Introduction

A big thank you to ID-Cooling for supplying the review sample.

ID-Cooling continues to develop at a fast pace since its inception in 2013. Gradually expanding its market presence and brand recognition, the company has consistently refined its offerings with each product release. While initially focusing on value-driven designs, ID-Cooling has matured over time, adapting to market demands. This evolution has seen them not only continue to push value-focused options but also premium products, alongside improved warranties. They have not abandoned their willingness to experiment with new designs and trends either. Thus while ID-Cooling maintains an air of their original self they have grown considerably and are now a major player in the DIY PC market.


The ID-Cooling DX 360 MAX is the focus of today's review. It offers a simple yet elegant appearance with some ARGB elements on the pump. However, its main focus according to ID-Cooling is performance, thanks in part to the use of a 38 mm thick radiator which offers more surface area than the typical 27 mm offerings. It features daisy-chainable fans and a simplified mounting system, making it an interesting choice for newer DIY builders. However, the main focus will always be performance, and typically the fanciest of features will typically take a back seat to said performance. That said, it's time to take a closer look at the DX 360 MAX and find out just what it is capable of in the hyper-competitive CPU cooling market!

Packaging

The packaging sticks with ID-Cooling's tried and true black and orange design theme but with a bit more pop. On the front you have a full color image of the DX 360 MAX with a blue and purple backdrop helping it stand out a bit more than it would normally. Turning to the left side you have the company logo and catchphrase while the back has the CPU Socket compatibility, overall dimensions, and general specifications.


The remaining panels are fairly sparse with only the product name and company branding showing up. I would have liked to have seen the warranty length printed on the box somewhere just for consumer benefit, but with different regions and different requirements its understandable that it would be omitted. However, I know the unit has a five-year warranty and something like that is worth marketing as a good warranty certainly goes a long way in regard to goodwill.

Contents

The box includes ample foam padding to keep the cooler and its components secure during shipping, which is reassuring. While the usual cardboard tray works fine, in my experience with liquid coolers, those packed with foam generally fare better against rough handling.


Intel and AMD socket support is good with all the mainstream sockets supported. Furthermore, the unit is ready to go out of the box for Intel's next generation LGA1851 socket which is nice to see. However, it is worth noting that HEDT systems like AMD's Threadripper and Intel's older LGA2066 are not supported. Beyond that everything you need is provided, but you won't find any real extras.

Common parts supplied for mounting include:

• 12x Radiator screws
• 12x Fan screws
• 4x Universal Standoffs
• 4x Thumb screws
• 3x 120 mm fans
• 3x Tubing clips
• 2x Intel mounting brackets
• 2x AMD long mounting brackets
• 2x AMD short mounting brackets
• 1x Tube of thermal paste
• 1x Intel Backplate
• 1x Pre-filled liquid cooler
• 1x Fan extension cable
• 1x Socket (tool) for standoffs
• 1x User's manual