Buying Guide
The Best AIO Coolers Under $80
Four liquid coolers ranked on fan size and VRM fan; the Coreliquid A13 240 is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
From $60 to $80 you find 240mm and 280mm radiators with better pumps and quieter fans. Every pick cost 60 to 80 when we checked and is a sealed liquid cooler with a stated radiator size.
Rankings weigh fan size, VRM fan and cabling as the makers state them; if a maker skips fan size, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Premium Pick
NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB
A single-cable connection from the pump at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Coreliquid A13 240 costs less.
Our take Check price for NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB
P12 PRO A-RGB fans.
Best for: Buyers who want P12 PRO A-RGB fans.
Our take Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360
P12 PRO fans.
Best for: Buyers who want P12 PRO fans.
Our take Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 240
A lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360.
Our take Check price for MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 240 (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A single-cable connection from the pump at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Coreliquid A13 240 costs less. | Check price for NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB (opens in a new tab) |
| P12 PRO A-RGB fans. | Buyers who want P12 PRO A-RGB fans. | Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB (opens in a new tab) |
| P12 PRO fans. | Buyers who want P12 PRO fans. | Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 (opens in a new tab) |
| A lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360. | Check price for MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 240 (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Premium Pick1 of 4
NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Kraken Core 360 is NZXT's lower-priced 360 without the LCD, keeping single-cable wiring.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Coreliquid A13 240 costs less.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: lighting and display control need NZXT CAM.
Why we like it
Its 3,100 RPM pump and high static pressure fans cool heavy loads quietly, and it connects straight to the motherboard. No extra controller is needed. It also comes with adjustable fan control.
Check that your case offers 360mm 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 control; fan and pump speed can also run from the motherboard's headers. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Fan size: 120mm
- Software: NZXT CAM
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Single-cable connection from the pump
- Adjustable fan control
- A single-cable connection from the pump at the highest price in the group
Cons
- Lighting and display control need NZXT CAM
- Costs more than the Coreliquid A13 240 at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 4
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB is the lit version of ARCTIC's thick-radiator 360, with the same VRM fan and offset mounting.
Best for
- Buyers who want P12 PRO A-RGB fans.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Coreliquid A13 240 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
An integrated VRM fan cools the motherboard power stage, and the offset cold plate targets the CPU hotspot. The A-RGB P12 PRO fans add lighting without losing airflow. The contact frame spreads pressure evenly on Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700 chips.
Its fan cables run inside the tube sleeve, so only one cable reaches the motherboard. The P12 PRO fans spin faster than the standard P12 when needed. The VRM fan is PWM-controlled, and the contact frame is aimed at longer CPU life on Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700.
Check that your case offers 360mm 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. Its price falls between the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the Kraken Core 360, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Fan size: 120mm
- VRM fan: Yes
- Cabling: Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Built-in fan that cools the motherboard's power stages
- Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- P12 PRO A-RGB fans
Cons
- Costs more than the Coreliquid A13 240 at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 4
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 is built around cooling rather than lighting: offset mounting over the CPU hotspot, a contact frame for Intel and a small fan for the board's power stages.
Best for
- Buyers who want P12 PRO fans.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Coreliquid A13 240 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Its fan cables run inside the tube sleeve for a tidy build. Its integrated VRM fan cools the motherboard power stage, which a standard AIO leaves without airflow. The offset cold plate sits over the CPU hotspot rather than the centre of the heatspreader.
The fan cables run inside the tube sleeving, so only one cable reaches the motherboard. You also get P12 PRO fans. Check that your case offers 360mm 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. When we checked, only the Coreliquid A13 240 cost less, and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Fan size: 120mm
- VRM fan: Yes
- Cabling: Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Built-in fan that cools the motherboard's power stages
- Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- P12 PRO fans
Cons
- Costs more than the Coreliquid A13 240 at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here4 of 4
MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 240 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Coreliquid A13 240 puts the pump in the radiator and uses 390mm tubes, which makes front mounting easy in compact cases.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It supports LGA 1851 out of the box. The split-flow radiator uses an integrated three-phase pump that spins up to 3800RPM on ceramic bearings. The pump runs up to 3800RPM, the tubing is 390mm, and it supports LGA 1851 out of the box.
The tubing is triple-layered netted plastic under mesh sheathing to keep coolant in. Dual 120mm ARGB PWM fans are included, and thermal paste comes in the box. Check that your case offers 240mm 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. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max pump speed: 3800 RPM
- Tube length: 390mm
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Split-flow radiator with the pump built into it
- Ceramic pump bearings
- A lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked
How We Chose These AIO Coolers Under $80
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up four AIO coolers on fan size, VRM fan, cabling and sockets named, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and fan size and VRM fan are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the Kraken Core 360 to the Coreliquid A13 240, state sockets named.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Coreliquid A13 240 gives no fan size; the Kraken Core 360 and the Coreliquid A13 240 give no VRM fan.
- Price range
- From the Coreliquid A13 240 to the Kraken Core 360, all sat in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in an AIO Cooler Under $80
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Extras that separate them
The Kraken Core 360: adjustable fan control. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB: native offset mounting toward the CPU hotspot. The Coreliquid A13 240: ceramic pump bearings.
Budget
All 4 sat in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked, from the Coreliquid A13 240 at the low end to the Kraken Core 360 at the top, so decide on features first.
Start from what matters most
Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Coreliquid A13 240 costs less: the Kraken Core 360. Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360: the Coreliquid A13 240.
Mount the pump below the radiator's top
Air collects at the highest point of the loop. Keep the radiator's top edge above the pump, or tubes-down at the front, to avoid pump noise and wear.
AIOs have a finite life
Pumps and coolant age over years of use. Warranty length is a fair guide to how long the maker expects the unit to last.
How to Choose an AIO Cooler Under $80
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Coreliquid A13 240 costs less | Kraken Core 360 | A single-cable connection from the pump at the highest price in the group |
| Buyers who want P12 PRO A-RGB fans | Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB | P12 PRO A-RGB fans |
| Buyers who want P12 PRO fans | Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 | P12 PRO fans |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 | Coreliquid A13 240 | A lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Kraken Core 360, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB and the rest, as their makers list them.
| AIO cooler | Fan size | VRM fan | Cabling | Sockets named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken Core 360 | 120mm | Not listed | Not listed | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB | 120mm | Yes | Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 | 120mm | Yes | Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Coreliquid A13 240 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Coreliquid A13 240 our Lowest Price Here pick?
It earns the label for a lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked. It suits anyone who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360.
Does the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB have VRM fan, and which others do?
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 have it. The Kraken Core 360 and the Coreliquid A13 240 have no VRM fan listed, so 2 of 4 picks are covered here.
What extras do the Kraken Core 360 and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB include?
The Kraken Core 360: a single-cable connection from the pump. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB: P12 PRO A-RGB fans. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360: P12 PRO fans.
Who should choose the Kraken Core 360?
The Kraken Core 360 carries our Premium Pick label for a single-cable connection from the pump at the highest price in the group. It ranks first of 4 here and sat in the $50 to $100 tier at our last price check; it suits buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Coreliquid A13 240 costs less.
Should I pick the Kraken Core 360 or the Coreliquid A13 240?
The Kraken Core 360 suits buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Coreliquid A13 240 costs less; the Coreliquid A13 240 suits buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Kraken Core 360, chosen for a single-cable connection from the pump at the highest price in the group. Look at the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB for P12 PRO A-RGB fans, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 for P12 PRO fans and the Coreliquid A13 240 for a lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked if those matter more to you.
Check that the cooler lists your CPU socket and that the pump header is available on your board.