Tests of affordable AIO liquid coolers continue. The CoreLiquid A13 with a 360 mm radiator offers not only cooling performance but also ARGB LED fans with light-guiding impellers (so the lighting can be really striking…) and comes at an attractive price. Given its features, we can talk about a fairly low sum. For this “mix,” MSI’s cooler takes home our editorial award “Smart buy!”.
Conclusion
In shorts: CoreLiquid A13 360 is a remarkably powerful and a visually attractive cooler. Its cooling performance is truly high—significantly beyond what we’ve seen with tower coolers tested so far. It’s true that the list of coolers we’ve tested doesn’t yet include a proper twin-tower in the same price bracket as this MSI AIO, but even so, the CL A13 360 deserves recognition.
At a price that’s attractive by liquid-cooling standards, it offers not only high cooling performance but also striking lighting. For users looking for this combination—top cooling and ARGB LEDs—at a lower cost, the CoreLiquid A13 360 makes a compelling case.
A lower price inevitably brings a few compromises, areas where costs were cut. One is the plastic backplate, another is the noisier pump. To be clear, it’s not excessively loud, and in a gaming rig where the user is wearing headphones, it won’t be an issue.
For those who demand the quietest possible system, however, the pump can become distracting. There is the option of DC regulation, but reducing speed also lowers liquid flow, which can negatively impact cooling performance. It may or may not, depending on the pump’s headroom. The ability to cut pump speed for quieter operation is there—but how long such a setting remains stable is another question. What works with a new cooler may not a year later.
Even so, the excellent price-to-performance ratio must be highlighted again. Cooling performance is very high, sufficient for taming the most powerful Intel and AMD CPUs, including Core Ultra 9 (and earlier Core i9) or Ryzen 9 models, even without power limits. In this respect, the CoreLiquid A13 360 clearly outpaces cheaper coolers such as the Arctic Freezer 36.
The cooler is also suitable for mid-range processors. If you own a CPU with a “7” in its model number, the CoreLiquid A13 360 is still worth considering. MSI has done well here, delivering a cooler that’s appealing both visually and price-wise—capable of handling virtually any workload you throw at it. Good work.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
| MSI MAG CoreLiquid A13 360 |
| + Very high cooling performance... |
| + ... suitable even for top-end Intel Core Ultra 9 and AMD Ryzen 9 9000 CPUs |
| + Excels in cooling performance particularly at higher fan speeds |
| + For an AIO, attractive price-to-performance ratio |
| + Fans with above-average aerodynamic efficiency |
| + Simple, fast installation |
| + Visually appealing design with extensive ARGB LED lighting |
| - Relatively noisy pump... |
| - ... cannot be tuned down to a truly quiet level due to the above |
| - More delicate, plastic-only backplate |
| Approximate retail price: 88 EUR |
Pretty good, right? And now the question is whether, at comparable noise levels, something like the NH-D15 G2 will match (or even surpass?) it. Hopefully, by the end of the year we’ll manage to expand the database with some more high-end tower coolers. 🙂
As usual, here is a direct comparison of frequency characteristics with a strong competitor at a similar price level, the Endorfy Navis.
Thank you! 🙂
When are the Coolermaster 3D heatpipe designs in the schedule? They’re the biggest tech shakeup in air cooling for a while and really need a look.
Do you mean the MasterAir MA824, which is in a comparison here (on LGA 1700) or in more extensive tests here?
I do have that (Cooler Master) cooler here and it’s in the plans to test it at some point and add results on the latest platforms as well. But I can’t promise when exactly we’ll get to it.
I think Commodore Jeep-Eep was referring to this cooler: 😉
https://www.coolermaster.com/en-global/products/hyper-612-apex/
Although, the one you mention is also a great piece. 😛
Sure, thanks for the reference to the Hyper 612 Apex. This cooler looks good, of course, but I can’t promise anything right now. We’re in touch with CM, and if we have enough time to spare for tests, we can request a sample. We’ll see. 🙂
The Coolermaster V series, with the new 3d heat pipe tech.
https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/11171/cooler-master-v4-alpha-3dhp-black-cpu-cooler/index.html
Yes, thanks for adding that. I’ll need to study this further. I know there were some changes to the heatpipes already with the MA824 cooler, but with the Hyper 212 Apex it seems to be something a bit different again (those “3D” heatpipes). 🙂
They’re due next month and at the very least are an extremely promising proof of concept for later iterations of the tech and a sign that Coolermaster’s getting its groove back.
Thanks for the info. It’s possible that in the foreseeable future, we’ll message Cooler Master and…well, we’ll see. 🙂