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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.
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!
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
