Is a 360mm AIO worth it over a high-end air cooler?

For mainstream gaming CPUs, reviewers across the sources we read converge on a similar message: a top-tier dual-tower air cooler like the Noctua NH-D15 or be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 is within a few degrees of most 360mm AIOs. A 360mm liquid cooler only opens a meaningful gap on the hottest Intel K-series and overclocked workloads. If you want absolute lowest temperatures under sustained all-core loads, go 360 AIO; otherwise air is cheaper, quieter at idle, and has no pump to fail.