If you got yourself a fantastic CPU that will keep your PC running, but you’re still not sure which water liquid cooling CPU blocks are the best, then you have certainly come to the right place. Picking out the top rated CPU water cooling block was not easy, but we managed to find a couple that will keep your CPU safe from overheating no matter how much you overheat it.
In a hurry? In short, the best CPU water block in 2024 is the Phanteks PH-C350I_BK C350I CPU Water Block, which supports both Intel and AMD CPU sockets and keeps the temperatures low. The second choice, highly rated Thermaltake Pacific DIY CPU Waterblock, also supports both sockets, keeps the temperatures low, and has amazing RGB lighting.
Top Rated Water Cooling CPU Block: Quick Comparison
BEST RATED  |
Phanteks PH-C350I_BK C350I CPU Water Block
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RUNNER UP  |
Thermaltake Pacific DIY CPU Waterblock
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EKWB EK-Velocity sTR4 CPU block
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EKWB EK-Velocity CPU Water block
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BXQINLENX Professional Special CPU Water Cooling Block
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XSPC Raystorm Neo Waterblock
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Best CPU Water Block 2024: Reviews
1. Phanteks PH-C350I_BK C350I CPU Water Block
Top Rated CPU Water Block
It has a large copper base that measures 70x70x4 mm, which is big enough to keep the heating dissipation capacity at high numbers and allow your CPU to work smoothly even when overclocked.
The 0.15 MM internal fan adds an extra push to this performance, which makes things even more efficient.
Installing this water block is also quite easy thanks to the mounting brackets and rubber washers that it has, which is always a plus, especially with water cooling where you don’t want anything to go wrong while you are setting it up.
Keeping the overheating away would be kind of worthless if the water block material was not made from durable materials, which of course, this one is.
The nickel-plating allows the water block to keep cooling down the high temperatures for a long time, making this a good long-term investment.
Another thing that will keep things on the cool side, no pun intended, is the fact that this cooling system has a connector for the RGB lights, which is always appreciated from the aesthetic point of view if you want to install those.
Pros
- Available in 2 variants
- Highly durable
- Easy to install
- Has RGB
Cons
- Limited after-sales support
2. Thermaltake Pacific DIY CPU Waterblock
Runner-up & Best AM4 Water Block
It steals the show from all the other features once you lay your eyes on it because it looks so good that you will often find yourself staring at it for a bit.
Considering the heat dissipation that it can do, thanks to the 0.15 MM microchannel structure, it does an excellent job at that.
The durability aspect is here too, as it is designed with anti-collision in mind, making it a better choice than a lot of CPU blocks out there.
Again, we are going to praise the quality of life feature of how easy it is to install this thing. For starters, it is very light-weight, and it comes with mounting brackets and hardware, that is of course, compatible with both Intel and AMD CPU sockets.
Something that we appreciate from manufacturers of cooling blocks is when they include free thermal paste that is actually good, and with the Thermaltake Pacific, you can expect just that.
Overall, this liquid cooling CPU block does a fantastic job at keeping your processor cool, while also filling your case with a stunning light show, and if that is what you are looking for, this is the water block for you.
Pros
- Fascinating RGB lighting
- Easy to install
- Available in 2 variants
- Good heat dissipation
Cons
- Ports could have been made better
3. EKWB EK-Velocity sTR4 CPU block
Best Ryzen Water Block
However, while this cooling system is absolutely fantastic and probably better than the first two spots in terms of performance, it is exclusive to AMD.
Naturally, because of its exclusivity, this makes it the perfect choice for those who happen to have an AMD CPU such as the Ryzen Threadripper.
It will keep the CPU at low temperatures even if you overclock it to its maximum potential, which is what you want when you invest big into a high-end CPU.
The durability of the water block is great too, as every part is constructed in such a way that it will prolong its life. This also brings to the easy heat distribution mentioned earlier, where the copper plate is nickel-plated, giving it that extra layer.
Quality of life features for this water block are in its installation manual. It is so easy to follow step by step, and you will not have any issues installing it.
On top of that, it also comes with a LED strip, and while the light show is not as good as our number two choice, it still provides some nice visuals.
