The Gamdias AURA GL360 V2 is a solid liquid cooler that delivers good performance at a fair price. Originally priced at $89.99, it offers decent value but lags slightly behind the ID-Cooling FX360 INF in performance, noise, and overall value among ARGB-equipped 360 mm AIOs. Even so, it matches the cooling and noise levels of most competitors in its class and outshines brands like Montech, darkFlash, and Endorfy in terms of value. With a price drop to $69.99, it becomes an outstanding deal, but if you can't wait, the white version is available for about $75, making it one of the best options for price-to-performance in ARGB AIOs.

In terms of noise output, the Gamdias AURA GL360 V2 is a bit of a mixed bag. At lower fan RPM its very quiet, and this extends up to around 50% PWM, however, going beyond that the noise output increases rapidly. Thankfully it is airflow noise and not pump related. So while it is loud at max RPM, there was no odd tonal noises, grinding, or other oddities. That said, the competition is fierce in the 360 mm AIO market and Gamdias will have a hard time due to the overall noise profile. The ID-Cooling FX360 INF tops out at 48 dBA vs 56 dBA for the AURA GL360 V2. Other options like the Endorfy Navis F360 for reference peaked at 50 dBA and the darkFlash Nebula DN-360 hit 51 dBA. Meanwhile, the Montech HyperFlow ARGB 360 was even louder at 58 dBA and the AQIRYS Hydra 360 hit 59 dBA.

As for build quality, the unit is well-built, with no real issues to speak of on that front. It is also very easy to install with the mounting hardware being solid while also using four attachment points on AMD for more even pressure across the processor. The only minor issues I have aren't with build quality itself but some of the design aspects. Looking at the fans, they are daisy-chained together which is great since this reduces cable clutter, but to achieve this all fans are wired together with no ability to separate them. Thus, if one fan does die you need to replace the lot of them. While I don't see that likely to happen, it is still a possibility.

Looking at the ARGB lighting implementation, it works perfectly with any motherboard control option, however, its tactile switch option with built-in controls isn't prominently documented. To swap between the manual switch or motherboard control you need to hold the switch for three seconds. It works as intended, but having this more prominently noted would be nice to see, as some users may be confused at first if it doesn't work as they expect. Finally, the short warranty of just two years is a bit of a miss as well since most mainstream brands are now offering three year or better warranties, so this is something users should keep in mind if warranty length is of importance to you.

Overall, the Gamdias AURA GL360 V2 is an excellent budget-friendly liquid cooler that does everything it should. It offers good performance, useful features and has an attractive design. Even in the face of stiff competition it remains an excellent value option.