Ocypus Sigma L36 Pro BK Review: Best bang for the buck

Ocypus has released a new generation of liquid coolers named Sigma Pro. These coolers are available in 240mm and 360mm sizes and come in black and white editions. The salient features of the cooler are its stunning 3.5” Square IPS Screen, a floating design using a silver frame, and high-performance fans. The magnetic attachment of the screen on the pump head is another positive of the design.

The fans come pre-installed over the radiator, and these are non-RGB fans. They are rated for up to 2400 RPM speed, capable of generating 90 CFM at 5.8mmH₂O air pressure. A low-noise cable is also provided that reduces the speed to 2000 RPM.

This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA115x/1200/1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. The cooler is rated for 310W TDP.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The main packing box has a silver color theme. You can see a picture of the cooler. Salient features and specifications are also printed. Our sample came with torn packing box.

Let’s see what is provided in the box.

• 1x Cooler with preinstalled fans
• 1x Intel Backplate
• 1x AMD Mounting Bracket
• 1x Intel Mounting Bracket
• 4x Spring loaded Screws
• 4x Spacers for Intel
• 4x AMD Standoffs Screws
• 4x Washers for Intel LGA115x/1200
• 1x Thermal Paste
• 12x Radiator Screws
• 1x Low Noise Cable
• 1x 3-way PWM Extension Cable
• Velcro Strips
• 1x User Manual

The screen is provided in a separate box.

Closer Look

It is time to take a look at the unit itself.

Radiator

The three non-RGB fans come pre-installed over the radiator. The fans have the Ocypus brand theme in the center, represented by a golden ring.

Each fan has a short power cable with a 4-pin PWM connector. The connection to the motherboard is done using an extension cable.

The aluminum radiator has a dimension of 397x120x27mm (LxWxH). Here, 27mm refers to the height of the unit. The overall height with 120x25mm fans is approximately 52 mm.

The radiator has 20 FPI count and has 12 channels for the coolant flow inside the radiator. There is a gap of 105mm between the two mounting holes on opposite ends.

Ocypus uses black metallic clamps to conceal the connection between tubes and barb fittings. There is a sticker label showing the serial number of the unit. There is what looks like a cover over a possibly third port, which may be reserved for factory use only.

I am showing the side view of the unit. There is an Ocypus branding towards the right of the radiator frame. Ocypus uses rubber tubes with a nylon braided sleeve. The tube length is 400mm. The tube has an ID of 7mm and an OD of 12.5mm.

Screen Module

The screen module consists of multiple sections. The top has a 3.5” IPS screen with a crisp display over 640×480 resolution. The screen has a narrow bezel design (2.46mm) with an expansive display. The large screen really makes a difference.

The underside of the module housing has 4x magnets for a convenient attachment with the pump housing.

The screen module has standard 3-pin 5V, ARGB connectors, and a 9-pin USB 2.0 connector. The USB connector is needed for software-based customization on the display screen. The LED power consumption is 3W at 0.6A

A black color stand connects the screen with the rest of the body, creating an effect of floating design wherein the screen seems to be floating above the main housing. The silver frame with Ocypus branding is there to create some vibes. The housing has rounded R-angle edges.

The main housing has ARGB LEDs under the diffuser, which itself is within a glass housing. This is to further augment the overall display value of the cooler.

Pump Top

Let’s take a look at the design of the pump block.

The pump head is a two-fold design. The pump housing itself is a slim design, but the overall dimension is 80x78x97mm with the screen module attached. This is quite a size! The pump head is a circular design. The housing is made of ABS material.

Looking at the top of the pump head, you can see four magnets that catch the screen module, which makes the handling of the screen module convenient.

All sides of housing have no texture or branding whatsoever. The inset towards the base is where you insert the mounting brackets.

Looking at the backside of the housing, you can see the 90ᵒ fittings with tube connection. The tube connections can be rotated to adjust for any user requirement.

The pump is powered by a 3-pin DC cable. The pump is rated for 3100 RPM ±10%. It is rated for 4.8W using 0.4A at 12VDC with a noise level of ≤ 30 dB(A). This sound rating is odd. The pump is silent, and I am not sure why a pump is rated almost equivalent to regular fans’ noise level. The pump uses ceramic bearings and comes equipped with a three-phase, six-pole motor.

The copper base has a protective cover over it. Don’t forget to peel the cover before installing the block. This base is 33% larger than the standard, and it packs micron-level micr-channels for efficient coolant flow.

The above pictures show the screen module attached to the pump head/top.

Fans

This unit comes with three non-RGB fans. Each fan has 7x blades. The tips of each blade seem glazed and coated. The slope-down design on the corners is visible. The holes have cut-to-size anti-vibration pads.

The frame features an inset design. Two arrows are hardly visible on one side, indicating the direction of airflow and the direction in which the blades spin.

