MSI MAG CoreLiquid A13 AIO Liquid Cooler Review: Not bad for $99

For the price, MSI’s A13 AIOs provide reasonable performance.

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MSI MAG CoreLiquid A13 AIO Liquid Cooler
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

Tom's Hardware Verdict

MSI’s A13 360 AIO provides reasonable performance and noise levels for $99 USD.

Pros

  • +

    Low prices for an AIO

  • +

    Good thermal performance

  • +

    Pre-installed fans

Cons

  • -

    240mm version doesn’t provide much of a benefit compared to air coolers

  • -

    Only supports recent CPU platforms

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The A13 series AIOs are the latest budget liquid cooling offerings from Taiwanese hardware mainstay, MSI. These coolers don’t offer flashy features aside from some RGB, but that means they’re very reasonably priced, at just $99 for the 360 model and $79 for the 240 option. Will one of them make our list of best CPU coolers? We’ll have to run our usual benchmarks to be sure, but first we’ll take a look at their specifications and features.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Cooler specifications

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CoolerA13 360mmA13 240mm
MSRP$99.99$79.99
Radiator MaterialAluminumAluminum
Pump Speed3800RPM ± 300RPM3800RPM ± 300RPM
LightingARGB on fans and CPU blockARGB on fans and CPU block
Warranty3 Years3 years
Socket CompatibilityIntel Socket LGA 1851/1700 AMD AM5 / AM4Intel Socket LGA 1851/1700 AMD AM5 / AM4
Unit Dimensions (including fans)394 (L) x 119.6 (W) x 52mm (D)277 (L) x 119.6 (W) x 52mm (D)
BaseCopperCopper
Maximum TDP (Our Testing)>259W with Intel’s i7-14700K>246W with Intel’s i7-14700K

Packing and included contents 

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The packaging of the 360mm AIO is much like many others, with molded cardboard for primary packaging and both cardboard and plastic coverings for the individual parts. The top is protected with a layer of foam.  

There’s not a lot of extras with this AIO. Nothing like extra cable ties or whatnot, just the essentials you’ll need to install the liquid cooler.

  • 120mm fans, pre-installed
  • Radiator and CPU block
  • PWM Splitter cable
  • Thermal Paste
  • Mounting for modern Intel and AMD platforms

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Features of MSI’s A13 AIOs 

Subtle ARGB lighting

The CPU block has a minimalist diffused ARGB lighting strip, giving it some subtle flair.

(Image credit: MSI)

Thermal Paste

MSI includes a very small tube of thermal paste with the cooler – suitable for one or two installations, but no more.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

27mm Radiator

The A13 AIOs include a 27mm-thick radiator, which is standard for most liquid coolers.

Rotatable tubing 

The tubing of MSI’s A13 AIOs is fully rotatable, which helps make installation easier.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

120mm CycloBlade 7 fans, pre-installed

There’s more to a cooler than just the heatsink or radiator. The bundled fans significantly impact cooling and noise levels, as well as how the cooler looks in your case. The fans included here are MSI’s CycloBlade 7 fans, and are pre-installed on both 360mm and 240mm A13 AIOs – saving users a few moments of install time. This should be standard for most AIOs.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
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Dimensions120 x 120 x 25mm
Fan SpeedUp to 2000 RPM
Air FlowUp to 62.6 CFM
Air PressureUp to 2.36 mmH2O
Bearing TypeRifle Bearings
LightingARGB

Testing configuration – Intel LGA1700 and LGA1851 platform

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CPUIntel Core i7-14700K
GPUASRock Steel Legend Radeon 7900 GRE
MotherboardMSI Z790 Project Zero
CaseMSI Pano 100L PZ Black
System FansIceberg Thermal IceGale Silent

There are many factors other than the CPU cooler that can influence your cooling performance, including the case you use and the fans installed in it. A system's motherboard can also influence this, especially if it suffers from bending, which results in poor cooler contact with the CPU.

