Antec Vortex View 360 AIO CPU Cooler Review

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

Today we’re taking a look at the Antec Vortex View 360, a premium 360mm AIO cooler built around Asetek’s latest 9th-generation pump design, featuring an integrated 5-inch 360-degree rotatable IPS display. On paper, Antec is targeting both strong thermal performance and a high level of visual customisation with the Vortex View 360. In this review, we’ll be testing installation, build quality, acoustics and, of course, thermal performance to see how it compares against other 360mm AIOs.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:44 Pricing and key details
01:42 Closer look – radiator
03:29 CPU block + screen!
07:00 Tranquil fans
08:19 Other accessories
09:09 Installation process
10:30 Screen software
11:41 Acoustics and thermals
13:48 Closing thoughts

Features:

• Huge 5-inch IPS display — Vortex View 360 is equipped with a 1280 x 720 IPS panel that can be oriented through 360 degrees to suit your build, perfect for monitoring real-time system stats or custom visuals that show through your chassis side panel.
• 9th-Gen Asetek cooling platform with quieter pump — engineered for up to ~400 W TDP cooling power with reduced vibration and optimised acoustics, pairing performance with lower noise.
• Integrated iUnity 2.0 — Users can fine-tune fan and pump curves, customise lighting zones and control what the display shows, all through Antec’s updated iUnity 2.0 software.

Specifications:

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel: LGA115X / 1200 / 1700 / 1851, AMD: AM4 / AM5
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Radiator Dimensions: 394 × 120 × 27 mm
• Pump Speed: up to 3000RPM
• Pump Noise: ≤27 dB(A)
• Cold Plate Material: Micro Skived Copper
• Pump Connector: 4-pin Molex
• Fan Dimensions: 120 × 120 × 25 mm
• Fan Speed (PWM): 400 ±100 ~ 2000 ±150 RPM
• Air flow: 59.23 CFM (max.)
• Air Pressure: 2.46 mmH₂O (max.)
• Fan Noise: 28.6 dB(A)
• Fan Connector: 4-pin PWM
• LCD Screen: IPS 1280 x 720 resolution, 60Hz refresh, 300 nits brightness
• Warranty: 6 Years

Test System Specifications:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
• Motherboard: ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
• Memory: 32GB (2 x 16GB Modules) Kingston Fury DDR5-6000
• Graphics card: MSI Radeon RX 6600 XT Gaming X
• Storage: 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIe Gen4x4 NVME M.2 SSD
• Power Supply: Seasonic Prime TX-1600
• Chassis: Open Test Bench
• Thermal Compound: Arctic MX-6
• O/S: Windows 11 Version 24H2

Testing Methodology:

We are primarily focusing on the performance of each cooler at 100% fan speed and also when locked to 40dBA noise output. We will focus on cooling performance using a manual overclock with all-core frequency and VCORE locked to 5.2GHz/1.3V (AMD) and 5.5GHz/1.3V (Intel) and Precision Boost Overdrive performance.

• The test data is logged using HWINFO and the final 10 minutes of the data is calculated to find the average CPU temperature and CPU clock multiplier (AMD PBO Test) and then plotted in the charts.
• For testing, we use a 30-minute looped run of Cinebench R23 and record the steady-state CPU temperature at the end of the test. This ensures that the CPU has had ample time to warm up and reach a steady state under all of the coolers.
• The ambient is maintained at 19-21 degrees Celsius. Where there is variation beyond this temperature range, we add extra repeated tests to ensure consistency. However, this is well controlled now with A/C.
• We also test each cooler with at least two fresh installs (typically three) to mitigate the likelihood of poor mounting spoiling results.
• Ambient temperature and humidity are controlled via a mini split air conditioning system inside the test room. Ambient temperature is maintained between 19-20°C; temperature delta figures are shown in the charts (ambient temperature is deducted from the measured component temperature).

Test Results:

Acoustics

With fans running at full speed, the Antec Vortex View 360 measures 47 dBA, placing it in the upper end of the chart. It’s a little louder than some of the 360mm competitors, such as the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 ARGB and ID-Cooling FX360 INF at 43 dBA, but still comfortably below several higher-output models pushing into the 50 dBA+ range and far less distracting.

Thermal Performance: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

At maximum fan speed, the Antec Vortex View 360 delivers an average load temperature of 59°C over ambient. It sits just behind the leading 360mm units and matches several strong performers, including the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 and be quiet! Light Loop 360. The margin to the very best is minimal, and it comfortably outperforms a large portion of coolers, so thermal performance at max fan speed is strong.

When fan noise is normalised to 40 dBA, the Antec Vortex View 360 posts a steady-state temperature of 64°C over ambient, putting it slightly behind the strongest performers. It sits in the upper mid-table group alongside several competing 360mm and 420mm models, suggesting decent efficiency once acoustics are equalised.

Under AMD PBO load, the Antec Vortex View 360 records a 64°C steady-state delta while maintaining an average CPU clock multiplier of 52.5x, placing it firmly at the upper end of the chart again. While it doesn’t quite match the very best results at 52.6x multiplier, it matches a large number of competing 360mm and even some 420mm models. So given clock behaviour is right there with the top performers, this indicates that despite sitting a degree or two behind the absolute leaders, it is not limiting boost performance.

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.

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