Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML280 Mirror AIO Cooler Review

There are many ways to increase the performance of your PC.  Most enthusiasts will immediately gravitate to overclocking for the “instant gratification” in performance but, with many modern processors there isn’t much to be gained from overclocking especially if you cannot keep the processor cool.  Thermals play a huge role in how your system performs and when they are under control your system can run its best.

In this review I’ll be looking at the MasterLiquid ML280 Mirror from Cooler Master.  This is a dual 140mm AIO watercooling unit that supports addressable RGB (ARGB) lights and features an infinity mirror across the top of the pump.  Back in 2016 I reviewed the MasterLiquid Pro 280 which was one of the first AIO designs that Cooler Master re-launched to feature a redesigned dual chamber pump design.

When it comes to water cooling there are two major variables to consider.  1) How heat is transferred to the liquid.  2) How heat is transferred from the liquid to the air.  The concept is easy enough to understand however the trick is finding a balance between them that doesn’t negatively impact overall performance. 

For AIO coolers the intent is to provide a cooling solution that provides better performance over standard aircooling and is cheaper than going with a full DIY cooling loop.  To accomplish this many of the components are combined and, when distilled down, become a basic pump block and radiator. 

There are some theoretical limits as to what can be accomplished with an AIO cooler and for most systems you can be guaranteed two things.  First, an AIO will always cool better than an aircooler and, Second, an AIO requires more effort to get installed but is worth the effort.