I'm building a new PC with a Ryzen 9 9900x and I'm deciding between two AIO coolers. I've got the be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow case, which can fit either a 240mm radiator at the top or a 360mm radiator at the front. I'm leaning towards the Arctic Freezer III Pro for the 360mm option, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go. Could someone help me figure out which AIO size would be better? Also, if 240mm ends up being the better choice, I'm open to recommendations for a solid 240mm cooler. Just as a side note, I'll be using a 4060ti GPU.
1 Answer
It's really a matter of what you'll be doing with your PC. If you're mostly gaming, the 240mm might suffice, but if you're looking to do some intense multitasking, especially with VMs and emulators, the 360mm would provide extra thermal headroom, which can help keep everything cooler under load. Plus, a larger cooler like the Liquid Freezer 3 can offer better performance overall. Just keep in mind about the noise levels too; larger radiators often have larger fans that can be quieter at lower RPMs.
Yeah, and it's good to consider that top mounting can help with cooling efficiency if you have good airflow in your case. I think the 360mm would definitely give you more options for future upgrades too!