Expert Consulted: Adrian Gardiner. Years of experience buying both computers and computer parts for my own new customer builds has given me a keen eye for spotting great deals when shopping. In this article, I’ll be sharing my knowledge to help you find the best water cooled graphics card.
Water cooled or, more accurately, liquid-cooled graphics cards represent a significant leap forward in GPU cooling technology, offering several advantages over traditional air cooling.
These cards include a built-in liquid-cooling system that efficiently dissipates heat, improving overall performance and reducing noise.
As a result, heavy users of graphics capability, like gamers and professional content creators, can expect higher overall graphics quality and potentially longer-lasting GPUs from lower operating temperatures.
For this article, I’ve sourced and reviewed the three best water cooled graphics cards currently available.
Although these cards are an excellent way of keeping your GPU cool, surprisingly, there aren’t that many to choose from, and what is available tends to be high-end cards like the RTX 3080 Ti and above.
Perhaps this lack of supply options is due to user misconceptions about the security of water cooling inside computers, which are perfectly safe, especially AIO systems where the entire unit is sealed at the factory.
Either way, I was still able to find some fantastic water cooled graphics cards.
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The 3 Best Water Cooled Graphics Card – Reviewed for 2023
I’ve researched and found 3 excellent water cooled graphics cards, each with superb gaming performance and, of course, enhanced liquid cooling.
Options include a Premium, Mid Range, and Budget selection in an effort to cover the widest range of computer gaming needs and budgets.
The products covered here are all currently available on Amazon, but stock levels quickly change, especially during busy shopping periods, so if you find a reviewed card is out of stock, I would carry out a quick search on Amazon to see if another seller has the same item.
Product Overview
The following table provides a quick overview of the 3 water cooled graphics cards reviewed.
1 | 
| BEST PREMIUM MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM Liquid X GPU | |
2 | 
| BEST MID RANGE ASUS ROG Strix LC RTX 3080 Ti OC Edition GPU | |
3 | 
| BEST BUDGET XFX Speedster Zero AMD Radeon RX 6900XT GPU | |
The Review – Best Water Cooled Graphics Cards
And now, on to the review! The following sections cover the reviews for each water cooled graphics card, highlighting their key headline features plus any issues I found that needed mentioning.
1: MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM Liquid X 24G Graphics Card
|
Best Premium | MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM Liquid X GPU
| See full review below |
The MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM Liquid X 24G (V510-007R) marks a significant advancement towards the ultimate in graphics technology, blending stunning, high performance coupled with excellent efficiency.
Powered by NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture, this GPU comes with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory, making it ideal for ultra-high-performance gaming and creative work.
Its enhanced streaming multiprocessors, 4th-gen Tensor Cores, and 3rd-gen RT Cores deliver up to 2x performance in ray tracing and 4x with DLSS 3.
The design features a low-profile integrated pump, micro-fins in the copper base for optimal heat transfer, and quiet fans that stop during low temperatures, helping to conserve power and keep noise levels down.
Its 240 mm black aluminum radiator ensures sustained intense performance, complemented by a durable and visually appealing metal backplate.
The included MSI Center software offers great real-time monitoring and optimization, adding to its overall user-friendly appeal.
With a boost clock of 2625 MHz and 21 Gbps memory speed, this card stands out for its game-winning responsiveness and AI-accelerated performance.
Expensive, maybe, but what a graphics card! Very cool appearance and fabulous performance.
MSI specifies a minimum PSU size of 850w but recommends 1000w. To connect power to this GPU, a 16-pin connector is provided.
2: ASUS ROG Strix LC RTX 3080 Ti OC Edition Graphics Card
|
Best Mid Range | ASUS ROG Strix LC RTX 3080 Ti OC GPU
| See full review below |
The ASUS ROG Strix LC NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti OC Edition is a powerhouse liquid-cooled GPU for mid-to-high-range gaming rigs with a lot of bang for your buck.
Equipped with 12GB GDDR6X memory and a memory speed of 19 Gbps, this RTX 3080 Ti graphics card supports resolutions up to 8K (7680 x 4320) if you have a monitor and PC specification that can support it.
