Review of the Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB AIO Cooler: Stunning RGB, Mediocre Performance

Cougar burst onto the scene in 2008 and has swiftly become a recognized player in the PC hardware marketplace, especially among gaming aficionados and tech enthusiasts. Though it seems like a newcomer, it’s actually backed by the seasoned HEC/Compucase company, recognized for its OEM products. Cougar was born as a spin-off to zero in on crafting high-performance gear geared specifically to gamers and PC hobbyists.

Starting out, Cougar set its sights on making PC cases, but as its name grew, so did its range of offerings. Over the years, the brand has cleverly branched out, creating everything from gaming chairs to mechanical keyboards, cementing its footprint in the gaming hardware sector.

In this review, we dive into Cougar’s newest venture in the liquid cooling domain: the Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB cooler. This all-in-one solution features a 360mm radiator paired with eye-catching ARGB lighting, aiming to win over hardcore performance users as well as those seeking a visually stunning setup. We’ll explore the cooler’s standout attributes, its cooling chops, and noise output to see how it measures up in the fiercely competitive landscape of liquid cooling solutions.

Specifications of the Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB AIO Cooler

• Type: All-in-One Liquid Cooler
• Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 52 mm (with fan)
• Fans: 3 x 120 mm HDB Bearing Fans, up to 2200 RPM
• RGB: Yes (ARGB)
• Supported Sockets: Intel LGA1700 / LGA1200 / LGA 115x, AMD AM5 / AM4
• Warranty: 5 Years
• Price: $119

Packaging & Bundle

The Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB cooler arrives in a robust cardboard box, sticking to Cougar’s classic black and orange palette. What immediately grabs attention, however, is the vibrant imagery showcasing the cooler’s impressive RGB capabilities, giving the package an alluring visual punch. Inside, custom cardboard inserts cradle the cooler and its components, providing peace of mind during transit.

Within the box, you’ll find a rather standard assortment of items for a high-end CPU cooler. Cougar includes all the essentials: cables for fan power and the controller, a one-time supply of thermal paste, and mounting gear for attaching the cooler to your CPU socket. However, it lacks a separate RGB controller, meaning you’ll need a compatible motherboard or existing controller setup to manage the RGB features.

The cooler arrives with three 120 mm fans, distinguished by their unique frame design and convex blades, ensuring superior performance thanks to advanced hydraulic bearings. Although Cougar doesn’t disclose the original fan maker, the part number is DF1202512FDMN. The fans are decked out with ARGB LEDs, and their semi-transparent blades and inner ring elegantly diffuses the light, ramping up the cooler’s aesthetic appeal.

Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler

Cougar’s Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB cooler holds true to the conventional design principles of all-in-one liquid coolers, incorporating a radiator, dual hoses, and a block that combines the CPU contact plate with a petite liquid pump. They opted for typical rubber tubing, encased in an external nylon sleeve for enhanced durability. As with many present-day AIO systems, the fittings are plastic.

The radiator employs a standard dual-pass cross-flow build, with fine fins soldered onto slender oblong tubes, a design prized for its effectiveness within compact dimensions. The radiator’s hose connections are fixed, somewhat limiting installation flexibility, but the radiator’s 27 mm thickness ensures greater compatibility. Combined with the fans, however, you’ll need at least 52 mm of clearance, advising use in a case designed for AIO setups.

Cougar shines with the intricate craftsmanship of the main block assembly. Apart from the contact plate, the rest is constructed from plastic and acrylic, demonstrating Cougar’s commitment to an aesthetically pleasing design. Users can unscrew the top of the block with a gentle twist, allowing rotational adjustment of the logo—a nifty feature considering that the prominent hex screw heads are merely decorative. Additionally, the 90° swivel hose fittings offer convenient installation flexibility.

The contact plate boasts a squircle shape crafted from copper. While it isn’t polished to a mirror shine, its smoothness and flatness are certainly up to the task. The screws anchoring the cold plate benevolently hide behind the plastic cover, and no thermal paste comes pre-applied, letting you pick your favorite. The contact plate is generously sized to accommodate all compatible processors.

On the RGB front, Cougar has really turned up the dial with the Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB—the lighting pulsates vibrantly and smoothly, brilliantly diffused by the fan blades and the main block’s top. It syncs perfectly with your system’s lighting theme if you connect it to a compatible motherboard. However, do note that if your motherboard doesn’t support 5V ARGB LEDs, or you don’t have another controller option, the cooler’s lighting won’t activate.

Conclusion

In essence, the Cougar Poseidon Ultra 360 ARGB liquid cooler presents itself as a solid choice for gamers and PC enthusiasts alike. Boasting strong performance, aesthetic flair, and a competitive price, it’s certainly a contender in the bustling liquid cooling market. If you’re after a cooler that delivers on both function and form, this might just be the perfect fit for your setup.