MSI has unveiled a brand-new CPU cooler bracket designed specifically for modern CPUs, ensuring optimal cooling performance from existing coolers for these advanced processors. MSI touts its innovative horseshoe-shaped bracket as enabling a significant thermal performance boost for Intel’s forthcoming Arrow Lake-based Intel Core i9-200S series processors, potentially dropping temperatures by up to 3°C.
A rumor emerged suggesting that the Intel Arrow Lake’s hot spot location had been altered, sparking speculation about a potential new cooler requirement. The most thermally sensitive components reside underneath the heat-spreading metal cover, which shields the silicon chips. As Intel’s Arrow Lake CPUs are poised to introduce a significant thermal profile shift compared to their Raptor Lake predecessors, enthusiasts of the company’s latest flagship gaming CPUs can look forward to harnessing the benefits of a well-crafted cooling solution like MSI’s newly released bracket.
This horseshoe-shaped metal plate, designed for MSI’s MAG Coreliquid A15 360 and MAG Coreliquid i360 all-in-one coolers, optimizes their mounting position to instantaneously sit atop the CPU, aligning them with the desired optimal spot. The coolers are compatible with both Intel’s LGA 1700 and LGA 1851 (Arrow Lake) sockets, as well as AMD’s AM4 and AM5 sockets. Notwithstanding, the offset bracket may help trim a few extra layers compared to the standard plate position.
While MSI showcased an offset bracket for its new Intel motherboards at a recent event, it’s likely that various cooler manufacturers will introduce their own versions.
In a surprising move, MSI did not initially initiate a campaign to promote this specific cooler model separately to enhance its current offerings, as revealed in response to an inquiry from tech website Membership 386, which also provided the image of the product in question.
The notion of relocating cooler contact plates for maximum cooling efficiency is not revolutionary, but its popularity has surged with the rapid growth in CPU power and the miniaturization of chip components driven by advancements in manufacturing technologies. As a result, offset mounts have long been available for various different CPUs across a wide range of cooler designs.
Moreover, certain pioneering manufacturers have developed cutting-edge coolers featuring versatile cooling plates, allowing each product to excel with specific processor types. The latest release of Noctua’s NH-D15 features three distinct variants, each boasting a subtly unique base design.
Upon Intel’s introduction of Arrow Lake, the company claimed that existing LGA1700 CPU coolers would be compatible with the latest processors; nonetheless, they advised verifying compatibility with cooler manufacturers to guarantee efficient cooling performance. Since the announcement, several prominent companies, including Corsair and Noctua, have confirmed that their existing products are compatible with Arrow Lake.
When buying an Intel Arrow Lake CPU alongside a matching cooler, it’s crucial to verify the specifications to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.
If you’re in the market for recommendations, consider consulting our top-rated CPU cooler guide; however, ensure you verify the manufacturer’s website for each option to confirm compatibility with the new LGA1851 Intel CPU socket.
