Are AIO a bit overrated?

[AYDANN6ix9ine]

The fact that AIO coolers are more expensive, usually look cleaner, and "water cool" kind of makes it seem like they're definitely better than air coolers but is this fact true. I know AIO can be used as case fans and ventilation and are cleaner, but when it comes to cooling a CPU, is it that much better than an air cooler? Recently, I saw a video comparing the beefy air cooler Dark Rock Pro 4 to a 360mm AIO (Corsair H150i Pro) and the AIO was just barely ahead of DRP4, about a few degrees per test, although DRP4 is half the price. So are AIO coolers overrated when it comes to thermal performance.

[Oshino Shinobu]

They're overrated in terms of the performance they provide.

 

They're less reliable, often louder, more expensive and really not any better for performance when compared to big air coolers (with the exception of the thick 360mms and 480mm types). However, there is the aesthetic benefits, which is worth the downsides for a lot of people.They can also be better than air coolers in small form factor builds due to the ability to move the cooling area away from other components.

[Mehmy]

They're absolutely overrated when it comes to performance. People hear "water cooling" and think it's the best thing ever. But high end air coolers are cheaper and perform just as well. The DRP4 and NH-D15 are equivalent to 280mm AIO's, at like half the price. 

 

That said, for some people (Myself included), it's more about looks than performance per dollar. 

[191x7]

Great air coolers that can compete with larger AIO-s (240mm and up) have to be rather huge and heavy. Heavy coolers can affect the motherboard, I've heard of bent boards or even broken parts because of the weight. Also, AIO-s (and any water cooling) take longer to heat up and are easier to hold a constant temperature which aids with fan durability.

Also, AIO-s might look better and add some additional value to the PC aesthetic wise.

 

120mm and 140mm AIO-s are, in my opinion, a waste of money.

[paddy-stone]

You can get cheaper AIOs, I have a cooler master ML240 lite, and it's performance is actually pretty good. And as someone that has an NH-D15, is much easier to work with, and change system components... with the Noctua, it was very tight trying to adjust things, and sometimes had to take the cooler off completely to change some cables locations even as I just couldn't fit my hands around the big ass cooler. In terms of performance there's really not that much difference IMO, and the AIO seems to not "spike" as much or as high.. but I can't prove this as they were used on different systems, so it's just my "feel" of it.

All in all, I prefer the AIO for working with, and it's probably not much louder either, as I can barely hear it when idling, and when stressed it's not that much louder IMO.

[BuckGup]

AIO are so much easier to install as you never have to think about RAM clearance. A quality one will provide better performance than a massive air cooler and again a quality one will be quiet and be rated for 100,000+ hours

[AYDANN6ix9ine]

1 hour ago, Mehmy said:

They're absolutely overrated when it comes to performance. People hear "water cooling" and think it's the best thing ever. But high end air coolers are cheaper and perform just as well. The DRP4 and NH-D15 are equivalent to 280mm AIO's, at like half the price. 

 

That said, for some people (Myself included), it's more about looks than performance per dollar. 

So would a Silent Loop 360 beat it's own be quiet! family Dark Rock Pro 4?

[Mehmy]

2 minutes ago, AYDANN6ix9ine said:

So would a Silent Loop 360 beat it's own be quiet! family Dark Rock Pro 4?

At worst it should be equal in performance, but more realistically it should beat the DRP with a couple degrees

[SolarNova]

23 hours ago, AYDANN6ix9ine said:

The fact that AIO coolers are more expensive, usually look cleaner, and "water cool" kind of makes it seem like they're definitely better than air coolers but is this fact true. I know AIO can be used as case fans and ventilation and are cleaner, but when it comes to cooling a CPU, is it that much better than an air cooler? Recently, I saw a video comparing the beefy air cooler Dark Rock Pro 4 to a 360mm AIO (Corsair H150i Pro) and the AIO was just barely ahead of DRP4, about a few degrees per test, although DRP4 is half the price. So are AIO coolers overrated when it comes to thermal performance.

 

Yes, very much so.

 

New comers to PC building, and even those who are not new, fall into the trap of . 'water cooling' is the 'cool' thing to have. Like a kind of status symble. " My PC is a water cooled xyz".

For the most part the most common AIO's. (240mm ones) are no better than alot of top end Air coolers. And as you rightly state, even 360m AIO's are not much better than the top dog Air coolers even though they usualy cost anywhere from 25% to 100% more.

 

That said, they most certianly have their uses. In SFF builds for example, 240mm AIO's can be very usfull to provide superior cooling vs low profile Air coolers.

[Mehmy]

18 minutes ago, SolarNova said:

 

Yes, very much so.

 

New comers to PC building, and even those who are not new, fall into the trap of . 'water cooling' is the 'cool' thing to have. Like a kind of status symble. " My PC is a water cooled xyz".

For the most part the most common AIO's. (240mm ones) are no better than alot of top end Air coolers. And as you rightly state, even 360m AIO's are not much better than the top dog Air coolers even though they usualy cost anywhere from 25% to 100% more.

 

That said, they most certianly have their uses. In SFF builds for example, 240mm AIO's can be very usfull to provide superior cooling vs low profile Air coolers.

I went with an AiO because of looks. I absolutely hate how top-end air coolers look.