In order to prevent bending from impacting our cooling results, we’ve installed Thermalright’s LGA 1700 contact frame into our testing rig. If your motherboard is affected by bending, your thermal results will be worse than those shown below. Not all motherboards are affected equally by this issue. I tested Raptor Lake CPUs in two motherboards. And while one of them showed significant thermal improvements after installing Thermalright’s LGA1700 contact frame, the other motherboard showed no difference in temperatures whatsoever! Check out our review of the contact frame for more information.

I’ve also tested this cooler with Intel’s latest platform, Arrow Lake and LGA 1851.

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CPUIntel Core Ultra 9 285K
GPUMSI Ventus 3X RTX 4070Ti Super
MotherboardMSI Z890 Carbon Wifi
CaseMSI MPG Gungnir 300R
System fansPre-installed case fans

LGA 1700 and 1851 Installation

For most users, I’d recommend attaching the radiator and fans to your case before the steps below.

1. You’ll first need to place the backplate against the rear of the motherboard. It features mounting tape, so you won’t need anything else to secure it.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

2. Apply the included thermal paste to your CPU. If you have any questions on how to do this properly, please refer to our handy guide on how to apply thermal paste.

3. Next, simply take the CPU block and place it on top of the CPU, using a screwdriver to connect the four corners to the motherboard backplate.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

4. Connect the ARGB and PWM connections to your motherboard, and installation is complete!

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
Albert Thomas
Albert Thomas
Freelancer, CPU Cooling Reviewer

Albert Thomas is a contributor for Tom’s Hardware, primarily covering CPU cooling reviews.

11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • thestryker
    Seems like the only reason to get the 240 would be the benefit of moving CPU heat to another location in the case. Otherwise save the $40 and get the Thermalright PA 140.

    Speaking of Thermalright the Royal Pretor 130 Black is up on Amazon now though two week delivery time. I thought they were doing offset pipes on all the new coolers, but it looks like it's only the Royal Knight (which is also available now, but I think from a cooling perspective is the less interesting one). The Pretor has 28mm thick fans 120mm front and 130mm middle whereas the Knight uses 15mm thick front and 28mm middle (120mm both).

    Thermalright has singlehandedly made cooling far more interesting than it had been in many years.
    Reply
  • PixelAkami
    If possible can you guys try one of the Geometric Future AIOs? If what their specs are saying are true, they could be a good alternative to the mainstream coolers too.
    Reply
  • YSCCC
    thestryker said:
    Seems like the only reason to get the 240 would be the benefit of moving CPU heat to another location in the case. Otherwise save the $40 and get the Thermalright PA 140.

    Speaking of Thermalright the Royal Pretor 130 Black is up on Amazon now though two week delivery time. I thought they were doing offset pipes on all the new coolers, but it looks like it's only the Royal Knight (which is also available now, but I think from a cooling perspective is the less interesting one). The Pretor has 28mm thick fans 120mm front and 130mm middle whereas the Knight uses 15mm thick front and 28mm middle (120mm both).

    Thermalright has singlehandedly made cooling far more interesting than it had been in many years.
    actually TR also make AIO stupidly affordable, using their frozen edge 360 costing some $54 to replace the Noctua NH-U12A, works crazy good for the 14900k, it's as cheap as to I am willing to gamble on potential gunking up AIO due to unknown liquid used and corrosion
    Reply
  • Albert.Thomas
    thestryker said:
    Thermalright has singlehandedly made cooling far more interesting than it had been in many years.
    I was trying to decide on what product to test next.

    Since everyone loves Thermalright, I think I'll do the Grand Vision 360 next ;)
    Reply
  • Albert.Thomas
    PixelAkami said:
    If possible can you guys try one of the Geometric Future AIOs? If what their specs are saying are true, they could be a good alternative to the mainstream coolers too.
    They sent me this one in the past:

    https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/liquid-cooling/geometric-future-eskimo-junior-24-review
    Reply
  • YSCCC
    Albert.Thomas said:
    I was trying to decide on what product to test next.

