Closed Loop AIO Liquid Coolers: 14-way Mega Roundup Review
by E. Fylladitakis on February 12, 2014 7:00 AM ESTEnermax
Enermax gained popularity and reputation through their high quality power supply units. The company has been around for decades but has only more recenty begun diversifying into cases and cooling solutions. They have also added a couple of new AIO liquid coolers into their product range and they shipped us two of them for this review. Unfortunately, these coolers are not yet available in the North American region.
Enermax Liqmax 120S
The first AIO liquid cooler from Enermax is the Liqmax 120S. The Liqmax series consists of two products, which are essentially the same cooler but with a different fan. Both models are depicted on the box. We received the LM120S-HP model, and the fan of lacks LED lighting on this model.
Even though the bundle of the Liqmax 120S is nothing special, it comes well presented, with the mounting hardware packed in separate nylon bags. There also is a manual with installation instructions and a syringe with thermal compound included. The biggest attraction of this kit however is definitely the fan. Although it looks like a simple, black fan without lighting or any notable features, there is a switch on the fan's engine that adjusts the speed range of the fan. There are three settings: 600 to 1300 RPM, 600 to 2000 RPM and 600 to 2500 RPM. By default, the fan is set on the 600 to 2000 RPM range.
Visually, the Liqmax 120S is not much different from most other AIO coolers with 120mm wide radiators. The radiator, measuring 32mm deep, is slightly thicker than the one used by the Seidon 120V and the Corsair H75. There are almost no deformations or imperfections about the aluminum fins, although a couple of them are slightly bent. Enermax went with black corrugated tubing, which is durable but a bit of a pain to turn. At least the connections on the block can turn sideways, relieving some of the stress.
The block-pump assembly is entirely made of plastic, with the exception of the copper base of course. Although plastic makes such designs look cheap, Enermax tried to improve the appearance of their product by engraving a symmetric pattern on it, grooves on its sides, and added blue LED lighting beneath their company logo in the middle of the block. It does help but the block of the 120S is definitely not the best looking around. The copper base of the block however is very well made, smooth and machined down to a nearly perfect finish.
Enermax Liqtech 120X
Despite the name, not Liqmax but Liqtech is actually the best series of Enermax's AIO cooling solutions. There are two versions with different radiators, the 120X and the 240. We received the small version, the 120X, supplied in a very well designed black/red cardboard box.
The bundle of the Liqtech 120X consists of the standard items; a manual with installation instructions, mounting hardware, and a syringe with thermal compound. Enermax also supplies a 3-pin Y-splitter fan cable, which can be used to power two fans off a single header. Two 120mm fans are supplied with the Liqtech 120X, both being the same as the black range-adjustable ELC-LT120HP fan of the Liqmax 120S kit.
If this were a beauty contest, the Liqtech 120X would be the most serious contestant. Enermax definitely spent a lot of time and energy designing the 120X so as to stand out from the crowd. The radiator has grooved aluminum blocks attached to its sides, with the company logo printed on them. Anti-vibration material forms red stripes where the fans will be seated. The design of the radiator itself is very different from that of most other kits as well; instead of wavy aluminum fins between the liquid pass-through channels, this design forms single, "seamless" fins from one side to the other. It is considerably thicker as well, measuring 43mm deep, which can be a problem in some system cases.
The block-pump assembly is entirely metallic as well, with an aluminum frame and a copper base. The black aluminum top of the block forms fins, which sort of function as a small heatsink, with the company name and logo clearly visible in silver. Even the mounting supports are made out of solid aluminum, with those for installation on an Intel CPU already attached to the block. The copper base is clean, smooth and very well machined. This AIO cooler obviously is a very different design than those from Asetek and or CoolIT; Enermax however did not want to reveal their source.
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E.Fyll - Thursday, February 13, 2014 - link
That would be new to me; I am practically unmoved by anything, let alone someone who is trying to debate with me online.Unfortunately, you did state your point but you cannot possibly "defend it". Your point is based on your personal preferences and assumptions. I explained to you thoroughly why your assumptions are wrong and how they would lead to erroneous results. Anything based on assumptions has no basis, there is no argument that can defend it and is practically wrong. Still, you chose to cling upon your opinion. That is your choice; it does not mean that I have to endorse it.
