Introduction

Cooler Master is an industry leader that offers a multitude of PC peripherals, heatsinks, fans, cases, power supplies, and all-in-one liquid coolers. With products in every conceivable category and for almost any price range, Cooler Master is known to enthusiasts the world over. Their adaptability and willingness to experiment have served them well going forward. Cooler Master has adopted and supports the DIY 3D printing culture, allowing for the customization of their products in new ways that are currently unique to them.


In today's review, I will be taking a look at the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R RGB all-in-one liquid CPU cooler. Talk about a mouthful, it, of course, includes full RGB functionality if you couldn't guess by the name and includes a physical RGB hub with physical button controls, as well as software control. Unlike the first generation of RGB-enabled liquid coolers, the ML360R RGB has both the pump and fans illuminated by addressable RGB LEDs. Available for $159.99, this latest offering from Cooler Master definitely nails the looks with an attractive design that is understated and quietly blends in with the LEDs turned off, but can be loud and in your face with a rave of colors if you so choose. That said, appearance and features are only part of the equation, so let's take a closer look at what the MasterLiquid ML360R RGB has to offer.

Packaging

The packaging is fairly large, measuring in at 43.8 cm long, 27.3 cm wide, and 13.8 cm tall. Front and center, you can't miss the MasterLiquid ML360R RGB in all its fully rendered RGB glory, while the right-hand corner shows that the unit is certified as compatible with Mystic Light Sync, ASRock's Polychrome Sync, and ASUS' Aura Sync. All the specifications are located on the left side, along with the mechanical drawings showing the unit's dimensions. On the back is a breakdown of the design of the pump along with a list of the cooler's various features in multiple languages.


Taking a look at the right-hand side, we find some images detailing a couple more of the MasterLiquid ML360R RGB's features. Moving to the top of the box, all there is to see is a black panel with the Cooler Master logo and product name. The bottom just lists the fact that you can find more information on the ML360R RGB on Cooler Master's website.

Contents

Unlike the ID-Cooling Dashflow 360, Cooler Master's MasterLiquid ML360R RGB comes in the standard brown cardboard tray with a thin sheet of foam on top. Overall, this style of packaging has proven adequate over the years, which still doesn't change the fact that better packaging is always nice, especially when talking about a liquid cooler that is pushing the $160 price point.


The Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R RGB, try saying that five times fast, has support for every modern socket you can think of. The only socket that is not supported is AMD's TR4, which is understandable as it needs an optimized cold plate for best results. In order to make everything work, Cooler Master bundles an absurd amount of parts with the cooler, not just for installing it but also for setting up the ARGB LED hub. What is missing is documentation that would tell you that software control outside of the hub itself exists. I have talked with Cooler Master, and they are addressing this, but the fact that there is no real mention of the software on the box or the included manuals will mean some users will not realize that they can in fact control this cooler's LEDs from within Windows.

Common parts supplied for mounting and setup include:

• 12x Fan thumb screws
• 12x Radiator screws
• 4x Backplate screw holders
• 4x Mounting nuts
• 4x Backplate screws
• 4x LGA 2011 thumb screws
• 4x Mounting bracket screws
• 4x Black plastic spacers
• 4x ARGB connectors
• 3x 120 mm ARGB LED fans
• 2x Intel mounting bracket
• 2x AMD mounting bracket
• 1x Tube of thermal paste
• 1x Backplate
• 1x ARGB splitter
• 1x Pre-filled liquid cooler
• 1x User's manual
• 1x PWM splitter
• 1x ARGB Hub controller
• 1x USB cable + adapter
• 1x 12 volts RGB cable
• 1x MB reset wire
• 1x Case reset wire
• 1x 12 volts RGB connector