Cooler Grasp has expanded its product lineup lately to incorporate peripherals of all stripes, even gaming chairs and displays. However the firm constructed its model on coolers just like the traditional Hyper 212 EVO and behemoth instances just like the HAF 700. And the corporate hasn’t taken its eye off its core competency.
The Cooler Grasp PL360 Flux is a big 360mm AIO with numerous RGB. We’ve beforehand examined this cooler with an i9-10850K, and it dealt with the tenth technology i9 nicely. However can it deal with the elevated thermal density of Alder Lake, whereas additionally incomes its pretty excessive asking worth of $190? Let’s dive in, get to testing, and discover out if the Flux earns a spot on our Finest AIO coolers listing.
Specs for the Cooler Grasp PL360 Flux
| MSRP | $190 USD |
| Radiator Dimensions | 394 x 119.6 x 27.2mm |
| Whole Weight | 1.98kg |
| Socket Compatibility | FM1/FM2(+)/AM3/AM4/AM5/TR4, LGA 1700/1200/2066/1150/1151/1155/2001(-3) |
| Pump Dimensions | 89 x 75 x 40mm |
| Rated Noise Ranges (Pump) | As much as 15 dB(A) |
| Radiator Measurement | 397x120x27mm |
| Radiator Materials | Aluminum |
| CPU Block | Copper |
| Lifespan | Rated for 160,000 hours of operation |
Packing and Included Contents
Cooler Grasp’s PL360 Flux is packaged in a medium field that is roughly 18 inches in size, with molded cardboard for defense.
Included with the package deal are the next:
- 360mm Liquid Cooler
- 3x 120mm PL-FLUX followers
- Mounts for all trendy CPU sockets, together with LGA1700, TR4, and upcoming AM5 motherboards
- Fan Splitter
- Thermal Paste
- Consumer Guide
- USB-controlled ARGB hub
- ARGB splitter cable
Cooler Set up
Putting in the Grasp Liquid PL360 FLUX was straightforward. To start, you safe the backplate towards the motherboard utilizing the standoffs. After making use of thermal paste, press the CPU block towards the standoffs and safe it with the included screws.
What’s totally different than different coolers?
- Premium dual-chamber pump
Cooler Grasp’s newest dual-chamber pump is powered by a high-speed motor using a ceramic bearing impeller, which permits for elevated move in a smaller package deal with decreased noise ranges.
- Slim and Glossy Radiator
The decreased profile of Cooler Grasp’s radiators signifies that it could actually higher match instances that don’t have a variety of area – one thing that customers of SFF instances will respect.
- Cooler Grasp PL-FLUX Followers
There’s extra to a liquid cooler than simply its radiator and pump. The followers have a huge effect on cooling efficiency and noise ranges. Included with the PL360 Flux are Cooler Grasp’s PL FLUX followers, which embrace ARGB lighting that glows by way of the blades. These followers can’t be bought individually (at the very least not but).
| Mannequin | PL FLUX |
| Dimensions | 120mm |
| Fan Pace | As much as 2300 RPM +- 10% |
| Air Move | 72.37 CFM (at 100% pace) |
| Air Strain | 2.96 mm H20 (at 100% pace) |
| Noise Stage | As much as 32 dB(A) |
| Lighting | ARGB |
- USB ARGB Controller with Software program Help
Cooler Grasp features a USB-powered ARGB controller field, which is helpful if you happen to don’t have any spare ARGB headers in your motherboard–otherwise you don’t need to use your motherboard’s software program to regulate your lights. If the three ports included on the field aren’t sufficient on your lighting wants, Cooler Grasp additionally features a splitter able to connecting 5 further gadgets, making it attainable to regulate as much as seven totally different gadgets if you happen to use the splitter at the side of the ARGB controller.
Whereas you should use the cooler with out it, Cooler Grasp gives its Grasp Plus+ software program, which permits for management of any gadgets linked to the USB ARGB controller and different supported peripherals, like Cooler Grasp’s MH650 headset. There are 11 customizable lighting choices to select from inside the management panel.
New Testing Configuration
| Cooler | Cooler Grasp Grasp Liquid PL360 Flux 360mm AIO |
| Comparability Coolers Examined | “BeQuiet Pure Loop 2 FX, 360mm AIO |
| Cougar Poseidon GT 360, 360m AIO | |
| DeepCool LS520, 240mm AIO” | |
| CPU | Intel i9-12900K |
| Motherboard | MSI Zz690 A-Professional DDR4 |
| Case | BeQuiet! Silent Base 802 Window |
| PSU | DeepCool PQ1000M |
I will be testing the Grasp Liquid PL360 Flux with Intel’s i9-12900K. As a result of Intel 7 manufacturing course of’s elevated thermal density and modifications to core and part layouts, Alder Lake CPUs are tougher to chill than earlier technology CPUs in essentially the most demanding heat-intensive of workloads.
Which means that coolers that stored earlier technology merchandise just like the i9-10900K good and funky typically battle to maintain Intel’s i9-12900K beneath TJj max–the highest temperature earlier than the CPU begins to throttle. Many coolers I’ve examined aren’t capable of preserve the i9-12900K beneath TJ max when energy limits are eliminated in workloads like Cinebench and OCCT.
Notice that there are numerous components that may affect your cooling efficiency. A system’s motherboard can affect this, as there are motherboards in the marketplace with CPU sockets that aren’t as much as Intel’s spec, which may trigger warping or poor contact with the CPU, affecting thermal efficiency. The case you employ can even affect cooling outcomes.
With this in thoughts, I will be ranking CPU Coolers in 3 totally different tiers:.
Tier 1: These coolers are capable of preserve the i9-12900K under TJ max in most hundreds, with no energy limits enforced. I anticipate solely the perfect liquid coolers to satisfy this normal.
Tier 2: These coolers are capable of preserve the i9-12900K beneath TJ max with CPU energy limits of 200W enforced. I anticipate most liquid and air coolers to satisfy this normal.
Tier 3: These coolers are capable of preserve the i9-12900K beneath TJMax with CPU energy limits of 140W enforced.
Testing Configuration
| Cooler | Cooler Grasp PL360 Flux |
| Comparability Coolers Examined | BeQuiet Pure Loop 2 FX, 360mm AIO |
| Cougar Poseidon GT 360, 360m AIO | |
| DeepCool LS520, 240mm AIO | |
| CPU | Intel i9-12900K |
| Motherboard | MSI Zz690 A-Professional DDR4 |
| Case | BeQuiet! Silent Base 802 Window |
| PSU | DeepCool PQ1000M |
Testing Methodology
To check the bounds of a cooler’s thermal dissipation capabilities, I run two main stress checks: Cinebench and OCCT, every for 10 minutes. Whereas this can be a brief period of time, it’s adequate to push most coolers – each air and liquid – to their limits.
Whereas stress testing in Cinebench, I run each with energy limits eliminated and with an enforced 200W CPU energy restrict. On this take a look at setup utilizing MSI’s z690 A Professional DDR4 Motherboard and Be Quiet’s Silent Base 802 Laptop Case, solely the perfect coolers are capable of cross Cinebench testing when energy limits are eliminated.
I don’t take a look at OCCT with out energy limits as a result of making an attempt to take action ends in CPU package deal energy consumption leaping to over 270W and immediately throttling with even the perfect AIO coolers. As a substitute, I take a look at at 200W to present coolers an opportunity at passing. I additionally embrace 140W outcomes to present information nearer to a lower-end CPU, equivalent to AMD’s Ryzen 5600x or Intel’s i5-12400.
MORE: Finest AIO Coolers