Buying Guide
The Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i9-13900K
Six 360mm and 420mm AIO coolers for the Core i9-13900K, compared on pumps, fans, VRM cooling and LGA1700 support.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated
The Core i9-13900K can draw more power than most coolers can remove at unrestricted limits. A large radiator buys time before it throttles and keeps fans quieter.
We compared six AIOs on radiator size, fans, VRM cooling and LGA1700 support, using the makers' specifications.
Quick Picks
Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best for the i9-13900K
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 A-RGBA 420mm radiator with three 140mm fans.
Best for: Cases with 420mm support.
Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 A-RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best 360mm Value
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360A thick radiator and VRM fan.
Best for: Cases limited to 360mm.
Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Single-Cable Pick
CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN II 360 RX RGBA second-generation FlowDrive pump on iCUE LINK.
Best for: Corsair ecosystems.
Check price for CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN II 360 RX RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best High-Speed Fans
be quiet! Silent Loop 3 360mmThree Silent Wings 4 high-speed fans.
Best for: Builders who tune fan curves.
Check price for be quiet! Silent Loop 3 360mm on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Premium Pick
ASUS ROG Ryujin III ARGB Extreme WhiteA VRM fan and a 3.5-inch LCD.
Best for: Showcase builds with an ASUS board.
Check price for ASUS ROG Ryujin III ARGB Extreme White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Solid Alternative
NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB WhiteThe Kraken Elite 360 has a 2.72-inch LCD that can show temperatures, images or GIFs.
Best for: Buyers who want 2.72-inch ips pump-head display for temperatures or images.
Check price for NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best for the i9-13900K1 of 6
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 A-RGB
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 uses three 140mm fans on a larger radiator.
Best for
- Cases with 420mm support.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Check that your case offers 420mm radiator support. Its 420mm radiator uses 140mm P14 PRO fans, and an integrated VRM fan cools the power stage. A contact frame for LGA1851 and LGA1700 is included.
You also get native offset mounting. Check that your case offers 420mm 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.
You also get this: fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving. Its price falls between the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the Silent Loop 3 360, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 140mm
- 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
- P14 PRO fans
Cons
- Costs more than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 at the time of writing
Best 360mm Value2 of 6
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 is a thick-radiator AIO at a price close to many 240mm units.
Best for
- Cases limited to 360mm.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
A small fan on the pump block cools the motherboard's power stages. 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, native offset mounting toward the CPU hotspot and a contact frame for 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. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 was closest.
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
Best Single-Cable Pick3 of 6
CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN II 360 RX RGB
The Titan II 360 RX moves to a second-generation FlowDrive pump and RX II fans on a unified frame, still on one iCUE LINK cable.
Best for
- Corsair ecosystems.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: lighting and display control need iCUE.
Why we like it
iCUE LINK chains all components to one hub port, and the unified fan frame means fewer screws and cables. 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.
Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 at the time of writing. It was priced above the Silent Loop 3 360 and below the Kraken Elite 360 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Cabling
- One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans
- Software
- iCUE
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- FlowDrive Gen 2 pump
- RX II fans on a unified frame
Cons
- Lighting and display control need iCUE
- Costs more than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 at the time of writing
Best High-Speed Fans4 of 6
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
- Builders who tune fan curves.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 was cheaper at our last price check.
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. On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 and the pricier Titan II 360 RX, at the time of writing.
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 Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 at the time of writing
Best Premium Pick5 of 6
ASUS ROG Ryujin III ARGB Extreme White
The ROG Ryujin III Extreme White has a 3.5-inch LCD and a fan in the pump housing that cools the VRM area.
Best for
- Showcase builds with an ASUS board.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its 3.5-inch 640x480 screen shows custom GIFs or live readings, and magnet-snap fans speed up installation. Software controls pump and fan speed. It also offers an Asetek Gen8 V2 pump.
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. You also get this: white finish. It was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Kraken Elite 360 and the rest.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Pump display
- 3.5-inch
- VRM fan
- Yes
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 3.5-inch pump-head display for temperatures or images
- Built-in fan that cools the motherboard's power stages
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Asetek Gen8 V2 pump
Cons
- Costs more than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 at the time of writing
Solid Alternative6 of 6
NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB White
The Kraken Elite 360 has a 2.72-inch LCD that can show temperatures, images or GIFs.
Best for
- Buyers who want 2.72-inch ips pump-head display for temperatures or images.
