Final Thoughts on the MSI MAG CORELIQUID A12 240
Entry-level is how I would best describe the MSI MAG CORELIQUID A12 240. While you don’t get any flashy LCD displays, VRM cooling fans, or complex software to tweak every aspect, you do get some decent ARGB lighting, and surprisingly good performance compared to the 360mm AIOs that this cooler was competing with. The smaller radiator and one less fan just couldn’t bring this cooler much higher than the bottom of the charts, but with that said, it isn’t like there was a huge gap in performance between this smaller cooler and it’s larger brethren. Even under load, the MSI MAG CORELIQUID A12 240 was perfectly capable of cooling our CPU.
Where the MSI MAG CORELIQUID A12 240 comes up lacking is in some of the creature comfort features that we have seen on many of the higher-priced AIOs available in today’s environment. The 120mm ARGB fans don’t support PWM daisy chaining (though their ARGB connections do), which leads to excess cabling and the need to use a 2-to-1 adapter in order to utilize a single motherboard header. Additionally, the fans do not come preinstalled on the radiator. And while that is a really simple process, we have been spoiled by all of the preinstalled fans we have encountered on other AIOs. Speaking of the fans, they do put out quite a bit of noise, but that is kind of expected considering their higher-than-average airflow ratings.
I can’t fault the MSI MAG CORELIQUID A12 240 for its performance compared to a field of coolers with an additional 120mm of radiator space and an extra fan, but I don’t need to. It performs well within the range of these 360mm coolers, and I think that is quite admirable. Keeping in mind that this cooler will most likely find its way into a smaller case that only has room for a 240mm AIO, that could result in somewhat different performance outcomes compared to our test system that is designed for 360mm coolers. Of course, every build is going to be a bit different, but it should just be noted that proper component sizing should always be taken into consideration with every build.
With a budget-friendly price of $69.93 at our favorite online retailer, the MSI MAG CORELIQUID A12 240 looks to be a great option for smaller builds that don’t want to give up on performance, while skipping some of the convenience features that many modern AIOs include. The MSI MAG CORELIQUID A12 240 earns an 8 out of 10.
Pros:
- Idle and Load Performance in Relation to 360mm Coolers
- ARGB lighting
- Budget Pricing
Cons:
- Fans Not Installed at Factory
- Fans Not Daisy Chained
- Loud Fan Operation
- Manual Not Included and Not on Product Page
