Cougar has been a name to reckon with in the PC hardware scene since its inception in 2008, earning respect and admiration from gaming fans and computer enthusiasts alike. Though Cougar may seem like a more recent player in the market, it benefits from the solid foundation and experience of HEC/Compucase, an established entity well-known for its OEM products. Cougar was born as a branch aiming to specialize in crafting high-performance gear that caters specifically to gamers and those deeply entrenched in the PC world.
At the outset, Cougar zeroed in on creating PC cases, but as the brand gained popularity, it broadened its horizon to include an impressive array of products. Nowadays, from gaming chairs to mechanical keyboards, Cougar’s expansive portfolio has marked its territory firmly in the gaming hardware marketplace.
Today, we’re diving into a review of one of Cougar’s newest ventures in the realm of liquid cooling—the Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB cooler. This high-performance, all-in-one liquid cooler is equipped with a robust 360mm radiator and lively ARGB lighting. It’s designed to satisfy both hardcore performance seekers and those desiring an eye-catching PC build. This review will explore the cooler’s standout features, efficiency, and noise levels, giving you a sense of how it competes in the bustling liquid cooler space.
Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB AIO Cooler Specifications
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Type: All-in-One Liquid Cooler
- Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 52 mm (with fans)
- Fans: 3 x 120 mm HDB Bearing Fans, 2200 RPM max
- RGB: Yes, with ARGB
- Supported Sockets:
- Intel: LGA1700 / LGA1200 / LGA 115x
- AMD: AM5 / AM4
- Warranty: 5 Years
- Price: $119
Packaging & Bundle
The Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB arrives in a hefty, durable box decked out in Cougar’s hallmark black and orange tones. Bright pictures highlight the RGB capabilities, making the box itself an attractive piece. Inside, the cooler and its parts are carefully nestled in custom cardboard inserts providing safe transport.
For a premium cooler, the bundle is rather basic. Cougar supplies the essential cables for powering the fans and the controller, a single-use thermal compound packet, and mounting equipment for the CPU socket. One thing missing is a standalone RGB controller; the cooler necessitates a compatible motherboard or controller to operate the RGB lights.
The cooler boasts three 120 mm fans featuring a distinct frame design, blades with convex ridges, and advanced hydraulic bearings for better performance and durability. Although the exact manufacturer of the fans isn’t revealed, they do feature a snazzy ARGB LED system. The semi-transparent design of the blades and inner ring helps softly diffuse light, adding to the cooler’s appeal.
The Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 mm ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler
True to the standard design of AIO liquid coolers, the Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB has a radiator, hoses, and a block combining the CPU contact plate with a neat liquid pump. The rubber tubing is conventional but comes cloaked in an external nylon sleeve for enhanced wear protection. As is common with AIO coolers, plastic makes up most of the fittings.
Keeping industry norms, the radiator is a dual-pass, cross-flow model with fine fins soldered onto tubes. This setup excels in compact spaces while dealing with varied temperature demands. Although the hose connections are fixed, which might cramp flexibility during installation, the cooler’s radiator is a mere 27 mm thick, ensuring better compatibility. Nevertheless, combining the fans pushes the total system height to 52 mm, necessitating a case built for such systems.
A standout effort by Cougar is the main block assembly. Mostly made from plastic and acrylic (excluding the contact plate), Cougar has poured creativity into making this component visually striking. Rotate the block’s top left if you want to straighten the logo – no real hex screws needed here! And those 90° hose fittings? They swivel, giving you a bit more leeway during setup.
The contact plate itself is a metallic, squircle design crafted from copper. While it isn’t polished to a mirror finish, it’s smooth enough for reliable contact. Rest assured, the screws holding everything together are tidily hidden behind the cover. And in case you’re picky about thermal paste, there’s none pre-applied, leaving you room to pick your favorite brand. The plate’s ample size means it’ll fit snugly over any compatible processors.
The ARGB lighting is a major win for Cougar here, casting vibrant, uniformly diffused light through the fan blades and the block top. If you have a matching motherboard, the lights will seamlessly sync with your system’s theme. Without a 5V ARGB LED support from your motherboard, or an external controller, the cooler’s light show won’t start.
