Installation

Installing the Deepcool Gamer Storm Castle 360EX is a simple affair. First, prepare the backplate and the pump by securing the backplate screws with the plastic clips and the proper mounting arms with the four included screws. Now is also a good time to mount the radiator so it's fully secure.


Now, apply thermal paste if using an alternative other than the layer of paste pre-applied on the cooler. Hold the backplate in place and slide the pump on to the backplate screws before secure it with the Phillips-head nuts.


All that remains is to install the fans and connect all the wiring. Thankfully, Deepcool's RGB lighting setup is fairly simple, which makes setting everything up quick and easy, and the wiring mess is kept to a minimum since only the pump is illuminated.

I would rate the Castle 360EX's installation an 8 on a scale of 1 (hardest) to 10 (easiest). Overall, installation is very straightforward, and the RGB lighting is quick to set up due to its simplified design. The only challenging aspect is dealing with the pump and backplate on mainstream sockets. Deepcool's mounting hardware requires a user to hold the backplate in place while also sliding the pump over the backplate screws. You then have to keep it all in place while grabbing the Phillips-head nuts and securing the pump in place. While not a massive headache, the ability to secure the backplate to the motherboard would have been appreciated.