Micro-Star Worldwide, extra generally often called MSI, is likely one of the most well-known and numerous firms within the PC realm. The Taiwanese firm makes and sells nearly every thing we cowl, from laptops to SSDs, motherboards to monitors and, in fact, CPU coolers.
Lots of MSI’s earlier AIOs have been aimed on the premium part of the market, that includes fancy LCD screens and excessive worth tags. However the CoreLiquid I240 and I360 we’re testing as we speak are sometimes priced at a extra mainstream $109.99 and $139.99 USD.
Do MSI’s I360 and I240 AIOs have what it takes to make our record of Best CPU coolers? Let’s take a fast take a look at the unit’s specs, then we’ll dive into its options and our testing.
Cooler specs
| Cooler | MSI CoreLiquid I360 | MSI CoreLiquid I240 |
| MSRP | $139.99 USD | $109.99 USD |
| Radiator Materials | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Lighting | ARGB | ARGB |
| Guarantee | 3 Years | 3 Years |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel Socket LGA 1851/1700/1200/115x AMD AM5 / AM4 | Intel Socket LGA 1851/1700/1200/115x AMD AM5 / AM4 |
| Pump Pace | 0-3400 RPM ±10% | 0-3400 RPM ±10% |
| Base | Copper | Copper |
| Common Most TDP (Our Testing) | ~259W with Intel’s i7-14700K | ~256W with Intel’s i7-14700K |
Packing and included contents
The contents of the cooler field are protected with the everyday molded cardboard, plastic linings, and a foam masking.
Included with the field are the next:
- 120mm followers, preinstalled
- 240mm or 360mm radiator
- Thermal Paste
- Mounting for contemporary AMD and Intel platforms
- Cable administration bar
The set up equipment are packed in a plastic container that has a resealable cowl. I respect this, because it makes it simple to maintain monitor of elements with out dropping them.
Options of MSI’s CoreLiquid I360 and I240 AIO coolers
*️⃣ 120mm followers with seven fan blades
There’s extra to a cooler than simply the heatsink or radiator. The bundled followers considerably impression cooling and noise ranges, in addition to how the cooler seems to be in your case. MSI’s included followers assist zero RPM operation – so if you happen to don’t thoughts manually adjusting a fan curve, the AIO can function in digital silence.
These followers are preinstalled to the radiator and make the most of a quick-connect system to simplify cable administration. Moreover, MSI features a masking bar to cover any cables that is perhaps uncovered, relying on how the cooler is put in.
| Dimensions | 120 x 120 x 25mm |
| Fan Pace | As much as 2300 RPM ±10% with 0-RPM operation supported |
| Air Movement | As much as 70.7 CFM |
| Air Strain | As much as 3.61 mmH2O |
| Bearing Kind | Loop Dynamic Bearing |
| Lighting | ARGB |
*️⃣ UNI bracket
Most CPU coolers in the marketplace have one prime bracket for Intel-based programs and one other for AMD programs. MSI took the time to create a bracket that’s suitable with each AMD and Intel programs, and pre-installed it – saving a number of moments throughout set up.
*️⃣ Infinity mirror ARGB illumination
The CPU block showcases MSI’s emblem with an ARGB-illuminated infinity-mirror aesthetic.
*️⃣ Full RAM Compatibility
As with most different AIO coolers, the MSI’s I240 and I360 AIOs don’t intervene with or overhang RAM DIMMs – so all sizes of DIMMs, regardless of how tall, can be utilized with out compatibility considerations as a result of peak of your RAM sticks.
*️⃣ Doesn’t require the usage of further software program
A few of MSI’s AIOs are totally managed by the MSI Middle software program through USB. Others have each PWM and USB management choices. Whereas there are benefits to MSI’s software program, I don’t like being required to make use of it to regulate fan speeds as a result of I’ve encountered points with the software program respecting my preferences for optimum fan speeds – it ignores person preferences if the CPU reaches its peak temperature.
Whereas customers preferring most efficiency won’t thoughts this habits, I discover it annoying as a result of I want my computer systems to run quietly in all circumstances. As a reviewer, that is problematic for me as a result of it prevents correct noise-normalized testing for comparability functions.
Fortuitously, MSI’s new I240 and I360 are less complicated models which can be totally PWM-controlled. No further software program is required to function these models – the RPM pace of the unit will be managed usually through the fan management part of your motherboard’s BIOS.
*️⃣ Commonplace worth
The 240mm model of this AIO is out there for $109.99 USD, and the 360mm variant has a price ticket of $139.99 USD. Whereas there are cheaper rivals in the marketplace, these costs are pretty typical of 240mm and 360mm AIOs.
