As of late, it seems as though a great deal of all-in-one liquid coolers are not quite delivering the performance that is expected. This trend has not changed with the introduction of ID-Cooling's Zoomflow 240. While the cooler offers an attractive design and features crisp, uniform RGB LED illumination, it doesn't quite hold up in terms of performance. Suffice it to say it is not terrible as it does offers better performance per dollar than the premium-packaged Dashflow 360 since it rivals the larger cooler's performance for nearly $50 less.

That said, the Zoomflow 240 is between 4–5 °C behind other 240 mm based all-in-one liquid coolers. However, there is a reason for that as most RGB LED ring-style fans are typically a little bit smaller than their standard siblings. For instance, the RGB LED fans for the Zoomflow are around 5.3% smaller than the Aerocool RGB LED fans as they feature different designs; meanwhile, performance deviates by 4.4% in the overclocked FPU test. Obviously, a smaller fan means less airflow and less coverage of the radiator. While the difference is small, it does contribute to the disparity. Factor in airflow vs. static pressure on a high fins-per-inch radiator and you end up with less performance. This is not just the case with ID-Cooling, of course, as many other brands haven't yet found the sweet spot in regards to optimizing fans and radiator fin density.

In regards to build quality, I really didn't have any issues with the Zoomflow 240. While I wish the mounting hardware used screws to secure the mounting plate rather than the twist design, it does work. You just have to pay attention to it until you get the unit fully secured. It can sometimes twist a bit, resulting in a less secure mount when the hoses put any kind of pressure on the pump. Holding it securely in place to then tighten all the Phillips-head nuts down will work just fine. End users will just need to be mindful of that. Even so, the mounting process is still very easy, and clearance around the socket is exceptional. This is a cooler a novice can install, and it should not interfere with memory or graphics cards on even Mini-ITX motherboards.

The only other issue is the fact that the Zoomflow 240, much like the Corsair H100i PRO, is extremely loud when the fans are spinning at maximum RPM. This can be a break-it issue for some considering many other options on the market offer much lower noise levels. That said, under regular load, noise will likely not be an issue. Once again, this problem will likely only come up when pushing something like the i7 8700k to the limit without a delid.

In general, the Zoomflow 240 from ID-Cooling is an alright performer that tends to get a bit loud. However, it compensates users by offering what I would consider the best overall value in regards to RGB LED illumination of any cooler to cross my test bench. Obviously, end users will need to decide what's most important for them. Still, taking into account the included RF remote, any system can have functional RGB LEDs, while motherboard support means software control is also available, at least for ASUS and MSI motherboards. With time comes more competition and that's in all honestly ID-Cooling's biggest issue. With so many all-in-one liquid coolers available, it takes a great deal more effort to stand out, and without top-tier performance to go with the looks, the Zoomflow will probably be lost in the crowd.

Overall, the ID-Cooling Zoomflow 240 is an attractive all-in-one liquid CPU cooler that will stun you with its flashy lights while delivering adequate performance for most users.