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Our thermal performance tests show that Cooler Master's engineering efforts have paid off big time with the Atmos. Not only does it massively outperform the company's previous Core and Flux series coolers it crushes most of the competition with fan speed maxed out and at 40dBA noise levels. It's easy to put high-speed fans on a cooler and brute force your way to good thermal performance but showing class-leading thermal performance at 40dBA operation means that the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos is a genuinely high-end CPU cooler, capable of taming even the most powerful current generation desktop, CPUs which isn’t easy.
The Atmos is neck-and-neck with the EK-Nucleus in all our thermal performance tests while the maximum noise out between the two is similar. However, the Cooler Master SickleFlow Edge 120 fans ran 200RPM faster than the EK-Nucleus fans at max duty cycle but were 1dBA quieter, which means that when it comes to the 40dBA test the SickleFlow Edge has a faster RPM advantage so it can hold on to thermal performance even when noise output is very low. In the past some Cooler Master AIOs have struggled at 40dBA operation but not this time with the Atmos.
As well as the high-end thermal performance there are other things to like about the Atmos, such as the simple installation process. Cooler Master has evolved the installation process of its AIOs over the years to the point now where it is extremely simple and quick. Installing on our AMD AM5 test system took just a few minutes and if you are happy with the orientation for the pre-installed fans then that’s a time saver too. Even novice users should have the cooler installed quickly and without any problems.
The ARGB lighting effects are worth a mention too, they are pretty basic with just a single zone of RGB lighting illuminating the fan blades but it's very well diffused. There were no noticeable LED hotspots on the fan HUBs where the LEDs are mounted and the RGB lighting on the pump top was subtle but effective. The use of standard 3-pin 5V cables means the RGB control is versatile too as it can be connected to the included Cooler Master hub or the motherboard headers.
I ran into a slight problem with the software connectivity of the Cooler Master RGB hub using the new MasterCTRL app but it worked perfectly using the older MasterPLus+ software platform. I reached out to Cooler Master about this and was assured that MasterCTRL will be fully compatible with the Atmos when the product launches. The current version of the software that I used was only a beta, but because the cooler uses standard RGB connections it's not a problem as you can control RGB with other devices.
The connectivity issue was the only real negative I had with the cooler, though the price is also a bit of a sticking point, for UK buyers at least. The Atmos 360 has an MSRP of £169.99 for the UK but in the U.S it is considerably cheaper at a $159.99 MSRP which roughly converts using current rates at around £130. It's competitive with coolers like the EK-Nucleus at £169 but the guys in the U.S are getting a much better deal, so while it's not bad value for UK buyers, it's excellent for the U.S enthusiasts.
Taken as a whole, the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos is an all-round superb AIO cooler. The customisation option might appeal to users who like to personalise their systems, it has genuine high-end thermal performance, noise output can be tuned to the users preferred level without killing thermal performance, it's easy to install, looks good and is reasonably priced depending on your region. So if you are looking for a high-performance AIO for a new build anytime soon, add this to your list.
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The Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos will be available at OcUK and other UK retailers from October with an MSRP Price of £169.99.
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Pros:
- Class-leading thermal performance.
- ARGB effects look great.
- Standard ARGB and PWM connections are always a bonus.
- Eco-Friendly packaging.
- Customisable pump top.
- Quick and simple installation process.
Cons:
- UK price is steep compared to U.S MSRP.
- No interlocking cable-free fans.
KitGuru says: If you are thinking about building a high-end system soon and wondering what cooler to buy, make sure you check out the MasterLiquid 360 Atmos from Cooler Master, you won't be disappointed.
