Endorfy Navis F280 – Another bullseye among AIO coolers

Pavel Sekerka

2 years ago

Results – 39 dBA

The SilentiumPC brand is undergoing a change to Endorfy today, and along with this change is the launch of the new liquid all-in-one cooler from the Navis series. Similar to the Navis F240, today’s new addition features the excellent Fluctus series fans. Moreover, the Endorfy Navis F280 will also surely impress you with its attractive price tag of just under 100 EUR. What we have here is a solid potential for a very attractive price-performance ratio.

Key features of the cooler

In terms of design, the Endorfy Navis F280 is very minimalistic. Virtually all components of the cooler are matte black except for the top surface of the cooling block, which is made of brushed metal with the manufacturer’s logo. The cooler looks almost industrial with its simple lines and black colour and you will look in vain for RGB backlighting or other colourful elements.

The design of the Navis F280 is very similar to the Navis F240, which I also recently tested. The cooling block and pump used are identical for these two coolers. So you will find a PWM regulated pump with ceramic bearing, a copper base with a large contact area and an integrated mounting system for all current CPU sockets (except TR4/sTRX4). Fluid flows back and forth from the cooling block via a pair of 390 millimeter long tubes that are equipped with a protective nylon braid. These tubes are attached to the cooling block with swivel fittings for easier handling. The manufacturer also recommends installing the cooling block on the processor so that their logo is upright (the tubes protrude from the block towards the motherboard I/O panel), which should ensure optimal cooling effectiveness.

Compared to the Navis 240, this cooler differs only in the size of the radiator and fans, which are now 140 millimeters. The same type is also found in the Fortis 5 cooler, but here it is equipped with a classic square frame to ensure a good seal of the airflow between the fan and the radiator. And like the other coolers in the Navis line, this one is completely maintenance-free as well. For ease of installation into a build, the radiator is factory fitted with fans that have neatly routed wiring and also support serial connection. Just use the supplied extension cable to connect the fans to the PWM connector on the motherboard. A pair of pump cables also run from the cooling block. The first one with a SATA connector takes care of the power supply and the second one has a PWM connector for speed control.

As I mentioned in the text above, the contact surface of the cooler is copper and impresses with its relatively large dimensions (compared to conventional AIO coolers). Theoretically, this cooler could be used on AMD Threadripper processors as well. However, just like Navis F240, Navis F280 does not support TR4/sTRX4 sockets. Still, this cooler will cover common CPU models with ease, so there is no need to worry about uneven heat transfer from the CPU to the cooler.

The cooler package contains everything you need to install the cooler on your processor, just choose the appropriate four screws for your processor socket. For AMD processors you will use the native motherboard backplate, for Intel processors you will use the backplate supplied with the cooler. The installation of the cooler itself is very straightforward and nothing complicated awaits you. In the accessories you will also find a set of screws for attaching the radiator to the computer case, the aforementioned cable for connecting the fans to the motherboard, a key for tightening the installation screws and also a clear user manual.

Pump, radiator and fan parameters

Endorfy Navis F280 is not too different from other AIO coolers. The radiator used is aluminum and is understandably wider to accommodate 140mm fans. The total depth of the radiator with fans does not exceed 55 millimeters to ensure maximum compatibility with the computer case. This cooler is compatible with all modern CPU sockets except AMD HEDT platform. However, what makes the Navis F280 clearly stand out from the crowd is its pleasantly low price compared to premium AIO coolers. We are practically getting slightly below the level of high-end air coolers, which gives this cooler a very good potential to become a bestseller due to its good price/performance ratio.


Cooler	Endorfy Navis F280	MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360	Asus ROG Ryujin II 360
Supported sockets	Intel 115x, 1200, 1700, 20xx; AMD AM4, AM5	Intel 115x, 1200, 1700, 20xx; AMD AM4, AM5, TR4/sTRX4	Intel 115x, 1200, 1700, 20xx; AMD AM4, AM5 TR4/sTRX4
Radiator dimensions (H × W × T)	317 × 138 × 28 mm	394 × 120 × 27 mm	394 × 121 × 27 mm
Block dimensions (H × W × T)	90 × 95 × 48,5 mm	84 × 95 × 95 mm	88 × 81 × 78 mm
Hose length	390 mm	380 mm	380 mm
Pump speed	2600 rpm	2800 rpm
Radiator material	aluminum
Max RAM height	no restrictions
Warranty	3 years	3 years	6 years
Approx. retail price	€ 99	€ 230 €	€ 285 €

