Liquid vs. Air Cooling Technologies for CPUs: Discover OMEN’s Revolutionary Cooling Solutions

Modern PC gaming systems are truly remarkable. Today’s gaming computers deliver more realistic graphics, exceptional gameplay, and higher frames per second (FPS) than we could only dream about a decade ago. Even more impressively, they achieve this with more compact hardware and PC cases than we would have thought possible.

For Kiwi gamers dealing with summer heatwaves, managing system temperature becomes especially important. This ultra-high performance comes with a price tag—namely, significant heat production during marathon gaming sessions. This excessive heat can damage electronics, impact performance, and cause PCs to crash at the most critical moments.

The savviest gamers are turning to cutting-edge performance cooling solutions, like liquid cooling and advanced thermal chambers, to prevent performance problems and keep their PCs running optimally. Read our in-depth guide to liquid cooling vs. air cooling systems to learn which is best for your specific gaming needs in New Zealand.

Air Cooling Systems

Air cooler systems are the most straightforward—and cost-effective—solution to cooling down your OMEN gaming PC. Most consumer PCs and laptops use some form of air cooling to prevent overheating and maintain a high level of performance.

This system typically comes with both intake and exhaust fans. These dual fans allow the system to expel hot air out of the chassis and bring cool air in from the other side to regulate components, like the CPU and GPU. When you combine these fans with a heatsink (which absorbs heat from critical electronics and dissipates it into the air), you get an effective cooling system with efficient heat dissipation technology that’s perfect for most home use cases.

While there are numerous CPU cooling systems to choose from, the most common are tower and low-profile coolers. Tower coolers are usually found in PCs with a large tower chassis. They’re typically high-performance and very effective at removing heat. On the other hand, low-profile coolers are most often used in laptops and they’re not nearly as effective as their larger counterparts.

Cost-sensitive consumers can look to air cooling systems as a competitively-priced way to cool their gaming PC without breaking their budget. They’re also easy to install, maintain, and troubleshoot when broken. Plus, you don’t have to worry about liquid coolant leaks.

However, when it comes to liquid cooling vs. air cooling, air cooling systems may struggle to remove enough heat from high-performance PCs, like those used for gaming, graphic design, and data analysis. Large tower cooling systems also take up quite a bit of room in the chassis and can get in the way of other components. Finally, they often run loud and the noise level can get quite high during intensive gaming sessions.

Liquid Cooling Systems

Liquid cooling systems are a premium alternative to air cooling systems. These high-end setups come with a pump, radiator, water block, and multiple insulated tools. They’re much more expensive compared to an air cooling setup, but they can remove quite a bit more heat. This makes a liquid CPU cooling system the best option for high-performance gaming systems that can run dangerously hot.

An all-in-one liquid CPU cooling system is the best choice for gamers who want a plug-and-play option. That’s because they come pre-assembled and can be installed in minutes. With this type of turnkey unit, the pump, radiator, and water block come as a single unit.

On the other hand, custom loop solutions are used by PC hobbyists and gamers who prefer a more elegant solution. If you’re interested in building your liquid cooling system and wringing the best performance out of your setup, you can build a fully customizable loop system that lets you cool multiple components in a single loop.

This approach is also favoured by gamers who focus on aesthetics. A properly set up loop system can be beautiful and it’s often used by gamers who go for vivid colour splashes and a transparent PC case, while also improving the gaming case airflow.

Liquid cooling systems come with much greater performance compared to traditional air cooled systems, especially when it comes to high-performance gaming PCs that naturally run hot. This includes those running overclocked CPUs and GPUs, and systems that run 1440p or 4K resolutions.

They’re also much quieter than air cooling systems and allow you to easily customise the look of your PC with RGB lighting and other vivid designs.

Despite these many benefits, liquid cooling systems are much more expensive than their air cooled counterparts and they may not fit every gamer’s budget. They’re also more difficult to install and come with the risk of liquid leaks that could damage your expensive PC components.

Advanced Cooling Innovations

In addition to liquid cooling vs. air cooling options, HP also provides gamers with advanced cooling innovations that can boost your gaming desktop PC’s performance and extend the life of your components.

The OMEN by HP 45L gaming desktop GT22-2007a PC features HP’s flagship cooling solution. It comes equipped with cutting-edge thermal management technology that optimises airflow throughout the system. This frees up room in the PC tower and gives you even more efficient thermal performance optimisation.

This powerhouse gaming system features an Intel® Core™ i9-14900K processor (up to 6.0 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 36 MB L3 cache, 24 cores, 32 threads) paired with the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080 (16 GB GDDR6X dedicated) graphics card. With its substantial 64 GB memory and combined 2 TB HDD and 2 TB SSD storage, it offers exceptional performance for the most demanding games.

• Advanced thermal management technology for optimal cooling

• Intel® Core™ i9-14900K processor with 24 cores and 32 threads

• NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080 (16 GB GDDR6X dedicated) graphics

• 64 GB memory for seamless multitasking and gaming

The OMEN cooling system gives your system better airflow, lower temperatures, and unbeatable PC performance. It also results in lower fan speed and improved FPS stability. Finally, it will extend the life of all your PC’s components by improving gaming PC temperature control that can damage electronics over time if left unchecked.

HP has run several benchmark tests—and has consistently found that PCs with advanced cooling solutions have better CPU thermal management and lower noise levels than other gaming PCs.

