Deepcool Castle 240ex Review

Deepcool has sent us for Deepcool Castle 240EX Review. This cooler is yet another product under their popular gaming brand GamerStorm. Its radiator is almost identical to the Castle Ex 240 RGB cooler but what makes this design differentiate from Castle is the altogether new block design with impressive immersive lighting with infinity mirror glass. In fact, this cooler has double window panes on the block for some unique yet vivid lighting effects which happen to be digital as well. Let’s go into more detail as we dive into the review.

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Key Takeaways 

• The Deepcool Castle 240EX is a suitable cooler for users who want an immersive RGB lighting experience and good cooling performance.
• This cooler may not be suitable for users with space constraints, as it has a relatively large block and an extra-large size base.
• The standout features of the Deepcool Castle 240EX cooler include its unique design with an infinity mirror lighting effect, enhanced addressable RGB LED fans, and compatibility with the TR4 socket, along with a 3-year limited warranty.

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Castle 240EX RGB Specifications

Here’s a quick look at the specification sheet for the cooler.

Packaging Box

This is the fifth Deepcool product that we are reviewing and we must say their presentation of the products is top notch. The cooler comes inside a cardboard box.

Unboxing And Accessories

Let’s uncover and discover the contents inside the box.

 

To make things more simple yet eloquent items like fans, accessories are packed inside white color boxes. This makes the overall presentation simple yet impressive.

Design 

The cooler features impressive digital RGB LED lighting, with a striking infinity mirror effect on the CPU block. It cooler comes equipped with their latest CF120 addressable RGB LED fans, tailored for radiator use.

Radiator

The Deepcool Castle 240EX cooler is a 240mm CLC cooling solution with a 240mm radiator and two CF120 addressable RGB 120mm fans. The radiator measures 274 x 120 x 27mm, with a 27mm thickness. When combined with 25mm fans, the total thickness becomes 52mm. The radiator has a 20 FPI density, the same as the one on the Captain EX RGB 240.

 

The radiator, lightweight due to its aluminum construction, has a unique Deepcool design. The end blocks are rounded, not rectangular, and the fin stack features 12 water flow channels, thanks to left and right side channels, following the double tunnel configuration. Standard inlet and outlet blocks facilitate water flow.

Deepcool employs mesh sleeves on the hoses for a clean appearance. The tube length is around 300mm, but due to a specific design implementation, it’s slightly shorter than the expected 320mm.

Pump And Water Block

Let’s take a look at the main element of this Deepcool castle 240EX cooler review. It is the water block with the pump housing. 

The lightweight aluminum radiator is a unique Deepcool design with rounded end blocks and a dense fin stack featuring 12 water flow channels. It follows the double tunnel configuration with standard inlet and outlet blocks. The hexagonal-shaped cover on the tubes enhances aesthetics and prevents kinking in the soft, anti-explosion rubber tubing. Mesh sleeves on the hoses give them a clean look. Tube length is approximately 300mm, slightly shorter due to design considerations.

Caution: No protective sheets on fan mounts, so use provided long screws to prevent fin damage. There’s a 105mm gap between fan mounting holes, and the total radiator depth is 45mm. Pre-applied thermal paste is included.

The base has a size of 55x55mm. Deepcool has crafted a sleek copper base finish for superior heat circulation, using an E-shaped micro water channel design to maximize cooling efficiency and increase heat contact areas.

Here’s a look at the pump specifications:

Pump Speed	2550±10% RPM (12VDC rated voltage)
Power Consumption	2.52 Watts
Life Expectancy	120000 Hours
Operating Voltage	10.8 ~ 13.8 VDC
Current Load	0.21±10%A

Fans

Deepcool has bundled two CF120 addressable RGB fans with this cooler. These are the actually enhanced versions of the original CF120s with specs tuned for better performance on the radiator as original CF120s are optimized for. Each fan has 9 translucent blades with dedicated air channels on each blade.

The fans have a central GamerStorm logo with anti-vibration gray pads at the corners. They come from China, housing 12 RGB LEDs in the motor hub. A 4-port fan hub is included, facilitating a push/pull setup. It has four headers, with the leftmost one regulating all fans. Deepcool provides a 3M double-sided tape for easy installation. A 4-pin PWM extension cable, 391mm in length, is also included. The hub is sold separately for $9.99.

Here are the fan specifications:

Voltage Rating	12VDC at 0.17A±10% and 2.04W
Fan Speed	500±200 ~ 1800±10% RPM
Maximum Airflow	69.34CFM
Noise Level	17.8-30 dB(A)
Maximum Static Pressure	2.24mmH₂O
MTBF of Hydro Bearings	40,000 hrs

RGB Lighting

It’s time to explore Deepcool’s RGB hardware. The Castle 240EX cooler boasts 16.7M RGB colors with five built-in effects (dynamic, static, breathing, comet, and fashion collision) and 36 modes. Addressable RGB LEDs on the block require a 3-pin cable.

