Best Liquid Cooling Desktop PCs of 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are liquid cooled PCs better?

According to Mark Gallina, liquid cooling more “efficiently distributes heat over more convection surface area (radiator) than pure conduction, allowing for reduced fan speeds (better acoustics) or higher total power.” In other words, it's more efficient, and often quieter.

2. Is liquid cooling safe for PC?

If you follow these very simple rules, water-cooling can be a fun and safe hobby. The performance benefits aren't as great as they once were but they are still evident, and the knowledge gained from putting together your first liquid-cooling loop is invaluable.

3. Can you add liquid cooling to any PC?

Liquid cooling kits come in sizes between 120 millimeters up to 360 millimeters, with features like RGB lighting and OLED screens. Choosing the right water cooling kit depends on many factors. The kit should be compatible with your PC's CPU, and it should fit in your PC case.

4. Are liquid cooled PCs high maintenance?

Because it's a sealed unit, they require little to no maintenance. They also don't need to be topped up as they don't experience evaporation like DIY setups. In order to maximize compatibility across a wide range of systems, all-in-one units often leave you with more tubing than you actually need.