MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R active water cooling Review

 MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R Active Water Cooling Review: Keeping Your System Cool and Quiet

In the world of high-performance computing, one of the most important factors for maintaining the longevity and stability of your system is keeping it cool. Overheating can cause your CPU to throttle or even shut down, reducing its performance and potentially damaging your hardware. To prevent this, many enthusiasts turn to liquid cooling, which can provide better cooling performance than traditional air coolers.

The MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R is a high-performance liquid cooler that offers a range of features designed to keep your CPU cool and quiet, even under heavy loads. In this review, we'll take a closer look at what this cooler has to offer and whether it's worth your investment.

Design and Build Quality

The MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R features a sleek design that's sure to complement any build. The radiator measures 394 x 120 x 27mm, which is large enough to accommodate three 120mm fans. The fans themselves are PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controlled and have a maximum speed of 2000 RPM, which allows for efficient cooling while keeping noise levels low.

The pump is also well-designed, with a low-profile RGB LED that adds a touch of style to your build. It's also equipped with a durable ceramic bearing that helps reduce noise and increase longevity.

Installation

Installing the MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R is relatively straightforward, thanks to the included mounting hardware and detailed instructions. The cooler is compatible with a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets, including Intel LGA 115x, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066, and AMD AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, and FM2+.

One thing to keep in mind is that the cooler is quite large, so make sure your case can accommodate a 360mm radiator before purchasing. You'll also need to make sure your motherboard has a dedicated pump header to power the cooler.

Performance

The MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R performs exceptionally well, keeping temperatures low even under heavy loads. During our testing, we ran Prime95 on a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10700K overclocked to 5.1GHz, and the cooler kept temperatures below 80°C, even during extended stress tests.

The fans also do an excellent job of keeping noise levels low. Even at full speed, they're barely audible over the sound of the system's case fans.

RGB Lighting

The MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R features RGB lighting on both the pump and fans, which can be customized using MSI's Mystic Light software. The software allows you to choose from a range of different lighting effects, including static, breathing, flashing, and rainbow.

While RGB lighting isn't essential for a liquid cooler, it does add a touch of style to your build, and it's nice to have the option to customize it to your liking.

Conclusion

Overall, the MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R is an excellent liquid cooler that offers exceptional performance, low noise levels, and customizable RGB lighting. The only real downside is its size, which may limit its compatibility with some cases. If you have a case that can accommodate a 360mm radiator and are looking for a high-performance liquid cooler, the MSI MAG CORELIQUID 360R is definitely worth considering.