Review: Thermalright Aqua Elite 120 v3
This page contains our review of the Thermalright Aqua Elite 120 v3 AIO CPU cooler.
Introduction
We recently decided to purchase the Thermalright Aqua Elite 120 v3 to compare its performance to the Thermalright Assassin Spirit 120 v2 Plus. Many people are building systems with 240mm or 360mm AIO coolers, but we wanted to find out just how well a 120mm CPU cooler performs. While cooling the Ryzen 9 3950X, the Assassin Spirit was reached temperatures of 97 degrees Celsius. Since that's just about the operating peak for the CPU, we wanted to try to get that lower.
We typically keep the ambient room of our office space at 65 F, for reference.
When you're purchasing an AIO cooler, there are a few considerations you'll want to take into account:
Size - larger radiators typically offer better cooling performance, but also take up more space and weigh more
Price - less is usually better, but sometimes it's worth spending a bit extra for the right components
Sound - less sound generated by fans or pumps is always a plus!
Cooling - the more cooling provided, the healthier and happier your CPU will be!
Next, let's take a look at some of the features of this cooler.
Key Features
Compact Design
The Aqua Elite 120 V3 features a 120mm radiator, making it ideal for mid-tower or small form-factor cases where space is at a premium. Despite its smaller size, it boasts efficient heat dissipation that can satisfy the needs of most basic users.
Efficient Pump and Waterblock
The waterblock houses a high-performance pump designed for optimal fluid flow and low noise. Its copper cold plate ensures excellent thermal conductivity, making it effective for cooling modern high-TDP CPUs.
High-Performance Fan
The included 120mm PWM fan is optimized for airflow and static pressure, essential for effective cooling in compact setups. It operates at speeds ranging from 600 to 1800 RPM, allowing users to balance performance and acoustics.
ARGB Lighting
Aesthetically, the Aqua Elite 120 V3 incorporates addressable RGB lighting on both the pump and the fan. This customizable lighting syncs with popular motherboard lighting software like ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, and Gigabyte RGB Fusion, allowing users to personalize their build.
Broad Compatibility
This AIO cooler supports a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets, including Intel LGA 1700/1200/115x and AMD AM5/AM4. This makes it versatile for both current and future PC builds.
Installation
The Aqua Elite 120 V3 is designed with user-friendliness in mind. The installation process is straightforward, thanks to:
Clear Instructions: The cooler comes with detailed instructions that guide users through mounting the water block (with pump), mounting the radiator, and connecting the fan & pump power, and RGB cables. Our ASRock motherboard didn't have the matching 3-pin ARGB cables, so we didn't end up using those.
Compact Radiator: Its smaller size makes it easier to install in tight spaces, which is particularly useful for compact cases. We're installing it in a Fractal Design case, and are replacing the case's rear fan, rather than mounting the radiator up top.
Installation was pretty fast. We had to remove the motherboard so that we could hold the backplate in place, while securing the included AIO cooler brackets. That took a little longer, but wasn't a big deal.
Here's what the included socket AM4 mounting brackets look like, after being installed on the motherboard. The water block simply tightnes down onto the threads sticking up from the center of the brackets.
Here's what the Aqua Elite 120 v3 looks like after being fully installed.
Sound
The Thermalright Aqua Elite 120 V3 excels in noise management. Under typical workloads, the fan operates quietly, with noise levels hovering around 25-30 dB. During heavy workloads, fan noise can reach up to 40 dB, but it remains minimally intrusive.
When we installed the Aqua Elite 120 v3, and switched the system on, we noticed a light ticking or clicking noise coming from the water pump. The assumption was that this was simply air bubbles inside the loop, that formed during storage and shipment, that would hopefully work themselves out. After a few days of using the system, and running Prime95 stress tests on it, we did notice that the light ticking sound almost completely disappeared.
Cooling Efficiency
Despite its compact size, the Aqua Elite 120 V3 delivers acceptable cooling performance. In stress tests with Prime95, it manages to keep CPU temperatures under control. Gaming is not necessarily utilizing the CPU heavily, so gaming temperatures will almost always be lower than a worst case scenario stress test. Other types of use cases that can stress a CPU are things like compiling software. For example, the Rust compiler is known for utilizing the CPU heavily.
Idle Temps: Maintains CPU core temperatures from 39-47°C range, depending on the ambient temperature. The CPU package temperature is typically a bit higher, in the mid-50s.
Load Temps: During stress testing, temperatures can reach the thermal limit of the Ryzen 9 3950X CPU, around 95 C. Keep in mind that this could be impacted by the thermal paste included in the box, which we found was very dry and tacky. We've contacted Thermalright Support to see if they have any ideas why the thermal paste was so poor quality, and are waiting to hear back from them.
For overclocking or constant, extreme CPU utilization, the 120mm radiator might not provide the thermal headroom needed. Here's what idle temperatures looked like, according to HWMonitor.
While playing Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered, we observed CPU core temperatures in the high 50s and the CPU package temperature in the low 60s. Keep in mind that this is while playing at 4k resolution. Hence, the CPU is not used heavily and the GPU is taking on the majority of the load.
Value for Money
Priced competitively in the AIO market, the Aqua Elite 120 V3 offers a strong balance of performance, aesthetics, and build quality. While it might not compete with larger 240mm or 360mm coolers in raw cooling power, it delivers adequate results for its size and price point, making it a fantastic choice for budget-conscious builders or those with limited case space.
Conclusion
In our experience, the Aqua Elite 120 v3 was an acceptable cooler for basic needs. High-end workstations that are under constant, heavy loads will need a higher-end CPU cooler to prevent the CPU from hitting peak temperatures. It's nice to see entry-level products like the Aqua Elite, that can allow budget-focused PC builders to still benefit from quiet and functional liquid coolers. These types of products used to be out of reach for entry-level PC builders, but now they're easy to find at low prices. Installation of this unit is very easy, and it doesn't take up much case space, making it perfect for people who want to maintain lighter weight builds.
What People Like
The entry-level price of this AIO cooler
Works well with CPUs using socket AM4, AM5 and LGA1700
Installation is easy, and included directions are simple
The radiator fan doesn't produce much noise
The water pump is very quiet, and can't be heard
What People Don't Like
One person mentioned that a part wasn't included in the box
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