ASRock is well-known amongst PC fanatics for its graphics playing cards, motherboards, energy provides, and gaming displays. Now, it has entered the marketplace for liquid cooling options.
We’re two of the corporate’s first AIOs right here, the Phantom Gaming 360 LCD and Steel Legend 360 LCD. Both of those liquid coolers characteristic 3.4-inch 480 x 480 shows for exhibiting off animations and monitoring efficiency metrics. Aside from aesthetics, the primary variations between the 2 are the included followers and radiator dimension. The Steel Legend 360 incorporates a regular 27 mm thick radiator, whereas the Phantom Gaming 360 makes use of a thicker-than-normal 32 mm radiator.
Let’s check out the specs and options of the coolers, then we’ll go over thermal and noise benchmarks and determine whether or not ASRock’s Phantom Gaming and Steel Legend AIOs need to make our listing of the most effective CPU coolers.
Cooler specs
|
Cooler | ASRock Phantom Gaming 360 | LCD/Steel Legend 360 LCD |
| Colors | Black | White |
| MSRP | $189.99 | $159.99 |
| Lighting | CPU block, radiator, and followers | CPU block |
| Warranty | 6 years | 2 years |
| Socket Compatibility | AMD AM5/AM4 | Intel 1700/1851 |
| Radiator dimensions | 397mm (L) x 120mm (W) x 32mm (H) | 397mm (L) x 120mm (W) x 27mm (H) |
| Maximum TDP (Our Testing) | >260W with AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D | >260W with AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D |
Features of ASRock Phantom Gaming & Steel Legend 360 LCD
▶️ 60hz 3.4-inch LCD show
Both the Phantom Gaming 360 LCD and the Steel Legend 360 LCD embody a 3.4-inch sq. IPS display with a 480 x 480 decision and 60 Hz refresh fee, with brightness rated at 250 nits.
To management and customise the display, you’ll have to obtain ASRock’s Polychrome Display software program. You have the choice of choosing six preset themes, or you may construct your personal theme, and/or customise the person components proven on the show.
While I definitely want there have been extra presets accessible, my greatest criticism utilizing this software program is the intense file compatibility limits. If you’d prefer to add a customized background, the picture or video file must be lower than 20 megabytes and 1080p or decrease in decision.
▶️ RAM Clearance
As with most liquid coolers, the design of each the Steel Legend and Phantom Gaming 360 has the CPU block set so it doesn’t overhang or intrude with the DIMM slots – guaranteeing that every one sizes of RAM, irrespective of how tall, are suitable.
▶️ VRM fan
Included on prime of the CPU block is a 70 mm, 3,000 RPM fan designed to assist maintain your RAM and motherboard’s VRM modules cool. As you’ll see in our Karhu benchmarks, it does a wonderful job of cooling these elements of your pc.
▶️ Thick CPU chilly plate
The copper contact plate is unusually thick, such as you’d extra sometimes see in an AIO supporting AMD Threadripper or Intel Xeon server CPUs.
Differences between the ASRock Phantom Gaming 360 LCD and Steel Legend 360 LCD
▶️ Color schemes and aesthetic
While they’re comparable in some ways, every of those AIOs has a special aesthetic, much like what you’d see within the firm’s motherboard strains. The Steel Legend may attraction to those that choose less complicated designs, with a white physique and grey fan blades.
If you need flashy lighting, the Phantom Gaming 360 may be your factor. In addition to ARGB lighting on the fan blades, it additionally features a lighting strip throughout the aspect of the radiator.
▶️ Radiator sizes: 32 mm and 27 mm
There are two main technical variations between the Phantom Gaming 360 LCD and the Steel Legend 360 LCD; a kind of is the radiator dimension. The Steel Legend 360 LCD has a regular 27 mm radiator, whereas the Phantom Gaming 360 includes a thicker 32 mm radiator.
▶️ 120 mm followers
There’s extra to a liquid cooler than simply the radiator and liquid pump. The included followers straight affect noise ranges and cooling efficiency. This constitutes the second main technical distinction between the AIOs we’re reviewing at the moment.
Both models embody followers which can be 28 mm thick and pre-installed for consumer comfort. The Steel Legend 360 options three particular person 120 mm followers, with a white shell and grey blades.
The Phantom Gaming features a fancier fan block as a substitute of particular person followers, and options ARGB lighting on the fan blades and a strip throughout the radiator. These followers aren’t as highly effective – or as noisy – because the followers included with the Steel Legend, however that is balanced by the thicker 32 mm radiator included on the Phantom Gaming 360 LCD.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Steel Legend | Phantom Gaming |
|---|---|---|
| Fan Speed | 0 – 2500 ± 10% RPM | 0 – 2400 ± 10% RPM |
| Airflow | 76.7 CFM | 61.28 CFM |
| Air Pressure | 4.16 mmH20 | 3.11mmH20 |
Packaging
The outer packaging is a bit flashy – a minimum of, compared to your regular AIO field. It includes a rendering of the cooler in opposition to a black background with streaks of purple hues.
The interior packaging is simply as contemporary as the surface, with every part of the cooling system effectively shielded from the chaos that delivery can deliver by utilizing a mix of sentimental covers and particular person cardboard partitions for every part.
Included with the bundle are:
- Mounting {hardware} for AMD and Intel platforms
- Tubing clips
- A small tube of thermal paste
- 360 mm radiator and 120 mm followers
- 3.4-inch LCD show
AM5 Installation
This part assumes you’ve already mounted the 360 mm radiator. Installation of AIOs is usually a lot simpler when you’ve gotten already secured the radiator to your pc case.
To start placing issues collectively, you’ll first have to take away the default AM4/5 retention from the motherboard.
The subsequent step is to put the mounting bars on prime of the studs, securing them with the included screws. The center of the mounting bars features a useful picture indicating the path the bars needs to be put in, with an arrow pointing in direction of the place the CPU needs to be.
Now you’ll need to apply the included thermal paste. If you’re unsure how to do this, we’ve got a helpful thermal paste application guide that covers the different methods you can use.
Afterwards, place the pump block against the CPU and mounting bars, and use a screwdriver to secure it. You should have the liquid tubing in the south position for best thermal performance.
The next step is to slide the LCD display on top of the VRM fan. To complete the AIO’s installation, you’ll want to connect the USB, PWM, and ARGB headers as appropriate – then you can power on your system.
Real-world testing configuration – AMD AM5 platform
We’ve tested coolers with both the Ryzen 9950X3D and its non-V-Cache sibling, the 9950X. There are some differences in how the 9950X and 9950X3D CPUs are impacted by thermal events. While the heat output of the CCDs of AMD’s 9950X3D is relatively balanced, the 9950X I used has one CCD that runs much hotter than the other, with a difference of over 10 degrees Celsius in some scenarios, shown below.
We’ve since returned to using a 9950X3D for cooler testing, as it has a more balanced heat profile, and is almost certainly a more widely adopted CPU. The benchmark results shared in these reviews may differ from others because I emphasize results that are comparable to real-world use. This means I generally test CPU coolers inside of a closed desktop case, which increases cooling difficulty compared to other testing methods.
Many reviewers test coolers on open test benches, which have a combination of lesser airflow needs and lowered ambient temperatures. This results in making weak coolers appear stronger than they really are. Some also use generic thermal plates to test cooling solutions. I reject both of these methods because they don’t accurately reflect real-world cooler conditions.
Our latest testing setup uses the Flova F50 computer case from Tryx.
This case features a unique “crossflow” fan that pulls air from the side, which the company claims is more effective than traditional intake fans. For air cooling tests, we’ve added a single Noctua NF-A12 G2 intake fan.