Cooler Master MasterLiquid Pro 280 Liquid CPU Cooler Review

Not long ago we checked out Cooler Master’s newest entry in the AiO cooler segment, the MasterLiquid Pro 240. It was a really nice cooler with a brand new unique dual chamber pump design that performed admirably in the highly competitive 240mm radiator category. While truly a highly polished product with a really great design aesthetic, the Pro 240 may not be everything you are looking for as far as performance is concerned. If you find yourself thinking along those lines perhaps this next product from Cooler Master is for you? Today we’ll be taking a close look at the bigger brother to the Pro 240, Cooler Master’s absolutely newest product, the MasterLiquid Pro 280! This AiO is nearly identical to the Pro 240 but comes equipped with a 25% larger 280mm radiator. Follow along as we check this brute out and see how much of cooling punch it packs.

Special thanks to Cooler Master for providing the MasterLiquid Pro 280 for review!

Features

FlowOp Technology
Starting with the hot CPU, FlowOp looks to optimize the flow of liquid, enabling it to carry heat quickly and efficiently away from the CPU while preserving the lifespan of the components. To achieve this, we made improvements to practically every phase of the MasterLiquid Pro’s cooling loop

A Dual Approach to Life Expectancy
We stacked an extra chamber on top and engineered it so that cold stuff can go in, but hot stuff can’t go back up. The cooler upper chamber is where we store all of the vital components.

“Spraying” the CPU
We stacked an extra chamber on top and engineered it so that cold stuff can go in, but hot stuff can’t go back up. We grabbed technology from top-end DIY liquid cooling kits to create a powerful pump that sprays liquid directly at the center of the water block. It solves the issue of slow flow and allows us to mount more ultra-fine fins on the copper base, creating more surface area from which the coolant can take away heat.

Gently Driven
Adding to that effort towards silence, we encased the pump needed to drive that concentrated spray at our CPU with a silent driver. The custom driver rotates way more smoothly than any other technology out there, reducing noisy clicks and vibration. It’s like you’re using a V8 engine and can’t even notice.

Easy Installation
Many of Cooler Master’s products are known for their easy installation. To fit our Pro lineup to the motherboard and install fans, all you need to bring are your two hands and a screwdriver.

Spacious Squares for Air
The MasterLiquid’s unique square fin design creates greater surface area for absorption of the heat and allows for spacious airflow. The increased space means we can use a quieter fan that pushes air farther out of the case. It’s really quiet.

Getting the Heat Outside
The spacious square fins gave us leverage to use all-new MasterFan Pro Air Balance fans. The blades push air farther out of the case and are quieter than high static pressure fans. And they’ll last just as long as your liquid cooler.

Specifications
specs

Packaging
The MasterLiquid Pro 280 comes in the same new packaging we saw with the Pro 240, that is, Matte black backgrounds with blue and white text. The rectangular box should arrive to you wrapped in shrink wrap to protect it from contaminants.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid Pro 280 Liquid CPU Cooler

Checking out the top of the box we find a top down photo of the cooler on a matte black background with blue and white text imposed over the top of it. You will also find the traditional CM logo in the upper left hand corner. Rotating the box horizontally we come to one side and what is essentially a blank page followed by the back of the box. Here you will find an exploded image of the cooler as well as the technical drawings and product specs in eight languages.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid Pro 280 Liquid CPU Cooler Cooler Master MasterLiquid Pro 280 Liquid CPU Cooler

One final horizontal rotation will serve you with information listings in 14 languages. The two ends offer another product image on one and the full technical specs on the other.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid Pro 280 Liquid CPU Cooler Cooler Master MasterLiquid Pro 280 Liquid CPU Cooler Cooler Master MasterLiquid Pro 280 Liquid CPU Cooler

Back to the top of the box, we flip the cover back and find the cooler basically imbedded in cardboard. We first encountered this unique packaging when we reviewed the Pro 240 and found it to be really neat, efficient, and sufficient. The cooler is contained in one package comprised of two boxes, one for the pump (which has foam padding inside) and one for the radiator and fans. The other box contains the full set of hardware and manuals.

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Once again this unique packaging has delivered all our parts to us in excellent condition!