*️⃣ Rotatable braided tubing
The ports connecting to the liquid pump will be totally rotated to both facet.
*️⃣ Accessible refill port with out “Guarantee void if eliminated” scare techniques
Previously, I’ve criticized MSI as a result of, whereas they included an accessible refill port, they coated it with a “guarantee void when eliminated” sticker. In line with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these insurance policies violate the Magnuson-Moss Guarantee Act, which prohibits firms from placing situations on their warranties primarily based on the usage of a services or products, similar to a restore service. The FTC has not too long ago cracked down on these kinds of violations warning Gigabyte, ASRock, and Zotac that they are in violation of US law.
In response, some producers have opted to cease together with refill ports, which I really feel is an especially consumer-unfriendly transfer. MSI, however, has stopped utilizing “guarantee void when eliminated” stickers and continues to incorporate accessible refill ports. You shouldn’t ever have to refill the unit whereas it’s underneath guarantee, however it’s good to know {that a} person can simply service their gadget ought to the necessity come up after the guarantee interval has expired – and we should always acknowledge firms that make pro-consumer selections.
*️⃣ Commonplace worth
The 240mm model of this AIO is out there for $109.99 USD, and the 360mm variant has a price ticket of $139.99 USD. Whereas there are cheaper rivals in the marketplace, these costs are pretty typical of 240mm and 360mm AIOs.
*️⃣ Cabling cowl
The I240 and I360 AIOs embrace a cable cowl that connects to the screws which safe the followers to the radiator. Utilizing this cowl leads to a clear look, particularly if you happen to select to put in the radiator reverse of what’s proven under, the place the cabling can be evident in any other case.
*️⃣ No cable administration clips
Many AIOs now embrace administration clips to assist preserve the tubing of the AIO tidy. MSI’s CoreLiquid I240 and I360 don’t. This isn’t an enormous deal to me, nevertheless it is perhaps essential to some builders.
Testing Methodology, and the way my testing differs vs the competitors
I do a number of issues to make sure my outcomes are helpful to individuals who purchase and use these coolers in typical setups. To start, I very strictly regulate the ambient temperature to 23 levels C throughout testing. I don’t settle for outcomes at 22 or 24C as legitimate, although in principle there shouldn’t be a lot of a distinction.
I additionally do my greatest to emulate the situations a person would encounter utilizing the cooler, with thermal hundreds much like real-life workloads, and examined in an actual case – not on an open bench, which might lower the issue of cooling.
Many different reviewers take a look at coolers with only a load operating on the CPU – I’ve additionally completed this in lots of my previous opinions. Whereas this does present good and helpful data, it doesn’t paint a whole image of how a cooler will carry out. Many workloads, particularly gaming, will stress each the CPU and GPU. As such, to check how effectively a CPU’s cooler will carry out in these conditions I’ve added two checks – one with a light-weight CPU and one with a average CPU load, each whereas operating a full load on with AMD’s Radeon RX 7900GRE.
Testing configuration – Intel LGA1700 platform
| CPU | Intel Core i7-14700K |
| Motherboard | MSI Z790 Challenge Zero |
| Case | MSI Pano 100L PZ Black |
| System Followers | Iceberg Thermal IceGale Silent |
| PSU | Silverstone HELA 1300 |
Many components apart from the CPU cooler can affect your cooling efficiency, together with the case you utilize and the followers put in in it. A system’s motherboard can even affect cooling, particularly if its socket suffers from bending, leading to poor cooler contact with the CPU.
With a view to stop bending from impacting our cooling outcomes, we’ve put in Thermalright’s LGA 1700 contact frame into our testing rig. In case your motherboard is affected by bending, your thermal outcomes will probably be worse than these proven under. Not all motherboards are affected equally by this concern. I examined Raptor Lake CPUs in two motherboards. And whereas one among them confirmed vital thermal enhancements after putting in Thermalright’s LGA1700 contact body, the opposite motherboard confirmed no distinction in temperatures in any way! Take a look at our review of the contact frame for extra data.
LGA 1700 Set up
- I’d begin by securing the radiator to your pc case, however this step will be completed on the finish if you happen to want.
- Place the CPU bracket in opposition to the rear of the motherboard and safe it utilizing the included standoffs.
- Apply the included thermal paste to your CPU. When you’ve got any questions on how to do that correctly, please discuss with our useful information on how to apply thermal paste.
- .Place the CPU block in opposition to the standoffs, and safe it with a screwdriver.
- Join the PWM and ARGB cables to the corresponding headers in your motherboard, and set up is full.