This cable can’t plug directly into the motherboard’s RGB header. Deepcool offers a controller for four devices with SATA power and 400mm power cable, plus a 25mm RGB cable. The controller has three buttons for mode switching, brightness adjustment, and mode reversion. Note that the in-chassis placement might be less convenient.

Deepcool also supplies an RGB Sync cable for modern motherboards supporting features like Asus AURA, MSI Mystic Lighting, and Gigabyte RGB Fusion.

The CF120 fans and cooler block feature WS2812B ADD-RGB LEDs. Two 372mm ADD-RGB extension cables (supporting +5V/D//G and +5V/D/G) are included. There’s also a 180+100+100+100mm cable to sync fans and the block.

Here are some technical data on the LEDs:

LED Type	Addressable
Rated Voltage	5V
Rated Current	0.48±10%A
Rated Power	2.4W
LED Connector	3pin
LED Control	Motherboard with addressable RGB header/ADD-RGB Controller

Here are some pictures for your eye pleasure.

We have also made a video on the lighting effects. Make sure to watch in the link below.

Installation

We tested the cooler on the X99 platform with a 2011-3 socket. Installation is simple, no need for a mounting bracket or backplate.

1. Attach fans with the 8 long screws provided, or use 8 more for a push/pull setup.
2. Use the 4 double screw bolts from the labeled container on the socket’s mounting holes.
3. Attach 2 Intel Mounting brackets to the block with Nut A, utilizing the designated hole for LGA2011-3.
4. Apply thermal paste, position the block on the CPU IHS with brackets through Double Screw Bolts, and tighten with Nut B.
5. Connect the 3-pin power cable to the CPU fan header or AIO_Pump header.
6. Plug the RGB cable into the RGB source.
7. For the fans, connect power cables to fan headers or the fan hub, and RGB cables to the RGB source.
8. If using an RGB Sync Cable, connect it to the motherboard’s RGB header. 

Thermal Performance

Let’s review the thermal performance of the cooler. The following test bench was used for testing this Deepcool castle 240EX cooler review: 

• Intel Core i7 6850K
• Asus Rampage V Edition 10
• Crucial Ballistix Elite 4x4GB (16GB) @ 3000MHz
• Nvidia GTX 1080 FE with Alphacool Eiswolf GPX Pro
• Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD
• WD Black 6TB
• Corsair AX1200i

The following software was used for the testing and monitoring.

• Asus Real Bench v2.44
• Real Temp GT v3.70

I tested the Noctua NT-H1 thermal paste on the bench, reporting delta temperatures. The cooler ran at 3.6GHz with 1.136V manual VCore. Asus RealBench 2.44 stressed the cooler for 60 minutes, followed by a 15-minute cooldown. Fans and the water pump ran at 100% RPM. The CPU was overclocked to 4.3GHz with a 1.350V manual VCore.

I performed three tests, calculated their averages, and summed the maximum core temperatures, dividing by the core count for the final average. The highest average temperature from the three tests was used, and I found delta temperatures by subtracting the ambient temperature.

Results

Let’s take a look at the graphs. 

 

The cooler beat all the other 240mm AIOs tested on this test bench.

Noise

We could not measure the sound level of the unit as the summer season here is at its peak, and the ceiling fan plus the noise coming out of the room would invalidate the actual sound level. Based on our experience with the fans and coolers testing, we can confidently say that the fans are audible at full speed but nothing that the custom fan curve can’t handle.

Should You Buy It?

With the review out of the way, the two questions loom: should you or should you not buy it?

You Should Buy It If:

You are looking for a cooling solution with an immersive RGB lighting experience as it offers enhanced addressable RGB LED fans and a unique block design with an infinity mirror lighting effect.

You have a system with the TR4 socket, as this cooler is compatible with it due to its extra-large base.

You appreciate additional accessories, such as an RGB controller, ADD-RGB cables, and a 4-port fan hub, for enhanced customization and control.

You Shouldn’t Buy It If

You have limited space in your PC case, as the cooler has a relatively large block and may not fit well in smaller cases.

You prioritize a mirror-like polished base, as this cooler has a polished copper base that may not meet your aesthetic preferences.

You don’t need extensive RGB control and customization, as the cooler comes with various RGB-related accessories that might be excessive for your requirements.

Final Thoughts

The Deepcool Castle 240RGB is a standout 240mm CLC cooler that not only delivers top-notch cooling performance but also boasts an impressive RGB lighting setup. Its distinctive design, coupled with compatibility with the TR4 socket, sets it apart from the competition. During our tests, it demonstrated remarkable cooling efficiency, even under demanding overclocked conditions, surpassing other 240mm AIO coolers.

Deepcool doesn’t skimp on the accessories either, providing various cables and backing the Castle 240RGB with a reassuring 3-year warranty. If you’re a cooling enthusiast in search of a reliable and visually striking cooler, this one should be high on your list.

Next up: Deepcool Castle 360ex RGB Review