It features NVIDIA’s cutting-edge Ampere architecture, providing double the FP32 throughput and enhanced power efficiency.
The card has 2nd Gen RT Cores for advanced ray tracing and 3rd Gen Tensor Cores, optimizing AI algorithms like DLSS and supporting up to 8K resolution.
An overclocked boost clock of 1860 MHz, a full-coverage cold plate, and a 240mm radiator ensure superior cooling and performance.
This model stands out for its blend of power, cooling efficiency, and quiet operation, making it an excellent choice for avid gamers seeking top-notch performance.
To run this GPU, you’ll need at least an 850w PSU, and it’s supplied with 3 x 8-pin power connectors.
3: XFX Speedster Zero AMD Radeon RX 6900XT EKWB RGB Waterblock Limited Edition Graphics Card
|
Best Budget | XFX Speedster Zero AMD Radeon RX 6900XT GPU
| See full review below |
The XFX Speedster Zero AMD Radeon RX 6900XT with the EKWB RGB Waterblock represents a pinnacle in gaming graphics technology with its stunning design.
Marrying AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture with EK’s top-tier water cooling, this card delivers outstanding performance for 4K and competitive gaming.
It’s fitted with 16GB of GDDR6 memory, offering powerful, vivid visuals and smooth frame rates.
The card’s full addressable RGB control, compatible with various motherboard RGB technologies, adds a personalized and very attractive aesthetic flair, especially if the card is vertically mounted (see notes below).
The 14+2 Phase power design ensures extreme stability and impressive overclocking potential, while the dual BIOS feature provides a safety net for updates.
A 3-year warranty underscores XFX’s confidence in this high-quality, high-performance GPU. It’s an ideal choice for enthusiasts seeking superior performance and aesthetics.
The PSU for this card should be rated for at least 850w minimum, but XFX recommends 1000w. Connecting power to the card will use a supplied 3 x 8-pin connector (supplied).
NOTES:
1. Vertical mounting will help with fitting as the card is very wide for a conventional horizontal install because of the liquid cooling tubes going to and from the GPU.
2. A separate cooling radiator (not included) will be required, or a custom cooling solution will be needed to feed cooled liquid going into and warmed liquid coming out of the GPU.
Before Buying The Best Water Cooled Graphics Card
When looking to buy your water cooled graphics card, it’s worth noting the following key points:
- Cable Ports – carefully check that the graphics port(s) on your card will match with your existing monitor, i.e., if you have an HDMI port on your monitor, make sure your new GPU has the same type of port.
- Measure Up – carefully check to ensure that your chosen card will fit in your computer case, particularly on length but also in width. These cards can be huge, especially the RTX 4090. The XFX Speedster, in particular, needs a huge amount of room on the width due to the cooling cables.
- Power and Cabling – you’ll need a power supply unit (PSU) that, at the very least, will meet the minimum manufacturer-required size but, ideally, the recommended rating. Your PSU will also need to have enough PCIe power cables to feed the GPU.
- Fitting – It’s worth noting that fitting a water cooled graphics card will involve more work than an air-cooled GPU, especially if you have to get involved with connecting a cooling radiator to your card, so it might be worth getting some assistance with this.
Final Thoughts
The lower availability of water cooled graphics cards means it can be harder to find your ideal choice, but if you can get one, the rewards in better cooling and potentially lower noise levels will be worth it.
The options reviewed here provide a number of powerful GPU options, each with great water cooling solutions to enhance your gaming build.
The first and second GPU options reviewed will be the easiest to install as they both have an AIO (all-in-one) cooling solution, so the tricky bit is just positioning the radiator.
The third option, the XFX SpeedSter, is going to be more of a challenge to install unless you already have prior experience. However, the end result will be worth it, not just from the excellent cooling but with the amazing lighting effects it offers.
I hope you enjoy reading this review and that it helps with your search for the ideal water cooled graphics card. Happy gaming!
Image Attribution and Licensing
Main Image – created with Canva Pro.