edit 2: He has bought the air cooler!
He will be running the 9800X3D, which I don’t think gets hot enough to require an AIO. We are choosing between Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 (AIO) and the Peerless Assassin 120 (air cooler)
Benefits of choosing an AIO (Arctic Liquid Freezer III) is better temperatures, nicer aesthetic. Downside of going with AIO is the possibility that it will leak/wear out over time, shorter lifespan compared to air cooler (which can pretty much last forever)
He will be getting a Lian Li case (the O11 Vision Compact) with the RGB fans set, meaning he could go with the cheaper 5 fan set instead of 8 if he decides on AIO. Combined with a decent sale on the AIO in my region, the price difference isn’t that large.
What do you guys think?
edit: Mmm the internet people seem to disagree with each other
I’ve had an AIO for years and had no complaints, but I just bought a fan since AIO can fail more easily over time. There are more parts that can fail and water can eventually evaporate or break down the materials.
I think it depends on what the use case is. I’m using my PC as a sever that I want running 24/7. As such, I don’t want fewer points of failure and I’m concerned about potential failures when I’m not home. Whereas, if it was just a gaming PC that I only turned on while I’m playing, I might care less as I’d be able to monitor it in person easier.
Food for thought.