While Intel Core Ultra 200 processors require new Socket LGA1851 motherboards, you won’t need to fork out for new cooling. In a pleasantly convenient bit of news, existing LGA1700 coolers are backwards compatible with the new chips. However, those seeking to squeeze every drop of performance should pay heed to the arrival of new brackets which promise better thermals.
During my MSI motherboard factory tour earlier this year, the company was keen to share its plans for Core Ultra 200. Naturally, this includes a stack of Z890 motherboards but also encompasses cooling. While Intel’s Arrow Lake architecture is much more efficient than prior generations, thus generating less heat, thermal performance won’t be 1:1 using the same air or AIO water coolers.
The hotspot for Core Ultra 200 CPUs has shifted from 14th Gen Core. This change makes it slightly more difficult for existing coolers to as effectively cool the likes of Core Ultra 9 285K as they do older processors like Core i9-14900K. To be clear, this is more notable than concerning for most system builders as thermals will still be much improved generationally speaking.
To better accommodate Core Ultra 200, though, MSI will include an ‘Offset Kit’ with its AIO coolers, starting with MAG Coreliquid A15 360 and MAG Coreliquid i360. The company explains that this tailor-made bracket will reduce operating temperatures by up to 3°C at 300W. While it will benefit the chips as they run at lower wattages, improvements are more keenly present as voltage increases.
Better still, combined with RL-ILM loadplates on some motherboards, temperatures can fall even further. Running Cinebench R23 on a Core Ultra 9 285K, with 270W behind it, MSI claims it ran 4°C cooler than with a standard kit.
MAG Coreliquid A15 360 and MAG Coreliquid i360 arrive with a ‘Uni Bracket’ by default, supporting both Intel (1700/1851) and AMD (AM4/AM5) sockets out of the box. I applaud this move, as it cuts back on unnecessary waste with redundant brackets and mitigates user error too. Here’s hoping other manufacturers follow in MSI’s wake.
I’ve asked MSI whether it will offer the offset kit to customers with existing coolers. Expect an update in due course.
Club386 will have more on Core Ultra 200 series processors and Z890 motherboards in the coming weeks, including reviews. So, stay tuned!