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- While $150+ coolers dominate the market, Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360 ($72) and Thermalright’s Frozen Magic Scenic V2 ($54) still exist.
- In 30 minutes of Cinebench stress test with i7-13700K, the Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360 performs with 82°C among other popular and expensive coolers.
- The Thermalright’s Frozen Magic Scenic V2 comes in second place with 81°C in the same test, proving to be the best value for money.
I used to hate the idea of getting an affordable AIO cooler because we live in a world where $150+ coolers dominate the market. It couldn’t fathom that coolers under $100 could perform well.
Instead, these coolers seemed like they were prone to thermal throttling and noisy pumps, and felt like they were only gimmicks because how can a cooler this cheap perform well? This was the case until I looked at the performance of these two coolers: the Thermalright’s Frozen Magic Scenic V2 and the Enermax’s LiqMaxFlo 360.
Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360
Firstly, let’s talk about the one, which comes at a price of around $72, depending on sales. Looking at this price tag alone was surprising for me because I’ve seen many entry-level 240mm coolers that start at this price.
Aesthetics
In terms of design as well, you get a caged look with the 60mm fan on the pump block, which to me isn’t that impressive since I prefer minimalist design and sometimes like the gimmicks like a screen on the block; however, for this price, I can’t really complain.
Pump Block
This uses the SCT design that increases the heat dissipation process. You also get ceramic bearings in the pump that are rated for 50,000 hours. The pump block fan has a speed of 500 RPM that can ramp up to 3000 RPM.
Radiotor Fans
As for the radiator fans, you get 5-bladed RGB translucent fans that are similar to the ones used in EK Nucleus coolers, especially when they’re lit when the RGB is turned on. I have noticed, though, that they aren’t as bright as the Nucleus fans. They come with an airflow of 58.03 CFM and 2.4mmH₂O of static pressure, both of which are sufficient for cooling, on paper.
Dimension
Speaking of the size, it comes with a dimension of 400x120x38mm, and it reminded me of another legendary cooler that it shares a stark similarity with, the Arctic Liquid Freezer 360, which comes with a dimension of 398x120x38mm.
Thermalright’s Frozen Magic Scenic V2
Now, before we take a look at the performance of both of these coolers altogether, let’s see another cooler. Now this cooler has shocked me a lot, not just because of its performance but also because of its price, because it is only $54, which even puts the Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360 to shame.
Aesthetics & Dimension
Now speaking in terms of aesthetics, this is top notch. Not only does it have a minimalist pump block, but it also has subtle RGB around it. With a dimension of 397x120x27mm, it appears rather slim and doesn’t have the bulky look to it.
Fans & Pump Block
It uses 120mm pre-installed fans that are similar to Noctua NF-A12x25, which look extremely premium. These 9-bladed fans go up to 2150 RPM, and they have an airflow of 69 CFM and a static pressure of 2.87 mmH2O. The pump block has a speed of 5300 RPM ±10% and it also features a ceramic bearing rated for 40,000 hours of lifespan.
Performance: I’m Blown Away
But the specs won’t cut it if the performance isn’t there. That’s when it was time to put it to the test against various other coolers. Running the Cinebench stress test with the i7 13700K processor, I found the results to be astonishing, to say the least.
Test Results
With the ambient temperature being constant (24°C-26°C) for all coolers and the test running for 30 minutes, I saw that the Thermalright Frozen Magic 360 Scenic V2 was the best 2nd best performant, reaching 81°C. The Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360 was a close third winner, performing extremely well with its temperature at load reaching 82°C at max.
XPG & TeamGroup AIO Coolers
The XPG Levante 360 has higher temperatures than this, reaching 85°C in the same test. And the shocking part is that the XPG cooler is around $150. As you go down the list, it seems the temperature is increasing, and so is the price, because the one beneath is TeamGroup Siren Duo360, which comes at a whopping $399.
Looking even further below, we see two AIO coolers: the be Quiet! Pure Loop 2 360, which touches 89 °C, and the MSI MAG core liquid e360, which reaches 90°C, both are $150 and $132, respectively.
Now, if we take a look at the cooler that came first in this test, the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB, you can see it only won by a difference of 1°C compared to the Thermalright Frozen Magic 360 Scenic V2, by reaching 80°C. Not to mention, this cooler would cost you around $163.
Verdict
For the price-to-performance ratio, both the Thermalright Frozen Magic 360 Scenic V2 and the Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360 are beyond impressive. Never had I thought that a cheaper AIO cooler would perform this well. Specifically, the former is just too good because it has the looks, the performance, and the affordable price tag. I must say I’m thoroughly impressed.
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[Comparisons Expert]
Shehryar Khan, a seasoned PC hardware expert, brings over three years of extensive experience and a deep passion for the world of technology. With a love for building PCs and a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the latest advancements in components, his expertise shines through his work and dedication towards this field. Currently, Shehryar is rocking a custom loop setup for his built.
Get In Touch: shehryar@tech4gamers.com
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