XIGMATEK Aurora 360 Cooler Review

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Hayyan Serwer

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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XIGMATEK has sent their XIGMATEK AURORA 360 Cooler for us to test and review. The cooler comes with a 360mm radiator and 3 A-RGB fans. The block of the cooler features an infinity mirror display. In this review, I will unbox it, walk you through its radiator, block, and fans, and of course, I’ll test its thermal performance.

Key Takeaways

• The XIGMATEK AURORA 360 Cooler is a 360mm CLC cooling solution, featuring an infinity mirror display on the pump head, AT120 A-RGB fans, and compatibility with popular RGB sync technologies.
• You Should Get the XIGMATEK AURORA 360 if you seek an aesthetically pleasing cooling solution with competitive thermal performance, the XIGMATEK AURORA 360 stands out.
• You Should Not Get XIGMATEK AURORA 360 if you prioritize extensive fan control through PWM regulation or anticipate the need for easy component replacement.

The following table shows the specifications of the XIGMATEK Aurora 360 Cooler:

Packaging And Unboxing

The cooler is shipped inside a cardboard packing box.

Accessories

Let’s take a look at what XIGMATEK has provided in the accessory box.

The mounting hardware is included in a white color paperboard box. The right picture shows the pouched contents of the box.

We have:

• 1x Metallic Backplate for Intel and AMD
• 2x Intel Mounting Brackets
• 2x AMD Mounting Brackets
• 2x AMD TR4 Mounting Brackets
• 4x Springs loaded Nuts/caps
• 4x Plastic Spacers
• 4x Washers
• 4x Intel LGA20xx standoffs
• 4x AMD TR4 standoffs
• 4x Other sockets standoffs

XIGMATEK has provided a protective space for the AMD mounting on the backplate. They have also provided a syringe of thermal paste along with a scalper.

The above pictures show the A-RGB hardware provided with the cooler.

XIGMATEK makes things easy with a flat cable for A-RGB hardware. It’s got the usual 3-pin A-RGB and a GIGABYTE 3-pin connector for older motherboards on one end, plus a 4-pin connector for the control box on the other.

The remote is a breeze to use, with labeled buttons for 7 RGB modes with Mode+ and Mode-, and a Fan Speed button to switch between fast and slow. Just a heads up, though, fine-tuning fan speed isn’t an option – it’s either max or a bit slower. You can pick static Red, Green, or Blue colors using the R, G, and B buttons. The user can have:

• Star Night Mode
• Lighting Mode
• Rainbow Mode
• Breathing Mode

The M/B SYNC button transfers the A-RGB control source from the control box to the motherboard.

The control box has a sleek design. There are 3x buttons on the top in the center:

• LED SPEED controls the lighting speed of the dynamic modes.
• MODE toggles the lighting modes.
• FAN SPEED sets the fans to operate at full speed or low speed.

Two diffusers look like on the sides though they don’t illuminate. There are two ports on this side of the control box. The 4-pin DATA labeled port is used to connect the motherboard Sync cable. The 2-port RESET SW port is optional which seems to allow the users to control the lighting modes using the PC Case’s Reset button.

The left and right sides of the control box are identical in layout. Each side has 4x Fan 6-pin ports and a 3-pin A-RGB port. XIGMATEK is using proprietary connectors on their fans and they can only be controlled using this control box.

• The total power draw of both 5V A-RGB ports is 40W.
• The total power draw of 6x fan ports is 36W.

The control box is powered using the MOLEX connector. I would have preferred the SATA connector.

Closer Look

Let’s start with what XIGMATEK has to say about the cooler. Using cutting-edge ARGB LED tech, it brings the mesmerizing beauty of Aurora lights to your setup. With top-grade components, it ensures optimal CPU cooling for gamers and overclocking enthusiasts. Upgrade to XIGMATEK for a cool and visually striking experience.

Radiator

The XIGMATEK AURORA 360 review is a 360mm CLC cooling solution. It has a 360mm radiator with 3x AT120 A-RGB fans.

The aluminum radiator boasts lightweight construction, measuring 398 x 120 x 27mm with a thickness of 27mm. When paired with 25mm fans, the total thickness reaches 53mm with screws included. Featuring 19 fins per inch (FPI) and a 105mm gap between fan mounting holes, the black housing showcases solid build quality.

The rectangular blocks on both ends lack disclosure of the OEM design. The fin stack, dense and comprising 12 channels for water flow considering both side channels, indicates a robust design. Notably, there’s no protective plating under the mounting holes, a deviation from standard AIO solutions. However, XIGMATEK mitigates potential damage by increasing the spacing, hinting at a fin assembly thickness less than the stated 27mm.

The left picture shows a close-up look at the fins. XIMGATEK has done a nice and clean job. The radiator assembly has a nice clean finish all around. There is no branding on the side of the assembly.

The far head has a rectangular design and a neat finish. The build quality of the cooler is good. The barbs and the tube endings are enclosed in the metallic covers. There is a sticker pasted showing the part no or serial no of the cooler.

The XIGMATEK AURORA 360 uses rubber tubing 350mm in length with a Mesh Cover. XIGMATEK has mentioned that the thickness of the tube is 12mm (ID).

Pump/Block

Let’s take a look at the block of the cooler.

The XIGMATEK AURORA 360’s block is a stylish circular design in matte black ABS, with a compact size of 78.59×70.52x43mm. The pump head features an infinity mirror design and a backlit XIGMATEK logo in the center. Note that the logo is fixed in place, so consider its position when installing in your case.

