be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX 360 Review: Quiet, Cool, And Customizable

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Nauman Siddique

At Tech4Gamers, I take on the role of Hardware Reviewer with pride. My responsibilities involve a thorough examination of essential hardware components like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, and CPU coolers, among others, focusing on their complexities and functionalities.

 

 

 

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Be quiet! has released a new generation of mainstream liquid coolers named Pure Loop 3. This series has two editions: Pure Loop 3 and Pure Loop 3 LX. The users who like simplicity, novel looks, and a neutral theme would prefer the Pure Loop 3, whereas the LX edition comes with A-RGB lighting and a new take from any vendor for the block’s customization.

Be quiet! has introduced interchangeable lighting foils. The user can use any of the 10 foils that come with the cooler for more pop on the block, which is enhanced by A-RGB backlighting. It definitely looks dope in person. The LX series has 240mm, 360mm sizes, whereas the non-LX also comes in a 280mm size.

I am taking a look at Pure Loop 3 LX 360 variant, which is compatible with Intel LGA 115x/1200/1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. The MSRP of this variant is USD 129.90 and Euro 119.90 with a 3-year warranty.

Here are the specs:

What Makes The Pure Loop 3 LX 360 Different?

be quiet! is back with a bang with the release of Pure Loop 3 series liquid coolers. These coolers offer a good overall performance using ARGB and non-RGB editions. The customization option provided with the LX edition, using lighting foils, has my praise.

Packing And Unboxing

Unboxing

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This cooler comes inside a paperboard packing box with the be quiet! standard theme. The egg carton inside the outer box has the contents. The following are provided:

• 1x Intel Backplate
• 2x Intel Mounting Brackets
• 4x Intel Backplate Screws
• 4x Locking Washers / O-Rings
• 4x Intel Spacer Nuts
• 4x Mounting Brackets Fastening Screws
• 1x set of AMD AM4/AM5 Mounting Brackets
• 4x AMD Screws
• 4x AMD Spacers
• 12x Radiator Screws
• 12x Fan Screws
• 1x Thermal Paste Tube
• 3x Zip Ties
• 1x Adapter Extension Cable
• 1x Sheet of 10 Lighting Foils
• 1x Pump Top Cover
• 1x User Manual
• 1x Safety Paper

Design

Let’s take a look at the unit.

Radiator

This cooler has a 360mm radiator made of aluminum material and has an overall dimension of 397x120x52mm. 52mm height includes the fans.

The assembly has 12 channels for coolant flow with an FPI count of 20. A gap between the two opposite end holes on the main frame is 105mm. Overall build quality is satisfactory, and I did not observe any bent or broken fins.

This generation of liquid coolers also features the refill port like the previous generations. This port is now located near the block of the radiator and features a screw plug that is compatible with a Philips screwdriver. This makes life easy when it comes to servicing the cooler in the long run, should the coolant level drop.

The tubes are in the center of near block of this radiator. The connection is concealed using a single housing of clamps. A sticker shows the serial number of the unit.

The side frame of the radiator housing has no branding. Be quiet! uses a rubber tube with a black nylon braided mesh sleeve. These tubes have a length of 410mm, and they are somewhat flexible.

Block

Be quiet! has used the basic footprint of the Silent Loop series block on this generation of Pure Loop 3 coolers. Looking at the top, one can see a frosted diffuser with A-RGB LEDs underneath. They have provided a sheet of 10x lighting foils, and you can place any foil over this diffuser for stunning visuals. This also means that you can create your own 3D foils.

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Be quiet! has provided 10x lighting foils that are interchangeable and reusable. They are easier to place and remove. All that you need to do is insert the foil into the top housing, for which you may need to bend a bit on the border of the foil. Once inside, simply put the top lid on the pump top.

The main housing is surrounded by another supporting structure that has two pre-installed screws on the sides. The rear of the block has 90ᵒ fittings on which the tubes are attached. Two single flat cables come out of the housing.

The pump is regulated using a 4-pin PWM connector. The pump is rated for 3000 to 5500 RPM speed. It uses a 6-pole, 3-phase motor for whisper-quiet operations. The other connector is 5V, 3-Pin A-RGB for the A-RGB LEDs.

The cooler has a nickel-plated copper base. It has a protective sticker. Don’t forget to peel it off.

Light Wings LX120 PWM Fans

be quiet! has provided Light Wings LX 120 high-performance PWM fans with this cooler. These fans feature a closed-loop motor design to ensure that the RPM of the fans does not change due to back pressure. Each fan has 9 frosted blades with a stripe design.

The backside has a 4-arm assembly with an angular design to provide a focused flow. One of the arms provides a path for the wires to be routed from the center to the frame. The power rating of the fans is printed on the backside.

The frame of these fans is quite sturdy. One side of it has two arrow markers showing the direction of the airflow through the fan and the direction in which the blades spin. The other side has be quiet! branding over it.

