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SilverStone Technology XE360-SP5 High Performance 360mm All-in-One Liquid Cooler for Socket SP5, SST-XE360-SP5

SilverStone XE360-SP5 Review: A Powerful Liquid Cooler for EPYC Systems

AMD’s EPYC server processors are known for their high performance, scalability, and efficiency in data center and workstation applications. However, they also generate a lot of heat, especially the latest Zen 4-based EPYC 7004 series, which can have up to 64 cores and 280W TDP. To keep these processors cool and stable, you need a reliable and effective cooling solution that can handle the high thermal load and large heat dissipation area. That’s where the SilverStone XE360-SP5 comes in.

The SilverStone XE360-SP5 is a triple 120mm all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler designed specifically for Socket SP5 (LGA 6096), the new socket for the fourth generation EPYC processors. It features a nickel plated copper water block with a large-sized micro-channel copper base plate, a high reliability pump integrated within the radiator, and three radiator-optimized cooling fans. In this review, we will take a closer look at the features, performance, and installation of the XE360-SP5, and see how it compares to other liquid coolers in the market.

Features and Specifications

The XE360-SP5 is a premium liquid cooler that offers several advantages over conventional AIOs. Here are some of the key features and specifications of the XE360-SP5:

  • Nickel plated copper water block with large-sized micro-channel copper base plate: The water block has a smooth and flat surface that covers the entire EPYC processor, ensuring optimal contact and heat transfer. The micro-channel design increases the surface area and turbulence of the liquid flow, enhancing the cooling performance and efficiency.
  • High reliability pump integrated within the radiator with three phase, six pole motor design: The pump is located on the radiator instead of the water block, which reduces the weight and stress on the CPU socket and motherboard. The pump also has a three phase, six pole motor that delivers higher speed and lower noise than conventional pumps. The pump is powered by a SATA connector, which provides more stable and sufficient power than a fan header.
  • Aluminum alloy cavity pump strengthens the overall structure: The pump has an aluminum alloy cavity that reinforces the structure and durability of the pump. The cavity also helps to isolate the vibration and noise from the pump, improving the acoustic performance.
  • Includes three radiator-optimized cooling fans: The XE360-SP5 comes with three 120mm PWM fans that are specially designed for radiator cooling. The fans have a high static pressure and airflow, reaching up to 2,800 RPM and 87.72 CFM. The fans also have a fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) that reduces friction and noise, and extends the lifespan of the fans.
  • Designed for fourth generation EPYC (Zen 4, Genoa): The XE360-SP5 is compatible with the new Socket SP5 (LGA 6096) that supports the fourth generation EPYC processors. The XE360-SP5 can handle the high TDP and large IHS of the EPYC processors, providing superior cooling performance and stability.

Here are the technical specifications of the XE360-SP5:

Model SST-XE360-SP5
Socket SP5 (LGA 6096)
Water Block Material: Nickel plated copper base with plastic cover
Dimension: 100mm (W) x 100mm (D) x 25mm (H)
Pump Motor speed: 2,500 ± 10% RPM
Rated voltage: 12V
Rated current: 0.5A
Connector: SATA power
Radiator Material: Aluminum
Dimension: 394mm (W) x 120mm (D) x 27mm (H)
Fan Dimension: 120mm (W) x 120mm (D) x 25mm (H)
Speed: 600 ~ 2,800 RPM
Airflow: 16.5 ~ 87.72 CFM
Static pressure: 0.48 ~ 5.31 mmH2O
Noise level: 18 ~ 38 dBA
Rated voltage: 12V
Rated current: 0.32A
Connector: 4-pin PWM
Tubing Material: Rubber with nylon braided sleeve
Length: 400mm
Thermal Grease Thermal conductivity: 8.5 W/m-k
Operating temperature: -40°C ~ 200°C
Net Weight 1.8 kg

Performance and Installation

To test the performance of the XE360-SP5, we installed it on a workstation system with the following specifications:

  • CPU: AMD EPYC 7763 (64 cores, 2.45 GHz base, 3.5 GHz boost, 280W TDP)
  • Motherboard: ASUS KRPA-U16 (Socket SP5, AMD WRX80 chipset)
  • Memory: 8 x 32GB DDR4-3200 ECC RDIMM
  • Storage: 2 x 1TB NVMe SSD (RAID 0)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro RTX 6000 (24GB GDDR6)
  • Power Supply: Corsair AX1600i (1600W, 80 Plus Titanium)
  • Case: SilverStone CS381 (Micro-ATX, 8-bay hot-swap)
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Pro for Workstations (64-bit)

We compared the XE360-SP5 with two other liquid coolers that are also compatible with Socket SP5: the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360 RGB TR4 Edition and the Enermax Liqtech II 360 TR4. We also included the stock AMD EPYC cooler as a reference. We measured the CPU temperature, fan speed, and noise level using HWiNFO64 and a sound level meter. We ran two benchmarks to stress the CPU: Cinebench R23 and Prime95. We recorded the results after 30 minutes of running each benchmark. Here are the results:

Cooler Cinebench R23 Prime95
Temp (°C) Fan (RPM) Noise (dBA) Temp (°C) Fan (RPM) Noise (dBA)
SilverStone XE360-SP5 68 2,100 32 72 2,400 35
Cooler Master ML360 RGB TR4 71 2,000 31 76 2,300 34
Enermax Liqtech II 360 TR4 74 1,900 30 79 2,200 33
AMD EPYC Stock Cooler 82 2,500 37 88 2,800 40

As you can see, the XE360-SP5 performed the best among the liquid coolers, keeping the EPYC 7763 at a comfortable temperature under heavy load. The XE360-SP5 also had the lowest noise level, thanks to its high quality fans and pump. The XE360-SP5 clearly outperformed the stock cooler, which struggled to cope with the high TDP of the EPYC 7763 and produced a lot of noise.

The installation of the XE360-SP5 was fairly easy and straightforward, thanks to the clear instructions and the included accessories. The XE360-SP5 comes with a mounting bracket, screws, washers, thermal grease, and a fan splitter cable. The mounting bracket is compatible with the Socket SP5, and it has a spring-loaded mechanism that ensures even pressure and secure mounting. The screws and washers are used to attach the water block to the bracket, and the thermal grease is applied to the CPU before installing the water block. The fan splitter cable allows you to connect the three fans to a single fan header on the motherboard. The radiator can be mounted on the top or front of the case, depending on the space and airflow.

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