PC Components

be quiet! Light Loop – Powerful AiO water cooling in the test

With the be quiet! Light Loop 360 All-in-One water cooling system, the manufacturer presents a product that raises high expectations, especially among enthusiasts who value elegant design and powerful cooling. Equipped with a large 360 mm radiator and three powerful fans from the LIGHT WINGS LX series, this model is designed to cool even demanding CPUs efficiently and keep temperatures under control. As the name “be quiet!” suggests, the focus is on high performance and whisper-quiet operation. The Light Loop 360 also impresses with its individually customizable RGB lighting, which stylishly highlights both the cooling block and the fans. In our test, we examine how well the Light Loop 360 performs in the categories of cooling performance, volume, installation and build quality.

Technical details

Model: be quiet! Light Loop 360 mm
Radiator dimensions (L x W x H in mm): 397 x 120 x 52
Socket compatibility: Intel: 1700 / 1200 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155
AMD: AM5 / AM4
Fan (number & size): 3 x 120 mm
Fan speed 100% (rpm): 2100
Material – Radiator: Aluminum
Material – base plate pump: Copper
Pump connection: 4-pin PWM
Hose length: 400 mm
Special features: ARGB cooling block, fan stroke, refill port
Price: € 126.90 *

Scope of delivery

The be quiet! Light Loop 360 reaches us in well-protected packaging that keeps all components safely stowed away. In addition to the 360 mm radiator, which is already firmly connected to the hoses and pump, the package contains three 120 mm Light Wings fans, which are designed to provide effective cooling. The package also includes all screws, brackets and mounting materials to easily install the AiO cooling system on both Intel and AMD sockets. An illustrated and easy-to-understand installation guide makes installation easier, while a small tube of thermal paste is sufficient for the initial installation. The accessories are rounded off with a refill ration of coolant and an RGB PWM hub, which optimizes fan control and at the same time enables tidy cable routing in the case.

Design and workmanship

The Light Loop impresses at first glance with its sophisticated design. The design of the cooling block is reminiscent of classic cooling fins, giving a visual foretaste of the expected cooling performance. The pump block has a solid finish and is embellished with a discreet logo and a stylish RGB surface, which adds a harmonious touch to the overall look. The flexible yet robust hoses support the attractive appearance and make installation easier, while at the same time being designed for a long service life. The generous 360 mm radiator has an elegant, matt black finish that blends unobtrusively and stylishly into any PC case.

The Light Loop also makes an extremely positive impression in terms of workmanship. The radiator is made of robust aluminum and precisely processed, which gives it stability and a high-quality feel. The paint finish is clean and evenly applied, giving it an exclusive look. The hoses are also encased in a flawless braid, which provides additional protection and rounds off the overall look.

Fan and fan control

Three Light Wings LX fans, which are supplied with the be quiet! Light Loop 360, are undoubtedly one of the highlights of the cooling system. They have been specially developed to combine high cooling performance with particularly quiet operation. With a diameter of 120 mm, they ensure optimum airflow over the entire 360 mm radiator, which significantly supports heat dissipation.

An outstanding feature of the Light Wings LX is the addressable RGB lighting, which is placed on both the front and rear of the fans. This double-sided lighting ensures a uniform and impressive light display, regardless of how the fans are mounted in the housing. The LEDs can be controlled individually, allowing for a variety of color and lighting effects.

The fans also impress in terms of noise development. Thanks to a noise-optimized design, including liquid-bearing fans and specially shaped rotor blades, the Light Wings remain pleasantly quiet even at higher speeds. The PWM control allows the fan speeds to be adjusted to the temperature in order to achieve an optimum balance between performance and noise level. Together, the Light Wings play a decisive role in ensuring that the Light Loop 360 is both powerful and quiet.

Mounting

The installation of the be quiet! Light Loop 360 is quite straightforward overall. All the necessary materials for installation are included in the scope of delivery, so you can start straight away. The cooling block is attached to the mainboard with two spring-loaded screws – a slightly different system to that used by many other manufacturers, but not unusual. For some people, this can make screwing it in a little tricky. A little tip: First tighten both screws only lightly and then tighten them alternately to fix the cooling block evenly.

The cabling is also easy to handle. The fan cables are long enough to allow flexible cable routing in the housing, and thanks to the included ARGB PWM hub, the cabling is pleasantly clear. One note, however: It is worth taking a look at the manual, as the PWM hub must be connected correctly. The connection marked “RPM” should definitely be connected, as it transmits the speed information to the mainboard. Otherwise, fan control is not possible.

Lighting control

The lighting control of the be quiet! Light Loop 360 works seamlessly with the RGB control solutions of common motherboard manufacturers. The addressable RGB lighting can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems and customized using software such as ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, Gigabyte RGB Fusion or ASRock Polychrome. The colors are powerful and offer a pleasant brightness that is neither too bright nor too subtle, making it both a visual highlight and pleasantly unobtrusive.

Performance test

In the performance test, the be quiet! Light Loop 360 was installed in our test system and tested in a well-ventilated case at a room temperature of 20 °C. The processor was put under maximum load for around 30 minutes using the Prime95 stress test tool, while the temperatures were measured at 50 % and 100 % fan speed. The pump ran constantly at maximum speed to ensure optimum cooling performance.

The test system

The test results show solid values: At 50 % PWM, the CPU reached a temperature of 65.5 °C at a fan speed of 1070 RPM. With 100% PWM, the temperature dropped to 62 °C at a fan speed of 2142 RPM. It is interesting to note that the temperature difference between half and maximum fan speed is relatively small. Nevertheless, the Light Loop 360 shows a remarkable performance and meets the high expectations set by the manufacturer in its product advertising.

Fan speed Temperature (°C)
50% PWM (1070 rpm) 65,5
100% PWM (2142 rpm) 62

In terms of noise, cooling at half speed is very pleasant and barely audible during operation. At full power, however, the fans are clearly audible and can be annoying in the long term. As the Light Loop 360 also provides a strong cooling performance at lower speeds, the system is usually in the lower, significantly quieter speed range in everyday use – ideal for quiet operation in daily use.

Conclusion

In our test, the be quiet! Light Loop 360 presents itself as a powerful and visually appealing AiO water cooling system that also impresses demanding users. The elegant design with discreet but powerful RGB lighting and the high-quality workmanship leave a strong impression. Installation is straightforward and all the necessary materials are included in the scope of delivery. Cabling is also easy thanks to the PWM hub and sufficiently long cables.

In the performance test, the Light Loop 360 demonstrates a solid cooling performance that meets the expectations of a high-end cooler. Even at maximum CPU load, the cooling system remains effective and only shows a slight temperature difference between half and full fan speed. This speaks for the efficiency of the fans and the high-quality radiator, which delivers good results even with reduced airflow.

Overall, the be quiet! Light Loop 360 scores with both strong cooling performance and quiet operation, thus fulfilling the demands that the manufacturer places on this premium product. For users who value a reliable and aesthetic AiO water cooling system, the Light Loop 360 is an excellent choice.

be quiet! Light Loop 360

Design
Processing
Assembly
Performance
Price-performance ratio

94/100

The be quiet! Light Loop 360 impresses with its powerful cooling performance, quiet operation and elegant design - ideal for demanding users and aesthetic builds.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button