Clearly, when it comes to raw thermal performance with fans at maximum speed the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB is top-class. Only the best CPU coolers are able to hold on to performance when the fan speed is reduced to an even 40dBA noise output. EK-Nucleus was able to hold on to the top spot in our results when noise was normalised which is all the more impressive when you look at the quality of the competition. New EK-Nucleus AIO Dark comes with pre-installed and reinforced rubber tubing, featuring fine nylon mesh sleeves and aluminum covers on each tube that ensure extreme durability. Improved fitting positions allow for easy installation and adjustment of the rubber tubing, making this Nucleus AIO suitable even for the tightest of spaces. Reducing the fan RPM to bring noise levels down to 40dBA pushes up the average CPU temperature by 5°C but the EK-Nucleus Holds its top position in our database. Beating other high-performance coolers from Asus, Deepcool and Thermaltake but it's very close in this one with only a 1°C difference between the top six coolers.

Modern high-end CPUs, whether Intel or AMD, are difficult to cool in intensive workloads. In the past, reaching 95C+ on a desktop CPU might have been a cause for concern. But with today’s processors, it is considered normal operation. Similar behavior has been present in laptops for years due to cooling limitations in tight spaces. Using the screws provided, fasten the fans to the radiator and connect the cables in a daisy chain. The end of the daisy chain cable can then be connected to the extension cable which allows the connection of the fan PWM cable and D-RGB cable to the motherboard headers or to a standalone fan/RGB hub. Find a suitable place in your case to install the radiator. The side frame is riveted, and there is a brushed aluminum finish over here. There is no EK branding on either side. Radiator Rear View (Image By Tech4Gamers)cables are coming out from the tube side of the pump housing. One has a 4-pin PWM connector to power the pump. Pump Female RGB Connector (Image By Tech4Gamers) To reduce cable clutter and the number of headers that need to be utilized on the motherboard or fan controller, EK-Loop FPT fans allow daisy-chaining. The ambient is maintained at around 19-21 degrees Celsius. Where there is variation beyond this temperature range, we add in extra repeated tests to ensure consistency.

I am running an i7 13700K with a 4090 GPU, so there is quite a bit of heat generated in my case, especially during the recent hot weather. This AIO lets me run CPU 31-32 degrees at idle, and it ramps up to a massive 45-48 degrees gaming (sic). Even running 3D benchmark the CPU only hits around 65 degrees at its max. Please note I am running a -0.1000 undervolt on the CPU. The circular design is not just another pretty face, as the top allows the user to re-orient the D-RGB badge logo regardless of the direction in which the cooler is installed. The orientation can be changed in 90-degree increments, so the user can remove the top and turn it to position the logo in the right way. Thus, no matter the angle used to install the AIO cooler, it will always offer clean and aligned aesthetics.I bought this to replace my Alpenfohn Icewater 280mm AIO. Both the Alpenfohn and this EK AIO are high quality built items, I have no problem recommending either. I went from 280mm to 360mm to see how much difference it made, and to lose the RGB. Summer is up, and the room’s fan is on, which is why I could not measure the noise level of the unit. Conclusion We have tested the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 LUX D-RGB on the AMD AM5 platform. Installation on AM5 is straightforward and convenient. Some key steps are: