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Once upon a time, the presence of the TUF symbol on ASUS devices was a kind of guarantee of their durability and endurance. Over time, this marketing symbol slightly “came into circulation”: at first it began to be more common on products of the lower price segment, then it quietly moved to the “gaming” series, and then it began to appear on the components of other vendors that entered into a collaboration with ASUS.
Compared to the old representatives, the current TUF series has become simpler and is now positioned for undemanding players, but sometimes there are interesting specimens in it. For example, “all-in-one” CBO ASUS TUF Gaming LC 240 RGB. At first glance, it subtly resembles the recently reviewed ASUS ROG Strix LC 240 RGB. As much as two identical CBOs in the OEM version can be similar to each other. But if we take a closer look, we will see that the TUF version has a number of simplifications in terms of backlighting, the range of supported connectors, and therefore is cheaper in cost. On the other hand, none of this really matters. After all, the main thing is efficiency. And we will definitely check it in a thermal test. But first, a little about the system as a whole.
Characteristics
| Technical specifications | ASUS TUF Gaming LC 240 RGB |
|---|---|
| Product page | asus.com |
| Processor socket compatibility | Intel LGA 115x/1200/1366 AMD AM4 |
| Radiator dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 272x122x27 |
| Fan dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 120x120x25 |
| Radiator material and construction | Aluminum two-section water radiator with belt-type fins |
| Radiator weight, g | 690 |
| Number of radiator plates, pcs. | 189 |
| Plate thickness, mm | 0,2 |
| Intercostal distance, mm | 1,1 |
| Estimated radiator area, cm² | ~5 800 |
| Water block size, (LxWxH), mm | 84x72x51 |
| Water block material | Plastic housing with copper base |
| Pump speed at 12 V, rpm | 1450 |
| Peak power consumption of the pump, W: | – |
| Fan model | 2 x TUF FAN Model 12 RGB |
| Fan rotation speed, rpm | 800 ~ 2000 (+/- 10%) with PWM |
| Air flow, m³/h | 113,8 |
| Fan noise level, dB(A) | 29 |
| Static pressure, mm of water | 3 |
| Number and type of fan bearing | – |
| Fan MTBF, hour | – |
| Rated fan voltage, V | 12 |
| Fan current, A | 0,35 |
| Peak fan power consumption, W | 4,2 |
| Additional features | ARGB pump and fan lighting |
| Average cost, UAH | ~4155 |
Packing and scope of delivery
ASUS TUF Gaming LC 240 RGB is packaged in a typical box for this product class. It has an image of the system itself and those technical characteristics and advantages that the manufacturer considered it necessary to mention.
Inside, all parts are packed in plastic bags and a mold made of pressed cardboard, designed to absorb any CBO leaks should they happen.
The ASUS TUF Gaming LC 240 RGB package, in addition to the heatsink assembly with water block and pump, includes:
- installation instructions;
- eyelet metal mounting frame for AMD AM4 sockets;
- 8 long screws for mounting fans;
- 16 metal washers for mounting screws;
- 16 short screws for mounting the radiator (half of which is only needed “in reserve”);
- plastic reinforcement frame for Intel LGA 115x and 1366 sockets;
- four knurled nuts with a hole for a Phillips screwdriver;
- four screw racks for Intel LGA 115x and 1366 sockets;
- backlight splitter from one + 12VGRB connector to three (380 mm long);
- fan power splitter from one four-pin connector to two (380 and 50 mm long);
- two 120x120x25 mm fans with RGB backlight.
Appearance
If you have seen at least one Asetek reference design radiator, then consider that you have seen them all. In this case, it has completely standard dimensions of 272x120x27 mm. The water block is connected to the radiator with flexible 380 mm rubber tubes in a nylon braid. The outer diameter of the tubes is approximately 11 mm, and the inner diameter is 6 or 7 mm.
The radiator is made of aluminum and completely painted in black. The side slats have two sets of mounting holes for 120mm fans, arranged without a gap. Radiator fins are band-type, stacked at 20 FPI (fins per inch). Between the fins are 13 channels through which the refrigerant is pumped. The total heat dissipation area is approximately 5800 cm². The weight of the equipped system, excluding fans, is 690 grams. The propellers weigh 125 grams each.
The tubes are fixedly connected to the radiator fittings using rubber clips. The thickness of the manifold on the hose side is 19 mm.
The collector on the opposite side has a thickness of 14 mm.
The side slats have three rivets on each side.
ASUS has creatively rethought the design of the water block cover. Its hexagonal body is made of plastic, and is specially made to look massive. The top is mirrored and has a backlit TUF logo. Plus, the light will be visible through the diagonal grilles on three sides of the pump. Without taking into account the dimensions of the frame, the dimensions of this part are 84×72 mm.
The height of the water block reaches 51 mm. The pump installed inside is powered by 12V DC while maintaining a constant speed of around 1450 rpm. Its noise level does not exceed 38 dB (A), but there is a buzzing sound in the background.
The hoses are connected to the water block using angle fittings with rubber clips located in the same plane. They can be easily rotated, at least as long as they do not rest against each other.
Two connectors are connected between the hoses with ribbon cables – one three-pin for powering the pump, 280 mm long and one + 12VGRB for backlight, 310 mm long.
The base is round and copper, with a diameter of 54 mm. The sole of the cooler is attached to the pump with eight conventional Phillips screws screwed around the perimeter. Another 12 screws hold the rest of the case together. By default, a thin layer of thermal paste is applied here. The pre-installed frame with fastening paws is designed for Intel LGA 115x and 1366. It dangles and is therefore attracted from the back by a plastic overlay, which must be removed before changing the frame.
After removing the layer of stock thermal paste, it becomes clear that the copper sole has a linear polishing.
Two proprietary TUF FAN Model 12 RGB propellers are used as fans. They have seven translucent blades of a standard configuration. Six RGB LEDs are located around the perimeter of the stator. The frame is made in an unusual design and it seems that rubber pads are built into it at the corners, although in fact it is plastic. The manufacturer does not indicate the type of bearing, but it works quite quietly, especially at a speed of no more than 900 rpm with a noise of 40 dB (A). The available speed range is controlled by PWM and ranges from 800 to 2000 rpm. The four-pin power cord and four-pin backlight cable are 320mm and 340mm respectively.
This is what the fans attached to the heatsink look like:
Assembled with fans, the total thickness of the system in profile is 55 mm due to protruding screw heads.
Let’s move on to installing the CBO and testing its effectiveness.
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