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Unfortunately, Endorfy still does not provide any paper parameters on airflow or static pressure for Fluctus fans. However, the MTBF value of 100,000 hours demonstrates the manufacturer’s confidence in the bearings and motor used. In an informal conversation with the manufacturer, I was told that the Fluctus 140 is “just a bigger” Fluctus 120. I guess we all know that nothing is ever this simple. So you will have to wait for their detailed tests from my colleague Samák, who will surely not want to miss these new fans.


Fan	Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM	MSI MEG Silent Gale P12	Noctua NF-F12 iPPC PWM
Bearing	fluid	hydrodynamic	SSO2
Max. speed	1800 rpm	2000 rpm
Max static pressure	N/A	2.21 mm H₂O	3.94 mm H₂O
Max. airflow	N/A	95.5 m³/h	121.8 m³/h

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Measurement methodology

As a test processor and heat generator, I am now using an Intel Core i7-11700K on the Asus TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi motherboard. The entire build is mounted on a Streacom BC1 frame with no fans to provide airflow. Acoustic shielding (acoustic foam on OSB boards) is installed around the test setup to eliminate ambient noise.

The Voltcraft SL-100 calibrated noise meter is placed perpendicular to the cooler in a fixed position relative to the motherboard at a distance of approximately 35 cm from the processor socket. Stress tests are performed using Prime95 with a duration of 30–35 minutes. The coolers are tested at three standardized noise levels (36, 39 and 42 dBA) and finally at maximum speed. The tests are run in two sets according to the heat output of the processor.

The first set of tests is at 125 W, the PL1 processor’s enforced limit. The second set of power draw is then about 205–210 W (4500 MHz at 1.285 V). However, this second level represents a very high concentration of heat per mm² due to the small size of the chip itself. Thus, not all coolers can be expected to pass this set of tests at all noise levels. At the end of the test, the highest temperature achieved is always recorded.

All data regarding CPU temperatures and heat output are obtained from the HWiNFO64 application. The measured values are then corrected against the room temperature as the resulting Delta T value. Any higher value means a processor temperature over 95–100 °C and a risk of thermal throttling. Therefore, if the cooler does not pass the load with a Delta T value below 75 °C, such a test is marked as a failure.

Results – 36 dBA

Why is there a missing value in the cooler chart? Either because the cooler could no longer handle the load in the specified mode, or because the fan could not be slowed down to the required level, typically the mode with the lowest noise level.

Results – 39 dBA

Results – 42 dBA

Results – maximum speed

Results – Delta T and dBA relationship

In addition, I also tested the Navis F280 at noise levels of 45, 48 and 51 dBA to better visualize the relationship between noise and temperature.

There is a fairly linear dependence of temperature and noise. One can therefore surmise that the Navis F280 cooler has quite ideally optimized fans to the radiator and there is no significant curve bending at minimum or maximum fan speeds.

Conclusion and evaluation

Similarly to the Navis F240, the Navis F280 cooler tested today has a great potential to become a bestseller in the field of AIO coolers. Its efficiency reaches even much more expensive competitors without being too noisy. Its operating optimum is, as it usually is, somewhere around 50–60 % PWM signal for the fans, which ensures high efficiency with acceptable noise level. The pump noise is a bit noticeable at maximum speed, but unless you have your build tuned for minimum noise, you have virtually no chance of hearing it.

The minimalist design of the cooler is complemented by the quality materials used and good build quality. The cabling is elegantly handled thanks to the serial connection, which makes routing easy. The only real drawback remains the three-year warranty. In any case, the Endorfy Navis F280 clearly dominates in the price/performance ratio. With a price tag of just under 100 EUR, this is an unbeatable offer that will nicely outshine its competitors. Endorfy Navis F280 therefore rightfully earns the editorial award “Smart Buy!“.

English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš


Endorfy Navis F280
+ Excellent cooler effectiveness
+ Attractive price/performance ratio
+ High build quality
+ Serial fan connection
+ Minimalist design
- Three-year warranty only

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Continue: Results – 42 dBA