DeepCool Castle 280EX schwarz

Nachdem ich von Deepcool bereits den Assassin III getestet habe, folgt jetzt die bisher erste 280-mm-Kühlung in meinen Reviews. Ob sich die AiO gegen den leises Auftragskiller behaupten kann oder doch nur als als saft dahintreibende Wasserleiche endet, erfahrt ihr im nachfolgenden Test. Es ist ja kein Erstlingswerk von Deepcool, sodass man schon ein wenig höhere Maßstäbe anlegen darf.

Wenn wir keinen Platz für eine 360er Wasserkühlung haben, ist die 280er eine sehr gute Alternative, um eine hohe Kühlleistung zu erhalten. Die Deepcool Castle 280EX überzeugt uns mit ihrer Leistung und wie auch die 360EX mit der Verarbeitung und dem Design. Mit der Anti Leak Technologie und den ruhigen Lüftern sind wir auf einer ruhigen und sicheren Seite.

The Deepcool Gamer Storm Castle 280EX offers solid cooling performance. While it didn't take the top spot in the overclocking tests, it did exceptionally well in every other test. The only time it didn't outpace the Fractal Design Prisma S28 was in the overclocking FPU tests. Even so, performance remained good and easily kept the Intel i7-8700K temperatures well in check. The biggest area in need of improvement is noise output. The Prisma S28 was quieter in every way, and even the louder Corsair H115i Platinum remained quieter during more typical loads. In general, performance in all categories is above average, making the unit an attractive option if noise output isn't your primary concern.

The Deepcool Castle 280EX costs 149 USD. We think that it’s not a sensational offer, but it’s worth the money, especially given that it’s TR4 compatible out of the box. If you are looking for a value liquid cooler with some RGB functionality (no RGB fans this time!), you might want to consider the Deepcool Castle 280EX. The performance is excellent, and the idle noise levels still amaze us (like they did in the 240EX version). It could have been a bit quieter under load (again, it’s even better than in the 240 mm version). Yet, for those who want a cooler that looks attractive – the Castle 280EX’s pump design with the RGB (which you can adjust using the motherboard or the attached controller), customizable logo, and the anti-leak system makes this product a proposal that’s well worth considering, especially that you get a 3-year warranty here, and the anti-leak solution as well (but let’s hope you won’t have an opportunity to experiment with that).

Bottom line: Castle 280EX is a capable cooler, but lacks some of the elegance available from its immediate rivals.

Offering excellent levels of temperature control (be it stock or overclocked) the DeepCool GamerStorm Castle 280EX is certainly an excellent option as an AIO liquid cooler. Admittedly, the RGB bells and whistles are not as substantial as other designs with it only being included here to the pump head, but then again, not many brands offer you the opportunity to add your own custom design touch to it. In addition, DeepCool has certainly addressed what’s lacking (missing?) with a more than attractive radiator/fan design.