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Someone asked me which entry-level all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler I recommend recently.
So, I want to show everyone
the entry-level AIO liquid cooler I’ve been using more often lately.
ASUS PRIME LC 360 ARGB LCD
It’s well-known that high-end CPUs in recent years generate a lot of heat.
Therefore, pairing a PC with an AIO liquid cooler has become a common setup.
As a result, I’ve been receiving more urgent requests for help with PCs lately.
Most cases of CPU overheating are due to choosing a low-grade AIO liquid cooler when purchasing the PC.
After prolonged use at high temperatures, the pump blades in the AIO cooler fail.
Even if hardware monitoring shows the pump’s RPM as normal, the CPU temperature skyrockets.
How hot can it get? Check the image below ~ A malfunctioning liquid cooler can heat the water inlet to the point where the paint bubbles.
In such cases, you have no choice but to replace it with a new one.
The main reasons I’ve been choosing this AIO cooler recently are:
1. A six-year warranty (though in most cases, people just buy a new one to get back online quickly).
2. Uses an Asetek pump.
3. The LCD digital display’s control software is extremely simple and compatible with motherboards from different brands.
Let’s take a quick look at some details of this AIO cooler.
The "360" in the product name indicates it’s a radiator with three 12cm fans arranged in a straight line.
The radiator has the "ASUS PRIME" branding on it.
The ARGB fans are connected in series via a circuit board.
So, when wiring, you only need to connect the fan’s 4-pin connector and a universal ARGB header.
For a 360mm AIO cooler, this reduces the number of cables by four, making cable management much simpler.
The fans have a maximum speed of 2500 RPM, a maximum airflow of 77.22 CFM, and a maximum static pressure of 5.48 mmH2O.
This allows the cooler to maximize performance without being too loud, keeping CPU temperatures well under control.
The most critical part of a cooler is the mounting bracket design ~ a good design makes installation easier and reduces the risk of errors.
This is the Intel mounting bracket, which is compatible with various socket types by adjusting the position of four screws.
It supports the latest LGA1851 all the way back to LGA115X.
The bracket also includes double-sided tape on the motherboard-facing side to aid installation.
The AMD setup is much simpler.
Just replace the AM4 or AM5 motherboard’s mounting bracket with this one.
Personally, I think this offers better stability and safety compared to Intel’s design.
This cable is very important.
The USB-C end connects to the water block, and the other end plugs into the motherboard’s USB 2.0 9-pin header.
The water block’s pump is from Asetek, widely regarded as the most durable brand for AIO liquid coolers.
The pump’s maximum speed is within 4000 RPM, powered through the motherboard’s 4-pin PWM header.
The LCD screen’s power and display data are provided via USB-C.
The LED on the water block can display several key performance metrics of the PC.
By default, it shows:
CPU or GPU temperature
CPU or GPU usage
CPU or GPU clock speed
When freshly installed, it’s normal to see all zeros, as shown below.
You need to download and install the utility software from ASUS’s official website.
Prime LC 360 ARGB LCD Driver (click here to download)
Yes! Armoury Crate is only used for controlling ARGB.
But if your motherboard isn’t from ASUS, you only need to install the Prime LC 360 ARGB LCD Driver.
This is why I mentioned earlier that it works even with non-ASUS motherboards.
If you see the prompt below during the installation of the Prime LC 360 ARGB LCD Driver, don’t worry—just click the text in the yellow box.
Then you can proceed with the installation.
Once installed, you can find the Prime LC 360 ARGB LCD Driver icon in the system tray at the bottom right.
Right-click to see the settings options.
Besides selecting whether to display CPU or GPU information, you can also change the LED background scene in the red-boxed area.
There are three background theme styles, shown below for reference.
Although it doesn’t offer the customizable LED patterns found on ASUS’s high-end AIO coolers,
this simpler setup is actually more user-friendly for most people.
Of course, some might wonder which motherboard series is the most cost-effective to pair with this AIO cooler for a new PC build.
Do I even need to say it??? Obviously, it’s the ASUS PRIME series motherboards!
Let’s wrap things up.
After installing this AIO cooler on a PC with an i7-12700K (yes, the one where the previous cooler was heated to the point of bubbling paint),
I ran a benchmark with Monster Hunter.
With CPU usage around 40%, it maintained a stable 43°C (room temperature around 20°C), which is pretty good performance.
Currently priced under 4000, with a six-year warranty, a simple LED digital display, and an Asetek pump,
this seems like a great deal ~~~ Perfect for both budget new builds and upgrading old PCs with a new AIO cooler ~ Highly recommended!!!
That’s my brief report. Feel free to leave a comment or message the fan page for any discussions.
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