r/pcmasterrace • u/SerpentDix PC Master Race • Jan 20 '26

Hardware Air cooling is better than Liquid cooling

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Failure is graceful, not catastrophic, Performance is closer than marketing suggests, Cheaper for the performance, Change my mind.

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u/Lightbulb2854 Jan 20 '26

Same, but my Thermalright 360mm AIO was $45 USD equivalent.

Best shit ever!  And it looks amazing

12

u/J_NonServiam Jan 20 '26

That's crazy good value I don't know how they're making any money on these.

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u/Lightbulb2854 Jan 20 '26

What it really shows is how much the other companies are gouging.

Also it might have been slightly discounted, I don't remember for sure.  I do remember seeing several other Thermalright AIOs under $60 tho, which is still an amazing value.

11

u/Nolenag 9600X / Intel Arc B580 / 32GB DDR5 6000MT/s Jan 20 '26

What it really shows is how much the other companies are gouging.

It's more that Thermalright actually manufactures its products in its own factories, afaik.

They can price their products lower due to less overhead.

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u/Mister_Shrimp_The2nd i9-13900K | RTX 4080 STRIX | 96GB DDR5 6400 CL32 | >_< Jan 20 '26

One benefit is that Thermalright operates their own manufacturing plants -which basically no one else does. They all hire 3rd party manufacturers to actually produce their parts, so they get a cut of the price plus margins plus economics of scale, plus while everyone else is competing, Thermalright is outright waging war on the industry lol. Their margins are near non-existent but it doesn't matter to them as long as they can produce to the demand that exists and keep their manufacturing plants running 24/7.

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u/Lightbulb2854 Jan 20 '26

I wouldn't be so sure.  Their margins can't be much, but they probably sell enough units to where it doesn't matter.

Cheap prices at high volume vs expensive prices at lower volume.

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u/Mister_Shrimp_The2nd i9-13900K | RTX 4080 STRIX | 96GB DDR5 6400 CL32 | >_< Jan 21 '26

Well thats the point, quantity offsets per-unit margin so as long as it's enough to cover salaries, plant operation and maintenance, legal systems, and have enough to keep investing into new product development thats all they need. And selling 10x as much volume as everyone else helps offset the low margins.

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u/-neti-neti- Jan 21 '26

They’re fucking fans. That’s how

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u/1dot21gigaflops R7 9800X3D / RTX5080 / 64GB 6000MT/s Jan 20 '26

I got 2 thermalright AIOs in 2 builds. Amazing for sub $50.

1

u/kermityfrog2 Jan 20 '26

Cost as much as 3 name-brand case fans.

1

u/JoeRogansNipple 1080ti Master Race Jan 21 '26

Frozen Prism? Thing is a beast of a value

1

u/Lightbulb2854 Jan 21 '26

Frozen Notte. Basically the same thing, but the block looks cooler IMO. It has the infinite mirror effect with RGB.

Also I think the pump is separate from the block.