Antec VORTEX 360 ARGB Cooler Review

Antec is a well-known brand in the PC hardware industry, some of the first PC components I used were Antec nearly two decades ago, and I still use some today! They have been making high-quality products for many years, and now they're back again with their stunning new all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler, the VORTEX 360 ARGB. This cooler is designed to provide high-performance cooling for high-end CPUs, and it features a unique pump head design and customisable lighting effects. When it comes to cooling, a powerful pump, three fans, and a 360mm radiator should make light work of cooling higher TDP processors. Features and Specifications Radiator Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 27 mm Radiator Material: Aluminum Pump Dimensions: 67 x 48.5 mm Pump Speed: 2800 ± 10% RPM Pump Noise Level: ≤ 28 dB(A) Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm Fan Speed: 600 ± 200 ~ 2000 ± 10% RPM Fan Noise Level: 31.24 dB(A) Fan Type: Antec Fusion PWM ARGB Fan with 16 LEDs Tubing: EPDM high-density Compatibility: Intel LGA 115X / 1200 / 1700 / 20XX, AMD AM3 / AM4 / AM5 / TR4 Warranty: 3 years Special Features: ARGB Controller included, Suspended spiral pump head design ARGB Fans The Antec VORTEX 360 ARGB comes equipped with three Antec Fusion 120 ARGB PWM fans. These fans aren't just about aesthetics, though the 16 addressable RGB LEDs certainly contribute to the cooler's visual appeal. Performance-wise, they offer a decent balance of airflow, reaching up to 57.93 CFM, and static pressure of 2.11 mmH₂O with the help of their nine-blade design. They should max out at just 31.24 dB(A) at maximum speed, keeping your system cool without excessive noise. Control Hub Antec includes a handy ARGB controller with the VORTEX 360. This hub allows for direct control of the fans' RGB illumination, independent of motherboard software, although you could just hook them to your motherboard if you so desired. It can handle up to 48 LEDs per hub, and with the ability to connect up to 4 hubs, so you can synchronise lighting across a substantial number of devices. The controller offers various preset lighting effects and allows for the customisation of colours and patterns. Furthermore, it features a convenient switch that lets you seamlessly transition between the controller's settings and your motherboard's software for synchronized lighting across your entire system. Socket Compatibility One of the VORTEX360 ARGB's strengths is its broad compatibility with both Intel and AMD platforms. On the Intel side, it supports a wide range of sockets, including LGA 115X, 1200, 1700, and even the enthusiast-grade 20XX series. This means it can handle a lot of older systems to the latest 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core processors. For AMD users, the cooler is compatible with AM3, AM4, and the newest AM5 sockets, ensuring support for all modern Ryzen processors. It even extends its compatibility to AMD's high-end desktop (HEDT) platform with support for TR4. This wide-ranging compatibility makes the VORTEX 360 ARGB a versatile cooling solution for a variety of builds, whether you're a gamer, content creator, or enthusiast. Packaging & Accessories Antec has done a fantastic job with the packaging, with lots of really bright and vibrant colours that really make it stand out. There's a huge photo of the cooler, showcasing the overall design as well as the ARGB lighting. Furthermore, we can see many of the key features listed, such as the PWM fans, pump, high-density tubing and more. Around the back, there are a lot more photos, breaking down the overall design, with more details on the copper base plate, "superior fin density" and the Antec Fusion fans. Everything is well packaged, with a durable outer box, as well as a cardboard insert and additional packaging to ensure everything is extremely well protected by multiple layers of plastic and cardboard. In the box, you'll find all the usual mount equipment, with separate fittings for both Intel and AMD sockets, but overall, there's nothing particularly surprising here, and you get some thermal paste included too, which is always handy. A Closer Look Antec has absolutely nailed it with the design here, with all-black hardware on the pump, tubing, radiator and fans that give the cooler a slick and stealthy aesthetic, at least while the power is off. The pump has a plastic top that will allow the ARGB lighting to shine through. However, rather than clear or frosty white plastic which is more common on ARGB products, Antec has gone for a glossy plastic with a smoked grey/black design. The pump is fairly tall, largely due to the ARGB topper, but otherwise, it's quite compact so it shouldn't conflict with other motherboard components. There's a large copper contact plate on the bottom, and given this cooler supports all major Intel and AMD sockets, including ThreadRipper, it should have no issues providing great coverage for your CPU of choice. The tubing is of a high quality, with thick sleeving, all finished in a jet black and it's nice and flexible too, which will make it easy to install in your PC case. The radiator itself comes with a high fin-density design but overall is still a typically sized 360mm radiator with a slim design. It supports mounting of the 3 x 120mm fans on either side of the radiator