7 Best 120mm Radiators for Water Cooling in 2021 – For Every Budget! |

The best 120mm aio 2021 is the best way to cool your system. This article will help you find the best 120mm radiator for your budget in 2021.

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You’ve come to the correct spot if you’re looking for a new 120mm radiator for your water cooling system.

On the surface, there may not seem to be much to distinguish one radiator from another except size, but we’ll go through each radiator in depth so you can make an educated decision in your next build.

With that stated, don’t be fooled by our rankings; they are all excellent 120mm radiators. Let’s take a look at the 7 finest 120mm radiators for water cooling in 2021 without further ado.

Roundup of the Best 120mm Radiators in 2021

The table below summarizes our picks for the top seven 120mm radiators presently on the market. Simply click on ‘review>>’ in the appropriate row to read the entire review.

1. Alphacool NexXxoS V.2 XT45 120 mm

| Dimensions (LxWxH): 154.5 x 124 x 45.5 mm | Connection Threads: 5x G1/4” | Mounting Thread Size: M3 | Pressure Tested: 1.5 bar | Weight: 571 g

REASONS TO PURCHASE

• Components of pure copper
• Best-in-class performance
• Reasonable cost
• Screw plates with built-in protection
• High-quality construction

REASONS TO STAY AWAY

Our score is 9.8 out of ten.

The Alphacool 14163 NexXxoS XT45 is our top choice to begin with. Except for the brass threads and steel side panels, the NexXxoS XT45 V.2 utilizes 100% copper for all components, unlike most other radiators.

Many other radiators utilize copper in its fins and tubing, but just a handful use copper for the chamber walls. Because of this commitment to copper, it will be able to absorb and transmit the most heat from your system. This alone gives it the title of Best Overall.

The XT45’s 45mm thickness, on the other hand, guarantees that there is more room for heat dissipation than thinner radiators. The unique fin shape of Alphacool provides for good air circulation as well as efficient heat transmission. This guarantees that you may continue to utilize your current fans without the requirement for specialist fans or for operating them at greater speeds and louder volumes.

You won’t have to worry about threading a screw in too far while installation. Protective screw plates are incorporated into the XT45, as they are in many other contemporary radiators. You won’t have to deal with any more pierced radiator cores! Finally, it has standard G1/4” threaded ports for connecting to the rest of your water cooling system.

Overall, the NexXoS XT45 is one of the finest 120mm radiators on the market, and it’s a fantastic option if you have enough space for a 45mm radiator. And, even better, it’s reasonably priced, so it’ll keep your system cool without draining your bank account.

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2. Corsair Hydro X Series XR5

Dimensions (LxWxH): 160 x 120 x 30 mm | Connection Threads: G1/4′′ BSPP | Mounting Thread Size: M4xP0.7 | Weight: 345 g | Form Factor: 120mm | Materials: Copper, brass | Color: Black | Dimensions (LxWxH): 160 x 120 x 30 mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

• Heat dissipation is excellent.
• a reasonable price
• Application that is adaptable
• Overall, excellent quality.
• Compatibility across all platforms

REASONS TO STAY AWAY

Our score is 9.7 out of ten.

One of the finest 120mm radiators available is the Corsair Hydro X Series XR5. The following factors influenced our decision: cost, cooling capacity, and simplicity of installation.

The XR5 is a little more expensive than a standard 120mm radiator, but with a 3-year guarantee and the general quality of the product, it’s definitely worth it. It’s still a reasonably priced choice for 120mm radiators that will more than suffice.

The XR5 has a copper core and cooling fins that are 25 microns thick. The radiator has a high thermal transfer rate, which means it can displace a lot of heat while keeping your system cool and functioning.

Furthermore, since the 120mm fan can be mounted on either side of the radiator, this 30mm radiator is simple to install in virtually any arrangement. This isn’t a standard feature on all radiators, and you’re frequently stuck with the way the manufacturer built it. With the XR5, this is not the case. If you have a small radiator area or a unique application, this may be the radiator for you.

Compatibility across all platforms is further ensured by the use of standard G1/4” ports. Finally, the XR5 has screw safety plates, similar to the NexXxoS XT45, to avoid overtightening screws and harming the radiator core.

Overall, the XR5 is an excellent and well-liked 120mm radiator. It was just beaten to the top position by the NexXxoS XT45 due to the absence of 100 percent copper components. For many users, though, the installation flexibility makes it a much more appealing choice.

