ID Cooling DX360 GDL Review
Lian Li introduced short tubes based AIO in the Hydro Shift series of liquid coolers. The same was adopted by the other manufacturers, while some actually took it to another level by providing flexibility in tube length. This design provides the neatest and cleanest outlook possible despite using the tubes and cables. This also suits the builds that use back-connect motherboard designs like MSI Project Zero, GIGABYTE Stealth, and ASUS BTF.
ID Cooling has also released a cooler under the DX category with a similar design concept. DX360 GDL is the name of the cooler, and it is available in 240mm and 360mm sizes. It is expected to be released under USD 120 price tag.
The main feature is obviously a 160mm tube length in the center followed by a large size gold color cover over the block, providing a clean outlook. To make this happen, the radiator is widened to 134mm, providing more surface area and carrying more coolant. This means you need more clearance on the top to make it sit comfortably. Hence, if your case supports a 140mm fan mount on top, this cooler is a go. I saw the same thing from the GameMax cooler.
This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA 1851/1700/1200/115x and AMD AM5/AM4 sockets, and it is equipped with the X25 mounting system, which provides a universal bracket for Intel and AMD, streamlining the installation with convenience.
Specifications
Packing and Unboxing
ID Cooling uses a cardboard box in a black theme. The black colorr Styrofoam container holds the coolers and accessories.
The mounting kit is the same as on the FX360 LCD. The following are provided:
- 1x Intel Backplate
- 2x Universal Mounting Brackets
- 4x Universal Screws
- 4x Nuts
- 1x Tool for the Screws [Different from FX360 LCD]
- 3x Tube Clips/Clamps
- 1x Frost X45 Thermal Paste Tube
- 12x Radiator Screws
- 1x Installation Guide
Design
Let’s take a look at the unit.
Radiator
Three non-RGB fans come pre-installed over the radiator. The gold color sheen on the inner ring and side frame sits well with the gold color cover on the block.
The fans use short-length cables for daisy-chaining, and each fan uses a standard 4-pin PWM and 3-pin socket connector. The extension cable has a standard 4-pin PWM connector providing standard connectivity for your motherboard.
Now you can see the main difference between this cooler and the standard liquid coolers on the market. You can see a widened area towards the tube side on the radiator. The tubes are installed towards the upper side of the middle fan, which almost faces the CPU socket position on the motherboard.
The concept behind the short-length tube of 160mm is now clear, as no extra tube will be visible over the motherboard.
I have removed the fans and am showing the radiator assembly. This cooler has a 360mm radiator made of aluminum material and has dimensions of 396x134x27mm. As you can see, this radiator is 134mm wide compared to 120/124mm wide standard AIO radiators.
The assembly has 12 channels for coolant flow with an FPI count of 20. A gap between the two opposite end holes on the main frame is 105mm. Overall build quality is satisfactory, and I did not observe any bent or broken fins. The extra width holds 82gm more coolant as well. The tubes’ connection with the barbs is well concealed using clamps.
The side frame of the radiator housing has no branding. ID Cooling has used rubber tubes with sleeved braiding. The tube has a length of 160mm.
Block
ID Cooling has used a different design. The block is installed on a square-shaped plate using 4x screws. The housing has a dimension of 100x94x69mm. The plate sits between the tubes and the block itself. Two cutouts on the sides provide access to the pre-installed screws.
The tube connection is in 90 90-degree mount with the middle side enlarged to cover the height of the block. The block itself has no branding or design anywhere since it will remain hidden under the cover.
Two spring-loaded screws are provided to install the block over the mounting hardware.
The cooler has a copper base. A protective sticker is pasted over it. Don’t forget to peel it off during the installation.
The pump is regulated using a 4-pin PWM connector. The pump is rated for up to 2900 ± 10% RPM speed. This is ID Cooling’s seventh-generation pump that uses ceramic bearings.
Cover
ID Cooling has provided a large-sized cover that has gold stripes over the top to create a dazzling outlook that bodes well with the golden stripes on the fan frame and golden inner ring of the fans. This cover has magnetic mounting. The cutout on one side faces the tube side of the block.
Fans
ID Cooling has used non-RGB black AF-127-GDL fans on this cooler. A fan has a dimension of 120x120x27mm and is rated for 500 to 2000 ±10% RPM speed. Each fan has seven blades. The center has ID Cooling branding in golden color, along with a ring. They have used anti-vibration pads on the mounting corners.
