Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 Performance Review: Cooling Champion On A Budget

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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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I am taking a look at the Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 Performance liquid cooler in this review. This series of coolers is available in 240mm and 360mm sizes. There are also two variants: ARGB and Black, named RB and PB, respectively. This naming convention comes from the RGB and PBT fans used in both variants.

I have the GA2L36PB, which is the non-RGB 360mm version. This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA 1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. Lian Li focuses only on the latest sockets with modern cooling solutions, which makes sense.

The MSRP of this variant is USD 104.90, and it comes with a 6-year warranty.

Key Takeaways

• The Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 Performance is a high-performance, budget-friendly liquid cooler with a minimalistic design and solid cooling efficiency.
• You should buy the Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 if you’re looking for great thermal performance at an affordable price, prefer minimalistic A-RGB lighting, and want a cooler that offers excellent value for the money.
• You should skip the Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 if you’re using older Intel sockets like LGA115x/LGA20XX, as this cooler is only compatible with the latest Intel and AMD sockets.

The specs are:

What Makes This Cooler Different?

Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 Performance lives up to its name. While it is light on your wallet, it offers exceptional performance in this price bracket, and the cherry on top is the 6-year warranty, making this cooler a must-have for your cooling requirement.

Packing And Unboxing

This cooler comes inside a paperboard packaging box with Lian Li’s standard design theme. The carton inside the outer box has the contents. The following are provided:

• 1x Intel Backplate
• 1x Mounting Bracket [Pre-Installed]
• 4x Spacers
• 1x set of AMD AM4/AM5 Mounting Brackets
• 4x AMD Spacers
• 12x Radiator Screws
• 1x Thermal Paste Tube
• 2x Thermal Paste Honey Comb Applicator
• 1x User Manual
• 1x Safety Paper

Design

Let’s take a look at the unit.

Radiator

Radiator Design

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Lian Li has pre-installed the 28mm thick fans over the radiator. The sides of these fans are concealed using removable and replaceable (optional) covers. Since these are non-RGB fans, each fan has a small length cable running on one side of the frame. You can purchase the side ARGB kit (P28ARGB-B/W) separately to add a sophisticated RGB look to the GA II Lite.

A third fan has an extension PWM cable. This is the only cable coming out of the fan assembly for connectivity with the motherboard.

This cooler has a 360mm radiator. It is made of aluminum material and has an overall dimension of 397x120x55mm, including fans.

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

The connection side of the radiator has a sticker showing the serial number of the unit. There is a third port that is covered. It is reserved for factory use, probably for refilling or something. Don’t tamper with it, as you might lose the vacuum pressure of the loop.

The side frame of the radiator housing has no branding. The far block is less thick than the near block. The fans have more height compared to the radiator. Lian Li uses a rubber tube with a nylon braided mesh sleeve. These tubes have a length of 400mm, and they are somewhat flexible.

Block

Lian Li has retained the circular design with the same outfit as we have seen on previous generations of Galahad coolers. The housing measures 76x76x67mm. The upper portion has a thick frosted diffuser, whereas the lower portion is matte black finished.

You can see a universal mounting bracket pre-installed on the block. It makes the life of the user easy, as you only have to deal with one bracket for all supported sockets.

Block Design

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The top of the block has a glass design. It features an infinity mirror design. The central lid is removable and can be placed in any of four directions (in rotation). This makes it convenient for the user since the Lain Li text will remain upright regardless of the orientation. The ARGB backlighting is done via 16 ARGB LEDs under the pump cap.

Speaking of the orientation, Lian Li has suggested installing the block so that the tubes face down or face the PCI slot of the motherboard. This is probably done to better align the cold plate with the CPU die for effective heat dissipation. This reminds me of the DeepCool LT720/520 coolers.

The rear of the block has 90ᵒ fittings on which the tubes are attached. This gives you the flexibility to adjust the tubes to some extent as per the requirement. Two single flat cables come out of the housing.

The pump is regulated using a 4-pin PWM connector. The pump is rated for 3800 RPM speed. With this speed, the GA-II Lite provides powerful cooling for efficient thermal management. According to Lian Li, this pump runs 3 dBA lower and 2.5ᵒC colder than the GA II LCD.  The other connector is 5V, 3-Pin A-RGB for the A-RGB LEDs.

