. just add some more rgb fittings to the system...

no seriously, any 240mm rad cooler will do as they are mostly the same design. you could also get a fractal design 360mm cooler and put some rgb fans on it. or get a NF-D15 with the new chroma things and rgb fans

[PopsiclesInMyCellar]

4 minutes ago, JaegerB said:

I know CM have a few that have RGB aura compatible fans. However, what part of the AIO do you want to be rgb? If it's just the fans you can buy any decent AIO and slap some CM rgb pressure fans on it.

 

It has to be Aura Sync. Not just any old RGB. I don't think I care what part has LEDs on it.

Just now, karsnoordhuis said:

or go full custom watercooling. just add some more rgb fittings to the system...

no seriously, any 240mm rad cooler will do as they are mostly the same design. you could also get a fractal design 360mm cooler and put some rgb fans on it. or get a NF-D15 with the new chroma things and rgb fans

Not gonna go custom. This is my first build too.That's good to know, but I don't think "any old one will do" is true because, the Kraken X62 for example has AWFUL reviews of the pump dying in 2-6 months.

[JaegerB]

2 minutes ago, karsnoordhuis said:

seriously, any 240mm rad cooler will do as they are mostly the same design.

Well, no. Any benchmarks will show you that. And AIOs differ in quality as well. Last thing OP wants is a leaky AIO. I don't know if he's overlooking, but he couldn't really go wrong with an h100i v2 and a couple CM masterfan 120 rgb static pressure fans.

[Himommies]

The masterliquid is the only one I would confidently recommend 

[JaegerB]

5 minutes ago, PopsiclesInMyCellar said:

It has to be Aura Sync. Not just any old RGB. I don't think I care what part has LEDs on it.

Yep, the masterfan pro 120 rgb are aura compatible. Afaik they're among the only chassis fans on the market that are (and probably the most reliable).

[karsnoordhuis]

3 minutes ago, JaegerB said:

Last thing OP wants is a leaky AIO

thats why i put the NH-D15 in the list. no chance of leaking at all 

[PopsiclesInMyCellar]

2 minutes ago, JaegerB said:

Yep, the masterfan pro 120 rgb are aura compatible. Afaik they're among the only chassis fans on the market that are (and probably the most reliable).

Can you compile a list or something please because I'm confused. Don't want chassis fans, want CPU cooler.

 

3 minutes ago, Himommies said:

The masterliquid is the only one I would confidently recommend 

Hmm ok. Why?

[Tom Cat]

The deepcool Captin RGB

[PopsiclesInMyCellar]

Just now, Douglas The Duck said:

The deepcool Captin RGB

I do appreciate that but can you please tell me why?

[JaegerB]

1 minute ago, PopsiclesInMyCellar said:

Can you compile a list or something please because I'm confused. Don't want chassis fans, want CPU cooler

So what I'm saying is you can buy a decent non-RGB AIO and put some static pressure fans on it. Any fans work on an aio, and while these are technically chassis fans they will work well on an AIO.

[Tom Cat]

Just now, PopsiclesInMyCellar said:

I do appreciate that but can you please tell me why?

The Deepcool captain is a very underrated AIO. It comes in two colors, black and white. Also has 3 3 size; 120, 240, 360. A non RGB and RGB flavor in your case that's the one you want. Watch this video. 

 

[PopsiclesInMyCellar]

11 minutes ago, Douglas The Duck said:

The Deepcool captain is a very underrated AIO. It comes in two colors, black and white. Also has 3 3 size; 120, 240, 360. A non RGB and RGB flavor in your case that's the one you want. Watch this video. 

 

Good video, very informative and comforting for sure.

Should it be a competition between these two, or is one better hands-down?

Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB
DEEPCOOL CAPTAIN 240EX RGB

[Tom Cat]

Just now, PopsiclesInMyCellar said:

Good video, very informative and comforting for sure.

Should it be a competition between these two, or is one better hands-down?

Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB
DEEPCOOL CAPTAIN 240EX RGB

He made another video on the RGB version, if you want to watch that.The remote complaint dosnt apply to you because your using aura sync.

I would prefer the captain, it's more premium feeling. 

[PopsiclesInMyCellar]

26 minutes ago, Douglas The Duck said:

He made another video on the RGB version, if you want to watch that.The remote complaint dosnt apply to you because your using aura sync.

I would prefer the captain, it's more premium feeling. 

I agree. I'm scared though: 

[Tom Cat]

That's a risk you take with all AIOs

1 minute ago, PopsiclesInMyCellar said:

I agree. I'm scared though: 

 

[Tom Cat]

Just now, Douglas The Duck said:

That's a risk you take with all AIOs

 

It's very rare though 

[PopsiclesInMyCellar]

1 hour ago, Douglas The Duck said:

It's very rare though 

I've realized that a liquid CPU cooler is probably the dumbest thing to prioritize RGB with. The highest priority should be reliability, i.e., which manufacturer/AIO has the FEWEST reportages of leaks, etc.

Doing some research this looks to be Corsair. What does everything think of my new stance?