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RELATED READING: The Best Water Cooling PC Cases

3. Alphacool NexXxoS V.2 ST30 120 mm

Dimensions (LxWxH): 154.5 x 124 x 30 mm | Connection Threads: 5x 1/4” | Mounting Thread Size: M3 | Pressure Tested: 1.5 bar | Weight: 386 g | Form Factor: 120mm | Materials: Copper, steel | Color: Black | Dimensions (LxWxH): 154.5 x 124 x 30 mm | Connection Threads: 5x 1/4” | Mounting Thread Size: M3 | Pressure Teste

REASONS TO PURCHASE

• Components of pure copper
• High-quality construction
• Compatibility across all platforms
• Heat dissipation is excellent.
• a reasonable price

REASONS TO STAY AWAY

Our score is 9.7 out of ten.

The ST30 V.2 provides the same advantages as the NexXxoS XT45, but with a 30mm thickness instead of 45mm. The inside will be made of 100% copper, much like the XT45, but at a far cheaper cost. If space is an issue, but you don’t require an ultra-thin radiator like the XSPC TX120 or the EKWB SE 120, we suggest this radiator.

The ST30, like the XT45, has all copper fins, tubing, and chambers, with the exception of the threaded G1/4” ports, which are brass. It should have a lower FPI than the XT45, making it more suitable for low-speed fans.

With their newest radiator series, Alphacool has truly struck the nail on the head. Whether you choose the ST30 or the XT45 for your construction, you will be satisfied with either. The ST30 only lost to the Corsair Hydro X Series XR5 because the XR5 seemed to be simpler to install in tight places and bespoke applications. Despite this, the ST30 remains the undisputed champion of the 30mm format.

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ALSO READ: The Top 360mm AIO CPU Coolers

4. EKWB EK-CoolStream Classic PE 120

Dimensions (LxWxH): 153 x 120 x 45 mm | Connection Threads: 2x G1/4” | Pressure Tested: 1 bar (g) | Weight: 650 g | Form Factor: 120mm | Materials: Copper, steel, brass | Color: Black | Dimensions (LxWxH): 153 x 120 x 45 mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

• Excellent performance
• It’s ideal for quiet construction.
• Compatibility across all platforms
• High-quality construction

REASONS TO STAY AWAY

• There is a scarcity of 100% copper.
• Price increase

Our score is 9.6 out of ten.

The EKWB EK-Coolstream Classic PE 120mm radiator is a great 120mm radiator with an even better price (for a 45mm radiator). You can anticipate excellent cooling with little hindrance thanks to the 45mm thickness and low FPI. It easily achieved our best value rating due to its mix of pricing, performance, and build quality.

Copper fins and copper alloy tubing are used in the EK-Coolstream, which also has a brass chamber and brass port threads. It has a low FPI (Fins Per Inch) of 13, so you won’t have to worry about making too much noise or running your fans at excessively high speeds. This radiator is ideal for people who desire a completely quiet system.

It also has a decent 140ml liquid capacity, which is more than enough to ensure that your cooling solution is cycling away from your heatsink at a consistent pace (dependent on your pump of course). You may anticipate to utilize it for global compatibility since it has standard G1/4” threaded ports.

Overall, the EKWB EK-CoolStream Classic PE is an excellent radiator for anybody looking for a heavy-duty, high-quality radiator from a renowned manufacturer. Although there are superior radiators on the market, the PE 120 is a no-brainer–especially given the pricing.

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Radiator EKWB EK-CoolStream SE 120

Dimensions (LxWxH): 160 x 120 x 28 mm | Connection Threads: 2x G1/4” | Pressure Tested: 1 bar | Weight: 440 g | Form Factor: 120mm | Materials: Copper, steel, brass | Color: Black | Dimensions (LxWxH): 160 x 120 x 28 mm | Connection Threads: 2x G1/4” | Pressure Tested: 1 bar | Weight: 440 g

REASONS TO PURCHASE

• Construction of high quality
• It’s ideal for compact cases.
• Compatibility across all platforms
• Excellent cooling capacity

REASONS TO STAY AWAY

Our score is 9.4 out of ten.

The EKWB EK-CoolStream SE 120 Radiator is our fifth choice, and it’s another slim radiator made for compact areas. In a tiny or congested case, this thin 28mm radiator will help you optimize your space.

While the SE 120 was designed especially for EK-Vardar high static pressure fans, it should fit any 120mm fan. EKWB’s parallel flow cooling chambers are intended to minimize flow resistance to a minimum, while the copper fins offer optimum surface area.

Both sides of the radiator shroud include screw holes, allowing for unique push-pull combinations. It also features an 85mL liquid capacity and uses standard G1/4” ports for universal fitment.

It is on the upper end of our list of radiators, with a somewhat higher price tag for a thin radiator, but it is a quality product in a tiny container. The SE 120’s copper fins, brass chambers, and FPI of 22 all contribute to the SE 120’s ability to displace a significant quantity of heat from your system.

We discovered that when systems with this radiator were idle to low workload, they were able to sustain ambient air temperatures. Temperatures increased under high loads, as anticipated, but they remained below safe limits.

