Buying Guide
The Best 280mm AIO Liquid Coolers
Five 280mm AIO liquid coolers compared on pump, 140mm fans, displays, cabling and socket support for cases that fit two large fans.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
A 280mm AIO uses two 140mm fans, which move air at lower speeds than 120mm fans. It is a good middle ground between 240mm and 360mm for cases with 140mm mounts.
We compared five 280mm AIOs on pumps, fans, cabling, displays and socket support. This is a research-based comparison built from maker specifications; we did not test these parts ourselves. We limited the list to five because too few other 280mm listings state enough detail to compare.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Value 280mm
ID-COOLING FX280 PRO SEA 2900 RPM pump and 140mm fans at a budget price.
Best for: Budget builds that fit a 280mm radiator.
Check price for ID-COOLING FX280 PRO SE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best with an LCD
NZXT Kraken Plus 280A 1.54-inch LCD with zero RPM fans.
Best for: Showcase builds with NZXT CAM.
Check price for NZXT Kraken Plus 280 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Solid Alternative
CORSAIR iCUE LINK H115i RGBThe H115i RGB runs pump and fans through Corsair's iCUE LINK hub, with fans up to 2000 RPM and zero RPM mode.
Best for: Buyers who want zero rpm mode stops the fans at light load.
Check price for CORSAIR iCUE LINK H115i RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Display
LIAN LI Galahad II LCD 280A 2.88-inch IPS screen.
Best for: Builds centred on the pump-head screen.
Check price for LIAN LI Galahad II LCD 280 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Quiet-Focused Pick
be quiet! Pure Loop 3 280mmPure Wings 3 fans and a PWM pump with a six-pole motor.
Best for: Quiet builds without RGB software.
Check price for be quiet! Pure Loop 3 280mm on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Value 280mm1 of 5
ID-COOLING FX280 PRO SE
The FX280 PRO SE keeps its details simple: a 2900 RPM pump rated at 25dB(A), two 140mm fans at 300 to 1800 RPM and 400mm tubes.
Best for
- Budget builds that fit a 280mm radiator.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when maximum fan speed of 1800 RPM, behind the H115i RGB (2000 RPM) is a problem.
Why we like it
It is the value route to a 280mm radiator. It is rated for 350W, with a 2,900 RPM pump and 400mm sleeved tubes. You also get a 27mm aluminium radiator.
Check that your case offers 280mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks. It supports both AM5 and Intel LGA1851. It undercut the Pure Loop 3 280 and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: maximum fan speed of 1800 RPM, behind the H115i RGB (2000 RPM). If that matters, the H115i RGB offers 2000 RPM.
Key specs
- Max fan speed
- 1800 RPM
- Max pump speed
- 2900 RPM
- Fan size
- 140mm
- Tube length
- 400mm
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- 27mm aluminium radiator
- Pump rated at 25dB(A)
- A 2900 RPM pump and 140mm fans at a budget price
Cons
- Maximum fan speed of 1800 RPM, behind the H115i RGB (2000 RPM)
Best with an LCD2 of 5
NZXT Kraken Plus 280
The Kraken Plus 280 pairs 140mm fans with NZXT's 1.54-inch LCD pump head and zero RPM mode.
Best for
- Showcase builds with NZXT CAM.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when lighting and display control need NZXT CAM is a problem.
Why we like it
It suits builders who want a display without a separate controller. No other pick in this guide offers NZXT CAM software; compare the H115i RGB, which has iCUE software. It also comes with a single breakout cable from the pump cap.
Check that your case offers 280mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks. It supports both AM5 and Intel LGA1851. Plan to install NZXT CAM for lighting and display control; fan and pump speed can also run from the motherboard's headers. It was priced above the H115i RGB and below the Galahad II LCD 280 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 140mm
- Pump display
- 1.54-inch
- Zero RPM mode
- Yes
- Software
- NZXT CAM
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 1.54-inch pump-head display for temperatures or images
- Zero RPM mode stops the fans at light load
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- NZXT's Turbine pump
Cons
- Lighting and display control need NZXT CAM
- Costs more than the FX280 PRO SE at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published maximum fan speed figure, whereas the H115i RGB offers 2000 RPM.
Solid Alternative3 of 5
CORSAIR iCUE LINK H115i RGB
The H115i RGB runs pump and fans through Corsair's iCUE LINK hub, with fans up to 2000 RPM and zero RPM mode.
