EK-MLC Phoenix 360 AIO CPU & GPU Liquid Cooling review

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Final Words & Conclusion

Final Words & Conclusion

With the update towards the new Phoenix series (coming from Predator), EK once again offers a very powerful cooling system. Realistically, not that different from the Predator series in performance, though a notch better it seems. Moreover there have been changes to make the product safe and we concur, we've had no issues whatsoever. Even connecting the quick disconnects did not allow for even a drop of coolant spilled. And that makes this a very interesting kit, totally modular and easily configurable as you could (at a later stage) add in your graphics card. That's what Phoenix is all about, and the 360mm model did not have any issues coping with both tweaked under load. 

Overall

EK made aesthetic improvements to the kit, a darker design, sleeved tubing and a new design CPU cooler. Granted, taste is personal, I am not a big fan of the CPU block design, the Phoenix logo led lit is gimmicky as well as the triangle shaped cover. Personally, I like simple and as flat as possible. But hey, again taste differs per person of course.

  • 1x EK-MLC Phoenix 360 (€66.90)
  • 1x EK-MLC Phoenix CPU core - Intel/AM4 (€189.90) 
  • 1x EK-MLC Phoenix GPU Module FC Radeon Vega - Acetal+Nickel (€134.90)

It's not cheap or considered as a small investment though, while this kit is far more superior in cooling capacity opposed to the best LCS kits out there, it's a bill that runs to 256 Euro for just the CPU setup (CPU block unit + 360mm radiator block with pump). I mean, I find the Corsair Hydra H150i already expensive at 170 bucks. Later on, if you like to add in a GPU, that bill runs another 130 euro (depending on your choice/model). So that is something to think about, as realistically for that money you could also go with a normal liquid cooling loop. So accumulated the kit as shown today all ran to just under 400 euro. We do understand that this is the main caveat with this kit but do understand that this kit is as good as purchasing separate liquid cooling components, and then add on top of that fantastic quality and ease of use due to the fact that everything (LCS wise) is factory installed for you. 


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Performance

Compared to the 240 and 360 Predator models this kit seems to perform equal to slightly better.  It'll beat the living daylights out of most LCS and heat pipe coolers though, especially when you add the GPU block, the capacity overall was simply put impressive. That cooling perf is at what we consider a performance level. The results are there though, our Core i7 4790K is a tricky beast of a processor to cool and tame. The test platform makes use of the Core i7 4790K and we tested it in a default setup (clocks) and then overclocked to 4600 MHz with 1.3 Volts. Now, the 1.3 Volts are not even needed for the overclock, 1.2 Volts would have been good enough as well. However, we inject even more voltage to see how the cooler behaves. We also know with certainty that many of you are overclocking at 1.30 Volts. But as shown, it managed 1.40 and even a crazy 1.45 Volts as well (and kept the CPU under 80 Degrees C. Then on top of that you can add a graphics card, a graphics card remain at roughly 50 Degrees C or lower, even when overclocked. Our figures are based on the 360mm radiator, of course. 


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Small tip: if you tweak heavily and find the fan noise too loud, just adjust your BIOS FAN control to silent and lower FAN RPM a tiny bit or limit it towards say a maximum 55% RPM once the CPU reaches 75 Degrees C. This is the balance in-between silent and moderately audible under more extreme overclocking conditions  and will only cost you 2 maybe 3 degrees C at full 100% load values/stress.

 
So yes, you will have plenty of cooling capacity and still get to use the quick disconnect connector, with the ability to add extra components into the loop. Adding an extra component will have a merely little effect on the overall cooling performance, as it has that huge capacity. Overall the results are just fine really. You can combine that cooling excellence with extremely good (low) noise levels as you will have a hard time hearing this kit. Another benefit is obviously the terrific looks. The embedded reservoir/pump and fan HUB makes sure that the wiring leads out from the radiator and not from, say, the CPU cooling block (which you see with many AIO kits), aside from that one Phoenix lit LED on the cooling block.


 Aesthetics & Design

The overall looks are very tasteful as far as I am concerned, at first sight, it might look bulky due to the thick radiator. However, once you house it inside a chassis, most of that is not visible. And whatever is visible is nice and black in design. You do not have screaming logos and LEDs (aside from the LED lit Phoenix logo, see photo above) and neither do you have multiple wires leading out of the cooling block, as most of it is coming from the radiator, meaning you can route cables out of sight. We like the new sleeved tubing btw.


 

Concluding

When we tested the EK-Predator series we told you that it was probably one of the best LCS kits we have ever tested. Well the new Phoenix 360 is as good and or slightly better. The MCL Phoenix series is intended for the ones that need a more performance and capacity compared to a standard LCS kit. Next; that modular approach is golden, you can add a graphics card in under a minute thanks to the QDC connectors. It's not all golden though, as the same QDC connectors are also visible and in your face. Some will dislike that, other will not care. In terms of functionality, the cooling capacity is grand, the cooling noise levels (acoustic) are fine under normal and slightly tweaked conditions. Once you overclock heavily however, will hear the fans. You can, however, tweak the FAN RPM yourself from the BIOS towards a noise level of your liking, we doubt it'll make much difference in your cooling performance. One note I need to make, the pump made noise, however after a day or so, that settled and went away. So if that happens to you, let it be for a couple of days as the yeah, that needs to settle in a bit. The cooling block looks, however, remain a little trivial I guess. The previous MX supremacy blocks, for example, I found nicer looking. Concluding, I always find it hard to explain the price-premium on these kits, all I can say is that it will be worth that money with the nice quality EK offers here, this kit really is top notch inside and out. As some of you know, the early version of the Predator had some problems, some of them started leaking at the pump side, which was a bit of a nightmare, those days are behind EK though, as the new design will have fixed that properly. The overall cooling perf and capacity is excellent, even overclocked and with a GPU added into the loop. Definitely worth a recommended award.

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