Antec mercury 240 rgb review in Spanish (full analysis)

In this analysis we check the performance of one of the last liquid cooling kits developed by Antec, specifically the new Antec Mercury 240 RGB. A model where the main novelty is the incorporation of an RGB lighting system compatible with the main manufacturers of motherboards but that we can also use completely autonomously.

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We thank Antec for trusting in the loan of the product for its analysis:

Technical characteristics Antec Mercury 240 RGB

Unboxing

In its latest all-in-one liquid cooling system Antec introduces its latest advances in pumps and dissipation blocks allowing full compatibility with any recent processor and adding RGB support with compatibility with the main manufacturers of motherboards.

In this way we will find support for the most powerful and recent processors from AMD and Intel, including their latest generations of Core i9 processors and also the latest Threadripper 2000 processors from AMD. A powerful liquid cooling kit with a very conventional size that we can mount on any modern ATX or Micro-ATX motherboard.

The radiator

The radiator on the new Antec Mercury 240 RGB is a custom version of the flat-duct aluminum sheet radiator that we see in any modern cooling kit. This type of radiator, completely made of aluminum, seeks to maximize the dissipation surface with thin zigzag aluminum sheets that have contact with flat pipes along the radiator.

It is a very efficient design that also allows a good air flow between the blades which makes it easy for the fans to introduce enough air for the most efficient heat exchange possible. As I say, they have nothing to innovate about many other kits from many other manufacturers that also use this type of radiator and, not surprisingly, no factory, but rather they buy from an external supplier that is specialized in this type of cooling system..

It has dimensions of 274x119x27mm, which is somewhat longer than usual because Antec adds a pair of trims on the side, both in the connection area and in the other, achieving a completely symmetrical design. In this radiator we can install up to four 120mm diameter fans, two of them come with the kit, which will allow a very effective "push-pull" design.

It is completely painted in black looking for both the aesthetic effect and to minimize the permeability of the system avoiding the evaporation of the liquid that circulates inside it. The fittings are sealed to the tube, in a solid connection but that does not allow quick or easy manipulation by the user.

The exchange block with integrated pump

As usual in this type of fully integrated systems, the Antec Mercury 240 RGB incorporates the drive pump together with the heat exchange block. The block is made entirely of copper, micro laminated inside to maximize heat exchange and increase turbulence inside the block, and fixed to the pump by means of a system of 10 screws embedded in the exchange block itself.

The pump has been redesigned to increase its liquid movement capacity. It is now capable of moving up to 3.5 liters per minute. Its size is now 80x80x60mm and inside we will find an isolated impeller with a non-lubricated graphite bearing moved by a three-phase motor that allows this pump to work close to 3000rpm in a fixed way (without the possibility of adjustment) with maximum noise, according to the manufacturer itself, 26dBA and a consumption of 8.1w. The pump has a double connection to make RGB lighting independent from the pump's own power supply.

The pump uses a Mini USB connector to provide RGB power and control in a single connector.

This pump is made of PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide), a material normally mixed with 30-50% fiberglass, which has low permeability, high resistance to any chemical, including the most aggressive acids, and with a melting temperature. close to 240 degrees Celsius. It is a very hard material that, with the right amount of fiberglass, has the same resistance as some light metals.

All this added together allows Antec to guarantee the entire system with a five-year warranty and the pump itself is designed to offer over 50, 000 hours of use before failure with average ambient temperatures of 25 degrees.

At its base we also find the fixing position for the different support bars that come with the kit so that we can adapt it to all types of processors, including the most modern and powerful ones.

Tubes

Antec has used, which is also common in this type of system, are PTFE tubes (the same material that Chemours markets under the name Teflon). The tube is manufactured in a corrugated format that prevents its complete flexing, adds resistance, increases the turbulence and reduces permeability. Effect that is also enhanced with the use of black in its manufacture since it allows less light to pass inside the tube.

Antec reinforces the tube with a Nylon cover that prevents accidental cuts, it is also a very typical protection in this type of systems and tubes, which integrates perfectly with the thermal seal of the fitting and offers us more safety of use while maintaining the possibility of turning the connector to adapt it to our mounting needs.