Best for
- Buyers who want zero rpm mode stops the fans at light load.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: lighting and display control need iCUE.
Why we like it
It belongs in Corsair-based builds. No other pick in this guide offers iCUE software; compare the Kraken Plus 280, which has NZXT CAM software. Check that your case offers 280mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks.
The maker doesn't spell out LGA1851 mounting, so confirm it on the maker's site for a Core Ultra build. Plan to install iCUE for lighting control; fan and pump speed can also run from the motherboard's headers. It was priced above the Pure Loop 3 280 and below the Kraken Plus 280 at the time of writing. There is no published pump speed figure, whereas the Galahad II LCD 280 offers 3600 RPM.
Key specs
- Max fan speed
- 2000 RPM
- Fan size
- 140mm
- Zero RPM mode
- Yes
- Cabling
- One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans
- Software
- iCUE
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1700
Pros
- Zero RPM mode stops the fans at light load
- One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans
- QX140 RGB fans
- 20-LED pump cap
Cons
- Lighting and display control need iCUE
- Costs more than the FX280 PRO SE at the time of writing
Largest Display4 of 5
LIAN LI Galahad II LCD 280
The Galahad II LCD 280 has the largest screen here, a 2.88-inch IPS panel, on an Asetek pump rated up to 3600 RPM.
Best for
- Builds centred on the pump-head screen.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: lighting and display control need L-Connect.
Why we like it
Its fans use wireless lighting and speed control. It is the only pick here with L-Connect software; the Kraken Plus 280 has NZXT CAM software instead. Check that your case offers 280mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks.
The maker doesn't spell out LGA1851 mounting, so confirm it on the maker's site for a Core Ultra build. Plan to install L-Connect for lighting and display control; fan and pump speed can also run from the motherboard's headers. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Kraken Plus 280 the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- Max pump speed
- 3600 RPM
- Fan size
- 140mm
- Pump display
- 2.88-inch IPS
- Cabling
- Wireless fan lighting and speed control
- Software
- L-Connect
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- 2.88-inch IPS pump-head display for temperatures or images
- Wireless fan lighting and speed control
- 8th-generation Asetek pump
- 2.4GHz wireless TL fans
Cons
- Lighting and display control need L-Connect
- Costs more than the FX280 PRO SE at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed maximum fan speed, look to the H115i RGB instead: it offers 2000 RPM, while this one gives no figure.
Quiet-Focused Pick5 of 5
be quiet! Pure Loop 3 280mm
The Pure Loop 3 280 is be quiet!'s low-noise take, with Pure Wings 3 fans that daisy-chain and a PWM pump.
Best for
- Quiet builds without RGB software.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the FX280 PRO SE, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It suits quiet builds that skip RGB software. Its PWM pump has a six-pole motor for low vibration, and flexible sleeved tubes make mounting simple. Check that your case offers 280mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks.
The maker doesn't spell out LGA1851 mounting, so confirm it on the maker's site for a Core Ultra build. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the FX280 PRO SE at the time of writing. Its price falls between the FX280 PRO SE and the H115i RGB, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 140mm
- Cabling
- Daisy-chained PWM fans
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- Daisy-chained PWM fans
- PWM pump with a six-pole motor
- Pure Wings 3 fans
Cons
- Costs more than the FX280 PRO SE at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed maximum fan speed should compare it with the H115i RGB, which offers 2000 RPM.
How We Chose These 280mm AIO Coolers
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared five AIO coolers on maximum fan speed, pump speed, fan size and pump display, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 3 of 5 picks leave out maximum fan speed.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the FX280 PRO SE to the Pure Loop 3 280, state fan size and sockets named.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Kraken Plus 280, the Galahad II LCD 280 and the Pure Loop 3 280 give no maximum fan speed; the Kraken Plus 280, the H115i RGB and the Pure Loop 3 280 give no pump speed.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the FX280 PRO SE ($50 to $100) to the Galahad II LCD 280 ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a 280mm AIO Cooler
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Maximum fan speed
The H115i RGB tops maximum fan speed at 2000 RPM and the FX280 PRO SE sits lowest at 1800 RPM. The H115i RGB is the pick for maximum fan speed. The Kraken Plus 280, the Galahad II LCD 280 and the Pure Loop 3 280 give no maximum fan speed figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
How much pump speed you need
Across these 2 picks pump speed spans 2900 RPM (the FX280 PRO SE) to 3600 RPM (the Galahad II LCD 280). If pump speed is your first filter, the Galahad II LCD 280 sets the ceiling at 3600 RPM. The Kraken Plus 280, the H115i RGB and the Pure Loop 3 280 give no pump speed figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
A case with purple-lit front fans and the motherboard area behind them Zero RPM mode
The Kraken Plus 280 and the H115i RGB have it. Sort out zero RPM mode before price: it splits 2 stated picks into groups of 2.
