Buying Guide
The Best Budget AIO Liquid Coolers
Five liquid coolers compared, from the Frozen Notte 240 White to the Nautilus 240 RS, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
A budget all-in-one cooler can outperform a small air cooler without a large price. Every pick cost $100 or less when we checked, ordered from the lowest price.
Our comparison rests on published figures for max fan speed, max pump speed and fan size; where a maker leaves out max fan speed, we say so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 White ARGB
The lowest price among these liquid coolers at the time of writing.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 White ARGB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Thermalright Aqua Elite 240 V3
An octagonal ARGB pump head.
Best for: Buyers who want octagonal ARGB pump head.
Our take Check price for Thermalright Aqua Elite 240 V3 (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 White ARGB V2
A white radiator and fans.
Best for: Buyers who want white radiator and fans.
Our take Check price for Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 White ARGB V2 (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
Thermalright Aqua Elite 360 V6 ARGB
A round ARGB pump head.
Best for: Buyers who want round ARGB pump head.
Our take Check price for Thermalright Aqua Elite 360 V6 ARGB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
CORSAIR Nautilus 240 RS ARGB
A pump rated at 20 dBA at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Our take Check price for CORSAIR Nautilus 240 RS ARGB (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 White ARGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Frozen Notte 240 White is the cheapest white AIO here, with a 5,300 RPM pump.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It matches the Frozen Notte 360 White on pump speed (5300 RPM). It also offers a white radiator and fans, a mirror-finish copper base and ARGB lighting on the pump and fans. 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.
The maker doesn't spell out LGA1851 mounting, so confirm it on the maker's site for a Core Ultra build. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the Aqua Elite 240 V3 the next step up. There is no published maximum fan speed figure, whereas the Aqua Elite 360 V6 offers 2000 RPM.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max pump speed: 5300 RPM
- Fan size: 120mm
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- White radiator and fans
- Mirror-finish copper base
- ARGB lighting on the pump and fans
- Pump speed of 5300 RPM, ahead of the Aqua Elite 240 V3
Also Consider2 of 5
Thermalright Aqua Elite 240 V3 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Aqua Elite 240 V3 is a budget AIO with a 2800 RPM pump rated for 40,000 hours and 1500 RPM fans, which favour quiet over headroom.
Best for
- Buyers who want octagonal ARGB pump head.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Frozen Notte 240 White, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
The fourth-generation pump head sits on a 240mm aluminum radiator with mesh-sleeved tubing. Fans and pump sync ARGB through a 5V 3-pin motherboard header. It matches the Aqua Elite 360 V6 on pump speed (2800 RPM).
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. The maker doesn't spell out LGA1851 mounting, so confirm it on the maker's site for a Core Ultra build. When we checked, only the Frozen Notte 240 White cost less, and the Frozen Notte 360 White cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max fan speed: 1500 RPM
- Max pump speed: 2800 RPM
- Fan size: 120mm
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- Octagonal ARGB pump head
- Pump rated for 40,000 hours
- 1500 RPM maximum fan speed
- 2800 RPM pump speed
Cons
- Costs more than the Frozen Notte 240 White at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 White ARGB V2 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Frozen Notte 360 White stands out for a white radiator and fans.
Best for
- Buyers who want white radiator and fans.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Frozen Notte 240 White was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It also offers a 5300 RPM pump speed and offers a 120mm fan size. Its copper mirror base sits under a white 360mm radiator with 450mm braided tubes. Long tubes suit front-mounted radiators in large cases.
It matches the Frozen Notte 240 White on pump speed (5300 RPM). 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. The maker doesn't spell out LGA1851 mounting, so confirm it on the maker's site for a Core Ultra build.
When we checked, only the Aqua Elite 240 V3 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Aqua Elite 360 V6 cost more. If you want a confirmed maximum fan speed, look to the Aqua Elite 360 V6 instead: it offers 2000 RPM, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max pump speed: 5300 RPM
- Fan size: 120mm
- Tube length: 450mm
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- White radiator and fans
- Pump speed of 5300 RPM, ahead of the Aqua Elite 240 V3
- 120mm fan size
- 450mm tube length
Cons
- Costs more than the Frozen Notte 240 White at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
Thermalright Aqua Elite 360 V6 ARGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Aqua Elite 360 V6 is the budget route to a 360mm radiator, listing a 2800 RPM pump and 2000 RPM fans.
Best for
- Buyers who want round ARGB pump head.
Skip if
- Skip it if pump speed matters most to you; the Frozen Notte 240 White offers 5300 RPM.
Why we like it
It suits a hot CPU when the budget is tight. Its round pump head uses Thermalright's fourth-generation pump, and the fans and block sync to a 5V ARGB header. The radiator moves up to 70.84 CFM.
The fans are pre-installed and daisy-chained, which saves motherboard headers. On pump speed it ties with the Aqua Elite 240 V3 at 2800 RPM. 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. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Frozen Notte 360 White and the pricier Nautilus 240 RS, at the time of writing. The trade-off is pump speed; for more, the Frozen Notte 240 White offers 5300 RPM.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max fan speed: 2000 RPM
- Max pump speed: 2800 RPM
- Fan size: 120mm
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Round ARGB pump head
- Highest maximum fan speed of the picks (2000 RPM)
Cons
- Pump speed trails the Frozen Notte 240 White (5300 RPM)
- Costs more than the Frozen Notte 240 White at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
CORSAIR Nautilus 240 RS ARGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Nautilus 240 RS runs its daisy-chained fans straight from the motherboard, with no hub or app, and a pump Corsair rates at 20 dBA.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Skip if
- Its pump speed is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
Its convex cold plate comes with pre-applied paste, and RS120 ARGB fans use magnetic dome bearings. 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.
