By: Aaron Lai
May 30, 2025
This past week, I had the opportunity to take part in interviews with potential interns. It was the first time I have been on the other side of an interview, but I was a bit excited to see the potential new co-workers. At first, I was impressed with the content of the resumes. Many students emphasized their experience in software development and DevOps, highlighting a lot of tools we use daily. However, the interviews were where some candidates separated themselves from the rest, for better or worse. For one, the more prepared students were able to articulate and explain their resume, showing an actual understanding of the different tech stacks. They were also ready to answer and ask questions when given the opportunity to do so. People may exaggerate on their resumes, but it is only once you interact with the person do you get a better picture of their abilities. Of course, one interview may not be the most accurate, but it does offer some clarity. In a similar vein, I like to treat every product we receive as an candidate. Companies may put large headlines and features to sell their products, but it is important to also consider the smaller details that make a product stand out from the rest. We need to consider if these features are not only useful for the end user, but also if there is the same refinement in the less flashy areas. This helps us understand how well the company understands their target market. Today, we have the MasterLiquid Core II 360 White, which seems to be the latest version improving on Cooler Master's original MasterLiquid Core and part of the MasterLiquid Lite lineup. As a product for first-time or wallet-conscious users, how does this one compare? What does it do to stand out from the rest? Let us read on to find out!
Today's review unit of the Cooler Master MasterLiquid Core II 360 White came from Cooler Master's offices in Chino, California. Traveling with UPS and their Standard ground service, this box arrived in particularly good condition with no dents or bruises to be worried about. You can see Cooler Master has chosen a smart route by reusing one of their product boxes to ship products to us rather than finding a separate shipping container. Otherwise, this box came to our APH Networks location here in Calgary, Alberta. Along with the MasterLiquid Core II 360 White, we also received Cooler Master's Hyper 212 Pro, Hyper 612 Apex, and SickleFlow Edge 360 White Edition, which will be reviewed by my colleagues in the coming weeks.
There is a bit of consistency across all the packages with their dark purple to black gradient theme here. However, the Cooler Master MasterLiquid Core II 360 White has the cleanest box design. In text, we just have the product name on the left side along with the company logo. On the right, we have a scaled-up image of the combination pump and block in an illuminated fashion. This front area is a sleeve that slides over a white corrugated cardboard box. Around the back, there are more specifications, but it is still quite clean.
Before we continue, I have grabbed the specifications from the manufacturer's website for your perusal:
Product Number: MLW-D36M-A18PA-RW
Exterior Color: White
CPU Socket: Intel® LGA 1851 / 1700 / 1200 / 1151 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 socket
CPU Socket: AMD® AM5 / AM4 socket
Radiator Material: Aluminum
Radiator Dimensions: 394 x 119.2 x 27.2 mm / 15.5 x 4.7 x 1.1 inch
Tube Length: 400 mm / 15.75 inch
Pump Dimensions: 83 x 76.2 x 52.3 mm / 3.3 x 3 x 2.1 inch
Pump Profiles: Addressable RGB
Pump Speed: 3000 ± 300 RPM
Pump MTTF: >50,000 Hours
Pump Noise Level: 25 dBA (Max)
Pump Rated Voltage: 12 VDC
Pump Power Consumption: 3.6 W
Pump Connector: 3-Pin ARGB + 4-Pin PWM
Fan Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120 x 25 mm / 4.7 x 4.7 x 1.0 inch
Fan Profiles: Addressable RGB
Fan Quantity: 3 PCS
Fan Speed: 650-1750 RPM ± 10%
Fan Airflow: 70.5 CFM (Max)
Fan Air Pressure: 2.0 mmH2O (Max)
Fan MTTF>160,000 Hours
Fan Noise Level: 30 dBA (Max)
Fan Bearing Type: Sleeve Bearing
Fan Connector: 7-Pin PWM + ARGB
Fan Rated Voltage: 12 VDC
Fan Rated Current: 0.23 A
Fan Safety Current: 0.45 A
Power Consumption: 2.76 W
Warranty: 5 years
Cooler Type: Liquid Cooler
Radiator Size: 360
Series: MasterLiquid Lite
Out of the box, everything is held in a single cardboard carton inside the retail container. Most of the components are wrapped in plastic bags to prevent damage to each part. The radiator comes with three 120mm fans attached. The MasterLiquid Core II 360 White supports the most modern sockets, including Intel's LGA 1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, and LGA115x, as well as AMD's AM5 and AM4. All the necessary mounting equipment is included for these sockets and contained in a separate plastic bag with more individual bags inside. I appreciate each bag is labeled, so users know precisely which set of hardware they need to use. Unfortunately, Cooler Master did not pack any thermal paste with this cooler, although this is only an omission for my review sample, since they advertise their CryoFuze thermal grease on the product page. Otherwise, there is some documentation included to help users with the installation process. Just to note, Cooler Master does include a five-year warranty with this product, which is quite good.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware; Installation
3. Test Results
4. Conclusion
