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Best Closed Loop CPU Coolers to Have in 2021

Keeping your CPU cooler on higher clock speeds matters a lot when it comes to the best performance. For outstanding results, we highly recommend going with closed loop CPU coolers. Liquid CPU coolers are more effective than the air coolers when it comes to handling the thermal spikes of your processor.

Best Closed Loop CPU Coolers

Closed-loop AIO coolers come with a simple interface in which a hose is attached to the radiator on the other end. The coolant used in the liquid CPU coolers can be water or any other heat-absorbing fluid. The radiator to which the hose is attached can be of 120mm, 240mm, or even 360mm in size.

Having a CPU cooler with a closed loop keeps your processor chilled if you are an overclocking fan. Moreover, AIO coolers draw more heat than the air coolers. Most of the closed loop AIO coolers easily fit in the mini ITX PC cases.

Best Closed Loop CPU Coolers

Best Closed Loop CPU Coolers to Have

Here are some of the top-rated AIO closed-loop coolers recommended by the PC enthusiasts.

1. Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro | Most Affordable AIO CPU Cooler for Beginners

Most Affordable AIO CPU Cooler for Beginners

Corsair has been great at producing high-quality liquid coolers in the market. And without any doubt, the Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro has been the best-closed loop CPU cooler to hit the market.

It offers a great design, makes almost no noise, and is reliable by all means. Moreover, it is the most affordable AIO coolers to get under $150 price tag. The Hydro Series H100i comes with a copper plate and a 240mm aluminum radiator to take care of high CPU temperatures.

It is easier to install on most of the ATX PC cases. However, for mini ITX or SFF cases, you need to make a lot of changes before you fit it in. Lastly, an excellent closed-loop CPU cooler if you have never used liquid cooling in your system before.

2. NZXT Kraken X53 | Best Closed Loop CPU Cooler for Gamers

Closed Loop CPU Cooler for Gamers

NZXT Kraken X53 might be a new name to most of you who haven’t used liquid cooling for years. The X53 comes with Asetek’s latest 7th generation technology for more faster and efficient cooling. And if you need a CPU cooler for i5 8600K, then this AIO cooler might be your final bet.

It keeps the temperature well under 60 degrees, even on higher clock speeds. And we highly recommend going for this closed-loop cooler if you are a newbie and haven’t used a liquid cooler ever in your life. Thanks to the 240mm radiators that suck an enormous amount of heat when you overclock to higher CPU speeds.

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On top of all, the RGB lights give this closed-loop CPU cooler a unique look when you install it on a gaming rig. You can swap 240mm fans with a 360mm version if you want more performance.

3. CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML360R RGB | Top Rated 360mm Closed Loop CPU Cooler

Best Rated 360mm Closed Loop CPU Cooler

Cooler Master is the favorite brand of gamers when it comes to taking care of CPU temperatures on higher clock speeds. The CoolerMaster Master Liquid 360R is the successor of the famous 240R version that offers excellent cooling on a lower price tag.

The only difference in the older and newer model is the size of the radiator. In the 360R, you get 360mm radiators for powerful CPU cooling. We found this AIO cooler better than the X53 liquid cooler on our list.

This CPU cooler sits well under the $150 price tag to offer you powerful cooling right out of the box. Like it is impossible to get a closed-loop CPU cooler with 360mm fans on this lower price. No doubt, this AIO cooler is a real winner that gives you a sweet spot between price and performance.

4. Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 | Most Efficient Closed Loop Cooler with 280mm Fan

Most Efficient Closed Loop Cooler with 280mm

Despite their higher price tag, the Arctic liquid closed-loop CPU coolers have been our favorite when it comes to thermal management. Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 is great at handling gaming CPUs with more cores that clock up to 5.0 GHz.

We liked the unique pump and design of the fan that helps in keeping the temperature stable out. Another great thing about Freezer II 280 is the lower noise levels. This liquid CPU cooler doesn’t make any noise at all, even when the 280mm fans are throttling at higher clock speeds.

5. NZXT Kraken M22| Best Low Budget 120mm AIO CPU Cooler with Closed Loop

Best Closed Loop CPU Coolers to Have in 2021

Sitting well under $80 price tag, NZXT Kraken M22 liquid cooler is a great deal for people who are tight on budget and need a taste of liquid cooling. Although the M22 comes with a single 120mm fan to cool down your CPU, it is still better than having an expensive air CPU cooler.

The NZXT Karen M22 is the most compact and cheapest closed-loop CPU cooler to fit in mini ITX cases without any problem. Another great thing about this AIO cooler is that you can fit it easily on AMD and Intel socket in a go.

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This liquid CPU cooler is a great deal for compact gaming PCs or video editing geeks who are lower on budget. However, we do not recommend this AIO cooler if you are building a high-end gaming PC that comes with more than 6 cores and extreme overclocking capabilities.

6. Thermaltake Floe Riing RGB | The Most Powerful Closed Loop CPU Cooler

Most Powerful AIO CPU Cooler

Thermaltake Floe Riing RGB is the king of closed loop CPU water cooling system. We loved the design of this AIO cooler that comes with flashing RGBs and 360mm surface radiators to cool down your PC.

The highly reliable water pump on the Thermaltake Floe Riing RGB is great at circulating the fluid from the base of the CPU to the thermal fans on the top. You can tweak the RGB lights that come with different colors to match them with your entire gaming rig.

For better heat conductivity, this closed loop AIO cooler has been equipped with a copper base. Thermaltake Floe Ring is a real performer, but it is expensive than other CPU coolers on our list. You need to spend over $350 to get this liquid cooler if you want temperatures to stand below 50 degrees.

The Bottom Line & Recommendation

Finally, these were some of the highly recommended closed loop CPU coolers in the market. Well, if you are a newbie and haven’t installed any AIO cooler in your system, then we recommend you going with Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro or NZXT Kraken M22 due to their affordable price and effective cooling.

And if you do not care about the budget and need a real performing closed loop cooler, then there is no parallel to CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML360R RGB and Thermaltake Floe Riing RGB when it comes to unbeatable cooling.

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