Cooling solutions are critical for modern gaming rigs, and in 2026, AIO (All-in-One) liquid coolers dominate the market due to efficiency and aesthetics. Over 85% of Intel and AMD processors released since 2024 support overclocking, which increases heat output and requires aftermarket cooling solutions such as AIO units. AIO coolers are preferred over large air cooler units because of their compact design and RGB customization, making them the choice of most PC enthusiasts.
In the early 2010s, brands like NZXT, Corsair, Cooler Master, and Arctic pioneered AIO cooler development, but by 2026 companies including ASUS ROG, DeepCool, EKWB, and Thermaltake now provide advanced liquid cooling designs. More than 90% of modern AIO coolers integrate RGB lighting, software controls, and noise-optimized pumps, enhancing both thermal performance and customization options. In this article, we examine the best AIO coolers of 2026 that combine high thermal efficiency, compact form factors, and visual customization.
Corsair H100i RGB PRO XT
Corsair H100i RGB PRO XT is a 240mm liquid CPU cooler released in 2020 that remains one of the best mid-range AIO coolers in 2026 due to its balance of performance and price. It is smaller than Corsair’s 360mm models, yet delivers cooling performance within 2–3 °C of them in independent benchmark tests.
The cooler features RGB lighting on the pump head with a customizable Corsair logo, controlled through the iCue software. According to Tom’s Hardware testing, iCue ranks among the most stable and flexible RGB management tools.
Corsair has used two 120mm Magnetic Levitation (ML) series fans in this unit. These fans provide airflow up to 75 CFM with static pressure optimized for radiators, and the measured noise output is 37 dB at full speed. The fans do not include RGB lighting, unlike those in the Elite Capellix series. The cooler also supports Zero RPM mode, which keeps the fans idle and completely silent when system temperatures are low.
As for compatibility, the Corsair H100i RGB PRO XT supports Intel LGA 1150, LGA 1151, LGA 1155, LGA 1156, LGA 1366, LGA 2011, LGA 2011-3, LGA 2066 and AMD AM2, AM3, AM4, FM1, and FM2 sockets.
Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora
Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora is a 240 mm AIO liquid cooler that offers aRGB lighting and Enterprise-grade TPV hoses. It is positioned as an alternative to the CORSAIR H100i RGB PRO XT for users who prioritize aesthetics over raw performance. Although Alphacool is less recognized than CORSAIR, its AIO coolers are tested for long-term reliability.
Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora includes aRGB lighting on the pump and fans. The illumination system delivers higher brightness levels compared to CORSAIR ML series fans. The design integrates TPV hoses and metal fittings from the Enterprise Solution line, reducing leak risk during continuous operation.
The pump design is less efficient compared to the CORSAIR H100i RGB PRO XT, and benchmark tests show performance that is 5–7% lower in heavy overclocking scenarios. For standard gaming or productivity use, this difference is minimal. The two fans operate at 800–2000 RPM with 2.0 mm H2O static pressure and airflow up to 72 CFM.
The cooler supports Intel LGA 1156, LGA 1155, LGA 1150, LGA 1151, LGA 2011, LGA 2011-3, LGA 2066 and AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+, AM4 sockets.
DEEPCOOL Captain 240 PRO V2
Among the best AIO coolers of 2026, the DEEPCOOL Captain 240 PRO V2 is a 240 mm liquid cooler known for its anti-leak technology, translucent RGB fan design, and wide CPU socket support.
DEEPCOOL designs liquid cooling solutions and is recognized for its Captain and Castle series, including models such as the Captain EX RGB and Castle 360 RGB V2, which gained popularity in the PC cooling market. The DEEPCOOL Captain 240 PRO V2 is a 240 mm AIO cooler with enhanced RGB lighting compared to earlier Captain versions.
First of all, the cooler uses two 120 mm fans with translucent blades that diffuse RGB lighting evenly. The pump unit includes a U-shaped steel pipe that adds structural reinforcement, while RGB LEDs are integrated into the top and sides of the housing.
DEEPCOOL’s patented Anti-Leak Technology improves pressure balance inside the loop, reducing coolant leakage risk by more than 90% compared to standard AIO coolers according to company testing. The performance of this cooler is close to the Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora but slightly below the CORSAIR H100i RGB PRO XT in thermal benchmarks. The fans operate between 500 and 1,800 RPM with a static pressure of 2.42 mm H₂O and an airflow of 69.34 CFM.
This cooler supports Intel sockets, including LGA 2066, 2011-v3, 2011, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, and 1366, along with AMD sockets such as TR4, AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, and FM1.
NZXT Kraken X53
NZXT is a manufacturer known for aesthetics, and many streamers use NZXT products for case design integration. The NZXT Kraken X53 is a 240 mm budget AIO liquid cooler priced lower than the Corsair H100i PRO XT (around $139), while focusing on visual design rather than raw performance.
There are two versions of the Kraken X53: one includes RGB Aer P fans, while the version discussed here uses non-RGB Aer P 120 mm fans but retains an RGB pump head. The circular pump includes programmable RGB rings, and the NZXT logo is also RGB-illuminated.
