CPU coolers rarely get a personality, but the £120 be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX 360 stands out by blending near-silent performance with a customisable and vibrant design. Its modular snap-on foil covers let users easily change the look of the pump block. This adds a new dimension of personalisation rarely seen in mainstream all-in-one (AIO) water coolers.
This cooler targets enthusiasts who want solid thermal performance without compromising aesthetics or noise. A PWM pump with a progressive 6-pole motor reduces vibrations to a minimum, according to the company. An easy-to-access refill port simplifies the refilling process and makes handling very convenient. Colour me impressed.
be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX 360
€120 /£120
Pros
- Great cooling performance
- Quiet even under high loads
- Modular faceplates
- Vibrant ARGB
- Refilling port improves lifespan
- Simple cabling
Cons
- No white colour option
- Limited faceplate customisation for now
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How we test and review products.
Design
Pure Loop 3 LX 360 sports a sleek aluminium radiator measuring 397 x 120 x 27mm, optimised for efficient heat dissipation in high-performance builds. It pairs with three 120mm Light Wings LX PWM high-speed fans, designed for minimal turbulence and enhanced airflow.
Each fan features 16 addressable ARGB LEDs embedded in the blades, delivering a striking balance of cooling power and panoramic lighting effects. These fans, with a static pressure of 2.51mmH2O and airflow reaching 61.8CFM at up to 2100RPM, provide effective heat dispersion while running quietly thanks to durable rifle bearings and precise blade geometry.
The water block features a 6-pole, 3-phase PWM pump motor running at speeds ranging from 3,000-5,500 RPM. This ensures stable water circulation with minimal acoustic noise and vibration. The pump features a copper base, designed for decent contact with the CPU’s integrated heatspreader.
You will find the flexible and long (400 mm) tubing, which supports easy installation in mid- and full-tower cases. Noteworthy is the cooler’s intelligent modularity—the snap-on foil system offers ten interchangeable faceplates that users can swap without additional software. This enables rapid appearance tweaks and personalised setups.
Features
Designed with solid compatibility in mind, the cooler supports a wide range of sockets, covering Intel LGA1851, 1700, 115x, as well as AMD AM5 and AM4. The inclusion of a refill port extends longevity and ease of maintenance..
As I mentioned earlier, what truly sets the Pure Loop 3 LX apart is the snap-on foil system, which allows users to swap among 10 different faceplate designs, injecting personality without compromising lighting. It was first revealed at Computex 2025 and builds on be quiet!’s reputation for marrying very quiet operation with effective thermal management and solid build quality.
Beyond aesthetics, however, the Pure Loop 3 LX 360 should handle the thermal demands of overclocked processors while maintaining whisper-quiet acoustics, leveraging advanced Light Wings LX fans and a 3-phase PWM pump optimised for low vibration.
| Specification | Details |
| Socket Support | AMD: AM5, AM4; Intel: LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x |
| Radiator Dimensions | 397 x 120 x 27 mm |
| Water Block Dimensions | 60.0 x 60.0 x 30.0 mm |
| Fan Size and Type | 3 x 120 mm Light Wings LX PWM fans |
| Fan Speed Range | Up to 2100 RPM |
| Fan Airflow | 61.8 CFM |
| Fan Static Pressure | 2.51 mmH2O |
| Fan Noise Level | Max 36.9 dBA |
| Pump Speed Range | 3000 to 5500 RPM |
| Tubing Length | 400 mm |
| Coolant Refill Port | Yes |
| Price | £119.99 / €119.90 / $129.90 |
Unboxing
The be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX carboard box is painted/coloured mainly black, and features a visualisation of the layout, i.e. the pump block and three fans. After unpacking, you will find the cooler and the three 120 mm fans that need to be mounted. In addition, the box contains mounting kits for AMD and Intel, as well as thermal paste, which should be sufficient for one or two applications.
be quiet!’s Pure Loop 3 LX cooler is compatible with the following sockets: AMD: AM4 / AM5 – where the factory motherboard backplate is used; Intel: LGA 1151x / 1200 / 1700 / LGA 1851 – a metal backplate is included with the cooler.
The reviewed AIO has good protection with a cardboard moulding. The radiator additionally has a paper cover. At 27mm thick, there’s a total 52mm including fans. Be sure to check your chassis can accept the bulk before purchasing.
The FPI coefficient, which determines the number of fins per inch in the radiator, reaches 20 for be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX. This is a good result. The fans can be connected in series, which certainly makes it easier to tame the cables, but there are better solutions, e.g. with latches or even snap-on, which reduces the number of cables.