Be quiet! uses proprietary connectors on these fans. Each fan has a connector and a socket to daisy chain the fans. Since the cables are cut short, it would ease the cable management for a clean look.

Installation

The cooler is tested on the MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX motherboard using Intel Core i7 13700k. The installation steps include:

• Prepare the backplate using Intel screws and O-rings.
• Place the backplate on the motherboard’s backside.
• Use Intel Spacer Nuts to secure the backplate on the motherboard.
• Place the Intel mounting brackets on top of the Intel Spacer Nuts.
• Secured these mounting brackets using the 4x screws.
• Apply thermal paste on the CPU.
• Remove the protective cover from the base of the cooler.
• Place the block on the CPU, aligning the 2x screws on the block with the holes on the mounting brackets.
• Start tightening the screws until the threads run out.
• Install lighting foil.
• Install fans over the radiator.
• Install the radiator assembly in the PC case.
• Connect the RGB cable to the motherboard.
• Connect the 4-pin PWM connector cable from the Pump to the water_pump or AIO_pump header of the motherboard.
• Daisy-chain the fans and connect the 4-pin connector to the CPU_Fan header of the motherboard. You can use any 4-pin header, provided it supplies the combined power of three fans.
• Installation is completed.

Clearance

This cooler has a dimension of 397x120x52mm with fans. Make sure your PC Case supports this dimension.

A-RGB Lighting

This cooler uses a standard 5V, 3-Pin A-RGB connector on the pump housing, making it compatible with the RGB sync technology of motherboard manufacturers, including:

• ASUS Aura Sync
• ASROCK-Polychrome Sync
• GIGABYTE RGB Fusion 2.0
• MSI Mystic Light Sync

ARGB Design

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The cooler is tested on the MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX WiFi motherboard, and it was responding well to the changes in Mystic Sync app. The lighting foils are adding a magic to the outlook of this cooler.

Testing

I have used this setup for benchmarking the AIO:

• Intel Core i7 13700K [Stock, Auto]
• MSI Z790 ACE MAX
• XPG Lancer RGB 32GB @ 7200MHz, CAS 34
• Intel ARC B580 12G Card for Display
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+2 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Result

Be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX 360 offers a good performance, particularly compared to the Pure Loop 2 360 cooler. The fans are quiet even at full speed, which makes it even more compelling.

Should You Buy It?

Buy It If:

✅Looking for a high-performance: The be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LC 360 offers a good thermal and acoustic performance out of the box.

✅Looking for something refreshing for the visuals: The lighting foils add the missing touch to the overall look and feel of the unit, providing a next-level customization.

✅Looking for a budget cooler with no compromise: This cooler, while costing comparatively less, offers good performance.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌Already have a good liquid cooler: Skip this cooler if you already have a liquid cooler that is doing you well.

Conclusion

I have tested Pure Loop 3 LX 360, which is a new cooler from be quiet!. This cooler features an aluminum radiator having a size of 397x120x52mm with the fans. It is compatible with Intel LGA115x / 1200 / 1700 / 1851 and AMD AM4 / AM5 sockets.

This new cooler also comes equipped with a refill port, but this time, the extra coolant bottle is not provided. The nylon braided sleeved rubber tubes have a length of 410mm. The pump is rated for a 5500 RPM speed and is PWM regulated.

The pump housing has a bold, stylish outlook. It features subtle A-RGB lighting on the top. The key feature is the reusable lighting foils that can be placed over the top diffuser for ARGB backlighting. The top cover is provided separately.

This cooler comes with three Light Wings LX PWM fans. They feature a closed-loop motor design to ensure the same speed regardless of the current/voltage and back pressure. Each fan is rated for 2100 RPM. However, other data is not provided. Their life span is mediocre with 60,000 hours at 25ᵒC ambient.

The installation of this cooler is no different than the previous generation of the Pure Loop/Silent Loop series of coolers. I have tested this cooler on an Intel LGA1700 socket. It requires 19 items to install the block over the CPU.

Be quiet! Pure Loop 3LX 360 has an MSRP of USD 129.90 | Euro 119.90. This cooler packs a good overall performance at a reasonable price tag with good customization. This cooler comes with a 3-year warranty.

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Nauman Siddique

[Hardware Reviewer & Editor]

Meet Nauman Siddique, a highly experienced computer science graduate with more than 15 years of knowledge in technology. Nauman is an expert in the field known for his deep understanding of computer hardware.

As a tech tester, insightful reviewer, and skilled hardware editor, Nauman carefully breaks down important parts like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, CPU coolers, and more.

• 15+ years of PC Building Experience
• 10+ years of first-hand knowledge of technology
• 7+ years of doing in-depth testing of PC Hardware
• A motivated individual with a keen interest in tech testing from multiple angles.
• I majored in Computer Science with a Masters in Marketing
• Previously worked at eXputer, EnosTech, and Appuals.
• Completed Course in Computer Systems Specialization From Illinois Tech

Get In Touch: nauman@tech4gamers.com