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Thermaltake Floe 280mm, 16.8 Million Color Software Enabled (TT RGB Plus/Alexa/Razer Chroma), AMD (AM5/AM4)/Intel (LGA 2066/1200), AIO CPU Liquid Cooler CL-W167-PL14SW-A For Desktop

Thermaltake Floe 280mm AIO CPU Liquid Cooler Review

If you are looking for a high-performance, customizable, and easy-to-install liquid cooling solution for your CPU, you might want to check out the Thermaltake Floe 280mm AIO CPU Liquid Cooler. This product is the world’s first liquid cooler with 16.8 million colors LED lighting, controlled by the patented TT RGB PLUS Software and AI voice control. It also features two 140mm Riing Plus RGB fans and a copper waterblock that deliver excellent cooling performance and durability. In this review, we will take a closer look at the features, specifications, installation, performance, and pros and cons of this product.

Features and Specifications

The Thermaltake Floe 280mm AIO CPU Liquid Cooler has the following features and specifications:

  • 16.8 million colors LED lighting: The waterblock and the fans have multiple addressable LEDs that can display 16.8 million colors and various lighting effects. You can customize the lighting modes, colors, speeds, brightness, and fan speeds using the TT RGB PLUS Software or the AI voice control. You can also sync the lighting with other TT RGB PLUS compatible products, such as power supplies, cases, keyboards, mice, etc. The software also allows you to monitor the fan performance and the CPU temperature.
  • Two 140mm Riing Plus RGB fans: The fans have a hydraulic bearing design and a 9-blade design that provide high airflow and static pressure. The fans can operate at a speed range of 500 to 1400 RPM, with a noise level of 19.8 to 27.2 dB-A. The fans also have a self-lubricating design that reduces friction and noise, and extends the lifespan.
  • Copper waterblock: The waterblock has a micro-channel design that enhances the heat dissipation. The waterblock also has six LEDs that match the 12 LEDs from the fans to create a uniform look. The waterblock is made of copper, which has high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance.
  • High-performance pump: The pump has a rated voltage of 12V and 5V, and a rated current of 0.325A and 0.4A. The pump has a motor speed of 3600 RPM, which ensures a high coolant flow and a low noise level.
  • High-quality tubing: The tubing is 326 mm long and made of rubber, which is flexible and durable. The tubing has a low evaporation rate and a high water resistance, which prevent leakage and improve the cooling efficiency.
  • 280mm radiator: The radiator is 313 x 139 x 27 mm in size and made of aluminum, which has good heat dissipation and lightweight. The radiator supports push/pull mounting for the fans, which increases the cooling performance and the compatibility with different cases.
  • Wide compatibility: The cooler is compatible with most Intel and AMD CPU sockets, including Intel LGA 2066/2011-3/2011/1366/1200/1156/1155/1151/1150 and AMD TR4/AM4/FM2/FM1/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2. The cooler also comes with a bracket adapter for the AMD Threadripper CPU. The cooler is also compatible with the LGA 1700 socket, which is used by the latest Intel Alder Lake CPUs. You can purchase the LGA 1700 kit separately from Thermaltake.
  • Tt LCS Certified: The cooler is certified by Thermaltake’s Liquid Cooling System (LCS) program, which means that it is compatible with extreme liquid cooling configurations and supports high-end gaming systems.
  • Product dimensions and weight: The product dimensions are 12.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches and the weight is 3.42 pounds.
  • Warranty: The product comes with a 3-year warranty from Thermaltake.

Installation

The installation of the Thermaltake Floe 280mm AIO CPU Liquid Cooler is relatively simple and straightforward. The product comes with a user manual that guides you through the installation process step by step. You will need a screwdriver and some thermal paste to complete the installation. Here are the main steps of the installation:

  1. Mount the radiator and the fans to the top or the front of your case, depending on your preference and the case compatibility. You can use the provided screws and washers to secure the radiator and the fans. Make sure the fans are facing the right direction, either as intake or exhaust.
  2. Apply some thermal paste to the center of your CPU. You can use the provided thermal paste or your own thermal paste.
  3. Attach the waterblock to the CPU socket using the appropriate mounting bracket and screws. You can choose the Intel or AMD bracket depending on your CPU type. Make sure the waterblock is aligned and tightened properly.
  4. Connect the fan cables to the fan controller, which is attached to the radiator. Then, connect the fan controller to a SATA power connector from your power supply.
  5. Connect the waterblock cable to the waterblock controller, which is also attached to the radiator. Then, connect the waterblock controller to a USB 2.0 header on your motherboard.
  6. Download and install the TT RGB PLUS Software from the Thermaltake website. You can use the software to customize the lighting and the fan settings, as well as monitor the CPU temperature and the fan performance.
  7. You can also use the AI voice control feature to control the lighting and the fan settings using your voice. You will need to download and install the TT AI Voice Control App from the App Store or the Google Play Store on your iOS or Android device. You will also need to connect your device to the same network as your PC. You can use commands such as “Hello TT” or “Hello Thermaltake” to activate the voice control, and then say the name of the product and the desired setting. For example, you can say “Floe Riing RGB 280, fan speed 100%” or “Floe Riing RGB 280, blue color”.

Performance

The performance of the Thermaltake Floe 280mm AIO CPU Liquid Cooler is impressive and reliable. The cooler can handle high-end CPUs with high overclocking potential, such as the Intel Core i9-11900K or the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. The cooler can keep the CPU temperature under control even under heavy load and stress tests. The cooler can also reduce the CPU noise level significantly compared to the stock cooler or some air coolers. The cooler can also enhance the aesthetics and the airflow of your PC case with its stunning RGB lighting and its large radiator and fans.

To test the performance of the cooler, we used the following system specifications:

  • CPU: Intel Core i9-11900K
  • Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero
  • RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB DDR4-3600
  • GPU: ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090 OC
  • SSD: Samsung 980 Pro 1TB PCIe 4.0
  • PSU: Corsair RM850x 850W 80+ Gold
  • Case: Thermaltake View 71 TG RGB
  • OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

We used the following software and benchmarks to test the cooler:

  • CPU-Z: To check the CPU specifications and the overclocking settings.
  • HWMonitor: To monitor the CPU temperature, voltage, and power consumption.
  • AIDA64 Extreme: To stress test the CPU and measure the peak temperature and power consumption.
  • Cinebench R23: To measure the CPU performance and compare it with other CPUs.
  • TT RGB PLUS: To customize the lighting and the fan settings, and monitor the CPU temperature and the fan performance.

We tested the cooler with three different scenarios:

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