AIO CPU coolers have been very popular in recent years. They provide lower temperatures than traditional air coolers. However, they are more complex to install.

One of the questions that builders struggle with is whether to use a push or pull configuration for the fans on the radiator. Or is a push-pull setup even better?

In this article we take a look at the performance differences between these three approaches.

Liquid cooling radiators

As you know, liquid cooling uses water to transfer heat from the CPU to the radiator. This radiator consists of hundreds of thin metal pieces, creating a large surface area. Fans are used to remove the heat that the radiator emits, thus cooling the liquid and the CPU.

As you can see, the fans have an important job to do. The faster they cool the radiator, the lower the temperature of the processor.

What fan configuration you choose (push, pull or push-pull) will affect these temperatures.

Push, pull and push-pull configurations explained

There are three ways to install fans on the radiator:

1. Push: the fans are mounted before the radiator, so they push air through the metal fins outside the case.
2. Pull: the fans are mounted behind the radiator, so they pull in fresh air from outside the case, which passes through the radiator.
3. Push-pull: the fans are mounted on both sides of the radiator, where the fans on the back push air through the radiator and the fans on the front direct air away from the radiator.

Good to know: a push-pull configuration can be used as either an exhaust or an intake.

Performance difference

Tech4gamers.com tested all three configurations in combination with EK XE radiators at speeds of 800 and 1600 RPM. Here are the CPU temperatures they measured during this experiment:

What is immediately obvious is that fans in a push-pull configuration produce the lowest temperatures. There was a CPU temperature difference of 5 to 8 °C compared to a push or pull setup. That’s a noticeable improvement.

But what also stands out is the surprisingly small difference between push and pull fans. The temperatures are almost similar. So there is no immediate advantage to choosing one configuration or the other. You can choose the option that looks the most aesthetically pleasing in your PC case.

Things to keep in mind

• Push-pull fans are the best solution but require extra fans, making your build more expensive
• Radiator thickness, fin density and radiator placement will also influence these results
• A push-pull configuration will produce more noise