Software
The Kraken Plus 280 lists NZXT CAM; the H115i RGB lists iCUE; the Galahad II LCD 280 lists L-Connect. Settling software first narrows 3 picks to 1 or 1 or 1.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC Features beyond the spec table
The H115i RGB: a 20-LED pump cap. The Galahad II LCD 280: 2.4GHz wireless TL fans. The Pure Loop 3 280: Pure Wings 3 fans.
How to Choose a 280mm AIO Cooler
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget builds that fit a 280mm radiator | FX280 PRO SE | A 2900 RPM pump and 140mm fans at a budget price |
| Showcase builds with NZXT CAM | Kraken Plus 280 | A 1.54-inch LCD with zero RPM fans |
| Builds centred on the pump-head screen | Galahad II LCD 280 | A 2.88-inch IPS screen |
| Quiet builds without RGB software | Pure Loop 3 280 | Pure Wings 3 fans and a PWM pump with a six-pole motor |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The H115i RGB leads on maximum fan speed at 2000 RPM, ahead of the FX280 PRO SE at 1800 RPM. "Not listed" marks maximum fan speed where the Kraken Plus 280, the Galahad II LCD 280 and the Pure Loop 3 280 leave the figure out.
| AIO cooler | Max fan speed | Max pump speed | Fan size | Pump display |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FX280 PRO SE | 1800 RPM | 2900 RPM | 140mm | Not listed |
| Kraken Plus 280 | Not listed | Not listed | 140mm | 1.54-inch |
| H115i RGB | 2000 RPM | Not listed | 140mm | Not listed |
| Galahad II LCD 280 | Not listed | 3600 RPM | 140mm | 2.88-inch IPS |
| Pure Loop 3 280 | Not listed | Not listed | 140mm | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the FX280 PRO SE, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the Galahad II LCD 280 at $100 to $150; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | AIO coolers |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | FX280 PRO SE, Pure Loop 3 280 |
| About $100 to $150 | H115i RGB, Kraken Plus 280, Galahad II LCD 280 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the FX280 PRO SE compare with the H115i RGB on maximum fan speed?
The H115i RGB leads at 2000 RPM, with the FX280 PRO SE at 1800 RPM. No maximum fan speed figure is published for the Kraken Plus 280, the Galahad II LCD 280 and the Pure Loop 3 280, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the Galahad II LCD 280 ahead of the FX280 PRO SE on pump speed?
The Galahad II LCD 280 tops pump speed at 3600 RPM; the FX280 PRO SE follows at 2900 RPM, 24% apart. The Kraken Plus 280, the H115i RGB and the Pure Loop 3 280 are left out of this ranking because their pump speed isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the Galahad II LCD 280 worth paying more than the FX280 PRO SE?
On paper it adds pump speed (3600 RPM against 2900 RPM). The FX280 PRO SE sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the Galahad II LCD 280 in the $100 to $150 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if pump speed decides your purchase.
What makes the Pure Loop 3 280 the Quiet-Focused Pick?
The label rests on pure Wings 3 fans and a PWM pump with a six-pole motor. It suits quiet builds without RGB software.
Do the Kraken Plus 280 and the Galahad II LCD 280 differ on pump display?
The Kraken Plus 280 uses 1.54-inch; the Galahad II LCD 280 uses 2.88-inch IPS. The makers of the FX280 PRO SE, the H115i RGB and the Pure Loop 3 280 don't state pump display, so 2 of 5 picks are covered here.
Beyond the specs, what sets the FX280 PRO SE and the Kraken Plus 280 apart?
The FX280 PRO SE: a 27mm aluminium radiator. The Kraken Plus 280: NZXT's Turbine pump. The H115i RGB: QX140 RGB fans.
Bottom Line
The ID-Cooling FX280 PRO SE is the value pick, the NZXT Kraken Plus 280 and Lian Li Galahad II LCD 280 suit display builds, and the Corsair H115i RGB fits iCUE setups.
The be quiet! Pure Loop 3 280 is the choice for quiet builds.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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