Best AIOs for around $80

[lmeneses]

Like the title says, what are the best AIOs for around $80. Looking for efficiency over aesthetics 

[AngryBeaver]

These are your options. Look up reviews on them and pick the one you feel is the best fit for you.

 

[For Science!]

If you care about efficiency, so this price point the NH-D15 is likely better for performance and noise. Any particular reason why you want to use a liquid cooler? If its not beyond "I like the sound of it" then you should stick to air cooling.

[lmeneses]

2 minutes ago, AngryBeaver said:

These are your options. Look up reviews on them and pick the one you feel is the best fit for you.

oh yeaaa, I forgot about using pc partpicker lmao 

[lmeneses]

2 minutes ago, For Science! said:

If you care about efficiency, so this price point the NH-D15 is likely better for performance and noise. Any particular reason why you want to use a liquid cooler? If its not beyond "I like the sound of it" then you should stick to air cooling.

I mean it does sound cool lmao, but I just wanna see which ones are out there. I know liquid cooling can be tricky, but it looks cleaner than a bulky cpu air cooler. 

[Zando_]

3 minutes ago, AngryBeaver said:

These are your options. Look up reviews on them and pick the one you feel is the best fit for you.

 

-snip-

I'd personally go for the EVGA CLC 240. I have the CLC 120 and CLC 280 and they're great, no issues so far. Stock fans are a loud if you let them spin up, but if you mess with the fan curve they never actually need to go above 40% to keep it cool. 

[lmeneses]

11 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

I'd personally go for the EVGA CLC 240. I have the CLC 120 and CLC 280 and they're great, no issues so far. Stock fans are a loud if you let them spin up, but if you mess with the fan curve they never actually need to go above 40% to keep it cool. 

when compared to the cooler master masterliquid lite 240, which is only $60, which would you choose? 

[Zando_]

21 minutes ago, lmeneses said:

when compared to the cooler master masterliquid lite 240, which is only $60, which would you choose? 

Haven't looked at tests for the ML Lite 240, but given that EVGA has always been great in my experience, and their customer support is amazing, I'd still choose the CLC. Like I said, I have two of them, and then 5 GPUs from them (2x 1080 SC, a 980 Ti SC, and a 1050 and 1050 Ti FTW), and 3 of the G3 PSUs, haven't had any issues with their products so far. 

[AngryBeaver]

34 minutes ago, lmeneses said:

when compared to the cooler master masterliquid lite 240, which is only $60, which would you choose? 

Originally thought this was going to be thinner than the regular version that is $5 more, but I was wrong. So maybe their is a difference in FPI density.

[lmeneses]

@AngryBeaver @Zando Bob Yea, i think I'm just gonna spend the extra for the evga aio 

 

[ewitte]

A lot of the larger air coolers interfere with video card and ram spacing.

[Princess Luna]

16 hours ago, lmeneses said:

Looking for efficiency over aesthetics 

Then get a Noctua NH-D15

[lmeneses]

3 hours ago, Princess Cadence said:

Then get a Noctua NH-D15

I meant for water coolers, but I would most likely get the d15 if I went with air

[Princess Luna]

Just now, lmeneses said:

I meant for water coolers, but I would most likely get the d15 if I went with air

AiO aren't worth the hassle, they cost more for less performance and more noise while their fail rate is way too high while air coolers last pretty much forever as replacing fans (which also usually lasts great deal of time) is super easy.

[lmeneses]

2 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

AiO aren't worth the hassle, they cost more for less performance and more noise while their fail rate is way too high while air coolers last pretty much forever as replacing fans (which also usually lasts great deal of time) is super easy.

yea, AIOs are cool tho. I will probably go air just cause I feel I will get a bad AIO, and it will leak lmao 

[Princess Luna]

11 minutes ago, lmeneses said:

yea, AIOs are cool tho. I will probably go air just cause I feel I will get a bad AIO, and it will leak lmao 

And if it leaks and kills a component on your system, you'll never get a refund on said component, RMA of these things and what not is a losing battle regardless the brand you buy.

 

Trust me, you can still go AiO if you absolutely want to, It's just not the best solution.