MSI MAG CoreLiquid I series: the perfect easy-to-install AIO cooler for beginners




The MAG CoreLiquid I360 and I240 offer great performance and a user-friendly design Updated: Sep 19, 2024 4:08 pm WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more Table of Contents Table of Contents SPONSORED PIECE MSI have just come out with their latest AIO design: the MAG CoreLiquid I series, featuring the MAG CoreLiquid I240 with 240mm radiator, and the MAG CoreLiquid I360 with a 360mm, both incorporating 120mm fans and both available in either black or white. One of the key selling points of this liquid cooler, besides its low noise, and high cooling performance, is the user-friendly design which makes installing it a piece of cake, whether you’re a PC building veteran or a complete novice. We managed to get our hands on the larger I360 to test it out in a PC installation and were very pleased with the results. Read below for all the details! Previous Next What makes the MAG CoreLiquid I so easy to use? The MAG CoreLiquid I series has several features that are ideal for first-time builders, or just those who want less faff in their PC build.  Firstly, all the fans in the radiator come pre-installed, we’ve seen this on a couple of other models but it’s still pretty rare in the cooler market, and it’s definitely a feature we like: you can pretty much pull it straight out of the box and stick it right into your case!  Secondly, as part of MSI’s ‘EZ Connect’ design philosophy, cabling is limited to just a single main cable which splits into two wires at the end, this is a significant reduction when compared to the six cables that you needed to plug in on the previous 360mm models from MSI, and helps massively when it comes to cable management and creating a neater-looking build.  The universal bracket which comes with the cooler fits both AMD and Intel CPUs, rather than you having to mess about working out which is the right one for your setup. It also comes pre-installed onto the water pump so you don’t have to do this yourself either. Finally, the cooler comes with a labelled accessory box where everything in it is clearly laid out: this is such a simple but massively helpful touch for first time builders, and one that’s great to see. In short, this is as close to a plug-and-play AIO cooler as you can currently buy on the market. Previous Next MSI MAG CoreLiquid I price In terms of pricing the MAG CoreLiquid I is pretty affordable. The larger model comes in with an MSRP of $140 / £140 and the smaller I240 costs $110 / £110. Specifications Pump: MSI pump with 3-phase motor Fans: 3x 120mm ARGB Gen2 fans Max rotational speed: 2200 RPM Dimensions: 394 x 120 x 27mm (radiator) / 69.1 x 74 x 62.45mm (pump) Specifications Pump: MSI pump with 3-phase motor Fans: 2x 120mm ARGB Gen2 fans Max rotational speed: 2200 RPM Dimensions: 277 x 119.2 x 27mm (radiator) / 69.1 x 74 x 62.45mm (pump) Features in-detail There is a great amount of innovation in the different aspects of the MAG CoreLiquid I series’ design. Some of our favourite key features are discussed below: The water pump & tubing The pump of the cooler has a precision-engineered motor for superior water cooling efficiency. The placements of the tubing also makes for smoother water flow and reduces the overall vibration. All this means the pump has a particularly low noise-output alongside great cooling performance. The tubing is also evaporation proof, being constructed from nylon-braided EPDM material that has a resistance to high and low temperatures, corrosion, and ageing degradation over time. It’s also nice and flexible for when you’re constructing your build and repositioning the tubes. Enlarged copper base Beneath the pump section where it rests against the CPU is the copper cold plate, which has a relatively enlarged surface area and thickness: meaning better heat conduction and performance. The micro channelling on the interior of the cold plate is extra small (with a 0.1mm skived fin), meaning more micro channels over the same surface area, therefore better heat conduction. LDB bearing The fan bearings are made using the latest MSI LDB technology which both makes them quieter when spinning, reduces degradation over time through friction, and improves the consistency of the airflow for the fans. Cable cover Previous Next Previous Next A bit of a lower-tech addition, but a welcome one, the cable cover attaches to the side of the radiator to cover up the clutter and helps give a cleaner overall look inside your PC case. Dual-sided infinite mirror cooler The aesthetic design of the cooler is reminiscent of a diamond, with a striking angular design, and it has within it a dual-sided ‘infinite mirror’ that reflects the RGB from within your build and also lights up itself. Using the MSI control software you can control the GEN2 ARGB lighting to personalize the look of your build to meet your tastes. Environmentally friendly Although it doesn’t impact the performance of the component, MSI are committed to environmental sustainability through reducing packaging and other commonly included, unnecessary bits such as installation clips, which we’re very much in favour of. This also extends to the universal bracket. UNI Bracket As mentioned the pre-installed UNI Bracket supports both Intel and AMD sockets, further reducing wastage and therefore making it a more environmentally friendly product, besides the obvious benefits to ease of installation and any future hardware upgrades. Labelled accessory box Finally, there’s the aforementioned accessory box, which comes with all the extra stand-off bits, buckles, screws, and lubricant grease in nicely labelled sections. What PC build would best suit this cooler? The MAG CoreLiquid i is a great pick for virtually any PC that can fit it in the case, be it an ultra high-end model, a more mid-range gaming PC, or an affordable build. The key thing is to make sure that the radiator (be it 360mm or 240mm) can fit inside your chosen case. Take a look at our B760M build guide for an RTX 4070 Ti PC we put together ourselves that’s capable of playing any AAA game out there at 1440p on the highest settings. We used an older MAG CoreLiquid E360 cooler for that one, but you can swap it out for this newer model no problem for almost the same price.

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