Cooler Grasp has expanded its product lineup in recent times to incorporate peripherals of all stripes, even gaming chairs screens HAF 700
And the corporate hasn’t taken its eye off its core competency. The Cooler Grasp MasterLiquid PL240 Flux is a medium-sized 240mm AIO with a number of RGB. Can it deal with the elevated thermal density of Alder Lake whereas justifying the pretty excessive asking priceof $189.99? Let’s dive in, get to testing, and discover out.
Cooler Grasp’s PL240 Flux is packaged in a compact, virtually square-shaped field with molded cardboard and plastic for cover.
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(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
Included with the bundle are the next:
240mm Radiator + CPU block
Two 120mm PL-FLUX followers
Mounts for all trendy CPU sockets, together with LGA1700, TR4, and AM4/AM5
Fan Splitter
Thermal Paste
Consumer Handbook
USB-controlled ARGB hub
ARGB splitter cable
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
Cooler Set up
Putting in the Grasp Liquid PL240 FLUX was simple. To begin, you safe the backplate in opposition to the motherboard utilizing the standoffs. After making use of thermal paste, press the CPU block in opposition to the standoffs and safe it with the included screws.
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(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
What’s totally different than different coolers?
Premium dual-chamber pump
Cooler Grasp says its newest dual-chamber pump is powered by a high-speed motor using a ceramic bearing impeller, which permits for elevated circulation in a smaller bundle with diminished noise ranges.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
The diminished profile (27.2mm) of Cooler Grasp’s radiator implies that it may well higher match circumstances that don’t have a number of house.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
Cooler Grasp PL-FLUX Followers
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
There’s extra to a liquid cooler than simply its radiator and pump. The followers have a big impact on cooling efficiency and noise ranges. Included with the PL260 Flux are Cooler Grasp’s PL Flux followers, which embrace ARGB lighting that glows by the blades. These followers can’t be bought individually (at the least not but).
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
Mannequin
PL FLUX
Dimensions
120mm
Fan Pace
As much as 2300 RPM +- 10%
Air Movement
72.37 CFM (at 100% velocity)
Air Stress
2.96 mm H20 (at 100% velocity)
Noise Degree
As much as 32 dB(A)
Lighting
ARGB
USB ARGB Controller with Software program Help
Cooler Grasp features a USB-powered ARGB controller field, which is helpful should you don’t have any spare ARGB headers in your motherboard–otherwise you don’t need to use your motherboard’s software program to regulate your lights. If the three ports included on the field aren’t sufficient on your lighting wants, Cooler Grasp additionally features a splitter able to connecting 5 further units, making it potential to regulate as much as seven totally different units should you use the splitter along side the ARGB controller.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
Whereas you should utilize the cooler with out it, Cooler Grasp affords its Grasp Plus+ software program, which permits for management of any units linked to the USB ARGB controller and different supported peripherals, like Cooler Grasp’s MH650 headset
(Picture credit score: Tom’s {Hardware})
New Testing Configuration
Cooler
Cooler Grasp Grasp Liquid PL240 Flux, 240mm AIO
Comparability Coolers Examined
BeQuiet Pure Loop 2 FX, 360mm AIO
Cooler Grasp Grasp Liquid PL360 Flux 360mm AIO
Cougar Forza 85 Air cooler
Cougar Poseidon GT 360, 360m AIO
Corsair iCUE H100i Elite, 240mm AIO
DeepCool AK500 Air cooler
DeepCool LS520, 240mm AIO”
CPU
Intel i9-12900K
Motherboard
MSI Zz690 A-Professional DDR4
Case
BeQuiet! Silent Base 802 Window
PSU
DeepCool PQ1000M
I will be testing the Grasp Liquid PL240 Flux with Intel’s Cor i9-12900K. As a result of Intel 7 manufacturing course of’s elevated thermal density and modifications to core and element layouts, Alder Lake CPUs are tougher to chill than earlier technology CPUs in essentially the most demanding heat-intensive of workloads.
Which means coolers that stored previous-gen merchandise just like the i9-10900K good and funky generally battle to maintain Intel’s i9-12900K below TJ max–the highest temperature earlier than the CPU begins to throttle. Many coolers I’ve examined aren’t in a position to preserve the i9-12900K below TJ max when energy limits are eliminated in workloads like Cinebench and OCCT.
Notice that there are lots of components that may affect your cooling efficiency. A system’s motherboard can affect this, as there are boards available on the market with CPU sockets that aren’t as much as Intel’s spec, which may trigger warping or poor contact with the CPU, affecting thermal efficiency. The case you employ will even affect cooling outcomes.
Testing Configuration
Cooler
Cooler Grasp PL360 Flux
Comparability Coolers Examined
BeQuiet Pure Loop 2 FX
Cougar Poseidon GT 360
DeepCool LS520
CPU
Intel i9-12900K
Motherboard
MSI Zz690 A-Professional DDR4
Case
BeQuiet! Silent Base 802 Window
PSU
DeepCool PQ1000M
Testing Methodology
To check the bounds of a cooler’s thermal dissipation capabilities, I run two major stress checks: Cinebench OCCT
Whereas stress testing in Cinebench, I run each with energy limits eliminated and with an enforced 200W CPU energy restrict. On this check setup utilizing MSI’s z690 A Professional DDR4 Motherboard and Be Quiet’s Silent Base 802 Laptop Case, solely the very best coolers are in a position to go Cinebench testing when energy limits are eliminated.
I don’t check OCCT with out energy limits, as a result of making an attempt to take action leads to CPU bundle energy consumption leaping to over 270W and immediately throttling with even the very best AIO coolers. As a substitute, I check at 200W to present coolers an opportunity at passing. I additionally embrace 140W outcomes to present knowledge nearer to a lower-end CPU, equivalent to AMD’s Ryzen 5600x or Intel’s i5-12400.
With Alder Lake’s cooling calls for in thoughts, I will be ranking CPU Coolers in 3 totally different tiers.
Tier 1: These coolers are in a position to preserve the i9-12900K under TJ max in most masses, with no energy limits enforced. I count on solely the very best liquid coolers to fulfill this customary.
Tier 2: These coolers are in a position to preserve the i9-12900K below the TJ max threshold with CPU energy limits of 200W enforced. I count on most liquid and air coolers to fulfill this customary.
Tier 3: These coolers are in a position to preserve the i9-12900K below TJ max with CPU energy limits of 140W enforced
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