The following are the specifications of the pump:

All sides except the tubing end of the block are identical. There is no branding on any side of the housing.

A flat cable is coming out from the lower side of the front. We have a 3-pin cable to power the motor of the pump and a 6-pin cable for the A-RGB lighting.

The fittings have a cool 90° design, letting you twist the tubes however you like. Tube ends have neat metallic covers. The copper base is about 54x54mm, and don’t forget to peel off the protective sheet before installing. The base has these handy extended legs with mounting holes for the brackets. 

Fan

XIGMATEK hooks you up with their AT120 A-RGB fans in the AURORA 360 cooler – dual dual-ring style for some rad lighting vibes. These 120mm fans rock 11 frosted blades in a circular frame with anti-vibration pads on each corner. They’re big for a reason – packing ARGB LEDs. Plus, they roll smoothly thanks to Hydro Bearings. Check out the close-up pic for the lowdown on those anti-vibration pads. 

The frame is well-built, no complaints there. Just a heads up, no arrows for airflow direction, so take a moment to figure that out. Check out the cool A-RGB LED-lit ring on top. Flip it, and you’ll spot a clever cable-routing setup on the back. Oh, and they’re crafted in China.

The fans rock a 6-pin proprietary connector with a flat cable of around 650mm. XIGMATEK keeps it exclusive with those connectors on both fans and the block, so no PWM control for you.

Just so you know, if the control box goes wonky, the whole cooling system is stuck until you get a replacement. Do you have to swap the entire cooler just for a glitchy control box? Not the easiest fix.

Installation

We have recently upgraded our Intel testbed and are now on the Intel LGA1200 socket, the installation is as follows:

There is no clearance issue concerning the DIMM slots and the first PCIe slot. Make sure your chassis has clearance for a 360mm radiator.

A-RGB Lighting

The A-RGB lighting responded well to the remote control. We have also tested them on MSI MYSTIC SYNC on the MAG Z490 TOMAHAWK motherboard. The fans and the block worked flawlessly on the MSI motherboard. 

Testing

We have upgraded our Intel testbed recently. A few coolers have been tested on this setup. More will be added after the testing in the coming time.

The following test benches have been used:

• Intel i7 10700k
• MSI MAG Z490 TOMAHAWK
• T-Force NightHawk RGB 16GB @ 3200MHz
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 FE
• add link S70 256GB NVMe SSD
• bequiet! Straight Power 11 850W Platinum PSU
• Open-air test bench

Here is the settings table for testing:

We use Noctua NT-H1 thermal paste for all coolers to keep things fair. Our graphs show delta temperatures on an open-air bench system, but remember, temps can change in a case based on airflow. Stress test results might differ due to things like mounting pressure, thermal paste, and varying ambient temperatures. Chips in the same category can even have differences, so knowing our testing details is key.

Thermal Performance

Let’s take a look at the results.

Noise

The maximum recorded noise level on the XIGMATEK AURORA 360 was 52 dBA with an ambient noise level of 33 dBA.

Should You Buy It?

After a thorough examination of the XIGMATEK AURORA 360 Cooler, here’s my recommendation:

Buy It If:

✅ Aesthetics Matter: If you’re drawn to eye-catching aesthetics, the AURORA 360’s infinity mirror display on the pump head and dual dual-ring style A-RGB fans provide a visually striking addition to your setup.

✅ Competitive Thermal Performance: Despite its dependency on a control box, the AURORA 360 manages to deliver commendable thermal performance, making it a solid choice for gamers and overclocking enthusiasts.

✅ RGB Sync Integration: For users keen on RGB synchronization, this cooler’s compatibility with popular technologies like ASUS AURA SYNC, GIGABYTE RGB FUSION 2.0, MSI MYSTIC LIGHT SYNC, and ASRock Polychrome Sync ensures seamless integration into your RGB setup.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌ Limited Fan Control: If you prefer more control over your fans through PWM regulation, the AURORA 360’s reliance on a proprietary control box with limited fine-tuning options might not align with your preferences.

❌ Risk of Unit Failure: The exclusive use of 6-pin proprietary connectors poses a risk; any malfunction in the control box renders the entire unit unusable until a replacement is obtained, making it less practical for users seeking easy component replacement.

Conclusion

So, XIGMATEK hooked us up with their AURORA 360 cooler, a slick black 360mm version (240mm also in the mix). It’s got compatibility vibes with Intel LGA and AMD sockets, even rocking readiness for the TR4 AMD socket, albeit not covering the full Threadripper chip.

Under the hood, you’ve got a 27mm thick aluminum radiator, FPI of 19, and those sleek rubber tubes with mesh sleeves running about 350mm. The circular-shaped block housing, sized 78.59×70.52x43mm, seals the deal. The pump’s hitting 2600 RPM ± 10%, using a ceramic bearing, and the base is copper, around 54x54mm.

Fans? Yup, the AT120 A-RGB ones. Speed’s up to 1800 RPM, airflow’s pushing 52.5 CFM, and you get those cool frosted blades. Installation is a bit involved with 23 pieces in the puzzle. But here’s the thing, XIGMATEK went with proprietary 6-pin connectors, and that MOLEX-powered control box might make you dependent. Not the best if that box goes rogue.

Awards Received By XIGMATEK Aurora 360 Cooler

Here are the Tech4Gamers awards received by XIGMATEK Aurora 360 Cooler:

• Best 360mm AIO Cooler For i7-12700k
• BEST 360mm AIO CPU Coolers

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Hayyan Serwer

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com