MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 Review – Simple And Solid

Unboxing

Here’s one of the latest cooling products from Taiwanese PC maker MSI, the MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 – we specifically received the black version as the review unit, though this model is also available in white if you opt for the bright-colored builds. Opening the box reveals the mostly pre-assembled unit properly tucked within the paper box, and that’s good news if you’re looking for convenience for the installation process.

These are all the items laid out on the table, and it is extremely simplified: the Intel mounting bracket is pre-installed by default, though you’ll need to pair with the backplate for installation; for AMD systems, simply swap it out to the two-piece bracket designed for Socket AM4/AM5 and it can be installed to the motherboard right away. You also get the necessary screws for installing the radiators, along with a small tube of thermal paste (which is not pre-applied to the pump block).

Walkaround

The MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 has most of its sub-components pre-installed, which includes the brackets, fans, along with its cables already daisy-chained; notably, all the pre-attached cables are quite long (450mm according to the spec sheet) so you get good flexibility for cable management no matter your motherboard’s layout.

The pump block itself is a relatively small unit adopting the rounded square shape, which is pretty on-brand to the latest design trend turning every corner into a round one. The socket brackets are secured via four screws on each corner, which can be unscrewed to swap to AMD’s bracket. Do note that on first installation, you’ll need to remove the sticker before proceeding. The pump is accompanied by two cables – one PWM 3-pin for the pump (no fourth pin for speed controls), and the other for RGB.

The pre-installed fans is a custom design with a model name that is largely untraceable to any existing design, though oddly enough a Google search ended up referencing one of the Cooler Master’s fans somehow. Still, the fan blade is a completely bespoke design with additional geometry on the blade tip, which presumably helps its cooling and noise performance.

All three fans are connected via a custom connector between each other, though the connection between the fans and the motherboard still adopts the standard PWM 4-pin + 3-pin ARGB design (with a daisy chain connector that you can link to the pump block as well). Some of the latest MSI motherboards (like the X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard we’re using next) feature the new “EZ-Conn” connector that combines both cables into one, which should help in terms of cable management.

The lid of the pump block can be popped out by prying using a tool such as screwdriver, which exposes the RGB lighting element and the 4 mounting slots for any custom 3D-printed objects. You can print just about anything so long as the base plate aligns with the mounting slots, though it’s worth paying extra care on the space limitations, especially in AMD systems (where the tube will be stretched to its maximum reachable length). MSI provided us with an ornament featuring their mascot “Lucky”, which fits just about perfectly in our installations.

Specifications

MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 (Black)

Full specifications available in product page and datasheet.

CPU socket compatibility		Intel: LGA1851/1700 AMD: Socket AM5/AM4
Radiator dimensions		394 x 119.6 x 27 mm
Radiator tubing		EPDM rubber, sleeved (length unspecified)
Fan(s)	Model	3x custom fans (Pre-installed)
	Size	120 x 120 x 25 mm
	Speed	~2080 RPM (measured)
	Airflow	62.6 CFM
	Pressure	Unspecified
	Noise	Unspecified
Pump/Block	Pump Type	Unknown
	Size	70.9 x 69.3 x 56.98 mm
	Pump Speed	3800 (±10%) RPM
	Flow Rate	Unspecified
	Noise	20 dbA (avg.)
Onboard display		None, RGB lighting only Plastic RGB pump cover w/ support for 3D-printed objects
Included accessories		12x Case screws 1x Intel bracket (2-part, pre-installed) 1x Intel backplate 1x AMD bracket (2-part) 1x MSI thermal paste

Test System

CPU	Intel: Intel Core i9-13900K AMD: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Cooling	AIO Testing: > MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Thermal Paste Testing: Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL360 Flux 30th Anniversary Edition > MSI Thermal Paste
Motherboard	Intel: ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero AMD: MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition
Memory	ADATA XPG CASTER DDR5-6000 CL30 (2x16GB)
Storage	ADATA LEGEND 960 MAX 1TB
Power Supply	Cooler Master MWE Gold 1250 V2 Full Modular (ATX12V 2.52) 1250W MSI MAG A850GLS PCIE5
Case	VECTOR Bench Case (Open-air chassis) Cooler Master MasterBox 600
Operating System	Windows 11 Home 24H2

Installation

For our demonstration, we’ll be installing the MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 AIO into an AMD system (motherboard provided by MSI). Start by unscrewing two parts: the pre-installed Intel bracket, and the standard hook mounting bracket on the AMD socket. Install the cooler’s AMD bracket, and the pump block is ready to be installed. Remove the protective layer, apply thermal paste on the Ryzen CPU, and just screw it in – installation complete. Suffice to say, this is among the simplest AIOs on the market to set up as the steps can be described in just this paragraph.

While it works with virtually all AMD processors in the past 9 years, keep in mind that this AIO only supports modern sockets from Intel. If you use Intel CPUs older than the 12th Gen Core (the first to adopt LGA1700 and the new 78x78mm layout), skip this model and look elsewhere.

MSI also provided its new MAG A850GLS PCIE5 power supply to complete the installation – this PSU features the highlighted 12V-2×6 connector on both ends to ensure proper seating, and most of the cables are pre-managed for the most part, making even the rear of the case looking pretty clean overall. The extra length of the pump connectors does require some creative workarounds to visually conceal, and we opted to wrap it around one of the tubes to prevent it from dangling in the middle of the case.

Performance

For AMD systems, the MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 is more than capable of handling the most powerful Ryzen chip on the market today with ease, with the default 200W PPT only maxing out the cooler at just 77 degrees. If you prefer to use that extra thermal headroom to extract more performance, the PBO test shows that the cooler can consistently handle around 230 watts of power from the socket while staying on the 95-degree throttling limit imposed on the Ryzen desktop processors.

For Intel systems, we look at the worst-case condition with the Core i9-13900K, one of the hardest chips to cool today. Once again, the CORELIQUID A13 360 comfortably manages the processor at 250 watts of power, and removing that limit allows the CPU to push itself up to nearly 300 watts on average with this cooler in a top-mounted configuration inside a case. While other coolers on this list generally performs better than the MSI’s offering, it’s still a pretty solid showing for MSI considering this is an entry-level model from the brand.

We also tested the included thermal paste for reference, which is not available as a standalone unit. The thermal performance shows it’s somewhere in the middle of 81 to 83 degrees on average, making it perfectly serviceable for this cooler.

Finally, fan noise testing shows that the unique blade design on three 120mm fans does seem to contributed to its solid noise performance. It’s reasonably quiet even at high speeds, sitting in between the Cooler Master and TRYX AIO coolers that we tested in the past.

Verdict

At just RM339, the value of MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 is quite immense: pre-installed fans, simple installation, solid cooling, and even a decent level of customization if you got the 3D printing know-how (or someone who does) – it’s just an ideal combination of features and value that not many AIOs in the market can achieve. The only caveat is to keep in mind for Intel CPU compatibility; otherwise, this is about as good a budget-focused AIO cooler can be today.

Special thanks to MSI Malaysia for providing the MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 AIO cooler and MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard for this review, along with MAG A850GLS PCIE5 power supply for demonstration.