DeepCool may not be as well-known as some other manufactures here in North America but they have been making high performance, reasonably priced, computer accessories for many years. While mainly known for their air based CPU cooling solutions, DeepCool make a wide assortment of computer parts that start at the chassis and goes on from there. Like nearly every other case / cooler manufacturer they?ve now decided to get their feet wet in the closed loop All in One water cooling market.

The Maelstrom 120 we?re taking a look at today is only one small part of their lineup though. Like most companies entering the increasingly popular AIO market, DeepCool has taken a multi-prong approach and released numerous units at the same time. Right now they have two unique lines -the high end CAPTAIN series and the more affordable Maelstrom- which are designed and marketed towards radically different market segments. Maelstrom 120 targets mainstream buyers looking for a single bay 120mm unit and that means it come competes against the likes of Corsair's H55 and NZXT's Kraken X31. Like those well-entrenched alternatives, DeepCool has designed this cooler for ease of use and value rather than extreme performance.

By opting for a single bay 120mm form factor design, DeepCool has allowed their Maelstrom 120 to reach as wide as a range of consumers as possible. Unfortunately the other side of the coin is that by opting for such a common form-factor the Maelstrom 120 will have a tough time differentiating itself from some very well respected competition.