The Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB AIO Cooler Review: Bright Lights, Average Cooling

Conclusion

The Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB cooler, priced at an MSRP of $119, represents a compelling option in the competitive landscape of high-performance liquid coolers, offering a well-rounded package at a fairly competitive price. While it may not top the charts in raw thermal performance, it certainly holds its own, especially when considering its price point and the features it brings to the table.

The standout feature of the Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB is its vibrant and smooth ARGB lighting, which adds a visually appealing element to any build. The lighting is vibrant and well-diffused, adding a visually striking element to any build. The inclusion of adjustable orientation for the logo on the block assembly is a thoughtful touch that will appeal to those who care about aesthetics. However, the lack of a standalone RGB controller in the package is a slight drawback, as users will need a compatible motherboard or external controller to fully utilize the lighting features. The cooler’s build quality is solid, featuring a well-designed block assembly with a copper contact plate and plastic-acrylic construction. The 90° swiveling hose fittings provide some flexibility during installation, which is a thoughtful design choice. Although the radiator’s fixed hose connections slightly limit flexibility during installation, the overall design is user-friendly and robust.

The Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB demonstrates solid thermal performance, with an average thermal resistance of 0.0713 °C/W at maximum fan speed, which is commendable but does not lead the pack in its category. While the performance figures align well with competitive products, they fall short of the highest benchmarks set by some similar ARGB-equipped coolers. The noise levels of the Poseidon Ultra 360 are within expected ranges for a triple-fan AIO cooler, with a measured 44.2 dB(A) at full speed and a more tolerable 34.6 dB(A) at half speed. The cooler is flexible and its performance-to-noise ratio can be controlled by the users to match their needs.

Overall, the Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB offers a balanced combination of performance, aesthetics, and value. Its competitive MSRP of $119 positions it well within reach for users looking for high-performance cooling solutions without venturing into higher price brackets. While its raw thermal performance does not top the charts, the Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB’s solid features and effective cooling make it a worthy contender in the liquid cooler market, especially for those who value the combination of functionality and style.