It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Aqua Elite 360 V6 and the rest. The maker doesn't give its maximum fan speed; if that figure matters, the Aqua Elite 360 V6 offers 2000 RPM.
Key dimensions & specs
- Fan size: 120mm
- Cabling: Daisy-chained fans that connect straight to the motherboard
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Daisy-chained fans that connect straight to the motherboard
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Pump rated at 20 dBA
- A pump rated at 20 dBA at the highest price in the group
Cons
- No published pump speed
- Costs more than the Frozen Notte 240 White at the time of writing
How We Chose These Budget AIO Liquid Coolers
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five AIO coolers on maximum fan speed, pump speed, fan size and sockets named as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Frozen Notte 240 White to the Nautilus 240 RS, state fan size and sockets named.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Frozen Notte 240 White, the Frozen Notte 360 White and the Nautilus 240 RS give no maximum fan speed; the Nautilus 240 RS gives no pump speed.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Frozen Notte 240 White (under $50) to the Nautilus 240 RS ($50 to $100).
What to Look for in a Budget AIO Liquid Cooler
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Pump speed across these picks
Here pump speed runs from 2800 RPM on the Aqua Elite 360 V6 to 5300 RPM on the Frozen Notte 240 White. The Frozen Notte 240 White is the pick for pump speed. No figure for the Nautilus 240 RS.
Maximum fan speed
Here maximum fan speed runs from 1500 RPM on the Aqua Elite 240 V3 to 2000 RPM on the Aqua Elite 360 V6. Start with the Aqua Elite 360 V6 if maximum fan speed decides it. No figure for the Frozen Notte 240 White, the Frozen Notte 360 White and the Nautilus 240 RS.
Features beyond the spec table
The Frozen Notte 360 White: a white radiator and fans. The Aqua Elite 360 V6: a round ARGB pump head. The Nautilus 240 RS: a pump rated at 20 dBA.
Budget
Under $50 buys the Frozen Notte 240 White and the Aqua Elite 240 V3; $50 to $100 buys the Frozen Notte 360 White, the Aqua Elite 360 V6 and the Nautilus 240 RS at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Keeping the budget tight: the Frozen Notte 240 White. Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor: the Nautilus 240 RS.
How to Choose a Budget AIO Liquid Cooler
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | Frozen Notte 240 White | The lowest price among these liquid coolers at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want octagonal ARGB pump head | Aqua Elite 240 V3 | An octagonal ARGB pump head |
| Buyers who want white radiator and fans | Frozen Notte 360 White | A white radiator and fans |
| Buyers who want round ARGB pump head | Aqua Elite 360 V6 | A round ARGB pump head |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor | Nautilus 240 RS | A pump rated at 20 dBA at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Frozen Notte 240 White leads on pump speed at 5300 RPM, ahead of the Frozen Notte 360 White at 5300 RPM. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| AIO cooler | Max fan speed | Max pump speed | Fan size | Sockets named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen Notte 240 White | Not listed | 5300 RPM | 120mm | AM5, AM4, Intel |
| Aqua Elite 240 V3 | 1500 RPM | 2800 RPM | 120mm | AM5, AM4, Intel |
| Frozen Notte 360 White | Not listed | 5300 RPM | 120mm | AM5, AM4, Intel |
| Aqua Elite 360 V6 | 2000 RPM | 2800 RPM | 120mm | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Nautilus 240 RS | Not listed | Not listed | 120mm | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Frozen Notte 240 White was the lowest-priced pick and the Nautilus 240 RS the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | AIO coolers |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Frozen Notte 240 White, Aqua Elite 240 V3 |
| About $50 to $100 | Frozen Notte 360 White, Aqua Elite 360 V6, Nautilus 240 RS |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Aqua Elite 360 V6 ahead of the Aqua Elite 240 V3 on maximum fan speed?
The Aqua Elite 360 V6 leads at 2000 RPM, with the Aqua Elite 240 V3 at 1500 RPM. The Frozen Notte 240 White, the Frozen Notte 360 White and the Nautilus 240 RS don't state a figure, so they sit outside this comparison.
What makes the Frozen Notte 240 White the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for the lowest price among these liquid coolers at the time of writing. It suits keeping the budget tight.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Frozen Notte 240 White and the Aqua Elite 240 V3 apart?
The Frozen Notte 240 White: a white radiator and fans. The Aqua Elite 240 V3: an octagonal ARGB pump head. The Frozen Notte 360 White: a white radiator and fans.
Who should choose the Nautilus 240 RS?
The Nautilus 240 RS carries our Premium Pick label for a pump rated at 20 dBA at the highest price in the group. It ranks fifth of 5 here.
Should I pick the Frozen Notte 240 White or the Nautilus 240 RS?
The Frozen Notte 240 White suits keeping the budget tight; the Nautilus 240 RS suits buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Frozen Notte 240 White, chosen for the lowest price among these liquid coolers at the time of writing. Look at the Aqua Elite 240 V3 for an octagonal ARGB pump head, the Frozen Notte 360 White for a white radiator and fans and the Aqua Elite 360 V6 for a round ARGB pump head if those matter more to you.
Mount the radiator with the pump lower than the radiator top where the case allows.