Fans
The be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX cooler can accommodate three factory-added (but not pre-installed) 120 mm Light Wings LX 120 mm PWM high-speed fans. They have a Rifle (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) bearings. Each feature nine blades that should ensure adequate airflow and high static pressure. The maximum speed is 2100 RPM (+/- 10%). The manufacturer declares 60,000 hours of operation at 25°C. The fans offer ARGB lighting, meaning they can be synchronised with the motherboard. The spectrum of effects includes all popular water features, and in addition to the fans, the pump is also illuminated.
Thanks to the serial connection, good cable management is possible, although, like before, there are better solutions on the market to prevent cable clutter.
Installation
Installation is straightforward, compatible with the latest Intel sockets (LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x) and AMD sockets (AM5, AM4). The tubing is flexible and long enough for all chassis. Maintenance is simplified thanks to a refill port, which extends the cooler’s life and reliability. The manufacturer suggests a refill after two years of usage.
AMD Installation: Supports AM4 and AM5 sockets. The included mounting hardware fits standard AMD backplates without requiring modifications.
Intel Installation: Compatible with modern Intel sockets, including LGA 115x, 1200, 1700, and 1851. It uses an Intel-specific mounting bracket and backplate, which install with a straightforward system. The bracket design ensures stable and precise mounting.
In hands-on usage, the radiator fits comfortably in most mid- to full-tower cases just fine. The three Light Wings LX fans come separately packaged for mounting on the radiator before installation, allowing users to orient them for optimal airflow, either as intake or exhaust depending on the location of the installation.
Cabling is simplified by the fan daisy chain design, which requires fewer motherboard headers and reduces cable clutter within the case. The pump wiring is also streamlined, facilitating a neat installation and effective cable management.
Performance
Test system
| CPU: | Intel Core i9-13900K |
| Motherboard: | Asus ROG STRIX Z690-E GAMING WIFI |
| RAM: | 2×16 GB Lexar Ares RGB 6000 CL30 |
| GPU: | ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 |
| Chassis: | Thermaltake View 380 XL TG ARGB |
| PSU: | Endorfy Supremo FM6 1000W |
Performance tests were conducted in Cinebench 2024 (MT), with three types of noise output:
- 36 dBA
- 39 dBA
- 42 dBA
And three rpm settings:
- 800 RPM
- 1200 RPM
- Max RPM
The cooling system noise tests were conducted under standardised conditions in an air-conditioned room (22°C), ensuring high repeatability of results. Measurements were taken at a distance of 30 centimetres from the computer case, while the background noise did not exceed 30 dBA. Sound pressure was measured using a Voltcraft SL-100 decibel meter.
Temperatures
Pushed into quiet mode, the be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX 360 is the best of the trio, all tested from the grounds-up for this editorial. A great start.
You’d expect temperature to reduce as noise (and fan speed) are dialled up. This is exactly what we see, though the differences between 36dBa and 39dBa are not striking.
Pushing noise up to the highest I like to see – 42dBa in my instance – the test cooler still runs better than the competition. be quiet! is doing something right with this design.
Noise
I can also turn the testing around to determine noise levels at a particular rpm. This means I’m looking at fan performance in more detail.
A couple of second places show that the supplied fans are not the quietest when evaluated by pure rpm alone. I wouldn’t worry too much as rpm and noise are less important than CPU temperature. I’ve already demonstrated the cooler performs better than the other two when set to a particular noise level.
Overall, the be quiet! The Pure Loop 3 LX 360 strikes a sweet spot between noise and actual CPU temperature. It’s around 7C better than the DeepCool when the entire system is running at only 36dBA. That’s a significant margin.
Conclusion
The be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX 360 is a refined all-in-one cooler that blends high-end thermal performance with a unique flair of personalisation and whisper-quiet operation. The modular faceplate system is a refreshing innovation in the AIO space, allowing users to easily customise their cooler’s look.
Coupled with powerful Light Wings LX fans and a smooth, durable pump, Pure Loop 3 LX 360 offers a compelling package for enthusiasts seeking a balance between silence, style, and substance.
In particular, its ability to maintain low noise levels without compromising cooling efficiency positions it as an excellent choice for both gamers and content creators who demand reliable thermal performance and a quiet workspace. Furthermore, the inclusion of a refill port enhances its appeal by extending the lifespan and serviceability of the cooler. For those looking to build a visually striking and quietly efficient rig, the Pure Loop 3 LX 360 is an great option in the mid-tier AIO cooler segment.
