Lian Li Galahad II Lite 360mm AIO Review: Budget Beast
Starting with a surprise from the benchmarks — multiple reviewers labeled the Lian Li Galahad II Lite 360mm AIO Liquid CPU Cooler as “insanely performative for the price,” making it a rare budget-friendly standout in the 360mm AIO category. Performance-focused testers even placed it among the “best cooling we’ve ever seen from a 360mm AIO” when compared to peers, warranting a strong 9/10 for raw thermal efficiency.
Quick Verdict: Conditional — excellent buy for budget-to-midrange high-performance builds, but potential pump reliability concerns for certain users
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Outstanding cooling for its price | Reports of intermittent pump start-up failures |
| Quiet at moderate fan speeds | Stock fans have noticeable resonance at certain RPM ranges |
| Daisy-chain fan design simplifies cabling | Limited RGB appeal for users seeking more elaborate lighting |
| Flexible compatibility (Intel & AMD latest sockets) | Some dislike default full-load noise profile |
| Rotatable pump logo and attractive design | Performance mode can be louder than expected |
| 6-year warranty with leakage compensation | Requires careful fan curve tuning to avoid tonal issues |
Claims vs Reality
One of the core marketing points is the “high-performance pump design operating at 3800 rpm,” touted for optimal thermal management. In lab-style reviews, this claim held up — Tom’s Hardware found it “raises the bar for AIO cooling,” managing top-tier CPU loads with no thermal throttling. However, digging deeper into user reports reveals nuance. A verified Newegg buyer warned: “I still had intermittent issues where the pump did not turn on during start-up… the BIOS would not detect an AIO pump.” This suggests that while peak cooling output is excellent, startup reliability isn’t flawless for everyone.
Another claim centers on the “preinstalled daisy-chain fans” making cable management easy. Reddit user u/trackme agreed: “Neatly daisy chained fans from factory… keeps cable clutter down,” adding it simplified their case build workflow. But in terms of acoustic performance, PCPartPicker reviewers noted quirks. One buyer summarized: “They have a weird resonance from 700–800 rpm… had to run them at like 950 rpm to get over the resonance hump.” Cable ease, yes — acoustic perfection, not always.
Lastly, Lian Li promotes the “silent, high-airflow fan design” in the performance SKU. Cross-platform tests partially validate this, especially at mid-load. At stock max RPM, several testers did report higher noise than Arctic’s Liquid Freezer II series, but still competitive when normalized.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Cooling efficiency headlines nearly every glowing review. Reddit user u/[name hidden] insisted, “This thing is insanely performative for the price… an unsung hero.” PCPartPicker owners echoed similar sentiments, with one stating they hit “18k in Cinebench without coming close to thermal throttling.” For overclockers pushing Ryzen 9 and Intel i9 chips, the capacity to sustain high wattages without hitting temperature ceilings makes the Galahad II Lite appealing.
The daisy-chain cable management approach is another strong point. Builders wanting clean internals benefit most, as the single-chain connection reduces clutter. A verified Amazon buyer remarked: “It’s magnificent… everything fits perfectly,” highlighting packaging and out-of-box assembly simplicity. This is coupled with solid socket coverage (Intel LGA 1851/1700 and AMD AM5/4), making it versatile for new-gen systems.
Aesthetically, the rotatable pump logo and ARGB pump cap earn positive mentions for subtle customization without going overboard. For minimalists avoiding LCD pumps, it offers visual flair that complements tempered-glass cases.
Common Complaints
The most concerning recurring issue is pump initialization failure. Multiple Newegg reports describe scenarios where the pump wouldn’t spin at boot, requiring PSU toggling to kickstart. The fact Reddit and retailer reviews independently mention this raises reliability flags — especially for daily-driver rigs where uptime matters.
Stock fan acoustics garnered mixed reactions. Several PCPartPicker users observed tonal resonances and noted that achieving silent operation required RPM adjustments. While technically fixable via fan curves, less experienced builders might be caught off guard by the need for tuning.
Performance noise mode is another friction point. Tom’s Hardware highlighted default mode hitting 55.2 dBA — fine for large cases with strong isolation, but intrusive in open setups.
Divisive Features
RGB implementation divides the base differently than the LCD crowd. Minimalists appreciate the restrained pump lighting, while RGB enthusiasts find it too basic compared to Corsair or MSI solutions. That said, the optional side ARGB kit for performance SKU can partially bridge this gap.
Also contentious is the price-to-performance ratio when compared to Arctic’s Liquid Freezer II series. Some Reddit voices argue Arctic models can match thermals more quietly, while others reject Arctic due to tonal fan character — “Arctic products are just too loud… specific sound when there is resistance.”
Trust & Reliability
Trustpilot aggregation hints at overall authenticity — most reviews deemed high quality with minimal deception. The cooler’s 6-year warranty with leakage compensation reassures potential buyers, offering hardware coverage with a depreciation-based payout.
Still, field reliability concerns center almost exclusively on the pump startup quirk. While these cases aren’t universal, the pattern surfaces often enough across platforms to warrant caution. Builders targeting mission-critical uptime might lean toward proven pump architectures from other OEMs unless willing to RMA.
Reddit reports over several months indicate thermal stability holds up — no pattern of gradual cooling degradation on functioning units. That’s important for buyers seeking long-term performance without maintenance cycles.
Alternatives
DeepCool’s LT720 offers similar thermal prowess but handles up to 315W loads with slightly better full-load noise behavior. Arctic’s Liquid Freezer II line maintains ultra-low noise but lacks RGB entirely, appealing to silence-first users. MSI’s MEG CoreLiquid S360 delivers a premium LCD display but at roughly twice the cost.
For pure cooling dominance at this price bracket, Tom’s Hardware’s 5-star pick remains the Galahad II Performance variant — essentially the Lite’s sibling — which held thermals even in low-noise mode without degradation.
Price & Value
Pricing hovers around $109 for the RGB version, making it a competitive entry in the 360mm AIO space. Community sentiment often frames it as “great value for your money,” particularly for those who can capitalize on its cable management and cooling strengths without relying on stock fan acoustics.
From a resale angle, Lian Li units tend to hold moderate value within two years, especially if warranty remains transferable. Fakespot analysis suggests alternatives like EK Nucleus 360 can perform similarly at ~$100 less — but often without the same visual polish or build-specific cable convenience.
FAQ
Q: Does the Lian Li Galahad II Lite support AM5 without extra brackets?
A: Yes, it supports AM5 and AM4 out of the box. Some owners noted instructions imply separate brackets, but the included AM4 bracket works for AM5 chipsets.
Q: How loud is it at full load?
A: In performance mode, it can reach ~55 dBA. Noise drops to ~49 dBA in low-noise mode with minimal thermal loss, according to tester data.
Q: Can I replace the stock fans easily?
A: Yes, standard 120mm mounting is used. Several users swapped to Noctua for reduced resonance while maintaining cooling.
Q: Is the pump startup issue common?
A: While not universal, multiple verified buyers reported intermittent pump failures at boot, often resolved by toggling PSU power.
Q: Does it include pre-applied thermal paste?
A: Yes, plus a unique thermal paste control film and spreader for precise application.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re building a high-performance PC on a modest budget and value clean cable management with strong thermals. Avoid if absolute acoustic refinement or proven pump reliability is mission-critical. Pro tip from community: If resonance occurs with stock fans, fine-tune RPM curves or consider aftermarket replacements — the pump performance still delivers top-tier cooling once optimized.
