Air Cooling vs Liquid Cooling: Which Is Better for Your PC?

Spring and summer will inevitably arrive and given how hot the previous summer was even for European countries, 2023’s upcoming heat wave looks threatening. It’s about as threatening for humans as it is for desktop computers. So it might be time to reconsider some cooling options; when it comes to that, there are only two choices: air cooling vs liquid cooling.

Both are tried and tested methods of cooling a desktop PC, especially ones suited for gaming. 

But some of you might prefer one over the other for various reasons and factors. 

Also, if you’re in the market for a cooling solution in the advent of hotter and more power-hungry CPUs such as those from Intel Core 13th Gen or AMD Ryzen 7000 lineups, this guide can also help.

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We will have to define each cooling solution before we lay out its pros and cons. So here they are, starting with air cooling.

What Is Air Cooling?

Air cooling for CPUs or processors is also called tower coolers. Because they’re practically just layers of metal (usually copper and aluminum) that are placed on top of the CPU itself. A conductive thermal paste then connects the two metal surfaces for optimal heat transfer.

That’s the general idea of air cooling. The air or tower cooler metal pipes and plate are there to whisk away the heat from the CPU. The stack of thin metal in the air cooler (called heatsinks) then absorbs all the heat from the CPU through the (typically copper) pipes.

In order for the air cooler heatsink to efficiently continue absorbing heat away from the CPU, it needs to be cooled by– you guessed it, air. This air usually comes from the computer case’s fans but some air coolers have their own fans that blow directly onto the heatsink.

Before we get to the pros and cons, here’s a list of good CPU air coolers.

Pros of Air Cooling

Generally, air cooling is known as the safest option for cooling your CPU or processor. At best, the only part that could break for a CPU air cooler would be the fans (assuming they have fans). 

Over time, rust or cracks might invade the heatsink or the pipes but this is rare and can be avoided if you properly maintain your computer.

So in a positive summary, air cooling is:

• More affordable compared to water cooling
• Generally safe
• Stylish
• Easier to install

Cons of Air Cooling

Of course, there are some drawbacks to air cooling. Air can only do so much for a power-hungry CPU. If you have an i7 or Ryzen 7 CPU or anything more powerful than that, then chances are, your CPU air cooler might perform short especially if your CPU model is quite recent.

Air cooling can also get loud depending on the model (though it’s not always the case). Also, the most glaring disadvantage of air cooling is that it takes up a lot of space and the larger ones might invade RAM or memory clearance.

So in a negative summary, air cooling is:

• Bulky and takes up a lot of space
• Not ideal for powerful CPUs (i7/Ryzen 7 or above)
• Can get loud

Still, for most users, air cooling is sufficient. Some users might even get away with slapping a CPU air cooler on an older i7 or Ryzen 7 CPU as the technology has gone far and there are new innovations yearly. 

Now, what about the competition?

What Is Liquid Cooling?

Liquid cooling follows the same idea of operation as air cooling. It also draws heat away from the CPU. 

The big difference is in how they conduct this heat. Because instead of copper plates and pipes, a liquid cooler uses liquid to draw the heat away from the CPU and onto the radiator heatsink. The heat from the liquid will then transfer to the radiator. 

This radiator is usually attached to the top or front of the computer case with fans in front or behind them, blowing the heat away and cooling the liquid.

Once the liquid or water is adequately cooled, it will cycle back again to the water block attached to the CPU to draw the heat away again. After that, the liquid will be pumped back into the radiator for cooling, and the cycle continues as long as the computer is powered on.

Here’s a good list of CPU liquid coolers before we get to the pros and cons.

Pros of Liquid Cooling

Generally, liquid cooling is seen as a more robust option than air cooling for CPUs. That’s because liquid (usually distilled water) has better conductivity and heat transfer compared to water, vapor, or air. 

Also, the liquid in liquid coolers moves fast thanks to the pump and thus, they get cycled more often. They’re ideal for powerful CPUs that come with more than six cores or more than 12 threads.

The fans in the radiator also don’t need to work as hard compared to air coolers in order to cool the radiator since those are efficient in cooling themselves as well.

So in a positive summary, air cooling is:

• More efficient compared to air cooling
• Stylish
• Quieter compared to air cooling

Cons of Liquid Cooling

But of course, liquid and electronics are mortal enemies. Any amount of rogue liquid in a computer or an electronic’s circuitry might be enough to short them out. If there’s enough conductive liquid, then they can even fry any connected component.

It just so happens that the liquid in CPU liquid coolers is highly conductive. It’s only kept in check and contained in the transfer tubes which, due to their flexible design, are not exactly immune to leakage. 

As you can imagine, if the liquid cooler leaks, it can and will damage the components. Due to the position of the tubes, it’s usually the GPU that gets the whole serving of the conductive liquid in case it leaks. And unfortunately, the GPU is one of the most expensive parts of a computer.

Cases of leakage are rare, especially for reputable brands, but they’re known to happen at the most unexpected of times. There might also be some user error involved with leakages.

Other than that, liquid coolers are also generally more expensive compared to air coolers.

So in a negative summary, air cooling is:

• Might leak due to age, user error, or brand quality
• More expensive compared to air coolers
• More difficult to install

It All Depends on Your CPU

So again, with the question, air cooling vs liquid cooling. The answer is going to depend on the kind of CPU you have. If it’s a recent i7, i9, Ryzen 7, or Ryzen 9 processor, then it might be best to stick with liquid cooling since these new CPU models are hot and hungry for power.

Older i7 or Ryzen 7 (and above) CPUs can fare well with air cooling, assuming they’re about a couple of generations behind. 

Of course, you can also slap a liquid cooler on an i5 or Ryzen 5 or below CPU if you want, nothing’s stopping you, but that’s a bit overkill. 

So apart from the CPU type, your budget is what will dictate what you’re getting in the conundrum of air cooling vs liquid cooling. With all other technical factors considered, it’s all up to your preference and sense of style.

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