CPU Cooler Types: Air vs Liquid
An air cooler moves heat through metal fins and a fan, an all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler pumps coolant to a radiator, and both are sized to the CPU's power.
By Paul SyversonFounder.
On this page
The short answer
Every desktop processor needs a cooler that pulls heat away from it. There are two main kinds:
- Air cooler: a metal base touches the processor, heat pipes carry the heat up into a stack of thin fins, and a fan blows through the fins.
- All-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler: a pump block sits on the processor and pushes coolant through tubes to a radiator with fans, usually mounted on the case wall.
Of the 551 CPU coolers listed on Wiki Shopping on October 26, 2026, 458 state a type: 283 are air coolers and 175 are AIO liquid coolers.
Air cooler vs liquid cooler
| Air cooler | AIO liquid cooler | |
|---|---|---|
| How heat leaves | Fins and fan right above the processor | Radiator and fans on the case wall |
| Moving parts | Fans only | Fans plus a pump |
| What can wear out | Fan bearings | Fans, pump and coolant over time |
| Space it needs | Height above the motherboard | A case mount that fits the radiator |
| Leak risk | None | Small, since it holds liquid |
An air cooler is simple: if the fan ever fails, you replace a fan. Its limit is height, since a large tower can be too tall for a slim case. An AIO moves the bulk of the hardware away from the processor, which frees room around the memory slots, but your case must have a mount that matches the radiator length.
What TDP means
TDP stands for thermal design power. Intel defines it as the power, in watts, that a processor draws under its maximum theoretical load, a target that system builders use to choose a cooler. Since its 12th generation processors, Intel uses the term Processor Base Power instead. Intel also notes that a processor can briefly draw more than that figure during turbo boost, until it hits a temperature or power limit.
In practice, compare the processor's rated power with what the cooler maker says the cooler can handle, and leave some headroom if the chip boosts hard.
Radiator sizes
AIO radiators are named by their length in millimeters. A longer radiator holds more fans and has more surface to shed heat but needs a bigger mount. On Wiki Shopping, 136 coolers have a 360 mm radiator and 31 have a 240 mm radiator.
Check the socket
A cooler only fits if it supports your processor's socket. On Wiki Shopping, 251 coolers list AMD AM5 support, 249 list Intel LGA1700 and 233 list Intel LGA1851. Many list several.
How long does an AIO last
Corsair says its AIO coolers can last between five and ten years, depending on how hard and how long they run and on heat and humidity in the room. Its warranties run from 3 to 6 years depending on the product line. Corsair advises keeping dust off the radiator and fans, checking that the pump runs, and replacing the thermal paste every couple of years.
How we count
Type, radiator size and socket support are read from each cooler's store listing. Coolers that do not state a value are left out of that count. The counts change as listings are added or removed.
Shop by spec
CPU Coolers
aio, 360 AIO radiator size
- LGA 1851 READY - The MAG CORELIQUID Series liquid cooler provides out of box support for LGA 1851.
- SPLIT-FLOW RADIATOR WITH INTEGRATED PUMP - The aluminium radiator features a unique split-flow water cooling system with an integrated three-phase pump for superior durability and motor resonance reduction.
- The CORELIQUID A13 series is equipped with a high-performance pump that operates at speeds up to 3800 RPM. Combined with high-quality ceramic bearings, it achieves a perfect balance between performance and quiet operation
- EVAPORATION-PROOF TUBING - 390mm water cooling tubes comprised of triple-layered netted plastic concealed beneath reinforced mesh sheathing to ensure that water stays inside the closed-loop system at all times.
- AMD and INTEL SOCKET COMPATIBLE - An easy-to-install mounting bracket fits AMD (AM5, AM4) and Intel (LGA 1700) CPU sockets; Thermal paste included
aio
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE COOLING, The NZXT Turbine pump is engineered for high flow and head pressure, delivering efficient, low-noise cooling to keep your CPU performing at its best under heavy workloads.
- CUSTOM LCD SCREEN, Display real-time system temps, animated GIFs, custom images, or web integrations like Spotify and YouTube on a bright 1.54" square LCD, fully customizable through NZXT CAM software.
- QUIET AIRFLOW, High-static pressure fans move air through the radiator to dissipate heat effectively, while Zero RPM Mode stops the fans completely at low loads for silent operation.
- EASY INSTALLATION, Pre-applied thermal paste and a single breakout cable from the pump cap speed up installation and reduce cable clutter.
- WIDE COMPATIBILITY, Includes tool-free mounting brackets that support the latest AMD and Intel CPU sockets, including AM5 and LGA 1851.
aio, 280 AIO radiator size
- Impressively high cooling performance for all consumer CPUs
- State-of-the-art PWM pump with 6-pole motor reduces vibrations to an absolute minimum
- 2 Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM high-speed fan offer high static pressure with very quiet operation
- Daisy-chained PWM fans for maximum convenience
- Flexible sleeved tubes and a simple mounting ensure easy handling
aio, 360 AIO radiator size
- The new generation full-plane copper base eliminates the traditional screw perforation design, significantly enhancing water-tightness and ensuring more reliable system operation.
- MSI’s hidden-cable design that routes all pump power and display signals through the sleeved tubing itself, leaving the cooling head completely free of visible wires. No messy cables.
- The 2.1-inch LCD screen supports real-time monitoring, animated visuals, or personalized content. Use it as a secondary display for dynamic system feedback and next-level customization.
- MSI's CycloBlade 9 fan combines a hybrid blade design, delivering powerful airflow and high static pressure. This ensures extreme cooling performance during intense gaming while maintaining low noise levels for an immersive experience. Additionally, the ARGB GEN2 lighting effects make your rig stand out on the battlefield, making it the ultimate choice for esports players.
- The exclusive UNI BRACKET mounting system offers seamless compatibility across Intel and AMD platforms, making installation faster, easier, and hassle-free for all builders.
- Latest CPU socket supported: Intel LGA 1851 & AMD AM5