Best CPU Water Block For Better Cooling in 2023

When it comes to building a gaming rig, first and foremost, we need to care about cooling. Most of the time, we use Air coolers when low on budget or the AIO cooler for some reckless overclocking, but they are not versatile and suffice to hold back the temperature peaks. 

There comes the CPU water block, which has both of these things as they provide efficient cooling for the chip and design them to get maximum performance. There we have the best CPU water block in terms of performance and aesthetics, which you can consider for your gaming rig or rendering machine. 

The reason why I’m working on this guide is that there are several CPU water block options that you can get, and it might confuse some users about which ones are the best. You need to take care of a couple of things before buying the water block and here you need to be selective. 

Before buying any water block, make sure it’s compatible with your socket and can handle the TDP of your processor. Some water blocks are made for high-end processors while some for mid-range, though; for some cases, it may not matter the most, but buying the specific one will give you an advantage. 

We need to check the build quality, the mounting hardware we are getting with the block, installation, and much more — make sure to have a look at them before opting for any CPU Water Block.

List of Best CPU Water Blocks

Award	Product	Price
Cheapest CPU Water Block	BXQINLENX Professional Special CPU Water Cooling Block	Buy on Amazon
Enthusiastic Water Cooling Block	Thermaltake Pacific DIY W7 Plus CPU Water Block CL-W279-CU00SW-A	Buy on Amazon
Best CPU Block for Easy Installation	Phanteks PH-C350I_BK C350I CPU Water Block RGB Black Edition	Buy on Amazon
Best Build Quality Block	EKWB EK-Velocity CPU Waterblock	Buy on Amazon
Performance Water Cooling Block	EKWB EK-Velocity sTR4 CPU Waterblock	Buy on Amazon
Best RGB Water Cooling Block	EKWB EK-Supremacy Classic RGB	Buy on Amazon
Most Versatile CPU Block	XSPC Raystorm Neo Waterblock Black Chrome	Buy on Amazon
Cheapest Water Cooling Block	Bewinner Computer CPU Water Cooling Block Jet Type	Buy on Amazon

Cheapest CPU Water Block

The BXQINLENX is better for Intel processors and the dimensions of this block are 50mm, 50mm, and 3mm in height. No matter what processor or socket you got, it is compatible with almost every LGA socket ever released. 

The base of BXQINLENX contains pure copper while the frame is made up of stainless steel. The outer top side of this block is made up of glass, which looks stunning, and in RGB builds, it gives excellent looks. At the same time, you can say that this block is well appealing for both cooling and aesthetics. 

As you know, installing the water block on the motherboards is a bit tricky and those who don’t have prior knowledge will have a tough time with this. In our case, the building is very easy and it comes with a complete mounting set, so you don’t have to buy things from third parties to install it. 

The two different versions of this block are specified for Intel and AMD processors and we can use the one which fits with our PC. Note that they are specifically designed for each socket and you can’t use the other in replacement of the first. The large backplate gives maximum heat dissipation resulting in better cooling of the chip. 
The downside of this CPU water block is the installation manual which is not properly managed. Also, buying a different variant for AMD processors doesn’t seem fair to me. Other than that it’s the right choice if you are low on budget and looking for a water block for some mid-range build.

Specifications

Enthusiastic Water Cooling Block

In terms of availability and number of variants, the Thermaltake Pacific DIY LCS stands first as there are more than 13 variants of this block alone. Some of them come with RGB lights and some with reservoirs and different storage capabilities.  

The reservoir comes in 100ml, 200ml, 300ml, and 500ml sizes, and the maximum flow rate is 1135 L/Hr, which is useful for high TDP processors and especially in overclocking cases. 4-Pin AIO connectors power this whole block, but make sure your motherboard has that header.  

This water block is compatible with every LGA and AMD socket and you can use the same one for both of the processors. This CPU water block’s mounting process is straightforward as you have to put it on your processor and tighten up the screws or you can also check the manufacturer guide on it. 

It comes with all of the required hardware to install it on your processor, including the thermal paste and all of the screws.

