MSI MEG CoreLiquid E15 360 Review

Final Score: 87 out of 100

In the introduction, we used two examples. One on how not to do Halo projects right (DeLorean) and the other on how it is supposed to be done – Apple iPod. While the ‘pod may seem a puzzling choice, we used the 2001 iPod and not the 2007 iPhone because without the former’s success there (probably) would have been no iPhone, iPlay, or iAnything else… beyond iRan and iRaq. Right now MSI is best known for their motherboards and video cards. Some are starting to notice the make very good PC monitors and cases MSI offers… but few know them as an AIO cooling company. With the MEG CoreLiquid E15, this is going to change. In a good way… as this hints and veritable paradigm shift for the marketplace.

That is a bold statement to make, but we fully feel justified for two reasons. First is the topper. Yes, right now this bespoke closed-loop cooling solution’s only real topper is one that costs more than entire AIOs… but with such a relatively large power budget it can easily be swapped out for, oh say, a like a 360degree downdraft cooling fan. One that cools the motherboard’s heatsinks, the RAM, and even the hot-running PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. All without the frustratingly complex and complicated installation Arctic’s ALF 3 requires. This sneak peek of the future potentially makes the MEG CoreLiquid E15 the 2001’s precursor to the 2007’s iPhone.

After all, even if MSI does not capitalize on the full potential of this design, someone will… as the idea is now out there and LuxShare-tech has proven it is capable of building it. So it most likely is just a matter of time before this promise becomes a reality. One in which future enthusiasts will argue over MSI vs. G.Skill being the new Granddaddy of the AIO cooling industry.

Hyperbole aside, MSI has now shown the viability of integration via the use of one cable. One. Cable. That is all it takes to fully power and control this complicated AIO.One. Cable.

That is all it takes due to the level of integration MSI has baked into their motherboards for generations. So while one can technically pair an E15 with a competitor’s motherboard (via the use of the backup cable included) the end result will never be as pretty. Never be as tight. Never be as clean as what MSI + MSI offer. So we can foresee many a builder starting to think about “synergy” or “fusion” or “holistic” and/or other reasons to opt for MSI motherboards in the future. All because MSI thought far enough into the future to combine ARGB control and a fan header into a custom EZ-Conn header… and then figured out how to make use of it in their AIO lineup. Now that is how you do integration right.

Sadly, even though the MEG CoreLiquid E15 does offer excellent performance, stunning aesthetics, and even peerless ease of use we do not foresee it being more than a marketing-oriented Halo product. One where only premium-of-premium builds will ever be able to justify its asking price. Which is fine. We still consider the MEG CoreLiquid E15 to be a smashing success. One that not only forces more people to become aware of MSI’s AIO line… but lays the very foundation upon which future MEG, MPG and even MAG CoreLiquid AIOs will be built.

Congratulations, MSI, for embracing the old adage that Fortune Favors the Bold… but a prepared wizard beats all. It may have taken years to accomplish this feat. It may be the case that the MEG CoreLiquid E15 will be a short-term economic hit to MSI’s bottom line, but in the long term it will pay dividends in mindshare… and push the entire marketplace in an exciting new direction. Now that is what we call true Innovation.