Introduction
MSI has been a staple in the PC component industry for as long as all of us can remember and over the course of the years, has been branching out from its motherboard roots into a full stack of products. We have looked at a number of their video cards, motherboards, SSDs, and power supplies, but today, we’ll take their new CORELIQUID MAG E360 AIO CPU cooler which has a design that is inspired by the passing of time and the shape of the solar eclipse. Let’s take it out for a spin to see if it continues MSI’s reputation for providing good products to gamers and creators.
We’re expecting it to be made available at the $139.99 price point for the 360mm radiator flavor and $109.99 for the 240mm flavor. Take a look at our shopping widgets for current pricing.
We will again be using our second-generation AIO test platform that is capable of putting out enough heat to make even the devil sweat. We do this to test AIO liquid cooling solutions that are likely to be used with some of today’s most demanding CPUs.
MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360 AIO CPU Cooler
The MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360 is an all-in-one (AIO) CPU cooler that is designed to work on a wide variety of sockets. These include Intel’s LGA 1700/115x/1200 and AMD’s AM5/AM4/TR4/sTRx4 sockets. Overall, the MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360 covers all current-day sockets by default but has dropped support for legacy Intel HEDT sockets such as 2011, 2013, 2066, etc.
“The MAG series fights alongside gamers in pursuit of honor. With added military-inspired elements in these gaming products, they were reborn as the symbol of sturdiness and durability.” – MSI
While we have the 360mm radiator version that we’re reviewing today, this AIO is also available with a 240mm radiator that sports a duo of 120mm fans. Due to the laws of thermodynamics, expect it to perform a little worse than the 360mm version we’re reviewing today.
Water Block & Pump
The cold plate on the MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360 is made out of copper and is topped with a rotatable MSI logoed disk. This allows you to orient it in a way that works with your case and the direction in which you end up mounting the unit. It uses a three-phase motor of the pump which generates minimal vibrations for long-lasting operation. The contact area has been enlarged between the coolant and the copper base of the water block with enhanced density of the micro-channel design.
The pump is PWM controlled with an approximate 3000 RPM (+/- 10%) speed at a 100% duty cycle. It pushes the water through 400mm of cooling hose to and from the radiator. MSI states it is a two-chamber that ensures that the cooled water temperature can be delivered to the desired location of the heat source. It also has a rotatable blockhead design so you can mount the pump in any direction with up to 270 degrees of rotation. It uses evaporation-proof tubing as well as reinforced mesh plastic tubing.
Radiator
The liquid CPU cooler radiator is designed to hold three 120mm fans and measures 394x120x27mm. By our count, the aluminum radiator sports a density of 22 fins per inch and is attached to 400mm of tubing in a 12 pathway design.
Fans
The three included fans are 120mm fans. They feature fluid dynamic bearings and RGB LEDs that can be controlled through your favorite RGB application du jour such as MSI Center. MSI lists a fan life expectancy of 50,000 hours at 40 degrees Celsius and the fan’s RPMs are not disclosed by MSI, but we observed a range of 600 RPM to 1,800 RPM at an unreported noise level. The stated maximum airflow is 75.04 CFM with an unstated static pressure.