As for the "what differentiates an AnandTech reviewer and the typical Newegg/Amazon user reviewer" comment, I...rest my case. If that is all you can see in such an article, there is absolutely nothing that I would like to say to you.
The PC Apologist - Thursday, February 13, 2014 - link
Fyll: "I am practically unmoved by anything, let alone someone who is trying to debate with me online."PCA: Being unmoved is not necessarily a good thing, it merely means you're not open-minded enough to allow for room for improvement. Also, is debating online somehow a lower standard or an inferior forum for argument? This is 2014 for Christ's sake, what would you have preferred, debating over the phone or in person? Coming from an online writer no less...
Fyll: "Unfortunately, you did state your point but you cannot possibly "defend it". Your point is based on your personal preferences and assumptions. I explained to you thoroughly why your assumptions are wrong and how they would lead to erroneous results. Anything based on assumptions has no basis, there is no argument that can defend it and is practically wrong."
PCA: What, what, and what? So one cannot possibly defend a stance that is based on personal preferences and assumptions huh? Interesting. I wonder what Michael Sandel of Harvard would say to that. And trust me, throughout this dialogue I've been way more objective and scientific than you. All you're clinging onto is a failed and lobotomized version of Logical Positivism. As for assumptions, ever heard of thought experiments and hypothetical scenarios? Jesus Christ... And don't blame me for your lack of imagination and creativity. The answers to all of your previous questions, concerning what fans to use and how to discern a good cooler from a bad one, are obvious to any true computer enthusiasts with even a minimal scientific background. Needless to say, you are not one of them.
And for the AnandTech vs. Newegg user reviewer point (in the correct context please), how can you rest your case when you've never presented it? What is your case? You can't just end it without having started it because then, we won't know where exactly you are wrong.
Listen man, I've tried to be nice and courteous, but you are really pushing it. And I hate to throw the book at you, but it's obvious you haven't read it (or any other for that matter). The following is posted under "Review Philosophies" of the AnandTech About page:
" We employ the scientific method in all of our endeavors. Ensuring reliability by repeating tests multiple times, checking results against control groups and implementing sound testing methodologies. We create the vast majority of our own test suites using both in-house and industry standard benchmarks. We also put a lot of effort into ensuring that the results published in our reviews track with the real world user experience of the products we review. In many cases the majority of the test results we generate never make their way onto the site, they're simply used by our reviewers to better understand the product being evaluated to provide you with better overall content.
Our reviews incorporate a mixture of objective and subjective based analysis, the balance varying where appropriate. We are not a site that exclusively relies on data based comparisons but also deliver honest user experience evaluations as well. Some reviews lend themselves to data driven analysis more than others (e.g. CPU review vs. smartphone review), but we always attempt to provide both in our coverage. I fundamentally believe that you need both to accurately portray any product. Numbers are great for comparative analysis, but without context they can be meaningless. Similarly, personal opinions are great to help explain what owning a product may be like, but without data to back up some claims the review lacks authority (e.g. average vs. good battery life begs to be quantified).
We are a very small team for a publication of our size. We are human. We make mistakes. We gladly welcome criticism from our readers and vendors alike. Seeking perfection doesn't mean being perfect from the start, it means being able and willing to improve when faced with evidence that you're not perfect. I feel strongly about this - negative feedback is tough to hear, but as far as I'm concerned it's free education. If there's validity in a complaint about something we've done, we will take it to heart and act upon it. We rarely ban commenters in our articles (99.9999% of banned commenters are spammers). While I would appreciate it if you are respectful to our writers when commenting, you won't be banned for expressing your feelings about something we've written - as nice or as harsh as you may be. Naturally, given the name of the site, I reserve the right to change this policy and totally ban you if you look at me funny in public."