Pros
- Very durable construction
- Comes with a LED strip
- Perfect for AMD CPUs with 5 different variants
Cons
- Poorly packaged
4. EKWB EK-Velocity CPU Water block
RGB CPU Waterblock
While the previous one was for the AMD sockets, this one is exclusive to Intel.
While EK does have certain options that support both sockets, we really wish they were created with high standards as the two exclusive options we have listed here, as that would certainly make it the number one choice.
Just like the previous spot, the top is crafted from acrylic material, while the base includes a nickel-plated copper plate that will keep the CPU cool even at high performances where the temperatures increase drastically.
Again, it is very easy to install thanks to the great manual that EK puts out for its customers.
The last thing we want to mention is that this liquid cooling CPU block also comes with some beautiful RGB, which has become quite a standard in 2024.
Pros
- Very durable construction
- Comes with RGB
- Perfect for Intel CPUs
Cons
- Poorly packaged
5. BXQINLENX Professional Special CPU Water Cooling Block
Best Intel CPU Waterblock
While the copper base plate is not the biggest, it is still 50x50x3 mm, it still does a great job at what it’s been designed for, which is to keep the temperatures low.
What makes this cooling block a bit different from others in 2024 is how easy it is to install, and just how secure it feels once you do it. That is because it has a stainless steel bracker, which keeps the water block in place with ease.
The easy installation is also there thanks to the fact that it works with most compression fittings.
While it lacks the aesthetics like RGB lighting, this beauty offers something a bit different, which is the outer cover made out of organic glass.
Due to its transparency, it gives it a pleasing look, and if you manage to get RGB into your case from another source, it provides a breath-taking view.
Now, unfortunately, while we don’t usually like to point out the negatives, one thing that we disliked is the fact that the inlets and outlets are not marked, which is a bit annoying during the installation process, which is overall easy besides this one little thing.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Large copper base plate
- Works amazing with Intel CPUs
- Intriguing organic glass aesthetics
Cons
- Inlets and outlets should be marked
6. XSPC Raystorm Neo Waterblock
Best LGA1151 Water Block
The water cooling block from XSPC comes in 4 different finish variants, which will certainly help you find something that you find aesthetically pleasing.
What makes this cooling block stand out is the heavy-duty base and the chrome-plated brass top. While a bit unusual compared to other liquid cooling blocks, it certainly makes the construction sturdier.
It comes with mounting hardware. That is, it comes with the aluminum mounting bracket, which will relieve you from the worry of replacing the fixtures for quite a while.
Unfortunately, it does not provide a light show of any kind, and while that does nothing to the fact that it provides incredible cooling, in 2024, aesthetics should not be overlooked.
Pros
- Very durable construction
- Works great with Intel LGA CPUs
- Low flow design
Cons
- Installing can be time-consuming
CPU Cooling Blocks FAQ
Who Makes The Best CPU Water Blocks?
Tricky question, as every manufacturer has some CPU water block that stands out and makes it a valid contender for “the best” title. However, in our opinion, EK has shown to be one of the better ones through many years, which is our personal recommendation.
Is It Worth Water Cooling CPU?
While the results of a water cooling system and an air cooling system can have the same results when it comes to keeping the temperature levels low, the water cooling can be barely heard, while the air cooling becomes very loud when the CPU starts heating up during high-performances.
What Is The Best EK CPU Block?
With EK CPU blocks, we can easily say that the EKWB EK-Velocity sTR4 CPU block is the best option for AMD sockets, while the EKWB EK-Velocity CPU Water block is the Intel variant you want to go with.
What Is A CPU Waterblock?
It is a water cooling equivalent of a heatsink. Unlike the air cooling systems which use fans and heatsinks to keep the temperatures low, the watercooling uses liquid, which often produces less noise while keeping the temperature-lowering results the same or even better in some cases in comparison.
Final Words About The Best CPU Water Block
If you are still considering whether you should get a water liquid cooling CPU block in 2024 and ditch the air-cooling variants, in our opinion, you definitely should if you want the best, and yet quiet performance.
Going with our top rated choice such as the Phanteks PH-C350I_BK C350I CPU Water Block or the Thermaltake Pacific DIY CPU Waterblock is certainly going to liven up to your expectations, and you will probably start preferring the water cooling CPU blocks over the other option in the future.
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