Deepcool Gamer Storm Captain 240EX RGB Review

Reviews
By Avery Little
published

Early Verdict

If you’re after a cooler with great RGB options and are willing to slightly sacrifice on performance, look into the Deepcool Gamerstorm 240EX RGB liquid cooler.

Pros

  • +

    No performance loss compared to previous Captain Series coolers

  • +

    Fantastic RGB lighting options and functionality

Cons

  • -

    Mediocre performance compared to similar coolers

  • -

    Included RGB components add significantly to price

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Features & Specifications

How much is a little bling worth? Heir to the Captain EX series, the RGB counterparts run around $30 more initially, but we can expect that to come down by half after some time in the market. The 240EX RGB retails for $129.99 and the 120EX RGB is $99.99. The variable RGB system adds to the price point, with LED strip and pump controllable via motherboard RGB header or an included cable controller, but these external pieces won’t compromise on the performance we saw from the previous Captain EX Series.

Specifications

You’re going to want a case that supports a 240mm radiator, with enough space for dual 120mm fans. That’s not too much to ask, but be aware that the pump module is higher than average by about an inch. The radiator is also a little thicker than average: If you have a longer video card, you may be limited to top mounting this cooler.

The latest from Deepcool proves the company is hopping on the RGB bandwagon, but does the performance of the Captain 240EX RGB still justify the price jump?

Visually, the newest addition to the Captain Series retains its familiar look, now with added RGB features, including a 13” LED strip with 21 RGB LEDs and a 16” pigtail, a fan hub, an in-line RGB controller, a fan extension cable, and an RGB extension cable.

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The pump retains the same overall design of the last iteration in the Captain Series, with a few added upgrades. The tubing now features anti-explosion, anti-corrosion, crush resistant, and thermostable material. The new system impeller is said to allow stronger liquid flow and a bigger delivery head to increase cooling potential. The CPU contact plate features 10% more heat dissipation this time around. It comes with thermal paste pre-applied, but we always use a standardized thermal paste (Arctic MX-4) in order to stay consistent in our reviews.

The Captain 240EX RGB is compatible with AMD (including AM4), Intel LGA 115x (1150/1151/1155/1156), and Intel LGA 2011x (v1 and v3) motherboards.

For Intel LGA2011/2011 v3, installation consists of placing the standoff screws through the appropriate holes in the front of the motherboard. Next comes the installation plate on top of the standoffs and then securing the included rails on top of the plate. For all other installation systems, a backplate is required behind the motherboard. You’ll need a screwdriver for the non-thumb screws.

It’s best to install the fans onto the radiator, then install the radiator in your case first, before installing the water block. Deepcool delivered the product with the tubes aligned so that they extend from the back of the case to the CPU, but you can turn them to put your radiator in whichever orientation you need.

Once thermal paste has been applied (or re-applied, assuming you're not using the pre-applied thermal paste) and the mounting bracket has been installed, the water block drops into place over the CPU and you secure it to the bracket with two spring-tensioned screws.


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Avery Little
8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Not enough to cool 7900x
    Reply
  • barryv88
    But should be good enough for a OC'd T.ripper :)
    Reply
  • ammaross
    This is just the RGB version. The NON-RGB version is usually $89. I got mine for $65 of a sale. :P
    Reply
  • Kunra Zether
    I feel that they are more of a budget cooler, not in a bad way though. They usually are the cheapest aio coolers available next to corsair and the price increase is obviously due to the rgb. I still feel that corsair is a better value then deepcool but they do look nice ??
    Reply
  • Virtual_Singularity
    The Gamer Storm Captain series fails to outperform the Asetek patented coolers it slightly differs from, & the 240EX RGB lights allows DC to overcharge. Kind of how CM acts like they have a trademark on the word "Master", & charges more for using it for any product. Clever marketing on their part.

    But if spending $130, spending as much or a tad more & going with a Swiftech, EK Predator, or other expandable AIO option, may be worth considering. Or if not, stick to the cheaper, proven Asetek designs from Corsair, Fractal, etc.
    Reply
  • Leyba
    These coolers are notorious for exploding, spewing liquid and ruining hardware. Look at the Newegg reviews and u tube. I would not recommend at all.
    Reply
  • doesitmatter
    19866512 said:
    These coolers are notorious for exploding, spewing liquid and ruining hardware. Look at the Newegg reviews and u tube. I would not recommend at all.

    Quote from the first page of this review: "The tubing now features anti-explosion, anti-corrosion, crush resistant, and thermostable material."
    Reply
  • 5gtbilko
    Yeah hi,
    I'm in need of a little more detail please.
    I just cannot get my head around the first Graph. What do you mean by “CPU PWM Delta T” and how can the temps be way way under Max Fans and 50% Fans Core Temps?
    To the best of my knowledge, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) does not make fans go over Max Speed. If your graph were right, the speeds would be well over Max. That would make a lot of noise! Moreover, it could quickly burn out the fans, as they are not rated for such high RPMs or voltage.
    There is probably a simple explanation, it just hasn't clicked yet :-)
    Reply