Lian Li Galahad II LCD 280 Review: Better, Quieter Than 360mm Options

A nice IPS Display, plus top-end cooling performance and low noise levels.

Lian Li Galahad II LCD 280
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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No Power Limits Thermal Results

Without power limits enforced on Intel’s i7-13700K, the CPU will hit its peak temperature and thermally throttle with even the strongest of air coolers. For most coolers, we’ll measure the CPU package power to determine the maximum wattage cooled.

Well, that is what I would do for most coolers, but Lian Li’s GA II LCD 280 achieves a level of cooling performance that many competing liquid coolers are unable to achieve – it kept Intel’s i7-13700K under its peak temperature in this workload. As such, I’ve compared the actual temperature of the CPU in this benchmark against the only eleven liquid coolers I’ve tested capable of this level of cooling capacity.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

With a result of 67C over ambient, the 280mm version of the GA II LCD performs on par with the 360mm DeepCool LT720 and MSI S360 AIOs. This is an extremely strong result. Only Lian Li’s 360mm GA II Performance and Cooler Master’s 360 Atmos perform significantly better in this scenario.

Thermal performance is important here, but noise levels are also a key part of the user experience. Lian Li’s GA II LCD 280 delivered especially quiet results in this test, running quieter than any of the previously tested coolers. These noise levels are incredibly impressive when you consider the cooler is keeping Intel’s i7-13700K under TJ Max!

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Thermal Results with noise normalized to 38.2 dBA

Finding the right balance between fan noise levels and cooling performance is important. While running fans at full speed can improve cooling capacity to some extent, the benefits are limited and many users prefer a quiet system. With this noise normalized test, I’ve set noise levels to 38.2 dba. This noise level is a low volume level (but slightly audible to most people).

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Folks who prefer silent performance will love Lian Li’s 280mm GA II. it rose to the top of the charts in this test, tying the 360mm version of the non-LCD GA II for the best performance I’ve ever seen from an AIO when set to run quietly.

175W Cinebench Results

Most coolers on the market are able to keep Intel’s i7-13700K under its peak temperature if the power consumption is limited. So for this test we’ll be looking at the CPU’s actual temperature. Here Lian Li’s 280mm GA II LCD does well, tied with its 240mm sibling for the second-best results we’ve recorded on this test bench, measuring just 49 degrees Celsius over a 23 degrees C ambient temperature.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

But as you should know, temperatures aren’t the only part of the story with a reduced wattage workload, noise is equally important. With a measurement of only 41.4 dBA recorded, Lian Li’s 280mm GA II LCD doesn’t get noisy. A result like this means that you don’t really need to tune your fans with this cooler if moderate noise doesn’t bother you.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

125W Cinebench Results

The lowest power limit I test with Raptor Lake CPUs is 125W. This is a high enough limit to allow the CPU to maintain its base clock speeds, even in the most intensive tests, and most coolers should be able to keep the CPU below TJ Max – even low-end coolers.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Looking at thermal performance, the result of 37 degrees C over ambient is really good – better than most of the other 360mm AIOs tested here. But really, thermals do not matter much in this scenario. Even Intel’s basic stock cooler can handle a load like this with ease.

Noise levels, rather than CPU temperature, are the most important factor here – and Lian Li’s 280mm GA II ties for the second-quietest results from an AIO in this test.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Conclusion

Lian Li’s Galahad II LCD 280 shows that with the right design, you don’t need a 360mm AIO or a loud cooler to keep Intel’s i7-13700K under TJ Max. Its performance is amongst the best we’ve seen from any AIO, and its limited 280mm size means that it will fit in many cases where a 360mm model won’t. The included LCD display is vibrant and adds eye-catching functionality to the cooler’s aesthetics.

If this sounds like a cooler you’d enjoy, the Galahad II LCD 280 is available for $229.99 USD. That’s on the expensive end of the AIO spectrum. But if the LCD display isn’t your thing or you’re on a budget, the non-LCD versions of the Galahad II are available for $159.99 for the 360mm version and $119.99 for the 240mm model.

Albert Thomas
Freelancer, CPU Cooling Reviewer

Albert Thomas is a contributor for Tom’s Hardware, primarily covering CPU cooling reviews.

  • Crazyy8
    Why does the first pic make the build look so dusty?
    Reply
  • Phaaze88
    Yes! 280mm units are underrepresented.
    Reply
  • -Fran-
    My biggest takeaway from this comes from how good the Galahad 240 is positioned against most 360 AIOs and this 280 as well. If the price difference against the Galahad 240 is not much (EDIT: if a non-LCD exists, that is!) and you can fit the 280 rad, then it's a really nice buy, but my take is if you can save the money and go for the 240, may as well. That also extends to the Arctic Freezer II 240 vs the 280 (and 360).

    Nice data as always Albert, so thanks!

    Regards.
    Reply
  • B4zookaw
    Crazyy8 said:
    Why does the first pic make the build look so dusty?
    The whole rig looks dirty, and not just in this review, but in others prior to it. Rear exhaust fan looks caked in dust
    Reply
  • Roland Of Gilead
    Crazyy8 said:
    Why does the first pic make the build look so dusty?

    Yeah, it does actually. And the first one in the 'LGA Cooler installation'. Maybe bad lighting!?
    Reply
  • Albert.Thomas
    Alright guys, I hear you.

    I've taken a microfiber cloth with some rubbing alcohol and cleaned it out :D
    Reply
  • GhostGreyWolf
    It’s unfortunate that Lian Li doesn’t offer the 280mm model in non-LCD.

    There’s a lot to like here though. It took me significant work to get a 280mm AIO in my Lian Li O11 Air Mini when combined with a full ATX board. I would have bought this cooler for the 45-degree fittings, easy fan setup, and 30mm radiator. I like my Be Quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 280mm, but this really looks to be the best. I might have to watch and wait for a sale price.
    Reply
  • Albert.Thomas
    GhostGreyWolf said:
    It’s unfortunate that Lian Li doesn’t offer the 280mm model in non-LCD.

    There’s a lot to like here though. It took me significant work to get a 280mm AIO in my Lian Li O11 Air Mini when combined with a full ATX board. I would have bought this cooler for the 45-degree fittings, easy fan setup, and 30mm radiator. I like my Be Quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 280mm, but this really looks to be the best. I might have to watch and wait for a sale price.
    You might consider the 240mm non-LCD, whose results are shown in this review, it's pretty good too. One of the only 240mm AIOs that can keep a i7-13700K under TJMax (I've tested a few more since then, only one other 240mm AIO has passed this test)
    Reply
  • GhostGreyWolf
    Despite the price, this is perhaps the first Asetek-pump-based design that I think has a lot of thought going into it in some time, no small amount of it by Lian Li.

    -30mm radiator, a compromise between the massive Arctic Cooling 38mm and the common 25/27mm rads on most products
    -Interlocking fans for better cable management
    -45-degree fittings (I'd have killed for these building an AIO into my Lian Li O11 Air Mini this past year)
    -Fans that do the job without being insanely noisy
    -The pump looks decent from the cutaways
    -Unlike 7th-gen designs from folks like NZXT, the cable routing off the pump is better, like my Be Quiet! is

    I could take or leave the LCD for a simpler block, but I want a 280mm and they don't sell the Galahad II Trinity in a 280mm model. I like my Be Quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 280mm, but this looks to have more potential and I'm very tempted I have to also believe they designed the 240mm and 280mm models with the O11 cases in mind; I might have to make an impulse buy.

    EDIT: I gave in to impulse. I'll let everyone know what I think when I set it up.
    Reply