The Light Loop IO LCD is another proposal from be quiet! that introduces the use of a 2.1" IPS LCD screen, along with support for useful IO Center software. The product has great build quality and the retail package is complete. There are three Light Wings LX 120mm high-speed fans with daisy-chain connections for easy installation. The product comes in two different sizes depending on your needs and overall case dimensions (240/360mm). For our tests, we used the "top" sized model, the 360mm, which can be ordered in either white or black. Most currently sold Intel and AMD platforms are supported, and the included new IO Controller hub makes installation easier and cuts down on cable mess.

The installation process is very easy to follow and be quiet! has included a printed manual and of course you can view official online product videos if you are an amateur in the whole cooling scene. We didn't have any major issues and you must follow some basic rules to keep performance at max levels. There will be no problem with big-sized RAM modules and the included long (400mm) hose tubes you will fit the Light Loop even at full ATX cases. In this model, be quiet! also introduce mounting plates, especially for the AMD platform with an 8mm offset, which we used in all our tests. In terms of performance, this cooler delivers good results at low-to-mid TDPs, while at the very high 222-watt load it's near the top of the 360mm AIO field, though it can't quite beat the Noctua NL-LC1-36. The Performance/Quiet mode in the IO Center software gives you further control over the product, while Cooling Studio offers total control over the fan and pump curves — very nice.

Looking at retail price, this product is priced quite high, around €229.90 / $249.90 / £179.99, which means it competes with the big leagues. Overall, we have no problem suggesting the be quiet! Light Loop IO LCD, and the addition of IO Center further strengthens this product, with future firmware/software updates able to fully customize it to your liking. As with all be quiet! products, the Light Loop IO LCD comes with a 3-year warranty to have you covered.

The good

• Testing backs up the noise-scaling claims on the cooling side. The thermal charts show it performing competitively without needing to run flat-out, and its temp-per-watt efficiency at high load is actually slightly better than be quiet!'s own screen-less Light Loop — the display doesn't appear to be costing meaningful thermal performance.
• Cable management is meaningfully better. The single-cable IO Controller approach and hidden fan cabling along the tubes solve a real annoyance with triple-fan AIOs, and chaining up to four IO Controllers together is a sensible way to keep scaling that benefit as you add more be quiet! IO gear.
• The software doesn't require a permanent background app or account. No forced login, no cloud dependency, and onboard memory means the display and lighting keep working after you close IO Center — a real answer to a common complaint about competitors' display AIOs.
• Refill port + included coolant is a nice touch for a segment where "get a fresh loop and don't worry about it for 3 years" is increasingly the norm — long-term serviceability shouldn't be an afterthought at this price.
• Broad socket compatibility, including current-gen Intel 1851 and AMD AM5.
• 3-year warranty is standard for be quiet! products, though see the reservations below — some competitors go further.

The reservations

• The display is small. While be quiet! includes a nice 2.1" round panel, competitors offer much larger or more elaborate displays.
• Proprietary connector ecosystem. The IO Controller is convenient, but it locks you into be quiet!'s connector/cable system rather than standard headers — fine as long as everything works as intended, less fine if you ever need to mix-and-match with non-be quiet! components or the controller fails out of warranty.
• Price sits at the premium end ($249.90 for the 360mm) for a 360mm AIO, in line with other display-equipped coolers but noticeably above be quiet!'s own screen-less Light Loop or Silent Loop 3.
• Warranty. Competitors at this price range offer 5-6 years of warranty.