Anyone who takes custom water cooling seriously will have heard of EK. Their newest AIO, the CR240, combines great performance with a unique presentation. It even has a set of eye-catching ML120 fans with RGB lighting.
Guru3D’s tests show that it trades blows with Noctua’s NH-U12S tower cooler at stock and overclocked load. That’s no mean feat!
Temps
Core i9 13900K can get hot easily under load and needs powerful CPU coolers to dissipate heat efficiently. Considering that the i9 consumes 220256W of power during a heavy workload such as Blender and Cinebench, it demands a lot of cooling. If you’re planning on overclocking, then a stronger CPU cooler is also recommended as the temperatures can increase significantly when running at higher clock speeds.
The NH-D15 from Noctua is one of the best AIO CPU coolers that can handle high temperatures. Its dual 120mm fans provide a good amount of airflow with a maximum speed of 2250 RPM. Moreover, the fan blades are covered with RGB lighting that gives your build a cool aesthetic. The NH-D15 also features a durable pump that can withstand a fair amount of pressure. Its size is also smaller than other AIO coolers, which means it will not take up too much space in your case.
Another great AIO cooler for 13900K is the NZXT Kraken X53 RGB. Its 240mm radiator is quite thick, which can help improve the heat transfer efficiency. It has a powerful pump with smart control that adjusts the fan speeds depending on the CPU’s temperature. This helps to keep the temperatures in check and reduces thermal throttling. The Kraken X53 RGB is easy to install and comes with a six-year warranty.
If you’re looking for a premium AIO cooler with a stunning aesthetic, the AlphaCool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360 is worth checking out. Its thick 4 mm radiator and powerful ARGB fans give this CPU cooler an exceptional performance. It’s a bit expensive than other AIO coolers, but it is worth the price as it provides superior thermal performance and a sleek look.
Another top-notch AIO cooler for 13900K is the CORSAIR iCUE H170i ELITE LCD. This CPU cooler has a massive 280mm radiator with triple 140mm ARGB fans that can produce a lot of airflow. Its sleek tower design has a high-quality finish with angular corners that give your build a premium aesthetic. However, its height may interfere with tall RAM kits, so you’ll need to be careful when installing it in your chassis.
Noise
240mm AIOs are much quieter than the tower coolers that most PC builders use with their builds. This is due to the smaller radiator and more efficient fan design. That said, if you want the absolute lowest noise level, then you’ll need to step up to a 280 mm AIO or larger. There aren’t any 240 mm AIOs that can clearly beat an air cooler in terms of thermal performance, but they do provide a good trade-off for those who prioritize low noise levels over performance.
One 240 mm AIO that is quiet enough to be considered silent is the ID-Cooling Auraflow X 240. This AIO costs less than many competing 240 mm AIOs and still performs well, even against some of the best air coolers available. The only downside is that it uses a DC 3-pin connection for its fans, meaning speed control will be limited to what the motherboard can do.
Corsair’s H100i Capellix is another great choice for a 240mm AIO. This AIO isn’t as quiet as the ID-Cooling, but it’s also not as loud as some of Corsair’s 280 mm liquid coolers. The H100i’s fans can reach a max speed of 2000 RPM, which means the maximum noise level will be around 21 dBA at full load.
The biggest selling point for the iCUE Elite LCD variant of this AIO is its customisable LCD screen on the CPU block that can display information like temperature or fan speed readouts and other messages. It’s not a necessary feature, but it’s a cool option for anyone who wants to show off their build with a special look.
The only other 240 mm AIO that comes close to matching the iCUE Elite LCD in terms of sonic and thermal performance is the Be Quiet Silent Loop 2. This AIO has an impressively small radiator and fan setup that will fit into most cases with no problem at all. The only downside is that it only offers support for the older LGA1151 socket, so if you’re using a newer processor then this AIO won’t be an option for you.
Overclocking
When it comes to gaming, overclocking can be a great way to make your computer feel more responsive and improve performance. However, overclocking requires a lot of patience and a good understanding of how the CPU works. Overclocking can cause your CPU to heat up faster, and overheating can be a serious issue that can damage your hardware. Overclocking can also lead to inconsistent FPS in games, which can be frustrating for gamers.
Fortunately, there are many ways to minimize the risk of overheating. One of the most important steps is to use an air cooler or a liquid cooler. Liquid cooling is the best option for overclocking, because it helps to keep your CPU cool and prevents overheating. There are many different types of liquid coolers on the market, and you can find the right one for your system.
Another way to help with overheating is by using a contact frame and undervolting your CPU. Undervolting is when you lower the voltage of your CPU and memory. It decreases the power requirement of your CPU and memory, which will reduce temperatures and power usage. Undervolting can also help with overclocking, because the higher the clock speed, the more voltage you need to maintain a stable overclock.
Overclocking can be a great way to get the most out of your CPU, but it’s important to understand the risks involved in order to avoid damaging your system. If you’re new to overclocking, it’s a good idea to start small and work your way up. You should also make sure that your motherboard and RAM are compatible with overclocking before you try to overclock them.
If you want to overclock your 13900K, you will need a high-end AIO and the proper cooling solution. Some of the best options include the Asus ROG Ryujin II 360, Lian Li Galahad 360 ARGB, and NZXT Kraken x73 RGB. If you’re on a budget, you can also consider the DeepCool LS520, which is an affordable alternative to a premium AIO. It performs well and comes with a built-in fan that can help you cool the VRMs and NVMe drive on your motherboard.
Conclusions
240mm AIOs are a popular choice for cooling 13th-gen CPUs. They can fit inside nearly all cases and are generally far better than air coolers at keeping the hottest processors cool. They’re also more expensive than the best air coolers, but the increased performance offered by Zen4 and 13th-gen Intel Core CPUs is helping to cement liquid cooling as the standard for enthusiasts.
The Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix is one of the top performers in this category. It was able to keep the i7-4970K cool under both stock and overclocked conditions in Guru3D’s testing. It was even able to beat the popular Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 in both tests, and did so without becoming very loud.
While the H100i Elite Capellix is a great performer, it’s not without its faults. Its fans are not the fastest, and they can be rather noisy at full load. They are also not very efficient, and they draw a lot of power at idle. Fortunately, it is possible to disable the RGB lighting and use the fans at a lower speed in order to save power and reduce noise.
However, it’s worth noting that the iCUE H100i Elite Capellix only has two fans, which means that it can’t handle as much heat as some of its competitors. As such, it is best used in a case with plenty of room for the radiator and fans.
This AIO is also very expensive, and it’s probably not worth the extra cost unless you plan on building a showcase build that requires a bit of bling. For that reason, we recommend checking out the NZXT Kraken Z53 RGB if you’re looking for a flashy 240mm AIO. The Kraken Z53 RGB is no longer the only AIO with an LCD pump block, but its competitive cooling performance and eye-catching white paint make it our top pick for a showcase-ready AIO. In thus a way the technology affect us by producing the accessories for the computer.
Another good option is the MSI MAG CoreLiquid 240R V2. While it’s not as quiet as the Assassin III, it’s still fairly quiet and does a decent job of keeping the 13900K cool. Its fans can only reach a maximum speed of 1500 RPM, and while they aren’t the fastest on the market, they are still fairly fast. They can also be replaced with faster fans if you want to improve the cooling performance.