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- Some air coolers not only look bulky but take up so much space that they often result in RAM and PC Case clearance.
- Then the cheaper, low-profile ones don’t perform as well, and you end up with high temperatures.
- Some of the budget AIO coolers, like the Thermalright Frozen Magic 360 Scenic V2, not only cost $54 but also have exceptional cooling performance.
This might come off as too straightforward, but I’ll go ahead and say it: air coolers are now a thing of the past. Now, I’m not expressing my frustration solely because of their bulky look but because of the poor price-to-performance ratio they provide. Let me explain.
Why Air Coolers Have More Cons Than Pros
One of the most annoying things about air coolers is their clearance. Many of these air coolers are super bulky, which might look good for some, but I hate that they interfere with my RAM slots.
RAM Clearance Issues
Often, I’ve found coolers to droop some of their edges over the RAM sticks. Now, this not only hinders the aesthetics of the RGB RAM sticks but also is very tedious to work your way around the sticks, especially if they have tall heatsinks.
This means that you’d either want to compromise on the air cooler, meaning get a thin one that isn’t the best performing, or you get a low-profile RAM kit. Neither of these is something to compromise on if you want to build a decent build.
PC Case Clearance Issues
Apart from the RAM clearance, there’s also the issue of PC case clearance, which is why you should choose a cooler for your PC case. As technology is advancing, we should be getting slimmer and higher-performing air coolers, but the opposite seems to be true.
Some of these coolers are so chunky that they don’t even fit with some mid-tower cases. Even if they do, they feel like you’ve forcefully somehow cramped them, which, in my opinion, takes away the aesthetics of the case entirely.
Cable Management Is Hell With These
Another thing is how tedious cable management can be with these coolers. With these bulky coolers, you’ll usually find yourself dealing with fan headers in tight spaces. Sometimes you have to slither your hand beneath the cooler, which feels like you’re performing a high-stakes surgery.
I’m always annoyed by working in tight spaces because of how more time and effort it takes to fit or replace a component in your PC. With enough room in your build, you get things done way quickly compared to working with air coolers.
Price Doesn’t Justify Performance
Now comes the price, which is one of the main reasons why I’ve started to hate these coolers. You see, in the past, CPU coolers weren’t as bad because of how affordable they were compared to AIO coolers.
I remember that even the affordable entry-level AIO coolers cost way more than decent air coolers, so it made sense to buy them. But now, the situation is quite the opposite, and plenty of budget AIOs outperform mid-range air coolers.
I had this belief that only the expensive AIO coolers were a must-buy, and all the other budget options shouldn’t even be relied on, but I was proved wrong when I discovered insanely valuable options like Thermalright Frozen Magic 360 Scenic V2.
Not only does it cost less than $55, but it also doesn’t take the aesthetic points away from my PC. With options like this, I find it best to stick to budget AIO coolers instead of any air cooler at all.
Performance Speaks For Itself
Take a look at the performance for yourself and tell me how it is even worth it to get air coolers in 2025. The Cinebench stress test is conducted on the Intel i7-13700K with the ambient temperature being around 25°C.
First, there’s a budget cooler named ID-Cooling Frozn A720, which reaches 91°C and costs around $70. Now this is a cheap cooler, but if you compare it with the Enermax LiqMaxFlo AIO cooler, you see that it not only reaches 85°C but it costs less than $75.
It gets absurd as we go further down the list with the air coolers. For instance, the Dark Rock Elite and the Noctua NH-D15 are well above the $100 range, whereas the Corsair A115, the Dark Rock Pro 5, and the Deepcool Assassin 4S all get similar temperatures and cost more than $70.
Verdict
Now, this is just my personal opinion because the price-to-performance ratio doesn’t add up for me when it comes to air coolers. But those who still prefer air coolers, go for it, but at least consider the points I’ve mentioned before getting one.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
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[Comparisons Expert]
Shehryar Khan, a seasoned PC hardware expert, brings over three years of extensive experience and a deep passion for the world of technology. With a love for building PCs and a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the latest advancements in components, his expertise shines through his work and dedication towards this field. Currently, Shehryar is rocking a custom loop setup for his built.
Get In Touch: shehryar@tech4gamers.com
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