too, so you can configure it in a push or pull configuration to suit your installation requirements. The fans look incredible and come with the same smoked plastic aesthetic we saw on the pump. Each fan has 16 ARGB lights built into them, so they should give you plenty of customisation options for all your colour junkies. The fans all have anti-vibration rubber mounts on the corners and glossy black fan blades. Installation Getting this cooler installed was as easy as you might expect, as Antec hasn't really tinkered with the format here. The mounting kit screws to the motherboard easily enough, and you simply screw the Intel or AMD plates to the pump, allowing you to fit it to the motherboard. If you've ever done an AIO install before, you know what to expect, and if it's your first time, it's honestly pretty simple. The radiator is 360mm, which is obviously quite large, so make sure your PC case actually supports it. However, that too is easy enough to install, just a few screws to hold it in place and you're good to go. With everything powered up, the ARGB lighting effects are simply fantastic. I like that Antec has gone for a ring lighting effect on the fans, and basically blacked everything else out. It's colourful and bright, but still more an assent light. I prefer this to fully lighting up the fan blades, but that's obviously subjective. It's the same on the pump, rather than everything being an overly bright disco ball, it's more subtle and lights up the interior of the pump. The colours are great, and because there's a high density of LEDs throughout, you get really cool colour fades and transitions throughout. So, with all that in mind, let's get on with the testing! Performance The Vortex is a large radiator with great quality fans and a great quality pump, and that is certainly reflected in the performance. It delivered decent temperatures of 76c under full load on our extremely demanding i9 processor and excellent idle temperatures of just 21c. Using our optimised settings, with fixed boost clocks and lower voltages, I managed to get even better performance from the CPU, with lower temperatures of just 68c at load, putting it firmly on par with the best of the best. The acoustics are fantastic, with just 33 dBa at idle, it's virtually silent, and when at full load it's barely more than the sound of a breeze at just 38 dBa. Using our optimised settings the acoustic performance was the same, which is great, honestly, it's easily one of the quietest coolers on our charts, so big thumbs up to Antec. How Much Does it Cost? The Antec Vortex 360 All-In-One ARGB CPU Liquid Cooler, priced at £101.80, offers excellent cooling performance, quiet operation, and easy installation, but most of all, great value for money. It's compatible with most mid-tower ATX, giving it board appeal to enthusiast gamers and system builders alike. Compared to other popular AIO coolers, the Antec Vortex 360 stands out for its competitive price-to-performance ratio. While options from brands like Corsair, NZXT, MSI and a few others may offer more extreme lighting effects and LCDs, they often come with a significantly higher price tag despite offering similar cooling performance. The Antec Vortex 360 strikes a balance by delivering solid cooling capabilities at a more accessible price point, while still being a very attractive and unique-looking cooler, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious builders. Conclusion The Antec Vortex 360 AIO is one of the best AIOs on the market today, it keeps things relatively simple with the design, but if anything, that works in its favour. A lot of AIOs are really pushing to implement excessive ARGB lighting, fancy displays and other things, but none of this proves the performance but doubles and sometimes triples the price of an AIO cooler. For around £100, Antec has kept things simple, with a touch of ARGB lighting, and broad socket support, making it an easy choice for any of the Intel and AMD processors that are on the market. Cables Antec included a small hub with this cooler, allowing you to control the ARGB lighting without the need for a compatible motherboard for ARGB headers. There's just a little button on the hub, tap it, and the colours and effects change, it's that simple. However, if you want, you can still do it through your motherboard too, so you have options. The fans are just PWM, and there's a 3-to-1 cable included so that they don't take up too many motherboard headers, again, simple yet very effective. RGB Lighting I love the ARGB lighting on this cooler, it's not too bright and in your face like a lot of coolers. Sure, there are plenty of people who love that style, but for me, a more tasteful assent light is preferred, and that's exactly what Antec's Vortex 360 delivers. The pump lighting and fan ring lighting both look superb, and there's a lot of individual light, so effects, transitions and colour fades are really smooth. Should I Buy One? If you're looking for a competitively priced AIO cooler that delivers excellent cooling performance and low noise ouput, the Antec Vortex 360 has something to offer to just about any system build. With support for a wide range of Intel sockets, as well as AMD and their much larger TR4 socket, an easy installation process, a bridgable lighting hub, and gorgeous overall aesthetic and build quality, it scores top marks all round.