Back in May of last year, Thermaltake introduced its new ARGB Sync series with radiators in sizes of 120 and 240 mm. In June, they added a larger version with a 360 mm radiator to the two models, and in January of this year, a white Snow Edition for the 240 mm and 360 mm variants followed alongside the original black versions.
The AiOs offer an illuminated pump cover, ARGB fans, and a Smart Fan Controller as an alternative, for those who can’t control RGB effects from the motherboard. We have the TH360 ARGB Sync in the Snow Edition in front of us. Whether Thermaltake can also convince with a good cooling performance, at an acceptable volume, in addition to the appearance, we clarify in the following test.
Specifications
Model | TH360 ARGB Sync | ||||||||||||
Dimensions Radiator ( H x W x D) | 395 x 120 x 27 mm (without fan)
395 x 120 x 52 mm (with fans) |
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Compatible sockets | Intel LGA 2066/2011-3/2011/1366/1200/1156/ 1155/1151/1150
AMD FM2/FM1/AM4/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2 |
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Fan |
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Pump |
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Hose length | 400 mm | ||||||||||||
Features | RGB controller included | ||||||||||||
Price | € 142.97 * |
Scope of delivery
The TH360 ARGB Sync comes well packed in an ideally sized cardboard box. On the front, we see a picture of the snow-white AiO along with the Rainbow lighting turned on, a few technical details, and a portion of the motherboard manufacturer’s supported RGB programs or icons. On the back, the features and data are listed in more detail.
The inside of the box, as with most AiOs, is well thought out. Everything is securely stowed in its place, nothing can slip during transport. Besides the watercooler itself, we see the three fans and two bags of other accessories right here. In one of the bags are the screws, thermal paste and everything needed for mounting, in the other the RGB controller plus associated cables. A Y-cable for the fans is also included.
Design and Workmanship
Even though the AiO comes with ARGB lighting, the design can be described as plain compared to many other AiOs, but we personally like that. Pump unit, radiator and fan are completely white, apart from a few minor details. The pump unit is cuboid-shaped and slightly beveled at the corners. The illuminated Thermaltake logo and lettering are clearly visible on the top. Around it is a ring that can also be illuminated. The bottom plate of the heatsink is made of copper.
The radiator is slightly rounded all around, so there are no sharp edges. The 40 cm long hoses and also the cables are covered with white fabric. The fan cables are also very long, so they are more than long enough even in larger cases and can be easily routed and hidden. Anti-vibration pads, some of which are used on other Thermaltake fans, unfortunately do not feature the included fans.
The workmanship is generally very good, we have nothing to complain about here. We didn’t notice any defects or sharp edges anywhere when examining the parts. The sheathing of the cables and hoses is also of high quality. There are no defects or places where the fabric could fray.
Assembly
For assembly, all parts, for mounting on the current, but also older bases of both manufacturers, are included. The instructions are very short and concise, but sufficiently illustrated and clear, so there should be no ambiguity at any point.
Overall, the installation was quite simple, and there were no problems at any point. Before purchasing the AiO, however, you should consider the hose length. This is as long as usual with 40 cm, but the connections are located on the left side of the pump unit here, so there may be problems with larger cases, depending on the planned position. In our Fractal Define 7, the installation in the front was only possible when we turned the pump unit by 180°C. Unfortunately, the logo is then upside down, but rotating the logo or a panel is not possible here. In smaller cases or in the lid, however, there should not be any problems.
Cooling performance & volume
For the cooling performance comparison, we compared the TH360 ARGB Sync to the Intel Boxed cooler. For realistic and optimal conditions, both coolers were tested in the Fractal Define 7. The rest of the hardware was identical and the case fan speed was fixed. The room temperature was 21 °C in both tests.
To maximize the CPU load, we use Prime95. During the thirty-minute stress test, we recorded the maximum temperatures. Furthermore, we observed the temperature course to avoid readout errors of the sensors.
Our test system:
- ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WiFi Motherboard
- Intel Core i5-11400F processor
- 32GB G. Skill RipJaws V 3200 RAM
- MSI Radeon RX 5500 XT Gaming X 8G Graphics Card
- TeamGroup T-Force Cardea IOPS 1TB SSD
- Crucial P5 2TB SSD
- Seasonic Focus GX-550 power supply
- Fractal Design Define 7 Clear TG black/white
In our stress test, we tested the Thermaltake TH360 ARGB Sync once at 50% fan speed, and once at maximum fan speed. Since the boxed cooler does not perform well enough, we only tested it at maximum fan speed.
Cooler | Temperature |
Intel Boxed (100%) | 68 °C |
Thermaltake TH360 ARGB Sync (50%) | 59 °C |
Thermaltake TH360 ARGB Sync (100%) | 53 °C |
While we reach up to 68 °C with the Intel boxed cooler, the temperature is already only at 59 °C with the TH360 ARGB Sync turned down, which is 9 °C lower. At maximum speed, it is another 6 °C lower and thus a total of 15 °C difference to the boxed cooler.
Furthermore, the temperature in relation to the noise level has to be considered at this point. Both coolers are very loud and annoying at maximum speed. Turned down to 50%, the fans of the TH360 ARGB Sync are audible, but quiet and only slightly annoying. It is rather annoying that the pump cannot be regulated. Unfortunately, it is permanently audible, albeit quietly, and makes itself felt with a whirring noise. When idle or with the fans turned down, the pump is clearly the loudest component in the system, so the TH360 ARGB Sync is not suitable for silent enthusiasts, regardless of the CPU to be cooled. There is still room for improvement here.
ARGB Lighting
Finally, we would of course like to talk about the ARGB lighting. As mentioned in the beginning, the logo, the Thermaltake lettering and the ring around it on the pump unit can be illuminated. Furthermore, this also applies to the 3 fans, of course. The addressable RGB LEDs shine from the center of the fan to the outside here.
The mode, the speed of the individual effects and the color of the lighting can be controlled via the mainboard, if a 5V ARGB header is available. All major manufacturers are supported.
If the existing motherboard only has the older 12V or even no header at all, then you can fall back on the included RGB controller. To control the RGB lighting simply connect the ARGB connector of the fans and a SATA power connector of the power supply with the controller. Using the 3 buttons, you can now control the effect, color and speed of the effects. 7 modes, 8 colors and 4 speeds are available via this.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the Thermaltake TH360 ARGB Sync in Snow Edition leaves us with a good impression. We like the rather simple, but anything but boring design of the AiO, as well as that of the fans. In addition, material quality and workmanship are on a good to very good level. The installation is very similar to that of most AiOs and thus not perfect, but still good and simple.
The cooling performance also proved to be good in the test, but not outstanding. The biggest point of criticism in our opinion is the relatively loud and not adjustable pump. Since the cooling performance should be more than sufficient, especially for office and less demanding software, which is probably used most of the time, we would like to be able to regulate it depending on the temperature, just like the fans.
After just under 3 weeks in use, we can recommend the Thermaltake TH360 ARGB Sync with a clear conscience, but at the same time we have to admit that the TH360 ARGB Sync stands out from the mass of AiOs not because of performance, volume or special features, but mainly because of the rather rare white design.
Thermaltake TH360 ARGB Sync
Design
Workmanship
Assembly
Cooling
Loudness
Value for money
87/100
All in all, a good AiO that stands out from the mass of competitors, especially due to the snow-white design.