EKWB Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB Liquid CPU Cooler 360mm Review
Operating for almost 2 decades EKWB is one of the well known brands when it comes to PC Cooling. While their entry to AIO solutions are relatively new, they are probably one of the biggest names with it comes to custom cooling solutions in the market. With this expertise behind their back, EKWB have now entered the AIO water cooling market and today we bring to you one of their latest offerings; the EKWB Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB water cooler.
Boasting a 360mm radiator and 3 x 120mm D-RGB cooling fans the unit is offered at a slightly premium price tag of around AU$300. Lets see how well the Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB water cooler stands upto EKWB’s reputation.
Specifications
-Radiator Dimensions: 400 x 124 x 27 mm
-Radiator Material: Aluminum
-Fan Compatibility: 120 mm
-Pump Unit Dimensions: 82.3 x 69.2 x 61.6 mm
-Pump Unit Material: ABS housing, ABS top ring
-Pump Speed Range: 3100 RPM ± 10%
-Pump PWM Range: 20 – 100%
-Pump Unit RGB Type: 5V Digital (Addressable)
-Pinout: 5V, D, Empty, Ground Pump RGB Cable Length: 500 mm
-Tubing Material: Ultra-Low Evaporation Rubber with Nylon Braided Sleeve
-Tubing Length: 400 mm
-Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25mm
-Fan Speed Range: 550 – 2300 ± 10%
-Fan Noise Level: 36 dB (at maximum speed)
-Fan Air Flow: 72 CFM = 122,33 m³/h (at maximum speed)
-Fan RGB Type: 5V Digital (Addressable) Pinout: 5V, D, Empty, Ground
System Requirements:
-4-Pin PWM Header for pump and fan operation
-3-Pin Addressable 5V D-RGB header
Enclosed:
-EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB unit
-EK-FPT FAN 120 D-RGB Full Pressure Technology Fan (3x)
-Mounting Kit
-User Manual
Compatible CPU Sockets:
– Intel Sockets LGA: 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 + Next-gen Intel Socket, 1700
– AMD Socket: AM4, AM5
– 5 Years Limited International Warranty
– Designed in Slovenia, EU
– Manufactured in China
Unboxing and closer look
The EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB unit comes in a very elegant box with detailed pictures of the unit printed on either side of it.
EKWB seem to have put a good deal of effort to keep that premium feel to the unit and this is evident when you open up the box.
Soft foam inserts keep the unit packed neatly and safely during shipping. There’s a welcome pack that includes an quick install manual and some literature related to the unit. Removing the top cover exposes the unit, D-RGB fans and mounting kit that includes installation screws.
As with most AIO water coolers, the water pump is built into the CPU cooler block. The water pump works at 3100 RPM to keep coolant flowing through the system adequately. The copper water block has thermal paste already applied when shipped out which is standard these days on most AIO coolers. You also get an extra thermal paste tube for future needs.
The rubber tubing is wrapped with nylon braided sleeving and securely connected to the CPU block and radiator. The logo on the CPU block is rotatable, allowing users to install the CPU block in any orientation while keeping the logo upright.
The radiator itself is very well constructed. The diamond cut brushed aluminum side panel gives the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB a modern and stylish look while maintaining its premium feeling.
The included cooling fans have a special characteristics that make them stand out of the competition.
The fans include rubber feet to keep vibrations to a minimum and the 3 fans can be daisy chained; meaning you only need the single motherboard header to connect the fans thus reducing cable clutter.
EKWB call it the EK-Omni-Link, where each fan consists of a micro-fit 8-pin connector that interconnects with one another and uses a single PWM and D-RGB motherboard header to connect all fans. The fans are also specifically designed for watercooling with their FPT (Full Pressure Technology) where they’re designed to prevent air from escaping outside the fan frame achieving better static pressure.
Installation
Installing the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB onto your rig is quite straightforward.
Depending on your CPU, you’d need to use the appropriate mounting bracket. The unit is compatible with the following CPU’s and the supplied brackets cater to them.
- Intel Sockets LGA: 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 + Next-gen Intel Socket, 1700
- AMD Socket: AM4, AM5
Using the supplied screws and tool provided secure the backplate to your mainboard making sure they’re all aligned correctly. Take your time with the installation and don’t rush if this is your first time installing an AIO water cooling unit.
Performance
Our test rig was running on stock performance with the following configuration.
CPU: Intel Core i7-13700K
Mainboard: NZXT Z690 ATX
Testing software: 3D Mark, Cinebench, OCCT
Each test was run for 15 minutes and the average taken from all tests.
Sound levels were decent even though a tad loud during full load which is expected. At the higher end the fan noise levels went as high as 51dBa while at slower speeds the noise levels remained around 45dBa which is very much acceptable.
Conclusion
The EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB is an absolute rock star when it comes to cooling performance. While it does come at a price of around AU$275 at the time of writing, the performance benefits are unmatched to any other AIO cooler we have seen to date. That’s pretty impressive. EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB is the complete package if you’re in the market for an AIO water cooling solution with some impressive tech behind the scenes. I’m struggling to find some negatives to mention about this unit; apart from it’s high price point and slightly elevated noise during peak performance it’s really hard to fault the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360. EKWB have done an exceptional job and given that this is one of their initial offerings in the AIO water cooling space, we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
PERFORMANCE
FEATURES
VALUE
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