Liquid Cooling vs. Air Cooling: What's the Best Option?

I. Introduction: The CPU Cooling Dilemma

Did you know that liquid coolers can provide 50-100W more heat output than a typical air cooler? An air cooler is virtually maintenance-free, whereas liquid coolers are prone to pump failures. Then, which one should you pick? Let's clear up this CPU cooling dilemma.

The air cooling method utilizes a fan and a heat sink that will transfer heat from the processor to the environment. It's an easy and inexpensive solution, but when it comes to liquid cooling in a processor, it's more expensive but more effective. Liquid takes heat from processors and flows through a radiator, where a fan cools it. The type of cooling used in modern processors, whether liquid or air, depends on several factors.

With the rise in demands for high computational requirements, modern processors like Intel Core Ultra 9 and AMD Ryzen 9 are designed with high thermal design power, which requires robust cooling solutions to operate at optimal performance and avoid thermal throttling. Some computers are designed with limited space to adjust fans and heatsinks. These computers have lower form factors, such as Mini-ITX builds, which reduce airflow and cause a thermal bottleneck; therefore, liquid cooling is a better option in such situations.

Liquid cooling systems also offer better aesthetics with RGB lighting on pumps and fans, provide higher cooling capabilities for high-performance processors with overclocking, and have a smaller size compared to air cooling. Additionally, they have simpler aesthetics and lower cooling performance with larger sizes, although they achieve the same cooling capability as a liquid cooling system.

II. Air Cooling: The Reliable Default

In the rapidly evolving era where microprocessors are constantly changing, their computing speed is also changing. Air cooling methods continue to provide a reliable and efficient solution for cooling basic to mid-range processors, keeping them within safe operating temperatures.

Mechanics

The Air cooling system comprises a Heat sink, Heat pipes, a fan, and an exhaust fan. A heat sink is typically made of copper or aluminum. It is placed directly on the processor, absorbing its heat and transferring it to hollow tubes filled with a liquid that evaporates and condenses, thereby removing heat from the CPU. These tubes are attached to fins to increase the surface area where a fan is attached to carry heat away from the metal surface, and an exhaust fan expels warm air out of the CPU casing. There are no complicated parts in the air cooling of the CPU. There are no pumps or radiators with coolant. Even if thermal paste is pre-applied, it's always plug-and-play for an air cooling system.

Advantages

• Reliability: The air cooling system's reliability for a CPU is its greatest strength. It has no moving parts except the fan, which has a lifespan of 150,000 hours for a good brand like Noctua, ESGAMING, Cooler Master, or DeepCool. For example, ESGAMING’s Easy Installation 6 Heat Pipes Dual Tower ARGB Cooler (T2-2F) and Factory Direct Sales 4 Heat Pipes 120mm Colorful Gaming Air Cooler (EZ-4A) offer instant cooling and quiet operation, designed for high-performance systems. It means a fan can work continuously for 15 years without failure.
• Cost: Since there are very few rotating parts, its cost is also very low compared to a liquid cooling system. The price ranges from 30$ to 150$, depending on cooling capability and reliability. Most users who don't want to spend much but require efficient cooling can install an air cooling system in their CPU
• Safety: Air cooling systems are inherently safe, as they do not use liquid coolant, eliminating the risk of damaging CPU components due to liquid leaks.
• Maintenance: They perform exceptionally well with only occasional dust cleaning and maintain the temperature well below safe limits. They are an ideal choice for server PC and novice PCs due to their low maintenance costs.
• Durability: In the long run, they perform well, as there are no mechanical parts that wear out over time.

Disadvantages

• Size: The size of the air cooler is a concern for the CPU's cooling system. Coolers with a large size often have clearance issues when installing them, and if not appropriately designed, they can obstruct the RAM and CPU, causing problems during installation.
• Performance: In comparison to liquid cooling, air cooling has its limitations. Their performance depends on ambient temperature and air flow. Most importantly, these coolers expel heat into the casing taken from the CPU, and can increase the temperature of other components if there is less space available for hot air to be expelled.
• Noise: Users are often annoyed by the sound generated by the cooler fan. Users who prefer a quiet and efficient cooling system for their CPU usually face challenges because most budget-friendly air coolers come with less efficient and noisier fans. Bulk (RAM/case clearance issues), noise (35-40dBA), and airflow disruption are expected in the air cooler.
• Efficiency: Budget-friendly air coolers are not suitable for high-end processors due to their low efficiency, lower airflow, and increased noise. High-efficiency air coolers have a comparable cost to a liquid cooling system, making it difficult to justify the higher cost of air coolers over liquid coolers, which offer a better cooling solution.

III. Liquid Cooling: Performance and Modern Aesthetics

With the advancement of computer technology, graphics cards and CPUs require more effective cooling solutions. Air cooling solutions are suitable and stable for basic computing needs, but for high-end gaming and processing, consumers demand more advanced liquid cooling solutions.