Overall, if you’re searching for a 30mm thick radiator, we still suggest the Alphacool ST30 (third on the list). EKWB, on the other hand, has been in the water cooling game for quite some time and their products are just unbeatable.

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READ ALSO: The Best Silent PC Cases

XSPC TX120 Ultra Thin Radiator (number 6)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 158 x 125 x 20.5 mm | Connection Threads: G1/4” | Weight: 308 g | Form Factor: 120mm | Materials: Copper, brass | Color: Matte Black | Dimensions (LxWxH): 158 x 125 x 20.5 mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

• The design is very slim (only 20.5mm)
• Even so, it was a fantastic performance.
• Universal compatibility
• Ideal for ITX builds.

REASONS TO STAY AWAY

• For a 120mm radiator, the pricing is steep.

We give it a 9.2 out of 10 rating.

The XSPC TX120 Ultra Thin Radiator comes next. With a thickness of just 20.5mm, this radiator is our top choice for individuals who need to conserve room in their case–whether owing to a tiny form factor or too many components crammed into that mid-tower you swore was large enough. It has acquired the moniker of Space Saver.

The TX120’s thinness does not imply that it is incapable of providing adequate cooling. The XSPC radiator has 13 tubes and 22 fins per square inch, which results in remarkable cooling performance for such a small radiator.

Furthermore, because of its small design, low-speed fans may still be used in your setup. This guarantees that even when your system is under high demand, it remains silent. The use of a copper and brass core also guarantees that heat is properly dissipated.

Finally, the XSPC TX120 uses standard G1/4” ports and has a coolant capacity of 90ml, somewhat more than the EKWB SE 120 while being almost 8 mm thinner–truly amazing.

Despite all of its benefits, the pricing is a little high. This isn’t out of the ordinary for a 240mm or bigger radiator, but it’s a lot for such a tiny radiator. However, if you need to conserve space, the ultra-thin design may more than compensate for the higher price.

Overall, if you don’t have enough room in your case but still want top performance, the TX120 is a great option. The pricing is a letdown, but if you don’t mind spending a little more, you’ll be pleased with what the TX120 can accomplish for you.

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7. AGPtek Aluminum Heat Exchanger Radiator R120 with 12 Pipes

Dimensions (LxWxH): 158 x 120 x 30 mm | Connection Threads: 3/8” | Mounting Thread Size: M3 | Weight: 227 g | Form Factor: 120mm | Material: Aluminum | Color: Black | Dimensions (LxWxH): 158 x 120 x 30 mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

• The cost is reasonable.
• Lightweight and small
• Cooling capacity adequate

REASONS TO STAY AWAY

• Construction made of aluminum
• In comparison to others, this is a poor performance.
• Longevity concerns

Our score is 8.3 out of ten.

The AGPtek 12 Pipe Aluminum Heat Exchanger Radiator R120 is the ideal choice for people on a tight budget who still want a 30mm radiator. It costs a fraction of the price of the other radiators on our list. This is our top pick for a low-cost construction.

The R120, unlike the other radiators on this list, has aluminum fins rather than copper fins. Aluminum has two distinct benefits over copper.

The first benefit is the cost. Because they all utilize copper fins–aluminum is just cheaper than copper–the other six radiators on our list are all within $20 of one another.

The weight advantage is the second benefit. Copper is heavier than aluminum. Although the weight difference between the R120 and other radiators may seem insignificant, aluminum is lighter per cubic inch than copper.

Aluminum fins, on the other hand, have a disadvantage. Because aluminum does not transfer heat as well as copper, copper radiators and heatsinks are more prevalent. However, the R120 compensates for this by using 12 pipes in four groups of three. This enables the liquid to travel through the radiator four times before leaving.

For those on a low budget, those who aren’t worried about excessive cooling power, or those who have a specialized application outside of PC builds, we suggest it.

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Conclusion

These are all excellent choices for anybody searching for a 120mm radiator. At the end of the day, these frequently ignored bits of PC hardware don’t necessarily have much to offer. A good radiator, on the other hand, will quietly do its work by keeping the rest of your computer cool and comfy.

Radiators may have one of the most thankless tasks in a computer, second only to the power supply, but we believe they are a worthwhile investment for any water cooling setup.

We hope you found this post useful. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any queries about your next radiator or anything else related to PC building. We’re your one-stop shop for all things internet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes the best water cooling radiators?

The best water cooling radiators are the ones that are specifically designed for your computer. These are usually made by brands like Corsair, Cooler Master, and NZXT.

Is a 120mm water cooler enough?

This is a difficult question to answer, as it would depend on what you are trying to cool. If you are looking for a cooler that will cool the air in your case and not just the computer components, then yes, I believe 120mm water cooling is sufficient.

What is the best water cooling system for PC 2021?