I wouldn’t say I like the RGB variant because it comes in very cheap build quality and most of the users don’t like it either. The wires are not well covered and attached and on a little stretch, their solder becomes visible. While the other variants are good enough in terms of quality, the problem is with the RGB one only. 

Specifications

Best CPU Block for Easy Installation

Sometimes we need a broad base for high-end processors, especially in overclocking, and for that, we have the Phanteks PH-C350I. It’s straightforward to use a CPU water block and the thing that attracts users is the better cooling performance and effortless installation. 

This water block’s base is 70mm, 70mm, and 4mm, and much bigger than the previously mentioned water blocks. This gives the best-in-class performance as well as optimal thermal dissipation near the chip. Our priority while buying a CPU cooler is the cooling performance; later, we check the aesthetics. 

The mounting brackets directly come from the Solid-SKU and are bundled in the package, which some might already know is very easy to install. This water block’s installation process takes less than a minute, making it the best and easier to install the CPU water block. 

Likewise, with all other CPU coolers in this list, this one also comes in several variants specified for each socket, and you have to make sure that you are buying the right one. The company has installed some RGB lights in this cooler for aesthetics, which looks good and pleasant in color coordinate builds. 

The downside of this cooler is that after-sale support is terrible and they are not going to support you much in case of any problem. Other than that, the performance of this water block is undoubtedly impressive.

Specifications

Best Build Quality Block

EKWB EK-Velocity works with Intel processors only and the best thing is that it is designed and targeted for high-end processors or flagship. Other than this one, there are nine different models available for this water block and you can select the best one according to your requirements and needs. 

This water block’s base is made up of pure copper while the top side is of acrylic, which looks good in RGB builds. There are some RGB lights integrated into it, too, which look good when using effects. Like the other water blocks from this manufacturer, it also comes with all necessary hardware, making the installation process much easier than ever.

The compatibility of this water block is good enough and it’s versatile, too, so we can use it in our way. Also, the company worked on both the cooling performance as well as the aesthetics of the block. There is a rubber backplate, which further increases the heat dissipation capacity of this block and makes it more compelling than others. 

EKWB EK-Velocity CPU Waterblock has two large loop pipes for water in-and-out flow to allow better cooling. The water flow rate of this block is also impressive and is appreciated by many users. Long story short, it’s okay as long as you have enough budget for a custom loop and looking for the best build quality CPU water block.

The downside of this water block is the manual which is not well- and it may cause some problems to you while installing the block if you don’t have prior knowledge. Also, the price of this water block is comparatively high for mid-range builds.

Specifications

Performance Water Cooling Block

We all know there are two types of processors: the first one is the normal one we use in our gaming builds while the other is the workstation processors. They come with more cores and threads and are used for high-end data processing, but we can’t use them to play games. 

If you own such a processor usually named Xeon from Intel or Threadripper from AMD then we have a great water block designed for them. 

EKWB EK-Velocity is specially designed for threadripper processors and gives excellent performance. It’s compatible with 3rd generation TR processors and a worthwhile option for cooling. 

With these 32 core processors, we can’t use Air or AIO coolers as they can’t handle the heat generated by these processors so that’s why we need CPU water blocks for them. They are versatile and you can set them for as much performance you are demanding from them. 

There are some LED lights in this water block too, which gives excellent aesthetics and I like them the most. This water block’s build quality is undoubtedly the best in class and it’s much better than the previous options we’ve seen in this list. If you own a processor other than the Threadripper, you can consider getting the different variants of it. 

The downside of this cooler is it only works with the Threadripper processors, and for other sockets, you have to buy a different variant. Also, the product packaging was not very good and it seems terrible because most of the time, terrible packaging damages the hardware during shipment.

Specifications

Best RGB Water Cooling Block

We’ve got another great option from the same manufacturer but this time from a different lineup, design, and features. This one is designed for high TDP processors like Intel Core i9 9900k or 10900k, especially when you consider overclocking with these processors, this water block will play an essential role in cooling. 

