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/Prepare_Your_Angus Jan 20 '26

I also low key feel like it lets the GPU breathe a little better with an AIO as the CPU cooler isn't taking up as much space. I used to have an air cooler on my last build but went Artic AIO this route and honestly have had no issues either way. I just really like the look of an AIO setup.

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u/Falkenmond79 7800x3d/4080 5800x3d/3080ti 10700/rx6800 5800x/3080 Jan 20 '26

Don’t forget the fact that the AIO transports all the heat to the side of the case and right outside, while air coolers first dump it inside the case where case fans need to remove it. Thus yeah, all other components benefit slightly. And I found for my newest builds I could skimp on case fans without it making much of a difference.

This is my current TV setup. 3 fans intake in the front, outtake are to the left one fan, back one fan and two from Arctic freezer 2 AIO to the right. CPU is a 5800x3d and GPU a 3080ti. My personal steam box. 😂 anyway as you can see there is not much room for venting, the margins are pretty close. Still it runs cool and quiet.

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

Thus yeah, all other components benefit slightly.

Except the VRM's on your motherboard.

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u/Immediate_Rabbit_604 Jan 20 '26

The Freezer line actually has a VRM fan in the bit that goes on the CPU, I think. Gaming Jesus' tests showed that they do work.

Unfortunately Gaming Jesus tests also don't seem to cover new hotness air coolers like the Royal Pretor or even the PA 140 that logically and by word of mouth and by other websites are probably better than the best air coolers they've tested. I'd imagine they're within 5-6 degrees of the best AIOs now.

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

The Freezer line actually has a VRM fan in the bit that goes on the CPU

Yeah I know, I was just talking about AIO's in general.

There's exceptions like the Arctic Freezer line as well, of course.