I'm building a new PC with a 9800X3D and I'm considering trying an AIO cooler this time around instead of sticking to my usual air coolers. I plan to use it primarily for gaming and my case, an North XL, has great airflow, so I don't expect my CPU temperatures to run high. My main concern is the noise from the pump. Do I really need to spend more on a higher-end AIO if noise is my only concern? From what I've seen, a lot of the price difference comes from features like RGB lighting. In my experience with air coolers, simply upgrading the fans on a budget cooler made a significant difference in noise levels over buying a top-tier model. I've checked out various YouTube reviews, but they seem to evaluate noise in the context of whole systems, making it tough to determine if pump noise varies between models. Any advice would be much appreciated, and I'd love to hear your AIO recommendations as well!
5 Answers
I used AIOs initially but switched to a Noctua D15, and I've never looked back. It's completely silent and cools my 9800X3D without any pump noise. Plus, there’s less maintenance since you don’t have to worry about pump failure or sediment buildup. They even send you new mounting brackets for free if you upgrade your CPU later on.
If noise is your main concern, I'd definitely recommend looking into Arctic AIO coolers. They run super quietly and are surprisingly well-priced. I have the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360, and it keeps my overclocked 9800X3D cool without any noise issues, even in a case where other components get hot. If your case space is limited, the 240 version would still be a solid choice.
And their customer support is top-notch! They even took out ads to inform everyone about a product recall, which impressed me.
True, if you don’t want pump noise, your best bets are the Arctic Liquid Freezer 3 or Alpenfohn Glacier Water. A lot of others still use the low-quality Asetec pumps, which can be noisy.
I initially went with an NZXT AIO but switched back to an air cooler because I wasn’t a fan of the pump noise. I also didn’t want to install extra software just to manage the cooler.
You might want to avoid the cheapest AIOs even if noise isn't your biggest worry. They tend to be both loud and less durable. I’d suggest something in the mid-range. It’s not necessary to splurge on a premium model, but also don’t settle for something too cheap. From my experience, budget AIOs are generally louder, though opinions on how noticeable it is can vary.
I can totally see myself going that route too, but I want to give AIOs a fair shot first!