Like the previous one we’ve mentioned in this list, this one also comes with an acrylic top and high-grade copper bottom, which gives enough cooling. The RGB lights with the acrylic top give charming looks in RGB builds and I’m sure, aesthetics lovers are not going to skip this option because it’s much better in aesthetics and performance as well. 

I like the EKWB water blocks because they come with a complete hardware set so we don’t need anything else for the installation. It comes with all screws attached and all you need to do is to tighten up the screws, and that’s done. That’s not only in this one but in all of the water blocks from this manufacturer. 

Also, you don’t have to worry about the water flow and speed as this one also works even in low water flow and speed. This makes it versatile and you can get the best performance out of this block without spending a lot of money on other loops. So, in the end, I would say it’s a great product if you don’t care about spending some more bucks. 

The bad thing I found in this cooler is that the company didn’t include an in-depth guide so some users might find it hard to install if they don’t know about installing. Also, the price is exceptionally high as compared to the other competitors in the market. 

Specifications

Most Versatile CPU Block

XSPC Raystorm Neo Waterblock Black Chrome is compatible with both Intel and AMD sockets but different variants exist. This block’s frame is made up of stainless steel while the base is made up of pure copper, which is 53mm, 53mm, 3mm in size. 

It’s available in four different variants, including the Copper, Silver, Chrome, and Chrome Black, and you can get them according to your choice. The kit includes complete hardware of this block, including the RGB controller with all required cables, springs screws, and everything you need to install this on your processor. 

It comes in a minimalist design and is very easy to install even for non-techies because there are a few screws that you have to tighten. This block’s compatibility is excellent enough as we can use it with almost every processor in the market, but buying a different variant for AMD might disappoint some users. In terms of aesthetics, I would say it’s one of the great RGB CPU water blocks build for color coordinate builds.  

The RGB controller of this block is responsible for changing these lights’ color effects, and it comes with hundreds of different effects. The speed and the colors of the lights are also adjustable with this controller. The downside of this block is its installation, which is easy but very time taking. 

If you compare it with some RGB blocks, including one from Thermaltake brands, this water block’s quality is much better. What I like the most about this water block is that it is available for every socket you need, including AMD, Intel, and Threadripper. Being specific to AMD processors, this is an expensive but best am4 water block for modern builds.

Specifications

Cheapest Water Cooling Block

In the end, we’ve got is the Bewinner Computer CPU water cooling block, which is specifically designed for AMD processors. The good thing about this water block is the build quality compared to other options on this list. It’s also compatible with all of the AMD sockets except the thread ripper processors.

This water block makes direct contact with the processor and offers maximum cooling performance. The bottom side of this block comprises high-quality copper, while the top side is made up of high-grade POM. For most users, installing this cooler is not a problem, and you can easily mount it with the hardware that comes with it. 

On a side note, you can get better options for those willing to spend more money on cooling solutions. The contact area is made up of copper, which is not high graded and results in performance loss. The base’s surface is good as it directly contacts the processor and the thermal paste removal process is also damn easy with it. 

The installation of this cooling block is easy if you have a little knowledge of such things, but it’s not well guided. Overall, for thirty bucks, it’s one of the best choices we can get, and ignore these one-time installation cons. When it comes to buying the best am4 water block, there might be no other better option than this one under this budget category.

Specifications

Conclusion

When you need more than average cooling in your high-end gaming rig, the first and foremost option that comes is the CPU water block. They are versatile and we can use them the way we want to and get full cooling performance out of them. 

When you own some high-end processor that produces much heat and consider overclocking then normal Air or AIO coolers fail in this situation then you must need a custom water cooling solution. We’ve some of the best CPU water blocks that you can consider according to your needs and the budget. 

The cheapest CPU Water Block is the BXQINLENX Professional Special CPU Block, while the most expensive one on this list is the Thermaltake Pacific DIY LCS PR22-D5 300ml. There we’ve listed several different water blocks for every socket, but as you know, each of them has its pros and cons. 

First of all, know your requirements and socket and select which water block will give you better value from this list and select that for your upcoming build. 

Q/A

Zakriya Aamir