Page 2 - Physical Look - Hardware; Installation
The IceMyst 360 may be holding a name not previously used by SilverStone, but there are a few similar features between this all-in-one liquid cooler and its competition. This includes the typical black 360mm radiator with braided black tubing. While both of these are the same color, the one element that stands out is the silver-gray pump combination block. Branding on the unit is relatively low, with the translucent SilverStone logo found on the top of the CPU block. This rotating head houses additional lighting, but we will explore these later on. Otherwise, the materials used here are as expected with a large aluminum radiator, rubber tubing lined with a mesh material, and an opaque plastic exterior on the pump head. Several cables lead out of the processor block with connections to control the lighting and the pump.
The radiator of the SilverStone IceMyst 360 is as designed with fins placed in a wavy manner to come into contact with liquid running through. As the liquid runs through, the heat is transferred from the liquid to the set of fins through the contact points. Fans sit on top of the radiator to dissipate heat. This liquid is transported around from the water block to the radiator via tubing. This is made from rubber and sleeved for a good-looking finish. The tubes measure approximately 43cm in length and should fit in most standard mid-tower cases. In my situation, as you will see below, I found the tubes to be long enough to mount the radiator without any fear. The tubes are strong, flexible, and do not form any kinks. These pivot on the water block to allow for maneuverability when required. Right beside the two tubes on the radiator side is a refill port, where users have access to add more liquid, although I would not recommend doing so unless you are knowledgeable.
The radiator measures 396mm long, 120mm wide, and 25mm thick. These are within typical dimensions for a 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler. This size plays a significant role in cooling, as a larger surface area will result in better heat dissipation. The radiator is made out of aluminum, which offers decent heat transfer qualities. However, the primary advantage of using aluminum is its low mass, which should reduce the strain placed on the case where this is mounted. Looking at the whole package, the build quality on the SilverStone IceMyst 360 is excellent. There are no defects or nicks on the radiator or on the tubing around it. In order to protect the fins and area underneath the mounting holes, SilverStone has accommodated the extended mounting screws by spreading out the fins and creating a cavity here. Due to this, I do not believe the included screws will damage the radiator, even if you over-tighten it.
Moving to the other end of the tubing, we have a water block and pump combination of the SilverStone IceMyst 360. This measures 84mm in length, 73mm in width, and 70mm in height. It is a bit larger than other water blocks, especially when you look at the height. The top part of the unit is a rotatable cover with ARGB LED lighting to show off a bit of style here. However, this top part is also removable to reveal an 8-pin header in the middle and four curved slots on the border. This lets you expand the cooling here by mounting additional fans. These are the IMF70-ARGB modules that were included with our review sample. This explains the initial height of the combination block, as it ensures there is sufficient clearance to add extra fans. As for the underside, you can see the base is made out of copper. It is flat with no obvious milling marks at the bottom. There is a clear plastic label here out of the box, so be sure to remove this before installation. Internally, a water pump exists here to move water between the radiator and the CPU block. It is powered by a 3-pin header and operates at 12V 0.38A for a power consumption of 4.56W. It has a specified speed of 3100RPM.
The SilverStone IceMyst 360 comes with three 120mm SilverStone fans with model number CC12025H12S. From the manufacturer, we know these are capable of operating at up to a maximum speed of 2200RPM and maximum noise of 33.1dBA. This translates to an airflow rating of 75.74CFM and air pressure of 3.4mmH2O. Unfortunately, we were not given any lifespan numbers or what bearings are used in these fans. However, what makes these fans notable is the lack of cables connected. Similar to their Shark Force fans, SilverStone has employed a combination 8-pin header in the corners of the fans. This combines the PWM and addressable RGB LED control into a single daisy-chained cable. The header is tucked away to ensure the fans can be installed right beside each other and minimizes the cable clutter. All in all, I really like this implementation and control of the fans. SilverStone has also included a lighting controller if you do not have a header to use, with multiple effects and lighting colors. This controller is powered via a SATA power connection.
As mentioned, SilverStone sent us two sets of their IMF70-ARGB fans. From this view, you can see both sides of the fans. They are intended to only install one way and blow air towards your motherboard components. We have seen something similar on other coolers like the CRYORIG A80, and more recently with the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 A-RGB. The idea is to provide a bit of cooling for components near the processor. While the concept is not new, the innovation is the fact you can add multiple and move them around as you need. You can also rearrange them to cool other components around the processor socket. As for the IMF70-ARGB, these slot into the top of the water pump block and can be secured further with plastic pins. Of course, the four curved slits and protrusions help with securing them in place. The aforementioned 8-pin header is used for controlling the lighting and fan speed. Once installed, the fan module can rotate for a total of 320-degrees. SilverStone has not specified a maximum number of fans you can stack on top of each other, although I would expect diminishing returns after a certain number, as they would stack too far above your motherboard.
The fans themselves can spin up to 2800RPM with a noise level of 28.2dBA. The fan uses 1.2W of power, while the lighting adds an additional 1.5W. Otherwise, each module outputs 17.2CFM of airflow and 2.0mmH2O of air pressure. They use hydraulic bearings inside to ensure a quiet and long-lasting operation. In order to add additional power and provide fan control to these fans, SilverStone has also an additional 4-pin header connection out of the CPU combination block. You can connect it to the CPU_OPT header on your motherboard.
The installation process of the SilverStone IceMyst 360 is quite easy to execute. With the Intel LGA1700 socket, you can start by using the correct plastic backplate and placing it on the backside. SilverStone does have some 3M sticky tape on the back to keep the plate in place, but it is not necessary to use. On the CPU side, you can use the double-sided screws to attach to the backplate and act as the mounting bars. For AMD users, you will use the backplate and plastic hooks that come with your motherboard. Afterwards, you can install the correct mounting arms on the block of the cooler. This includes installing the necessary hook mechanism to latch onto the plastic bars. Each of the respective components and accessories are packaged separately from each other with resealable bags, which should make it easier during installation.
The next step is to install the fans on the radiator. With the three-in-one header and connection cable, I mounted the fans with the daisy-chain cable attached. While you could plug the cable in after the fact, it is a bit tight in the corners. Next, you can mount the radiator to the case. Afterwards, apply enough thermal paste, which is included from SilverStone, and install the water block and pump combination on top of the processor. Be sure to remove the protective label on the bottom of the block. When mounting, you should secure the whole block in a cross pattern to ensure even pressure and bolt tightness is applied. Finally, connect everything to the necessary headers. If you need to, you can also use the additional addressable RGB lighting control unit. Otherwise, I was able to finish the installation without any issues.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware; Installation
3. Test Results
4. Conclusion
