Fractal Design Kelvin S36 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The Fractal Design Kelvin S364. Installing the Fractal Design S365. Testing Methodology and Overclocking6. Thermal Performance7. Acoustic Performance8. Closing Thoughts9. View All Pages

Overall we are very impressed with that the Fractal Design Kelvin S36 has to offer.  It is is a refreshing to see a manufacturer entering the all-in-one liquid cooling market with a product which actually offers something different to the existing products on offer.  Not only does the Kelvin S36 offer a 360mm radiator, it also offers flexibility to customise the water cooling loop and potentially add new elements in the future.

The build quality and design of the cooler is nothing short of excellent – it is certainly on par with with the likes of Corsair.  We particularly appreciate the small details like the inclusion of standard sized fittings and anti-kink coils for the hoses. Perhaps the only significant downside of this model is the restricted compatibility of the 360mm radiator.

The mounting mechanism is not quite as refined as Corsair's, however the installation process is fairly simple.  This is aided by the excellent installation guide which provides easy-to-follow instructions for all platforms.

Fractal Design include three fans with the cooler which are very competent – delivering a great balance between cooling performance and acoustics.  The cooling performance of the Kelvin S36 is very impressive indeed and outperforms the best coolers we have tested in the past.

The Fractal Design Kelvin S36 is available for £120 from Ebuyer.  This is quite expensive compared to other all-in-one liquid coolers, but is sure to appeal to enthusiasts thanks to the gigantic 360mm radiator.

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Pros:

• Impressive cooling performance.
• Very quiet in operation.
• Decent build quality.
• 360mm radiator.

Cons:

• Quite expensive.
• Restricted compatibility.

KitGuru says: An excellent first attempt at an all-in-one liquid cooler from Fractal Design which is sure to appeal to many enthusiasts.

 

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