Man, those new i9s are basically space heaters. Trying to cool one with a 240mm is just asking for trouble, honestly. I would suggest you go for at least a 360mm radiator if your case can fit it, or you are gonna keep hitting that 100c wall during your renders. Be careful with the Arctic though because the radiator is much thicker than standard ones and it might not fit in every case. Here are the ones I trust for heavy workloads like video editing:

• Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 AIO: This is probably your safest bet for raw cooling power. The VRM fan actually helps keep the area around the CPU cool too. Just make sure your case has enough clearance because that radiator is chunky. It is very reliable and usually the top recommendation for a reason.
• Lian Li Galahad II Trinity Performance 360: It has a really high-speed pump mode which is great for those peak rendering loads, but it gets pretty loud. If you care about the deadline more than the noise, this is a solid choice.
• Corsair iCUE H150i RGB ELITE 360mm: A bit more expensive but their warranty and support are top-tier. If the pump dies, they usually handle it quickly, which is good for peace of mind when you have freelance deadlines. One thing tho, make sure you use a contact frame like the Thermal Grizzly Intel Contact Frame for that i9. It keeps the chip from bending and can drop temps by like 5-10c alone. Without it, even the best AIO might struggle to keep you under 85c under a full load. Just be careful when installing it so you dont overtighten the screws.

Regarding what #1 said about those i9s being space heaters... he's totally right but I actually disagree that just any random 360mm is gonna fix the issue. You really need a unit with a high-performance pump for those heavy video renders or you'll just heat-soak the loop! I am totally obsessed with the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Dark right now. It is seriously amazing and the build quality is just top-tier for professional reliability. If you want something that feels super safe, the DeepCool LT720 360mm Liquid Cooler is fantastic because of that patented anti-leak tech... it gives so much peace of mind when you have a huge deadline looming! Quick tip tho: definitely check your case airflow direction. If your intake is blocked by dust or bad fan placement, even the best AIO will struggle. You can totally do this, just get the right gear and you'll be rendering that project in no time!

100% agree

> I have about $200 to spend and I need to order something tonight so it gets here by Friday. You should look at the DeepCool LT720 360mm AIO. It usually sits around $110 to $140 which is well under your budget, and it's basically a beast for heavy workloads like video rendering. I've seen it go head-to-head with much more expensive units in terms of raw cooling power. The main thing is the pump performance. Some of the cheaper or older designs just cant move water fast enough for an i9 when it starts pulling massive wattage during a render. The DeepCool LS720 360mm is another decent option but the LT version has a slightly better pump setup for heat dissipation imo. If you want to spend the full $200, you could jump up to something like the NZXT Kraken 360, but honestly you're mostly paying for the brand name and the fancy LCD screen. For a deadline on Monday, you just need a thick radiator and a reliable motor that wont quit on you. Just a tip... when you install it, make sure the pump head isn't the highest point in the loop or you'll get air bubbles and that annoying clicking sound. Put the radiator at the top of the case if you can. It helps the air settle in the rad instead of the pump.

• 360mm is mandatory for that chip
• Check your case clearance for the fans
• Use a good pea-sized amount of thermal paste It should definitely keep you under 85c unless your case has zero airflow.

^ This. Also, everyone is basically saying you need massive surface area and a top-tier pump because these i9s are just relentless. I went through a similar headache last year with my own build and it was honestly such a letdown. I bought this expensive unit thinking the price tag meant better cooling, but unfortunately, the pump was weak and it performed worse than my old air tower. It really sucks when youre on a deadline and your gear fails you like that. Basically, the thread consensus is:

• A 240mm radiator is never gonna cut it for video renders.
• You need a high-performance pump to move that heat fast.
• Surface area is king. A few practical tips regarding the costs:
• Stop paying for RGB or LCD screens. That extra cash adds zero cooling performance, tbh.
• Verify your case can actually fit the thickness of a beefier radiator.
• Silent profiles are your enemy during long renders.