Cooling Performance Comparisons

The results are in! When it comes to liquid cooling vs. air cooling systems, liquid cooling outperforms air cooling in nearly every category. HP’s options are among the best CPU fan coolers, and can keep CPUs and other critical components up to 10-20 degrees cooler than air cooling systems. This has been proven time and time again during rigorous stress tests.

Custom liquid cooling loops perform even better, which is why many gamers call them the best CPU fan cooler available. This is especially true when they’re separated into multiple compartments to boost performance.

Liquid cooling systems are also much quieter compared to air cooling systems. The lack of noisy fans is a huge benefit to gamers who don’t use headphones. The advanced cooling solutions in systems like the OMEN 40L desktop GT21-2008a PC operate even quieter than standard cooling systems.

This impressive gaming desktop features an Intel® Core™ i7-14700F processor paired with the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080 graphics card, delivering exceptional gaming performance with 32 GB memory and combined 1 TB HDD plus 2 TB SSD storage.

• Advanced cooling technology for optimal thermal management

• Intel® Core™ i7-14700F processor (up to 5.4 GHz)

• NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080 (16 GB GDDR6X dedicated) graphics

• 32 GB memory with 1 TB HDD and 2 TB SSD storage

However, despite the clear performance benefits of liquid cooling systems, they are much more expensive than traditional air cooling. This makes it a premium option that may or may not be suitable for your particular budget.

Finally, air cooling systems are more reliable than their liquid counterparts. They can run for long periods without any maintenance, outside of cleaning dust out of the fans themselves. Liquid cooling systems, on the other hand, require regular maintenance and pump checkups to keep them in good working order. Failure to properly maintain a liquid cooling system can result in leaks that can damage components.

Gaming Performance Impact

One of the reasons why high-end cooling systems are so important in the gaming world is heat’s negative impact on PC performance. High temperatures can lower FPS, cause stutters, and lead to component damage over the long term.

Liquid cooling systems eliminate most of these risks. They help CPUs and GPUs boost clocks. Ultimately, this leads to more stable and higher FPS—and longer-lasting components that save money in the long term.

In addition, gamers who regularly game in marathon sessions will want to look at liquid CPU cooler systems to maintain performance and prevent failures. That’s because hours-long gaming sessions can lead to sharp temperature rises over time and air cooled systems will struggle to bring temps down to a reasonable level.

Casual gamers can start with an air cooling system and still have a great time. That’s because these systems can maintain low temperatures for an hour or two without issue, especially when playing on lower resolutions like 1080p. For budget-conscious gamers, the Victus by HP 15L gaming desktop TG02-0016a PC offers a solid entry-level gaming experience with effective cooling.

This affordable gaming desktop is equipped with an Intel® Core™ i5-12400F processor and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 graphics, paired with 16 GB memory and 512 GB SSD storage, offering a solid gaming experience for casual gamers.

• Effective air cooling solution for casual gaming

• Intel® Core™ i5-12400F processor (up to 4.4 GHz)

• NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated) graphics

• 16 GB memory with 512 GB SSD storage

For those who prefer the portability of a gaming laptop, the OMEN 16.1 inch gaming laptop 16-wf0152TX features a sophisticated cooling system designed specifically for the constraints of a laptop form factor.

Setup and Optimisation

Now that you’ve chosen the best CPU cooler, it’s time to prepare for setup. Most air cooling systems are simple to install and can be done in minutes. The only issue you’ll need to look out for is RAM and GPU clearance because of their size.

Those looking to install liquid coolers will need to set aside more time for installation. Consider watching several YouTube videos before installation to increase your comfort level with the process and components.

Finally, make sure you set up a regular maintenance schedule to prevent disruptions and optimise performance. Air cooling systems are easy to maintain. Just clean out the fans and heatsinks every quarter with compressed air, which is readily available in most New Zealand electronics shops.

Liquid systems require more detailed maintenance. You’ll need to check the pump monthly to ensure it’s operating smoothly. You’ll also need to replace coolant regularly and inspect tubes for cracks every few months.

For those who prefer a ready-to-go solution, the OMEN 40L desktop GT21-2007a PC comes with advanced cooling already professionally installed and optimised.

Monitoring your System’s Temperature

A critical aspect of maintaining your gaming PC’s performance is monitoring temperatures. For New Zealand gamers, especially during summer months, keeping track of your system’s thermal performance is essential.

There are several free software tools available that can help you monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures in real-time. These programs can alert you when temperatures approach dangerous levels and help you understand when your cooling system needs attention.

For best results, keep your gaming setup in a well-ventilated area. Kiwi gamers should consider gaming in cooler rooms of the house during summer months, and ensure plenty of airflow around the PC.

Conclusion

Gamers are always on the hunt to optimise their gaming desktop for the best performance. Casual gamers and those playing with lower resolutions can confidently use traditional air cooling systems and still have a great gaming experience.

However, gamers using advanced VR technology, high resolutions, and marathon gaming sessions need the best CPU cooler to maintain performance and protect their investment. Look for liquid cooling systems that can lower high temperatures and boost performance to get the most value for money and highest-quality gaming experience.

Also, keep an eye out for new developments in the world of PC cooling. Advanced thermal management technology, like that found in the OMEN by HP 45L gaming desktop, is becoming more reliable and widespread. In the future, you’ll be able to run incredibly powerful setups without any concern about heat or performance by using a cutting-edge cooling system that can tame the hottest components and highest gaming resolutions.

To learn more about OMEN and gaming systems available in New Zealand, you can view all OMEN gaming products on the HP New Zealand website.