Review MSI MAG CoreLiquid A13 AIO Liquid Cooler Review: Not bad for $99

[Admin]

MSI’s A13 AIO series are budget-oriented coolers with reasonable thermal performance; we tested the 240mm and 360mm versions with Intel’s Core i7-14700K and Core Ultra 9 285K.

MSI MAG CoreLiquid A13 AIO Liquid Cooler Review: Not bad for $99 : Read more

 

[thestryker]

Seems like the only reason to get the 240 would be the benefit of moving CPU heat to another location in the case. Otherwise save the $40 and get the Thermalright PA 140.

Speaking of Thermalright the Royal Pretor 130 Black is up on Amazon now though two week delivery time. I thought they were doing offset pipes on all the new coolers, but it looks like it's only the Royal Knight (which is also available now, but I think from a cooling perspective is the less interesting one). The Pretor has 28mm thick fans 120mm front and 130mm middle whereas the Knight uses 15mm thick front and 28mm middle (120mm both).

Thermalright has singlehandedly made cooling far more interesting than it had been in many years.

 

[PixelAkami]

If possible can you guys try one of the Geometric Future AIOs? If what their specs are saying are true, they could be a good alternative to the mainstream coolers too.

 

[YSCCC]

Seems like the only reason to get the 240 would be the benefit of moving CPU heat to another location in the case. Otherwise save the $40 and get the Thermalright PA 140.

Speaking of Thermalright the Royal Pretor 130 Black is up on Amazon now though two week delivery time. I thought they were doing offset pipes on all the new coolers, but it looks like it's only the Royal Knight (which is also available now, but I think from a cooling perspective is the less interesting one). The Pretor has 28mm thick fans 120mm front and 130mm middle whereas the Knight uses 15mm thick front and 28mm middle (120mm both).

Thermalright has singlehandedly made cooling far more interesting than it had been in many years.

actually TR also make AIO stupidly affordable, using their frozen edge 360 costing some $54 to replace the Noctua NH-U12A, works crazy good for the 14900k, it's as cheap as to I am willing to gamble on potential gunking up AIO due to unknown liquid used and corrosion

 

[Albert.Thomas]

Thermalright has singlehandedly made cooling far more interesting than it had been in many years.

I was trying to decide on what product to test next.

Since everyone loves Thermalright, I think I'll do the Grand Vision 360 next 😉

 

[Albert.Thomas]

If possible can you guys try one of the Geometric Future AIOs? If what their specs are saying are true, they could be a good alternative to the mainstream coolers too.

They sent me this one in the past:

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/liquid-cooling/geometric-future-eskimo-junior-24-review

 

[YSCCC]

I was trying to decide on what product to test next.

Since everyone loves Thermalright, I think I'll do the Grand Vision 360 next 😉

just FYI, in my case a under volted 14900k with NH-U12A full fan only able to keep it peak at 98-100C in 24C ambient in R23, changing to the forzen edge 360 makes R23 peaks at 81C. What is concerning for TR is that they are made so cheap, and they are the new OEM, wondering will it gunk up like the previous apeltek MSI AIOs or it's really a crazy good budget champ

 

[thestryker]

What is concerning for TR is that they are made so cheap, and they are the new OEM, wondering will it gunk up like the previous apeltek MSI AIOs or it's really a crazy good budget champ

This has been on my mind with regards to their AIOs as well. They do have a good warranty period, but I've never had to use a warranty with them so I don't know how simple that is (more of an e-waste concern than replacement cost personally).

They also release a lot of AIOs similar to what they do with air coolers which makes me wonder how many pump designs they have. Only the most recent models list more pump details and from that I could see the Frozen Warframe, Aqua Elite and Hyper/Grand Vision each use a different pump. Grand and Hyper using the same makes me hope that perhaps it's the same pump within each model lineup, but impossible to say.

I think I'll do the Grand Vision 360 next 😉

Looks like that's using one of the new 28mm thick fan designs. Of course this also made me look up the Vision AIO line and see there's Grand, Hyper, Elite, Mjolnir, Core and Frozen models.

 

[YSCCC]

This has been on my mind with regards to their AIOs as well. They do have a good warranty period, but I've never had to use a warranty with them so I don't know how simple that is (more of an e-waste concern than replacement cost personally).

They also release a lot of AIOs similar to what they do with air coolers which makes me wonder how many pump designs they have. Only the most recent models list more pump details and from that I could see the Frozen Warframe, Aqua Elite and Hyper/Grand Vision each use a different pump. Grand and Hyper using the same makes me hope that perhaps it's the same pump within each model lineup, but impossible to say.

Looks like that's using one of the new 28mm thick fan designs. Of course this also made me look up the Vision AIO line and see there's Grand, Hyper, Elite, Mjolnir, Core and Frozen models.

For me I am less concerned about the pump as long as it functions, usually it's air bubbles or constant spooling of the pump killing it, I tend to use AIOs with fixed 75% pump actually runs quieter and performs better than PWM ones spooling with heat

But gunking/galvanic corrosion is what I am a bit wery of. but bite the bullet as it only cost $53, first way into AIO. If it ever fails prematurely, seeing the temp benefit I might change to Bequiet partly due to their refillable design.

 

[Phaaze88]

But gunking/galvanic corrosion is what I am a bit wery of.

Galvanic corrosion is par the course with mixed metal AIOs(copper cold plate, aluminum radiator). Full-copper avoids this, but costs more; Alphacool has been like the only one doing all copper AIOs.

There's biocide and corrosion inhibitor within the premixed fluid, though they only last so long...
The Thermalright coolers are very affordable. Can't hurt to give 'em a shot.

 

[YSCCC]

Galvanic corrosion is par the course with mixed metal AIOs(copper cold plate, aluminum radiator). Full-copper avoids this, but costs more; Alphacool has been like the only one doing all copper AIOs.

There's biocide and corrosion inhibitor within the premixed fluid, though they only last so long...
The Thermalright coolers are very affordable. Can't hurt to give 'em a shot.

This, is precisely why I gave it a shot, even if it only works for a few months (finger crossed) is kind of fine for $53. but really, most AIOs have used the inhibitor so successfully that essentially eliminates the corrosion, hopefully with TR they can do the same

 

[PixelAkami]

They sent me this one in the past:

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/liquid-cooling/geometric-future-eskimo-junior-24-review

Thank you! I'll go check it out!