Mechanics

A liquid cooling solution for a CPU consists of a water block, a pump, tubing, and a radiator. Heat generated by the CPU is absorbed by a liquid block mounted directly to the CPU. This block is made from high-conducting metal like copper. Liquid is pumped by a pump to these water blocks to take away the heat produced by the CPU. This heated liquid then enters the radiator, where it loses its heat to the surrounding air when a fan provides airflow to the radiator's outer surface. The radiator works like a heat exchanger in a liquid cooling system. The cooled liquid is again pumped to the water block, and this cycle continues to remove the unwanted heat. There are two types of liquid cooling systems available.

• AOI All-in-one cooler, made to fix and use like plug-and-play devices
• Custom water cooling loops are used for much higher performances, but require better knowledge of how to use them and how to maintain them

Advantages

• Overclocking: Liquid cooling solutions for CPUs are often used to achieve higher CPU performance and reduce CPU temperature to approximately equal that of the ambient temperature. This will enable users to overclock their CPU for gaming and video rendering purposes. Maintaining a lower temperature has a direct effect on both performance and the lifespan of components.
• Efficiency: With higher cooling efficiency, liquid cooling solutions enable users to overclock their CPUs for a longer duration, eliminating the need for thermal throttling during this period.
• High-TDP Support: Modern CPUs, such as the Core i9, have a thermal design power of more than 300W. Air cooling systems are not suitable for CPUs that produce high heat, but a good liquid cooling system can easily handle the task.
• Aesthetics: Water cooling systems have pleasing aesthetics with RGB lighting. They have smaller sizes compared to their counterparts' air cooling systems, providing better space and visibility of other components, making them more attractive.
• Quietness: Liquid cooling is quieter than air cooling systems. Having a radiator is an added benefit that allows the fan to operate at lower speeds, thereby reducing energy consumption. Its sound level at full output is not more than 35 dB. With varying radiator sizes and a multi-radiator system, we can achieve additional cooling benefits for both the CPU and the GPU simultaneously. As per the requirement, radiator sizes can also vary from 120mm to 420mm with single to triple fans.

Disadvantages

The liquid cooling system of the CPU has several advantages over air cooling, but it also has some drawbacks to using liquid cooling solutions. Some of the crucial things we will discuss here:

• Cost: The cost of a liquid cooling system is higher than that of an air-cooled system, ranging from $150 for an optimal AOI. However, for a custom-built liquid system, the cost can increase to as high as $500. As you can see, there's a huge price difference compared to a $30 air-cooled system.
• Reliability: A liquid cooling system also carries a higher risk of component failures, such as pump failure, which is the most common and can result in a low or no flow of liquid through the radiator, causing components to overheat and potentially leading to their failure. Another common risk is the leakage of coolant, which, if spread over the components, can also cause damage.
• Maintenance: Liquid cooling systems perform better than air cooling, but they still require more maintenance over time. Dust will accumulate on the radiator, and users must clean it, as failure to do so can lead to lower performance and higher temperatures. At the same time, custom liquid cooling systems require more stringent maintenance, such as coolant replacement and leak detection.
• Installation: AIO comes with a play facility, but it is more complex to install than an air-cooled system. A custom liquid system requires more expertise to install, which helps avoid any performance issues.

IV. Final Comparison and Verdict

To determine whether air or liquid cooling is more effective, we can compare their performance in terms of reliability. Liquid- or air-cooled systems are used depending on the user's needs. A liquid cooling solution offers superior cooling in high-thermal-load processors. It provides better performance with a higher-boosted CPU for a longer duration, while still managing to reduce the CPU's temperature to near-ambient levels. Still, this advantage comes with lower reliability as compared to an air cooling system because a liquid cooling system has complex parts that are prone to failure. An air cooling system has a simpler construction, consisting only of a heat sink and a fan, which makes it more durable and reliable. They are less likely to fail and require almost no maintenance.

If we compare, we can see from this article that liquid cooling systems excel in performance and aesthetics, but air cooling is more reliable and durable.

Verdict

When choosing between an air cooling solution and a liquid cooling system, it depends on your specific needs. If you are a basic computer user, an air cooling system (e.g., ESGAMING, Noctua, Cooler Master, DeepCool) for your CPU is always better, as it is more reliable, durable, and cost-effective, with a lower environmental impact, since most of its parts are recyclable. For instance, ESGAMING’s 6 Heatpipe Gamer Dual 120mm Fan ARGB Cooler (T1-2FS) provides robust cooling for mid-range systems featuring high-efficiency aluminum fins.

Suppose you are a gamer or appreciate aesthetics. In that case, you will prefer liquid cooling (ESGAMING, Corsair, Cooler Master, Arctic, Thermaltake) to achieve better performance and sustained overclocking, with ease in upgrading to newer CPUs with higher thermal power, and to have an eye-catching CPU at your desk. ESGAMING’s Factory 2.8 Inch Pump Head 360mm ARGB Water Cooler (EW-360S3) and Prism 240 White Liquid Cooler, featuring infinite mirrors and intelligent temperature control, elevate both performance and aesthetics for high-end gaming rigs. Here is a table comparing two types for deeper analysis:

Comparison Summary Table