The best PC cooling fluid can keep your PC chilling even when you're in the heat of battle.
One of the biggest drawbacks of the best gaming PCs is that they can end up getting very hot. One of the most efficient ways of dealing with this is by using the cooling fluid, which pairs especially well with best full tower PC cases, because you need the space for all those components.
You simply need a good way to keep your PC cool, or you risk severely damaging it. So, to make sure your PC doesn't melt, we've put together a list of the best options on the market, each of which will help your PC keep it together. Based on price, reviews, and cooling capabilities, here are our top picks...
Best PC cooling fluid
- Corsair Hydro X Series XL8 Performance Coolant - best PC cooling fluid overall
- EKWB EK-CryoFuel Premix - best premium PC cooling fluid
- XSPC EC6 High-Performance Premix Coolant - best red PC cooling fluid
- PrimoChill Vue Pre-Mix - best water-based PC cooling fluid
- Thermaltake C1000 - best option from Thermaltake
1. Corsair Hydro X Series XL8 Performance Coolant
Best PC cooling fluid overall
The Corsair Hydro X Series XL8 Performance Coolant may have the smallest price tag, but it offers some invaluable features for custom water cooling loops.
These features include a long-lasting formula that protects copper, brass, and even nickel from corrosion and bacteria, allowing you to clean your system less frequently while also giving it a longer life span.
There are loads of different colours to choose from, including purple, blue, red, and green. And if those colours won't match your PC's theme, there's also a clear option you can go for, making it versatile both visually and at keeping your PC cool.
Reasons to buy:
- Formula protects copper, brass, and nickel from corrosion
- Plenty of colour options
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2. EKWB EK-CryoFuel Premix
Best premium PC cooling fluid
The EKWB Cryofuel features vivid colours allowing your PC to feature nearly any colour combination thanks to this PC cooling fluid's compatibility with Acrylic, PETG, and lots of other materials.
This PC coolant also features an Eco-Friendly design while still providing incredible cooling capabilities for your custom water cooling loop!
To ensure that your cooling loop stays clean and at its peak level of performance, this coolant features a composition that should limit any growth inside your system, making it a well-rounded choice, even if its price tag is a little high.
Reasons to buy:
- Compatible with Acrylic, PETG, and other materials.
- It has an Eco-Friendly design
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3. XSPC EC6 High-Performance Premix Coolant
Best red PC cooling fluid
The XSPC EC6 High-Performance Premix Coolant looks to be quite a powerful choice for those wanting some handy PC coolant for their system.
With it, you'll be getting a red-coloured coolant that should offer a particularly atmospheric look, although you can add other EC6 products to change the hue if you'd like to.
This coolant also has low electrical conductivity so you won't need to worry about any short-circuiting, and the fact it has some rather high thermal connectivity means it should do a great job of regulating heat from your PC.
Reasons to buy:
- The bright red colour looks cool
- It has low electrical conductivity
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4. PrimoChill Vue Pre-Mix
Best water-based PC cooling fluid
The PrimoChill Vue PC coolant looks a bit different from the others, and that is due to Vue's exclusive water-based formula, which allows for this unique colouring and high longevity.
This coolant's colouring features what looks like waves that give it a unique look that increases your PC's visual style and gives a good indication of flow patterns, which can help many builders troubleshoot their loop.
Offering twenty-five different colours means that there's no need to add additional dyes to this coolant to have it match their system's colour scheme.
This coolant requires a fair amount of maintenance compared to the others on this list and should only be utilised by a PC builder who is heavily experienced with PC water cooling loops.
Reasons to buy:
- A very good water-based formula
- So many colour options
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5. Thermaltake C1000
Best PC cooling fluid from Thermaltake
The Thermaltake C1000 looks to be a rather handy option for cooling your PC.
It's available in seven different colours and offers a formula that protects against freezing, corrosion, rusting, and scaling from materials like nickel, copper, brass and aluminium.
It's also a useful high-performance coolant, meaning if you've got a killer gaming rig and you need to eke out every ounce of performance, this particular fluid should be able to lend a helping hand.
Reasons to buy:
- Protects against freezing, corrosion, rusting, and scaling among other things
- Seven different colours to choose from
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Don't worry if you've got some questions. We've answered some of the most commonly asked queries below.
Is liquid cooling a PC worth it?
Liquid cooling could be worth it for your PC as it's traditionally more efficient and sometimes quieter than traditional air cooling, and cosmetically, also looks rather cool, especially if you pair it with the right cooling fluid.
Making your own custom water cooling loop isn't easy, but if you do know how to do it, then liquid cooling your PC can be worth it.
Is it hard to install liquid cooling?
This all depends on the time of liquid cooler you buy. Some AIO (or all-in-one coolers) keep things simple by providing everything you need in one box, from pumps to tubing and radiators.
With these, water cooling loops shouldn't be too difficult to install, given you get everything you need, and it's a simple case of following instructions.
How often should you change the liquid in a liquid-cooled PC?
As a general rule of thumb, changing your cooling fluid every 12 months or so is advisable to ensure optimal cooling performance, and also to clean the pipes out so there are no blockages or particle build-up.
But if you choose a coolant with UV additives, and want it to keep the UV effects, you'll want to change it every 6 months. However, this is not imperative for its function as a liquid cooler.
How much should I spend on PC cooling fluid?
As a general rule, we'd say to spend between $20 and $40 to get some good cooling fluid. Going within this price bracket should get you a fluid that not only comes in multiple colours but also features special formulas inside to keep your PC running as best it can.
Does liquid cooling require maintenance?
In all honesty, not necessarily. As a liquid cooling loop forms a sealed system, it doesn't require much maintenance if you go for an AIO setup. But building your own custom loop may require some maintenance, just to keep everything in check.
Can you mix PC coolant with water?
In short, you can, as long as the coolant supports it. Some require being mixed with water to function, while with others, you can pour them into your cooling loop as is, and they should work absolutely fine.
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