The tubes have a length of 360mm, they are somewhat scarce, so it is not a kit that we can position anywhere in a large semi-tower box. It is more thought for installation in the upper area of the box or, as some models allow, on the support plate of the base plate. If we want to go further, we will have a difficult time.

Fans

Antec Mercury 240 RGB fans have been exclusively designed to work on radiators and more specifically with this radiator from this kit. They have a nine-bladed structure with a fairly conventional design, in black to contrast with the color diffuser frame where 30 LEDs per fan have been installed, capable of developing up to 256 different colors.

As in the pump, the fans use a double connection to make the lighting system independent of the fan motor's own power supply. They are standard 120x120x25mm in size and have a variable rotation speed of between 900 and 1800rpm. They are, for me, their weak point since we will have to regulate them properly so that they do not have unpleasant noise levels above 35dBA.

They certainly allow more performance, but in the long run, with normal processors, it becomes a problem to manage. At their maximum speed they produce more than 70CFM of air flow with a relative pressure of 2.25mm-H2O. At least they have the detail that the fixing points are protected by "silent blocks" that will limit the transfer of vibrations to the computer chassis.

The connectivity of four-pin RGB (12v RGB), as in the case of the drive pump, can be controlled from the software of our motherboard, it is completely standard, or by means of a simple controller that also comes with the kit for those who do not have a 12v RGB compatible motherboard or simply do not want to use it. It allows to change between modes, speed, color, etc.

The kit has all the sufficient wiring for all the pump and fan connections, as well as the appropriate cables to connect the entire RGB system to a single port on our motherboard.

On the whole

With a price of about 90 Euros, and a companion with a 360mm radiator, for just over 140 Euros, this new Antec kit is undoubtedly competitive. Quality components and materials are used, but also, on the other hand, it seems that something outdated comes with no capacity for A-RGB connectivity that would give your lighting system many more configuration possibilities.

The radiator is the typical one that we find in all types of sets and the fans are not to my total liking either because I think they balance poorly towards performance when normally what we all look for in a kit of this type is that they be silent in any situation of use. Its 36dBA fans are no longer within this standard that we consider adequate. With a maximum of 1300rpm one of these fans will perform practically the same and we will have much less noise problems.

The pump is silent and works like a charm, but it is also seen that it is not a high-end kit because we cannot regulate the rotation speed of the pump according to the thermal needs of the system or our own preferences; some of the best kits on the market, although also somewhat more expensive, already allow this type of adjustment.

Tests and results

We have used a Core i7-8700k processor, without any modification, with a respectable overclocking level of 5GHz and with all the standard elements of this kit, including the thermal paste that they provide us with for assembly.

Between tests you can see results with and without overclocking, with the standard fans and without touching their standard frequencies in both minimum and maximum. In each case we have performed noise tests and the temperature measurements are after 30 minutes of CPU stress.

Final words and conclusion Antec Mercury 240 RGB

Our performance results are clear and concise and largely match the sale price of this kit. It is clearly a mid-range model that is not capable of competing with the best kits on the market and also achieves this at the expense of having adequate sound behavior. Its fans have high peaks and those frequency peaks are unpleasant. We will have to adjust them manually, limiting the maximum rotation, to have the sonic behavior that we expect from a modern and efficient liquid cooling kit.

The results, however, are not bad and the data speaks for itself. As I just said it is a mid-range model that I would not dedicate to processors of more than 130w TDP since it will give us some overclocking margin and we can adjust the fans so that they are not unpleasant in terms of noise.

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I like that Antec opts for standardized solutions, such as its RGB connectivity, but it is also true that standard RGB is already somewhat outdated, the new is A-RGB and we can demand it since it is increasingly common and does not imply any increase of substantial price. Its only drawback is that it requires more modern motherboards, compatible with this much more detailed and effective RGB control method.

In general it is a good kit, but it does not excel at anything, hence our average score.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ Very attractive price	- Does not support the new A-RGB standard
+ Standard RGB system compatible with almost any motherboard	- somewhat noisy fans
+ Independent RGB controller