- The PC Apologist
Sushisamurai - Thursday, February 13, 2014 - link
Bingo. As a professional working away from home, with a limited, local selection of parts, I really have to thank Anandtech's thorough review of stock, out of box configurations. Really helped in terms of eliminating what I don't want - some people just don't have the time in their life browsing complicated reviews factoring modifications. I don't mind spending $150 for a AIO cooler that I can set up, and that it works better than some, as opposed to buying something for $100 and buying other fans etc to make it perform similarly to a $150 product out of box. That extra time and hassle isn't worth it to me (and some people).That being said, rock on for the review! I only wish there was a more clear answer for corsair vs NZXT for the bigger radiators (x60 vs 110/100i). I wonder how they would perform with max fans (4 fans push and pull from the manufacturer) for noise and thermal performance at certain loads; as their thermal resistance is different, I wonder if would more fans compensate for lower noise (over all lower RPM) at certain energy loads. But I suppose that's for a more detailed review another time :)
The PC Apologist - Thursday, February 13, 2014 - link
All I hear is compromise after compromise.After having cut so many corners, what differentiates an AnandTech reviewer and the typical Newegg/Amazon user reviewer?
P.Ashton - Thursday, February 13, 2014 - link
I do not usually post comments but boy, what a load of rubbish!The PC Apologist, if I may ask, what are your qualifications? I mean, aside from typing long, beautiful and full of useless information texts. Are you an engineer or products specialist in any given way? It lacks any sense to tell you how misconceived you are, others did before me and you discarded them basing your "reason" on childish arguments. But alongside "obnoxious" and "elitist", I would definitely add "arrogant" to the list. Someone who is overqualified for this kind of job is wasting his time trying to educate you and you compare him to a "Newegg reviewer"? Good lord.
I myself am an enthusiast, I spend several thousands of pounds every year on hardware and I would never buy a cooler with the purpose of replacing the fan. If a cooler cannot do the job out of the box, that tells me a lot about whoever designed and markets it.
Regarding your future application as a reviewer, please, save us the trouble. I would very much rather read a short and cold technical text than a long essay full of bollocks. I can decide for myself if I like a cooler or not after it has been presented to me and I am here to read proper reviews, not sales ads.
Keep up the good job E.Fyll. I will be buying none of these and I look forward to your air cooler reviews. One short recommendation, if I may. You should add the C/W bar graphs after every temperature graph, not just the average C/W graph. I can calculate the C/W for the wattage that interests me but I do not believe that is true for many people.
The PC Apologist - Thursday, February 13, 2014 - link
It matters not what my qualifications are. It wouldn't matter if I'm a 12 year old school boy or a Ph.D. with published papers and years of experience working in the field; if you are basing my truth claims solely on my qualifications, you are committing the genetic fallacy.As for the Newegg reviewer comment, recall the context: "All I hear is compromise after compromise. After having cut so many corners, what differentiates an AnandTech reviewer and the typical Newegg/Amazon user reviewer?" So first, learn to read. Second, learn to read between the lines. It is a rhetorical question, intended to incite a point. If you disagree, argue your stance, don't nerd rage.
E.Fyll is "overqualified" for this job? All I see is a grunt, willing to put in work without proper thought. We all know that he's done a lot of testing and data compiling, but without an adequate understanding of the scientific process and an acceptable command of language, all his hard labor is just that, hard labor.
Spending a lot of money on hardware isn't want makes one an computer enthusiast. Sigh...
The rest of your comment is just you telling us about yourself. Nice to meet you Bob. Was it Bob?
apoe - Monday, February 17, 2014 - link
Just keep writing essays and ignore how everyone disagrees with you. LOL.landerf - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - link
This is great, except that many people replace the fans on these coolers and would be most interested in a test using the same 120/140mm fans on all the coolers. To know which one truly is the most effective. Unfortunately this very consumer relevant test is not one I've ever seen done with CLCs. If were to do this, I'd suggest using a common radiator replacement fan like a GT and whatever the community at large considers the 140mm equivalent.Duncan Macdonald - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - link
Non-AIO water coolers can give far better noise performance.(I use a pair of Zalman Reserator 1 V2 for silent cooling of a 4770K and a R9 290X. Not cheap or portable but VERY QUIET.)
E.Fyll - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - link
And better thermal performance, if I may add. Cost and complexity however are on a whole different level. :)