Antec Vortex View 360 AIO CPU Cooler Review

1. Antec Vortex View 3602. Test Results3. Closing Thoughts4. View All Pages

The Antec Vortex View 360 is a difficult one to sum up because it has some great features and very competitive thermal performance. Plus, the noise with the fans running flat out isn’t too loud either. When it comes to real-world thermal performance, with noise restricted to a more tolerable 40dBA, it hangs in there with some of the best coolers we have tested. So, it certainly has the looks and the performance to match.

However, like anything, there are some pitfalls. Since it ships with such a huge IPS display, the cost isn’t going to be cheap. At around £240, it is priced similarly to some other large-display AIOs. However, the timing of the launch of such an expensive AIO may be poor – with increasing RAM prices affecting so many critical PC components, are users really looking to spend so much on a cooler when that money could be better spent elsewhere? We're not sure.

Although the installation process is very simple and doesn’t take long at all, with the fans coming pre-installed on the radiator and thermal compound pre-applied to the cold plate, Antec software needs to be installed to be able to configure the screen, so extra time is required for software setup. The screen is detected in Windows as an additional display, like a monitor, so you may also need extra configuration to set up multiple displays, too.

RGB effects are limited to the back of the screen only, so anyone wanting the full RGB experience, including RGB fans, will be disappointed. While on the subject of RGB, the screen illumination can only be configured using Antec iUnity 2.0 software, since there is no way to connect it to a standard RGB motherboard header or a standalone RGB hub, which is never ideal if you want to sync it up with other RGB hardware.

However, if you are in the market for a 360mm AIO with a long warranty (six years), solid thermal performance, low noise, and a huge customisable display, the Antec Vortex View 360 may be worth considering. That said, it comes at a high cost, and in the current climate, cash could potentially be better spent on boosting the performance of essential hardware rather than on a luxury item like this.

The Antec Vortex View 360 is available to purchase now directly from the Antec store, priced at £244.47 HERE. Make sure to use offer code KITGURU for free shipping!

Pros:

• Solid thermal performance in all testing scenarios.
• Relatively low noise at max fan speed.
• Big screen looks great when configured.

Cons:

• The screen needs configuration in Windows settings and in Antec iUnity software to fully function.
• Our unit came with a faulty USB hub, causing screen connectivity issues.
• Fans are very basic, not interconnecting, no RGB.
• Screen RGB cannot be connected to an external header or controlled by sync software.
• High cost and limited availability at the time of review.

KitGuru says: Big screen and solid performance mean this will be on the shopping list for a lot of enthusiasts that prioritise aesthetics, but we're not sure it's the smartest buy in the current climate.

Become a Patron!