INTRODUCTION

   Whenever people ask what CPU cooler to get for their new systems my answer is always the same, it depends on the CPU model (TDP - thermal design power - required), the tower/case used (interior space) and of course their budget. As I've pointed out more times in the past that i can possibly count thanks to their very good cooling efficiency, compact size, easy installation and looks (ARGB/RGB lighting) AIO (all-in-one) Liquid CPU Cooling Solutions are currently the go to choice for gamers, enthusiasts and professionals alike which is also why i tend to recommend them to people. Aerocool has released numerous AIO models to date but none has focused on looks as much as their latest Mirage line the L240 model of which i have here with me today.

   AeroCool is a Taipei-based, global computer component (Chassis, PSU, Fan Controller, Cooling etc.) company with an outstanding record in product design and innovation. Driven by the mantra ‘Be Cool. Get AeroCool.’ we strive to provide innovation in design yet deliver an affordable solution to PC users worldwide. For more information, please visit www.aerocool.io

   The Mirage L240 is a dual-fan model (available in black and white colors) that features a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 400W and consists by an 27mm thick and 274mm long aluminum radiator, two ARGB 120mm PWM high speed hydraulic bearing fans (1800RPM based on the product page - on the box however it states 2000RPM/ 72.2CFM/ 1.62mmH2O/ 26.8dBA), two 310mm long flexible braided tubings (Teflon coated), high-performance stainless-steel bearing pump (2300RPM) and a pure copper waterblock with optimized micro water channels. What makes the Mirage L240 stand out from similar AIO are its pump/waterblock combo and the two ARGB fans since they all feature addressable RGB (ARGB) LEDs together with Aerocool's infinity mirror design which is quite honestly unique (as showcased in the Mirage CPU Air Cooler review a while back). As expected, the Mirage L240 is fully compatible with all the leading motherboard sync technologies including ASUS Aura Sync, ASRock RGB Sync, MSI Mystic Light Sync and Gigabyte RGB Fusion.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The Mirage L240 gets shipped in a white box that has the company logo and a large product picture at the front.

You can find the main product features on both sides of the box and in 12 languages.

Both the product features and specifications are printed at the rear of the box.

Typically, the entire bundle is placed inside plastic bags and in a formed piece of cardboard.

Along with the main body of the Mirage L240 (radiator/tubes/pump/waterblock) inside the package you will also find the two ARGB 120mm fans, tiny thermal paste package, fan y-splitter, backplate, installation instructions and all the necessary screws and mounts for installation on Intel LGA 775/1150/1151/1155/1156/1200/2011/2011-3/2066 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/AM4/FM1/FM2 compatible motherboards.

THE MIRAGE L240

The radiator, tubes and pump/waterblock combo is something we've seen far too many times already (the pump of the Mirage L240 however does stand out).

As you can all see the aluminum radiator is indeed roughly 27mm in thickness (slightly less according to my measurement tool but it could need calibrating).

In terms of FPI (fins per inch) the radiator used with the Mirage L240 has a count of 20.

An empty/fill port is located at the end of the radiator but using it will void your warranty.

Aerocool used braided Teflon coated tubes which are roughly 310mm in length.

On top of the pump, we see a mirror-like area underneath which Aerocool has placed their logo and a LED ring.

Both tubes can rotate at the base of the waterblock/pump combo to simplify installation.

Under the pump we find a large copper base with no visible machine marks on it.

Both ARGB 120mm fans feature anti-vibration pads on all 4 corners, two RGB mainboard connectors and a 4pin PWM connector.

With both fans mounted the Mirage L240 now measures roughly 52mm in thickness.

The CPU cooler test rig may not be compatible with RGB/ARGB devices but the Z490 Dark test rig is and i really wanted to showcase the infinity mirror design of the pump to all of you (same with the two fans, minus the Aerocool logo).

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

   Testing complete water cooling kits or individual radiators is no different than testing CPU Coolers and since we want all of you to be able to compare similar products, we created new and separate charts (you can still cross-compare results however since we are using the same test rig). So once again single (120/140mm) watercooling solutions are tested with the radiator mounted at the rear of our test rig while dual/triple/quad (240/260/280/360/420/480/560mm) solutions with the radiator mounted at the top. For the dBA tests complete water cooling kits or radiators with bundled fans are measured both while on idle mode or with the fan controller in the minimum setting and while on extreme load or with the fan controller all the way to the highest possible setting (PWM fans do that on their own without our intervention). Every single test takes place in a temperature controlled room of 23 degrees Celsius Ambient Temp with the help of two AC units placed diagonally inside the room. Finally, much like when testing CPU Coolers, it's very important to point out that just because a water cooling kit outperforms another when tested with our test rig (when we test complete water cooling kits) that does not necessarily mean that the same performance differences will apply 100% for other CPU models and in other situations (such as different ambient temps and system configurations).

     To successfully record the load temperatures, we use the latest OCCT application for around 6-10 minutes to push the processor to its limits and after that is done and the temperatures are recorded, we wait for about 10-20 minutes for the CPU to cool down and record the idle temperatures. This is done to allow time for the thermal conductive material to achieve the optimal performance level. Same procedure is then repeated with the Passmark BurnIn Test as a failsafe just in case the OCCT results are wrong. This procedure takes a lot more time than the usual peltier/thermometer tests but this way not only can we deliver real world results to our readers based on real CPUs but we can also triple check the results using a variety of programs. Last but not least the temperatures were recorded using both the latest versions of AIDA64 and RealTemp while the noise level tests (when fans exist in the bundle) are performed using a high precision ExTech HD600 Decibel Meter placed about 10-15cm above the radiator. Still although the same testing procedure applies to all units do take into consideration that unlike the official numbers which are measured in special noise isolated labs with just the fans here, we also have both the rest of the cooler and the rest of the system (although all system fans are turned off when recording noise levels).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

   The Aerocool Mirage L240 may not be the highest performance 240mm AIO currently in the market but as you can all tell just by looking at the charts it does perform really well (both in terms of cooling efficiency and noise levels) while at the same time looking considerably better than most of its direct competition thanks to the 5V infinity mirror RGB design of both its pump and fans. One thing I would had liked to see would be longer tubes since 310mm may not be quite enough for some large cases but the Mirage L240 is not the only one with that size around (actually most 240mm models have 310mm long tubes so I can’t really consider this as a con). A control software would also be nice to have but since most current motherboards support 5V ARGB I guess we can live without it.

   Currently retailing for USD167.31 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 99.19Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the Mirage L240 AIO by Aerocool certainly needs a better price tag on the other side of the Atlantic (no issues over here). With that out of the way however if you’re looking for an 240mm dual-fan AIO that sports very good cooling efficiency, great looks, relatively acceptable noise levels and is priced right (at least over here) the Mirage L240 could be the one and for that it gets the Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Very Good Cooling Efficiency
- Looks (Infinity Mirror RGB Pump & Fans)
- Dual 120mm Radiator (Compatibility)
- Up To Four 120mm Fans In Push & Pull
- Available In Black & White
- Price (EU)

CONS

- Price (USA)