Overall, the Enermax LIQMAX III ARGB 360 was quite the surprise. Going into the review, I did not expect a whole lot considering past experiences with various other 360 mm closed-loop coolers. However, Enermax destroyed my initial expectations by delivering not only a product that offers exceptional performance and ARGB lighting as it does so while being affordably priced at $99.99. To put it into perspective, it is nearly $30–$100 cheaper than some other 360 mm closed-loop coolers, but more importantly offers nearly top-of-the-chart performance. While 360 mm ARGB-equipped coolers are available on the market, those I have tested thus far cannot compare with the LIQMAX III ARGB 360 in terms of pure performance.

The biggest drawback with the cooler is its noise profile. While not overly loud, it could still be improved by a significant margin. For example, the minimum reading was 38 dBA, making it one of the loudest coolers at idle. However, under full load with the fans maxed out, it remains respectable at just 45 dBA. Most of the noise at idle stems from the pump, which is the only major problem I have with the cooler. Put another way, it is about 5 dBA louder at idle than the Corsair H150i PRO, 4 dBA louder than the Alphacool Eisbaer Extreme, Deepcool Castle 360 EX, and more. As such, I hope future revisions will take that into account and improve idle noise levels.

Initial build quality appears quite solid as well with only the minor complaint of the pump lighting not being entirely even. While the white diffuser does its job, a lack of LEDs means there are noticeable areas where the lighting is not as bright, creating darker spots. Other than that, the mounting hardware is quite good in terms of design as it was very user friendly. I would also like to point out that I had no issues in regards to memory or graphics card clearance. In general, the cooler is well built. However, I do have some reservations due to past problems that have been reported by other reviewers, YouTubers, and users on Reddit, all of which make a note of corrosion and build up in some of Enermax's TR4 closed-loop coolers with a very similar design to this one. Enermax has stated the issue has been fixed, but it's something that needs to be proven over time. That having been said, as this is a new revision, all I can currently do is keep an eye on it to see if performance degrades over time, but as of right now, its performance is topnotch, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt.

As mentioned, the biggest issue I encountered was with the ARGB lighting and using MSI's Mystic Light. I cannot say for sure who is at fault for the incompatibility, but it is there and I confirmed it on two MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC motherboards. Using an ASRock B450 board to further test the issue, I found it worked just fine. As such, I would place the blame on MSI rather than Enermax. However, no matter who is at fault, it is something users should be made aware of. In the meantime, I am working with Enermax to try and isolate the issue.

Overall, the Enermax LIQMAX III ARGB 360 mm AIO is an exceptional performer that delivers acceptable noise levels and ARGB lighting without an excessive price tag. I just wish the warranty were a year longer to help put consumer fears to rest. Even with the potential for issues, I still tentatively recommend the Enermax LIQMAX III ARGB 360 due to its cooling performance, balanced noise profile, and general affordability compared to its competitors.