Dec 2020 Reader Review time :) - need some volunteers please!

[TAKTAK]

Mine has arrived too. Appreciate this is an obvious thing to say about a 360mm rad but it's a big bugger.

It's a slim big bugger though

I sadly don't have my Thermalright triple rad anymore, that thing was huge

[spacein_vader]

I'm glad I'm not the only one to find out that my board supports the wrong RGB standard!

Can't help but feel they're missing a trick not selling a molex/sata to argb controller. Coolermaster and Corsair both seem to do them and it'd help those upgrading their cooling who don't want to buy a new mobo.

[Jonj1611]

Some boards are coming with the different types of RGB connector now just for that reason

[spacein_vader]

Issue 2. If you're installing it vertically the pump doesn't have enough reach to get from the bottom of the case to the CPU socket on an atx motherboard if you have a GPU installed.

The only way to manage it is to install it the wrong way up with the reservoir at the top so all he air rises to the pump. It'll still work but may be noisier and shorten pump life.

EDIT: it might be possible if I move the bracket up as far as it will go, but it still puts an uncomfortable amount of pressure on my GPU. I'll test it both ways up to see if there's a difference but I wouldn't keep it that way long term for fear of GPU damage.

[ik9000]

Issue 2. If you're installing it vertically the pump doesn't have enough reach to get from the bottom of the case to the CPU socket on an atx motherboard if you have a GPU installed.

The only way to manage it is to install it the wrong way up with the reservoir at the top so all he air rises to the pump. It'll still work but may be noisier and shorten pump life.

EDIT: it might be possible if I move the bracket up as far as it will go, but it still puts an uncomfortable amount of pressure on my GPU. I'll test it both ways up to see if there's a difference but I wouldn't keep it that way long term for fear of GPU damage.

but with the pump being in the middle of the radiator it shouldn't matter which way up the thing is vertically. The pump is not on the CPU block? It just risks air collecting at the highest point, which would be around the hoses entering the rad, so you might still get airlock problems, just not the same as the pump itself getting airlocked.

[spacein_vader]

but with the pump being in the middle of the radiator it shouldn't matter which way up the thing is vertically. The pump is not on the CPU block? It just risks air collecting at the highest point, which would be around the hoses entering the rad, so you might still get airlock problems, just not the same as the pump itself getting airlocked.

Fair question. I'll try it both ways and report back any differences.

[Zak33]

TWO REVIEWS LIVE
https://forums.hexus.net/reader-revi...ec-2020-a.html
https://forums.hexus.net/reader-revi...ec-2020-a.html

[spacein_vader]

3 now: https://forums.hexus.net/reader-revi...ein_vader.html

[ik9000]

@Zak you were right I should have gone for this. nevermind!

[Zak33]

@Zak you were right I should have gone for this. nevermind!

here's the thing... it's deadly serious but it's also really good fun

And MSI are legit taking notes ... I know who's seen it, and they are feeding back to HQ to improve future products.

genuinely

[Zak33]

A BIG THANK YOU to the Reader Reviewers for the sheer scale of work and the quality

One more due yet

[kompukare]

Pretty impressed with the reviews so far!
You were all very quick with the reviews as well, I though they would have been an xmas tinkering project with impressions a good bit later.

[ik9000]

here's the thing... it's deadly serious but it's also really good fun

And MSI are legit taking notes ... I know who's seen it, and they are feeding back to HQ to improve future products.

genuinely

let me know if any more come in.

[Zak33]

Pretty impressed with the reviews so far!
You were all very quick with the reviews as well, I though they would have been an xmas tinkering project with impressions a good bit later.

They have done very good work. Massive energy gone into these

[Pob255]

Really nice I so glad to hexus is still doing forum user reviews, heck the bequiet psu I got a few years back for review is still going strong (was that the first forum user review offer done?)
and while I would of loved to get in on this one, I don't have the AIO/water cooling experience to do it justice and a 360 rad wouldn't fit in my case anyway (not to mention that I was not active)

edit: just read the reviews spacein_vader, Spud1 and TAKTAK

edit2: must say it's interesting that msi have gone for a round cold plate, seeing as how they've put the pump in the rad (my guess is to get around the Asetek patents) and is the main reason all-in-one coolers have round cold plates not square ones