Much like when you exercise, the harder your processor works, the hotter it gets, making a CPU cooler one of the most important investments you can make. Choose the wrong cooling solution and you risk your system overheating and shutting down. There are three main types to choose from: air coolers, all-in-one (AIO) liquid coolers, and custom open loops.
Open loops often provide the best temperatures and can even cool your graphics card and RAM alongside your CPU, but it's noticeably more expensive and can be very fiddly to set up and maintain unless you're an enthusiast, not to mention the difficulty you'll have swapping parts when you upgrade. Both AIO and air coolers are far more accessible with their plug-and-play nature, meaning you'll spend less time building and more time playing your favourite games.
When choosing between an AIO and air cooler, it's important to balance cost, overclocking potential, noise, style, and compatibility. Here's everything you need to know about both kinds of coolers, including how they both work, their differences, and which is right for you.
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