Buying Guide
The Best CPU Coolers for High-TDP Chips
Five liquid coolers compared, from the FX360 PRO to the Silent Loop 3 360, with the trade-offs of each named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Chips rated at 170W and above need a large radiator and strong contact with the hotspot. Every pick has a 360mm or larger radiator plus a VRM fan, a high rating or an upgraded pump.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: fan size, VRM fan and cabling come from each maker's published specs; a missing VRM fan is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
ID-COOLING FX360 PROA 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.
Check price for ID-COOLING FX360 PRO on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360P12 PRO fans.
Best for: Buyers who want P12 PRO fans.
Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGBP12 PRO A-RGB fans.
Best for: Buyers who want P12 PRO A-RGB fans.
Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ICUE Software
CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX RGBAn iCUE software.
Best for: Buyers who want an iCUE software.
Check price for CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
be quiet! Silent Loop 3 360mmThree Silent Wings 4 high-speed fans at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the FX360 PRO costs less.
Check price for be quiet! Silent Loop 3 360mm on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ID-COOLING FX360 PRO
The FX360 PRO is ID-COOLING's budget 360 rated at 350W.
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
ID-COOLING rates it for 350W, and its three 120mm fans move up to 82.5 CFM. The all-black finish suits dark cases. Its fans daisy-chain to each other, which cuts down on cables to the motherboard.
The fans are rated at 2.55mmH2O static pressure. It also offers simple fan cable management. 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. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 was the next step up.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- 350W rating
- Simple fan cable management
- A lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked
Also Consider2 of 5
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360
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 FX360 PRO 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. Its price falls between the FX360 PRO and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, based on our last check.
Key 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 FX360 PRO at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB
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
- Price-first buyers should look at the FX360 PRO, which cost less when we checked.
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. When we checked, only the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Titan 360 RX cost more.
Key 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 FX360 PRO at the time of writing
ICUE Software4 of 5
CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX RGB
The Titan 360 RX runs pump and fans through one iCUE LINK hub, with fans up to 2100 RPM and a zero RPM mode.
Best for
- Buyers who want an iCUE software.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: lighting and display control need iCUE.
Why we like it
It fits builds already in Corsair's ecosystem. It also comes with a FlowDrive pump with a three-phase motor. 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 iCUE for lighting control; fan and pump speed can also run from the motherboard's headers. It makes the most sense for buyers who want an iCUE software, since it offers an iCUE software. It was priced above the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB and below the Silent Loop 3 360 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Max fan speed
- 2100 RPM
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Zero RPM mode
- Yes
- Cabling
- One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans
- Software
- iCUE
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Zero RPM mode stops the fans at light load
- One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- FlowDrive pump with a three-phase motor
Cons
- Lighting and display control need iCUE
- Costs more than the FX360 PRO at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
be quiet! Silent Loop 3 360mm
The Silent Loop 3 360 uses three high-speed Silent Wings 4 fans and a dampened pump; its cold plate also covers Threadripper.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the FX360 PRO costs less.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the FX360 PRO, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
A three-chamber pump reduces turbulence and noise, and three Silent Wings 4 fans are tuned for quiet running. The pump can be dampened and adjusted, which helps if pump noise bothers you at idle. Its engineered cooling block targets high-power CPUs.
Its radiator corners hold the fans flush for quieter airflow. 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. Only the Titan 360 RX came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Three Silent Wings 4 high-speed fans
- Dampened, adjustable pump
- Threadripper cold-plate coverage
Cons
- Costs more than the FX360 PRO at the time of writing
How We Chose These CPU Coolers for High-TDP Chips
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.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side five AIO coolers on fan size, VRM fan, cabling and sockets named as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 2 of the 4 fields compared are stated for every pick, while VRM fan and cabling have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the FX360 PRO to the Silent Loop 3 360, state fan size and sockets named.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The FX360 PRO, the Titan 360 RX and the Silent Loop 3 360 give no VRM fan; the FX360 PRO and the Silent Loop 3 360 give no cabling.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the FX360 PRO ($50 to $100) to the Silent Loop 3 360 ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a CPU Cooler for High-TDP Chips
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Features beyond the spec table
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360: native offset mounting toward the CPU hotspot. The Titan 360 RX: pre-mounted RX RGB fans. The Silent Loop 3 360: a dampened, adjustable pump.
Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the FX360 PRO, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB; $100 to $150 buys the Titan 360 RX and the Silent Loop 3 360 at our last check.
A case with purple-lit front fans and the motherboard area behind them Match the pick to your priority
Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360: the FX360 PRO. Buyers who want an iCUE software: the Titan 360 RX. Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the FX360 PRO costs less: the Silent Loop 3 360.
Software is optional but useful
LCD screens and lighting usually need the maker's software. Pump and fan speeds can run from motherboard headers instead.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC Count the cables and headers
Some AIOs daisy-chain fans or run everything through one hub; others need several fan headers and a USB header. Check what your motherboard has free.
How to Choose a CPU Cooler for High-TDP Chips
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 | FX360 PRO | A lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want P12 PRO fans | Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 | P12 PRO fans |
| Buyers who want P12 PRO A-RGB fans | Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB | P12 PRO A-RGB fans |
| Buyers who want an iCUE software | Titan 360 RX | An iCUE software |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the FX360 PRO costs less | Silent Loop 3 360 | Three Silent Wings 4 high-speed fans at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The FX360 PRO, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest, as their makers list them.
| AIO cooler | Fan size | VRM fan | Cabling | Sockets named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FX360 PRO | 120mm | Not listed | Not listed | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 | 120mm | Yes | Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB | 120mm | Yes | Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Titan 360 RX | 120mm | Not listed | One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Silent Loop 3 360 | 120mm | Not listed | Not listed | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the FX360 PRO, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the Silent Loop 3 360 at $100 to $150; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | AIO coolers |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | FX360 PRO, Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB |
| About $100 to $150 | Titan 360 RX, Silent Loop 3 360 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Titan 360 RX the ICUE Software?
It carries the badge for an iCUE software. The FX360 PRO, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $100 to $150 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who wants an iCUE software.
Which of these AIO coolers have VRM fan?
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB have it. The makers of the FX360 PRO, the Titan 360 RX and the Silent Loop 3 360 don't state VRM fan, so 2 of 5 picks are covered here.
Beyond the specs, what sets the FX360 PRO and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 apart?
The FX360 PRO: a 350W rating. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360: P12 PRO fans. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB: P12 PRO A-RGB fans.
Should I pick the FX360 PRO or the Silent Loop 3 360?
The FX360 PRO suits buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360; the Silent Loop 3 360 suits buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the FX360 PRO costs less.
What else do the Titan 360 RX and the Silent Loop 3 360 offer?
The Titan 360 RX: pre-mounted RX RGB fans. The Silent Loop 3 360: Threadripper cold-plate coverage.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the FX360 PRO, chosen for a lower price than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest when we checked. Look at the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 for P12 PRO fans, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB for P12 PRO A-RGB fans and the Titan 360 RX for an iCUE software if those matter more to you.
Use a contact frame on LGA1700 and LGA1851 for even pressure.
Related Guides
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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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