The cooler has a copper base. There is a protective sticker pasted over the base. Don’t forget to peel it off.

Fans

Lian Li has provided 124x120x28 mm-sized fans on this edition of the cooler. These are non-RGB black fans featuring 7 blades with a striped design. You can see the Lian Li branding in the center. The main housing has a circular design, but the covers on all sides give it a square look.

The anti-vibration pads have holes in which the screws sit flush with the pads’ level, hence we don’t need to account for the screw heads in the total height of the cooler. The cable running on the side of the fan internally uses a proprietary connector and socket.

You can see a four-arm assembly on the backside of the fan. Three arms have a curved layout, providing a focused flow for the air coming through the fan. One arm is flat and catches wires coming out of the center. Each fan is rated for 0.27A at 12VDC. The power consumption is 3.24W. You can safely use 3x fans on a single fan header rated for 12W (1A at 12VDC).

Each fan is regulated via a 4-pin PWM connector.

Installation

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

• Peel off the protective covers from the self-adhesive tapes of the bracket.
• Place the backplate on the motherboard’s backside.
• Use the spacers to secure the backplate on the motherboard.
• Apply thermal paste on the CPU.
• Remove the protective cover from the base of the cooler.
• Place the block on the CPU, aligning the screws on the bracket with the threads of the screws.
• Start tightening the screws diagonally until the threads run out.
• Install the radiator assembly in the PC case.
• Connect the ARGB cable to the motherboard.
• Connect a 4-pin PWM connector cable from the Pump to the water_pump or AIO_pump header of the motherboard.
• Connect the fans to the 4-pin PWM header on the motherboard.
• Installation is completed.

Clearance

This cooler has a dimension of 397x120x55mm 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 RGB sync technology of motherboard manufacturers, including:

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

Test Build

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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 the Mystic Sync app.

Testing

I have used below-mentioned configuration: –

• 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:

Performance Benchmarks

Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 Performance has performed admirably well, achieving 84ᵒC, which is competitive with high-priced solutions from the market, making it a better buy at its retail price tag of USD 104.90. The noise of the fans is somewhat elevated, which you can easily cover using a custom fan curve or Auto PWM function.

Should You Buy It?

Buy It If

You’re after a high-performance cooler: Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 Performance offers a top-notch thermal performance in its class.

You love minimalistic lighting: This cooler is a perfect blend of a black theme with minimalistic A-RGB lighting. You can even turn the lighting off to enjoy a full classy look of this cooler.

You want good value: This cooler, while costing significantly less, offers a top-class performance, making it the best value for your bucks.

Don’t Buy It If

If you are still on LGA115x/LGA20XX socket: This cooler is not compatible with previous Intel sockets like LGA15x/1200/20xx. Skip it if you are on this socket.

Conclusion

The Lian Li GA-II 360 Performance has been evaluated on our Intel test bench, and this cooler delivers solid performance at a pocket-friendly price. It is available in 240mm and 360mm sizes, with both RGB and non-RGB editions.

The cooler features an aluminum radiator measuring 397x120x27mm without the fans. It is compatible with Intel LGA 1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets only. The unit comes with nylon-braided, sleeved rubber tubes that are 400mm in length. In my opinion, this length should be increased to at least 420mm.

The pump is rated for 3800 RPM and is PWM-regulated, making it a powerhouse for taming high temperatures. The block retains the same footprint as seen on previous Galahad generations. The pump top features a large diffuser with 16 ARGB LEDs, and the top cover can be removed and rotated for proper alignment.

This cooler comes with three non-RGB black fans, pre-installed with their sides covered for a unified look. They are rated for up to 2500 RPM, generating 73.14 CFM airflow at an impressive 5 mmH²O static pressure with a sound level of 29.8 dBA.

Installation is straightforward and requires five components for Intel platforms, thanks to the streamlined mounting kit. The thermal paste applicator is another plus and reminds me of the Cooler Master Atmos cooler.

This cooler is priced at USD 104.90, and Lian Li offers a 6-year warranty. The thermal performance is excellent for this price range and warranty period, giving Lian Li an edge over the competition

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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