Skip if
- Pass on it if lighting and display control need NZXT CAM rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
You pay mainly for the screen. You also get a 640x640 LCD with a 60Hz refresh rate and a white finish. 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 and display control; fan and pump speed can also run from the motherboard's headers. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 at the time of writing. Its price falls between the Titan II 360 RX and the Ryujin III Extreme White, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Pump display
- 2.72-inch IPS
- Software
- NZXT CAM
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 2.72-inch IPS pump-head display for temperatures or images
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- 640x640 LCD with a 60Hz refresh rate
- White finish
Cons
- Lighting and display control need NZXT CAM
- Costs more than the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 at the time of writing
How We Chose These Coolers for i9-13900K
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 lined up six AIO coolers on fan size, pump display, VRM fan and cabling, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and pump display and VRM fan are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 6, from the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 to the Kraken Elite 360, state fan size and sockets named.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, the Titan II 360 RX and the Silent Loop 3 360 give no pump display; the Titan II 360 RX, the Silent Loop 3 360 and the Kraken Elite 360 give no VRM fan.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ($50 to $100) to the Ryujin III Extreme White ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a Cooler for i9-13900K
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
VRM fan
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the Ryujin III Extreme White have it.
Software
The Titan II 360 RX lists iCUE; the Kraken Elite 360 lists NZXT CAM.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC Extras that separate them
The Silent Loop 3 360: a dampened, adjustable pump. The Ryujin III Extreme White: a fan in the pump housing that cools the VRM area. The Kraken Elite 360: a white finish.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420; $100 to $150 buys the Silent Loop 3 360; $150 to $250 buys the Titan II 360 RX; $250 to $500 buys the Kraken Elite 360 and the Ryujin III Extreme White at our last check.
A tower air cooler in a case with red-lit fans Start from what matters most
Cases with 420mm support: the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420. Cases limited to 360mm: the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360. Corsair ecosystems: the Titan II 360 RX.
How to Choose a Cooler for i9-13900K
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cases with 420mm support | Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 | A 420mm radiator with three 140mm fans |
| Cases limited to 360mm | Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 | A thick radiator and VRM fan |
| Corsair ecosystems | Titan II 360 RX | A second-generation FlowDrive pump on iCUE LINK |
| Builders who tune fan curves | Silent Loop 3 360 | Three Silent Wings 4 high-speed fans |
| Showcase builds with an ASUS board | Ryujin III Extreme White | A VRM fan and a 3.5-inch LCD |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 and the rest, as their makers list them.
| AIO cooler | Fan size | Pump display | VRM fan | Cabling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 | 140mm | Not listed | Yes | Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving |
| Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 | 120mm | Not listed | Yes | Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving |
| Titan II 360 RX | 120mm | Not listed | Not listed | One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans |
| Silent Loop 3 360 | 120mm | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Ryujin III Extreme White | 120mm | 3.5-inch | Yes | Not listed |
| Kraken Elite 360 | 120mm | 2.72-inch IPS | Not listed | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the Ryujin III Extreme White the highest ($250 to $500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | AIO coolers |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 |
| About $100 to $150 | Silent Loop 3 360 |
| About $150 to $250 | Titan II 360 RX |
| About $250 to $500 | Kraken Elite 360, Ryujin III Extreme White |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Silent Loop 3 360 our Best High-Speed Fans pick?
It earns the label for three Silent Wings 4 high-speed fans. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $100 to $150 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits builders who tune fan curves.
Do the Ryujin III Extreme White and the Kraken Elite 360 differ on pump display?
The Ryujin III Extreme White uses 3.5-inch; the Kraken Elite 360 uses 2.72-inch IPS. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, the Titan II 360 RX and the Silent Loop 3 360 have no pump display listed, so 2 of 6 picks are covered here.
What extras do the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 and the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 include?
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420: P14 PRO fans. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360: P12 PRO fans. The Titan II 360 RX: a FlowDrive Gen 2 pump.
Who should choose the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420?
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 carries our Best for the i9-13900K label for a 420mm radiator with three 140mm fans. It ranks first of 6 here and sat in the $50 to $100 tier at our last price check; it suits cases with 420mm support.
Should I pick the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 or the Ryujin III Extreme White?
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 suits cases with 420mm support; the Ryujin III Extreme White suits showcase builds with an ASUS board.
Bottom Line
Choose the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 if your case fits it, or the 360 version if not. The Titan II 360 RX suits Corsair builds, and the Ryujin III adds a screen and VRM fan at a high price.
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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