be quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 280mm

Be quiet liefert mit der Pure Loop 2 FX einen würdigen Nachfolger ab, der in allen Disziplinen überzeugen kann. Die schicke, ursprünglich schlichte Optik gepaart mit einer modernen ARGB-Beleuchtung wertet die Wasserkühlung ungemein auf.

I will not be focusing much on that whenever I look into a new cooler because I’m not really a big fan of all the fancy lighting but here are some of my personal complaints regarding the Pure Loop 2 FX 280mm. First off, the minimal RGB element and brushed metal texture on the CPU block cover are fine but I think that be quiet! can actually consider going for a magnetic cover for the CPU block to make orientation matching or refilling coolant much easier. Up next is the RGB and fan combo hub that uses a double-sided adhesive pad instead, which I think it’s better if be quiet! can consider using magnets for the hub base to make cable management and future maintenance easier.

In the end, the pump has been improved, being PWM compatible, be quiet! added their new aRGB fans, and you get a fan HUB. Overall we're pleased with what we see; however, cooling performance the kit did not gain anything at all. In fact, cooling performance is somewhat lacking compared to other competing LCS kits. Aesthetics-wise, the design could have been great, but the enormous be quiet! logo ruins the looks for me. Also, the bright white logo 'Pure Loop 2 FX' plastered on the side of the radiator is a no-go for me. The aRGB fans, however do look nice but became rather loud once we started to overclock. In the end, this remains to be an average LCS kit, and be quiet! really needs to move away from their logo fetish. If priced low enough, it could make sense for the non-overclocker.

Overall, the be quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 280 is a decent AIO cooling solution that offers good performance at reasonable noise levels, gets the ARGB lighting right while also including a solid warranty and the ability to perform basic maintenance. It may not be the cooler with the lowest temperatures in our test group, but they got so much else right; I have no issues recommending it.