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Focusing first on operating characteristics, it is clear that Cooler Master has delivered a high-quality all-in-one liquid cooler that has top-tier level performance with its MasterLiquid PL360 Flux. And that is the case without the fans being obnoxiously loud even at full tilt – as well as having superb speed control.
So, there is certainly a lot to like about the MasterLiquid PL360 Flux from a performance perspective. Styling is another strong point, too. The unit itself looks and feels high-quality. The lighting is superb, even if the control software is basic, at best. And the front-side, visible cables are perfectly tolerable thanks to that back-side control unit.
There clearly is plenty to admire here, especially when combined with a solid 5-year warranty. However, pricing is one area which is certainly not as appealing.
£180 in the UK is tough to swallow, especially when that is Corsair H150i Elite Capellix territory with that cooler’s superb iCUE ecosystem. For £180, I’d want Cooler Master to deliver a more in-depth software ecosystem like Corsair offers. Or I’d consider an included VRM fan to be reasonable at this price point. We are well below pump-mounted screen territory, though!
Stiff competition comes from the likes of the Fractal Lumen S36 RGB, or the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB if you are far more noise-biased. That Fractal cooler is very similar in many respects; quality, sensible speed, RGB fans. Plus, it also offers lighting on the pump-block unit. It is also considerably cheaper at £112.99.
It is easy for us to make comparison against a few really well-balanced coolers from the likes of Fractal or Arctic or Corsair. Doing so will simply see us picking holes in most other coolers on the market. I do, however, think that Cooler Master needs to offer more to justify this price point.
The MasterLiquid PL360 Flux performs well, its noise output is tolerable, and the lighting is very good. It’s just the price that’s a bit high for the overall package on offer. But that’s an easy one for Cooler Master to address, so I’d say that my overall feelings in this review are positive.
The Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL360 Flux has an MSRP of £179.99 in the UK.
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Pros:
- Strong cooling performance
- Positive noise-balanced thermal performance
- Tolerable noise output even at 100% fan speeds
- Good-looking ARGB lighting
- Very good fan speed control range
Cons:
- Expensive at £179.99 in the UK
- Doesn’t quite top our charts, which we would want at the price point
- No added VRM cooling enhancement
KitGuru says: A strong performer with excellent aesthetics and reasonable noise levels. Cooler Master has a good AIO with the MasterLiquid PL360 Flux, but the price is notably high.
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