A Closer Look

The Deepcool Gamer Storm Maelstrom 120 is a closed-looped liquid CPU cooler that uses a radiator with a high fin density of 18 fins per inch / 2.54 cm. As such, users won't be able to expand upon it without serious modifications. The corrugated FEP tubing, while crush resistant, does not look as nice as the smoother rubber hoses seen on competing AIOs.


Deepcool's chosen pump design has the Gamer Storm logo centered on top, while featuring a pulsing white LED behind it for illumination - when in use. The swivel fittings for the tubes, while stiff, work well and feel sturdy enough to withstand some abuse. This unit's pump looks clean overall, which is always a plus; however, the coldplate, or copper base, could use some refinement since readily visible milling marks were revealed after the thermal paste had been removed.


Deepcool paired their 120 mm radiator with a single GF120 fan. It has a PWM range of 600-2200 RPM and should be very quiet because of its rubber coating and fluid dynamic bearing (FDB). The fan has small ridges on the blades for some focused airflow and its cabling is sleeved. The only oddity is the green sticker on the back. While it clashes heavily with the red and black of the fan, you won't see it when installed, making it a green blemish of no consequence.