The top part of the ring is golden color. Similar, you can see golden stripes on the side frame of the fans. Each fan is square in shape.
Looking at the backside of the fan, you can see a 4-arm assembly with each arm having a flat surface facing the fan blades. In other words, they distort/disrupt the airflow coming from the fan. Fans use fluid dynamic bearings and are made in China.
These fans use standard 4-pin PWM and 3-pin socket connectors.
Installation
We don’t cover installation steps in our content. You may refer to the installation guide for that. We only report observations recorded during the installation. I have the same observation from the FX360 LCD regarding the Intel backplate.
The washers on the backplate studs are loose. They will remain so until you install the mounting kit on the socket. No need to try to press them inward, hoping to tighten them. Other than this, I have nothing to report. The provision of a tool is a nice option, though you are actually dependent on it, given the particular design of the kit.
In my opinion, for this particular design, ID Cooling should consider using a 4-point contact to install the block over the CPU instead of a 2-point contact. The short length of tubes might make it difficult to mount the block properly over the CPU due to space constraints.
Clearance
This cooler has a dimension of 396x134x54mm with fans. Make sure your PC Case supports this dimension. The radiator must be installed entirely on the right side of the IO area. Also, this radiator can only be installed on the top of the case. The distance between the upper edge of the IO area and the top of the case should be 55 – 70mm for Intel and 55 – 65mm for AMD.
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
- ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
- Biwin Black Opal X570 Pro 4TB 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 [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
Conclusion
I have tested DX360 GDL, which is a new cooler from ID Cooling based on a design that favors the clean outlook by reducing the tube length and hiding the block and cable connection. This cooler features aluminum radiator having a size of 396x134x54mm with the fans. It is compatible with Intel LGA115x / 1200 / 1700 / 1851 and AMD AM4 / AM5 sockets. It is rated for 350W TDP.
This new cooler is equipped with a new 7th generation pump operating at 2900 RPM and has a 50,000-hour life expectancy. It uses ceramic bearings and is PWM regulated. The premium nylon braided sleeved rubber tubes have a length of 160mm.
The radiator has a 134mm width, hence providing more surface area and carries 82 g more coolant than the standard design. The tubes are installed on the main side near the upper area of the middle fan, hence sitting close to the CPU socket.
The block has a dimension of 100x94x69mm, and it has a large plate installed between the block and the tubes. This block uses two spring-loaded screws for a two-point contact, which, in my opinion, should be a four-point contact for this style of cooler. The large size uses magnetic attachment with the block and has beautiful golden stripes over the top that bodes well with the golden elements/colors on the fans.
AF-127-GDL fans come pre-installed on the radiator, and each fan has a short-length cable using standard connector/socket. The extension cable offers a standard 4-pin PWM connector for connectivity with the motherboard. These fans use fluid dynamic bearings. Airflow rating is 78 CFM and air pressure rating is 2.68mmH₂O. The sound rating is 25 dB(A) max.
While the installation of this cooler is similar to the FX360 LCD. It has certain considerations:
- The radiator can only be installed on the top of the case unless the motherboard tray is inverted.
- The top of the case must have more than 134mm clearance since the radiator’s width is 134mm.
- The radiator must be installed entirely to the right side of the IO area.
- The distance between the upper edge of the IO area and the top of case should be 55 – 70mm for Intel and 55 – 65mm for AMD.
It uses a streamlined X25 mounting mechanism. It needs 10 items on both Intel and AMD platforms to install the kit on the socket. This count comes from the universal mounting.
DX360 GDL is expected to have an MSRP of under USD 120.00 and comes with a 3-year warranty. It packs a solid performance punch and is ideal for stealth builds, particularly those with the backplug motherboard design.
Pros:
- Thermal Performance
- Silent Fans
- Golden Stripes on the Cover
- Magnetic Cover
- AF-127-GDL Fans with Golden Color ring and side bars
- Standard 4-pin PWM Connector
- Compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 sockets
- Compatible with AMD AM4/AM5 sockets
- Noise
- Price
Cons:
- Block’s installation should have 4-point contact
- Minimum 136mm or so space required on top of the case
- This cooler can’t be used on the side or the front of the case
