A Closer Look

Like most liquid coolers on the market the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB uses an aluminium radiator with an FPI (fins-per-inch) of 20-21, which is consistent with many other AIOs. The tubing enters a raised cover and is sleeved rubber with a length of 400 mm. I would have liked a bit more tubing length, but more on that later. What is different is the brushed aluminium side plates on the radiator which add a nice visual touch with the diamond cut edge adding a much needed dose of contrast.


The ARGB illuminated pump has a dark center that creates a tunnel effect, and thankfully, the top cover can be rotated so it's always right side up, something some vendors still overlook even now. Meanwhile, the swivel fittings are nice and clean and have a good range, and while the wiring occupies the pump housing between them, it sits low enough to avoid being in the way. One thing I will say is that whatever adhesive EK is using to keep the plastic peels in place has quite the holding power and required a bit of elbow grease to remove. Thankfully, it was nothing a damp soft cloth couldn't handle. As for the cold plate, it's bare copper featuring a slight convex shape with machining marks being almost non-existent, which while this may not improve performance, is still a nice touch as it shows attention to detail.


The fans have a rated max CFM of 72 and a life expectancy of 70,000 hours. An FDB bearing is used, and the fans have an RPM range of 550 to 2300. The fans also use non-standard connectors; however, the extension cable EK provides terminates into standard 4-pin PWM / ARGB connectors. So, while I am not a fan of non-standard connectors, at least in this situation, it's not an egregious issue.