    Since everyone loves Thermalright, I think I'll do the Grand Vision 360 next ;)
    just FYI, in my case a under volted 14900k with NH-U12A full fan only able to keep it peak at 98-100C in 24C ambient in R23, changing to the forzen edge 360 makes R23 peaks at 81C. What is concerning for TR is that they are made so cheap, and they are the new OEM, wondering will it gunk up like the previous apeltek MSI AIOs or it's really a crazy good budget champ
    Reply
  • thestryker
    YSCCC said:
    What is concerning for TR is that they are made so cheap, and they are the new OEM, wondering will it gunk up like the previous apeltek MSI AIOs or it's really a crazy good budget champ
    This has been on my mind with regards to their AIOs as well. They do have a good warranty period, but I've never had to use a warranty with them so I don't know how simple that is (more of an e-waste concern than replacement cost personally).

    They also release a lot of AIOs similar to what they do with air coolers which makes me wonder how many pump designs they have. Only the most recent models list more pump details and from that I could see the Frozen Warframe, Aqua Elite and Hyper/Grand Vision each use a different pump. Grand and Hyper using the same makes me hope that perhaps it's the same pump within each model lineup, but impossible to say.
    Albert.Thomas said:
    I think I'll do the Grand Vision 360 next ;)
    Looks like that's using one of the new 28mm thick fan designs. Of course this also made me look up the Vision AIO line and see there's Grand, Hyper, Elite, Mjolnir, Core and Frozen models.
    Reply
  • YSCCC
    thestryker said:
    This has been on my mind with regards to their AIOs as well. They do have a good warranty period, but I've never had to use a warranty with them so I don't know how simple that is (more of an e-waste concern than replacement cost personally).

    They also release a lot of AIOs similar to what they do with air coolers which makes me wonder how many pump designs they have. Only the most recent models list more pump details and from that I could see the Frozen Warframe, Aqua Elite and Hyper/Grand Vision each use a different pump. Grand and Hyper using the same makes me hope that perhaps it's the same pump within each model lineup, but impossible to say.

    Looks like that's using one of the new 28mm thick fan designs. Of course this also made me look up the Vision AIO line and see there's Grand, Hyper, Elite, Mjolnir, Core and Frozen models.
    For me I am less concerned about the pump as long as it functions, usually it's air bubbles or constant spooling of the pump killing it, I tend to use AIOs with fixed 75% pump actually runs quieter and performs better than PWM ones spooling with heat

    But gunking/galvanic corrosion is what I am a bit wery of. but bite the bullet as it only cost $53, first way into AIO. If it ever fails prematurely, seeing the temp benefit I might change to Bequiet partly due to their refillable design.
    Reply
  • Phaaze88
    YSCCC said:
    But gunking/galvanic corrosion is what I am a bit wery of.
    Galvanic corrosion is par the course with mixed metal AIOs(copper cold plate, aluminum radiator). Full-copper avoids this, but costs more; Alphacool has been like the only one doing all copper AIOs.

    There's biocide and corrosion inhibitor within the premixed fluid, though they only last so long...
    The Thermalright coolers are very affordable. Can't hurt to give 'em a shot.
    Reply
  • YSCCC
    Phaaze88 said:
    Galvanic corrosion is par the course with mixed metal AIOs(copper cold plate, aluminum radiator). Full-copper avoids this, but costs more; Alphacool has been like the only one doing all copper AIOs.

    There's biocide and corrosion inhibitor within the premixed fluid, though they only last so long...
    The Thermalright coolers are very affordable. Can't hurt to give 'em a shot.
    This, is precisely why I gave it a shot, even if it only works for a few months (finger crossed) is kind of fine for $53. but really, most AIOs have used the inhibitor so successfully that essentially eliminates the corrosion, hopefully with TR they can do the same
    Reply