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No Sweat CPU Stress Test with CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML360 SUB-ZERO

By February 19, 2021No Comments

PC temperatures are a cunning adversary. Most users will never know the frustration, the sleepless nights spent obsessively searching for the perfect solution. For those who are looking to achieve the most from their machines, it is common knowledge that one of the great limitations your system must negotiate is heat. 

For the streamers, the overclockers, the professionals, the gamers looking for every edge they can find, CoolerMaster has partnered with Intel to develop a clean effective solution, the MasterLiquid ML360 SUB-ZERO.

What’s so unique about this AIO?

Powered by Intel Cryo Cooling Technology, it’s the world’s first mass produced sub-ambient AIO that’s compatible with current gaming cases. It’s been designed to give you all the effectiveness of a carefully planned open loop liquid cooling system, in the form of a compact and convenient AIO. 

It comes with everything you need for a quick and easy installation. The sleek aluminum finish feels great, and looks great with just about any PC design you could imagine. The system itself is comprised of a 15.5” x 4.7” radiator complete with three 120mm fans, a 2nd generation pump, and of course the highly advanced CPU water block. 

Let’s take a look at where the rubber meets the road, or where the copper plate meets the thermal paste meets the CPU. The water block is built with an integrated TEC unit to help regulate temperatures. It works with an Intel designed circuit board to monitor not only temperature but also humidity, reducing CPU temperatures while also preventing potentially catastrophic condensation. 

The CPU chamber is surrounded by an airtight rubber fence that allows for much greater control of the processor’s working environment to ensure steady performanceIt’s made with an extra-large copper plate for greater heat transfer efficiencywhile also preventing fluctuations in temperature that can cause condensation. 

Most CPU cooling solutions are limited by the ambient temperature of the room the PC is in. Traditionally a cooler can’t reach sub-ambient temperatures without using liquid nitrogen or other risky strategies. 

What is Intel Cryo Cooling Technology?

Intel Cryo Cooling Technology is a unique combination of hardware, software, and firmware working in unison to provide sub-ambient cooling, maximizing performance and temperature control without introducing new potential hazards. After completing a simple download you’ll have precise CPU temperature feedback and control, so you can keep your system operating at peak levels.

The ML360 is built with a second-generation pump, that is designed to mimic the performance of motors you’d normally see in much more complex custom loop builds, while remaining compact and easy to install. It ensures a consistent high liquid flow rate, allowing for rapid and efficient heat dissipation. It does, however, have a noticeable hum – similar to that of a mini-fridge. 

Does it work?

To see how far below ambient temps we could achievewe opened the Cyro Cooling Technology utility and set it to “unregulated,” for max cooling power and we saw temps dip all the way down into the thirties Fahrenheit. Be careful if you decide to try this as decreasing temperatures beyond the dew point can cause condensation. 

Most of the time you will be working in Cryo mode, which takes into account ambient temperatures and makes sure to keep it above the dew point 

First we used Intel’s Extreme Tuning Utility to raise the VCore voltage to 1.35. Then we conducted some stress testing using the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility.  In standby mode with the Peltier cooler turned off and running like a traditional CLC AIO the CPU throttled after a couple minutes under max load.  

Turning on Cryo mode we watched the stress test run for the whole five minutes without throttling while package temperatures sitting between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit. 

This is a cooling system built with low core overclocking in mind. Cold silicon is capable of higher frequencies at lower voltages, and CoolerMaster’s sub-ambient Cryo Clocking allows for low core count over-clocking without worrying about overheating, freezing, or condensation risks. 

A few installation notes: While it’s fairly straightforward, you will want to be conscious of keeping the tubes unkinked for optimal flow rate, and the second-generation pump requires somewhat careful placement behind your intake fans. 

The radiator block is fairly compact for a three-fan system and secures easily with the provided screws. The CPU water block is a bit beefy so make sure you have the space for it in your system, but it’s well designed and installs about as easily as any other AIO. 

When you consider everything that this device is capable of, a slight increase in some dimensions is a more than reasonable exchange. 

For more information about the MasterLiquid ML360 SUB-ZERO and the parts and components used in this build, check out the links below.  

Shop all CoolerMaster products on Newegg: https://newegg.io/51330af

CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML360 SUB-ZERO: https://newegg.io/4d8829c

Cooler Master COSMOS C700M PC Case: https://newegg.io/31e2cb8

Cooler Master V850 Platinum 850W PSU: https://newegg.io/738f03f

Shop our site: https://newegg.io/cd12f32

Shop global: https://newegg.io/b1a35f0

Get exclusive email discounts: https://newegg.io/d026782

More Hardware and Gaming Content

Newegg Insider: https://newegg.io/bfe50b0

GameCrate: https://newegg.io/a7822563

Author Ben Tibbels

Forged in the fiery heart of Nebraska, this comedian turned tech writer enjoys video games, tabletop RPGs, board games, fantasy novels, and craft beer. He lives in LA with his bride-to-be and their two corgis, Carl and Fry.

More posts by Ben Tibbels