The cooler uses two Aer P 120 mm fans with an RPM range of 500–2,000 and a maximum static pressure of 2.93 mm H₂O, which makes them less efficient than the Corsair ML120 fans (4.2 mm H₂O). As a result, thermal performance is lower than both the Corsair H100i PRO XT and Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora 240, especially under heavy loads. Noise levels reach 36 dBA at maximum speed.
The NZXT Kraken X53 supports Intel LGA 1200, LGA 115X, LGA 1366, LGA 2011, LGA 2011-3, LGA 2066, and AMD AM4, sTRX4, and TR4 sockets. Threadripper mounting brackets are not included and must be purchased separately.
Corsair H150i Elite Capellix
The CORSAIR H150i Elite Capellix is a 360 mm liquid cooler that delivers high cooling performance, customizable RGB lighting, and durable build quality.
The cooler is available in both white and black colors, and both variants come with ARGB ML120 fans. The RGB lighting illuminates both the fans and the pump housing, with customization available via iCUE software. The company has used a 360 mm radiator in this cooler, so the thermal performance ranks among the top AIO coolers, keeping CPUs up to 5–7°C cooler than mid-range models under 250W loads.
The cooler uses three CORSAIR ML series RGB fans, and the lighting on these fans can be customized through the Corsair iCUE application. The fans have an RPM range of 400 to 2400 RPM and support zero RPM mode, where the ML120 fans stop completely when CPU thermals are low. The fans have a static air pressure of 4.2 mmH2O, which is higher than standard 120 mm case fans that average 1.5–2.0 mmH2O.
The cooler supports Intel LGA 1700, LGA 1200, LGA 115x, LGA 20xx, and AMD AM4, AM5, sTR4, and sTRX4 sockets.
LIAN LI Galahad
LIAN LI is an established manufacturer founded in 1983 in the computer industry, and its products are recognized for aluminum PC cases and cooling hardware. Its cases are considered among the highest quality in the market, and now the company also produces AIO liquid coolers such as the Galahad series.
The LIAN LI Galahad is an all-in-one liquid CPU cooler available in two radiator sizes: 240 mm and 360 mm. It comes in black and white color options. The pump housing has a dual-tone design with a silver aluminum top and black or white base, providing a clean finish. The cooler features integrated ARGB lighting in the pump block, similar to DEEPCOOL Castle series models and NZXT Kraken coolers.
The 120 mm fans included with the Galahad provide 2.6 mm H2O static pressure, an airflow rating of 69.17 CFM, and operate between 800 and 1900 RPM. They feature ARGB illumination compatible with ASUS AuraSync, MSI Mystic Light, GIGABYTE RGB Fusion, and ASRock Polychrome Sync. Noise levels are rated at 32 dBA maximum, ensuring balanced performance.
The cooler supports Intel sockets LGA 115X, LGA 1200, LGA 1700, LGA 1366, LGA 2011, and LGA 2066. On the AMD side, it is compatible with AM4 and AM5 sockets, but does not include mounting for older platforms such as AM3 or TR4.
Cooler Master ML240P Mirage
Cooler Master has designed more than 30 liquid CPU coolers in the past. Recently, the company introduced the MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage, a 240 mm all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler equipped with dual 120 mm SF120R ARGB fans and addressable RGB lighting on both the pump and fans.
The design of the ML240P Mirage resembles the DeepCool Castle 240 mm, featuring a circular pump top with ring-shaped ARGB illumination. The two MasterFan SF120R ARGB fans can be customized through Cooler Master’s software. Each fan operates at 650–2000 RPM, produces a maximum airflow of 66.7 CFM, and generates 27 dB of noise, which is 15% lower than standard 2000 RPM fans. The static pressure rating is 2.1 mm H2O, enabling efficient heat dissipation on dense fin stacks.
The compatibility of this cooler is broad compared to other 240 mm AIOs, supporting Intel sockets (LGA 2066, 2011-v3, 1366, 1156, 1155, 1151, 1150, 775) and AMD sockets (TR4, AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1).
EVGA CLC 280
EVGA is a U.S.-based hardware manufacturer founded in 1999 that specializes in GPUs, PSUs, and cooling solutions. The company designs AIO coolers as well, and we are discussing the EVGA CLC 280, which is positioned as a performance-focused 280 mm liquid cooler. It is targeted towards enthusiasts who are not willing to sacrifice performance for aesthetics. That is why the design appeal is limited compared to other models, but when it comes to performance, independent benchmarks show it ranks among the highest-performing AIO coolers in its category.
The design of this cooler is minimalist with a matte-black finish. The fans are plain black, and so is the pump, with single-zone RGB lighting on it. The fans have a maximum speed of 2200 RPM, which is one of the reasons for the strong thermal performance of this cooler. The high RPM leads to higher noise as well, making it measure up to 45 dBA under load, which is louder than most competing AIOs. The fans have a high static air pressure of 4.2 mm H2O, which is the same as that of the CORSAIR ML RGB fans.
The cooler supports Intel LGA 2066, LGA 2011-v3, LGA 1366, LGA 1156, LGA 1155, LGA 1151, LGA 1150, LGA 1700, and AMD AM2, AM3, AM4, FM1, FM2, TR4 and AM5 sockets.