A 4-arm assembly on the backside is in a spiral shape to direct the airflow coming out of the blade assembly. The fans are made in China, and they use FDB. They are rated for 0.26A at 12VDC each.

Each fan uses a 4-pin PWM connector.

Ocypus has bundled two cables. One cable is necessary, whereas the short-length cable is optional. The necessary cable is a 3-way PWM extension cable that combines the fans and connects to the motherboard for a single control. The second cable reduces the speed of the fan, hence lowering the sound output.

Software

You can download Ocypus digital software from their website. The software has 6 pre-defined themes that you can use and customize as well. You can create your own theme as per the requirement. You can play MP4, MPG etc videos on the screen and the animations.

In addition, you can customize the sensor metrics to display critical sensors like CPU temperature on the screen for live monitoring. You can also rotate the screen display in any of four angles or orientations.

The software also shows the hardware information of your PC build, along with values of various parameters of the components.

The above are some pictures of the screen in action.

Installation

We are not covering the details of installation. We only report any issues or observations recorded during installation. The installation on the AMD AM5 socket is a simple and convenient task. I have no observation to mention here.

Clearance

You need to ensure that your PC Case supports a 360mm AIO in a 397x120x52mm size.

A-RGB Lighting

This cooler uses standard connectors, which makes the A-RGB lighting compatible with the RGB sync technology of the motherboard manufacturers. I have tested the cooler on the ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi motherboard and controlled the lighting using the PolyChrome Sync app. It was working flawlessly.

Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• Maxsun B580 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin X570 Pro 4TB Gen5 NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+ 2P 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled for 243W
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting absolute temperature in the graph because the room temperature was at 22°C throughout the day. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

I have tested the cooler with fans at full speed without the low noise cable and then repeated the test using the low noise cable. In terms of sound output, there is not a drastic change as such, and the temperature difference was hardly 0.7ᵒC as well. I would suggest using the fans without a low noise cable and setting up a custom fan curve or auto PWM function to tame the slightly elevated noise. The thermal performance is quite good on this unit.

Conclusion

Sigma Pro is a flagship release from Ocypus, and these coolers are available in 240/360mm sizes in black and white. They are compatible with Intel LGA115x/1200/1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. They are rated for 310W TDP. I have tested a L36 Sigma 360 Pro cooler in this article.

We have an aluminum-made radiator measuring 397x120x27mm. The total height of this cooler with 120x25mm fans is approximately 52 mm. The radiator has 20 FPI count, and it has 12 channels for coolant flow. Ocypus uses rubber tubes with nylon braided sleeves having a length of 400mm. The pump is not PWM regulated and has a speed of 3100 RPM ±10%. It uses ceramic bearings and has a three-phase, six-pole motor.

The pump top itself is a slim design with ABS material. The screen module is the main feature of the unit. The magnetic attachment of the screen module makes its handling convenient. It has a 3.5” IPS panel operating at 640x480px resolution. Refresh rate is not mentioned. The stunning thing about it is the visual impression of a floating screen.

The screen has narrow bezels. Silver frame with Ocypus branding adds a subtle touch. The ARGB lightshow on the backside of the screen complements the show. The Ocypus Software requires a USB 2.0 connection from a 9-pin connector. Your motherboard should have one USB 2.0 port available for this purpose.

Ocypus has provided 3x non-RGB fans with this cooler. Each fan has 7x blades. These fans are rated for a maximum of 2400 RPM ± 10% speed, generating 90 CFM airflow while maintaining 5.8mmH₂O static pressure. Their noise rating is ≤36 dBA. These fans have short cables that are to be connected to a 3-way PWM splitter cable. These fans use FDB bearings. These fans using the low noise cable have a maximum speed of 2000 RPM ±10% generating 77 CFM and 4.65mmH₂O air pressure at a sound level of ≤29 dBA.

The installation of this cooler on the AMD AM5 socket requires 9 items in 3 steps. The installation is simple and convenient. Since this cooler uses standard connectors on the A-RGB cable, it is compatible with the RGB Sync technology of the motherboard manufacturers. I have issues while uninstalling the cooler. The AMD standoff screws were not easy to budge, and I had to use a flat pair of pliers for this purpose. I would suggest using the tool that EKWB introduced for convenient insertion/removal of the standoff screws.

This cooler has an MSRP of USD 169 and comes with a 5-year warranty from the manufacturer. In our testing, this cooler has performed remarkably well and competitively with some high-priced offers on the market. This pricing, combined with a digital display using full customization, makes this cooler a must-have for your PC.

Pros:

• Thermal Performance
• 3.5” IPS Display Screen
• A-RGB lighting
• Stylish block with floating design
• Magnetic Attachment
• High-Performance Fans
• Low Noise Cable
• Easy Cable Management
• Intel LGA1700/1851 Compatible
• AMD AM4/AM5 Compatible
• Easy Installation
• Price
• Warranty

Cons:

• A bit of elevated noise
• AMD Standoff Screws are not easy to remove