NZXT CAM Update Takes Kraken Coolers to the Next Level

With the recent launch of Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, we decided to celebrate the occasion by building the ULTIMATE Cyberpunk-themed gaming PC, but it turns out, we could have gone just a little bit further with it. As much as you all loved the build, and we most certainly loved it, NZXT pointed out that there's one more feature we've yet to explore. A recent update to the NZXT CAM software as well as their ever-popular Kraken AIOs unlocks new customisation features on new and existing Kraken AIOs! The new update will see NZXT's base model Krakens now able to display animated GIFs on their embedded 1.54" display. Now, there are some limitations and benefits depending on which model you have. However, the overall uptick is that if you bought a cooler that previously showed some RGB and system information on the display only, and couldn't afford the fancy customisation options of the more expensive model, you're about to get a tasty upgrade, and it'll only take you a simple firmware update to achieve it! Which Models Can Be Updated Firstly, you'll want to download the latest version of the NZXT CAM desktop software, or at the very least, ensure the version you currently have is fully up to date. The easiest way to do this would be to head on over to nzxt.com/software/cam and hit the purple Download Cam button. The button below may also work too, depending on your browser settings. If you have any of the new Kraken or Kraken Elite coolers, then they're all eligible to benefit from this new update to CAM and their firmware, but if you're unsure, all the models are listed below so you can be absolutely certain. NZXT Kraken 240 Black NZXT Kraken 240 RGB Black NZXT Kraken 240 RGB White NZXT Kraken 280 Black NZXT Kraken 280 RGB Black NZXT Kraken 280 RGB White NZXT Kraken 360 Black NZXT Kraken 360 RGB Black NZXT Kraken 360 RGB White NZXT Kraken Elite 240 Black NZXT Kraken Elite RGB 240 White NZXT Kraken Elite 280 Black NZXT Kraken Elite RGB 280 Black NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB White NZXT Kraken Elite 360 Black NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB Black NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB White What New Features Can You Expect? The NZXT Flagship cooler, the Kraken Elite already benefits from all of the new features, and the Kraken Z has many of them too. However, while the standard Kraken will now be able to display both images and GIFs, all the models will see an uptick in the web display integration, which will now go from 1FPS to 30 FPS on the Kraken, which I think you'll agree is a HUGE upgrade in performance. However, even the Kraken Elite will see its Web Integration go from 3 FPS to 40 FPS, while also seeing its GIFs going from 27 FPS to somewhere between 40 and 60 FPS. That means all models get a higher refresh rate, which means smoother GIF animations, and smoother web display, and you can now display both the infographic to showcase your CPU temperatures, loads and other information, while now also having a GIF as the background, which is just going to look so much cooler! CAM & Kraken Firmware Compasion NZXT Kraken The Kraken has an embedded 1.54" 240 x 240 square LCD that can now display this information at 30 frames per second. This applies to both the Kraken 280 as well as the Kraken 360. You can either upload your own GIF into the CAM software that will be applied to the screen or use the NZXT CAM GIPHY integration to search for gifs from within the software, making it very user-friendly. NZXT Kraken Elite This is a more premium model and has a more capable and higher resolution display that measures 2.36" with a 640 x 640 wide-angle LCD display that is also brighter and will now be able to display GIFs just like the Kraken, but with up to 60 frames per second, and the Web Integration at up to 40 frames a second rather than the 1 frame per second prior to the update. The Elite used to only display 256 colours, and that's now increased to a much more vibrant 8000 colours. As you can see, there are plenty of things you can do, as seen in this demonstration image from NZXT, showcasing Carousel, Infographic, Web Display, Visualizer (Elite Only), GIFs, and both Infographics with GIF Background. What's even more impressive is that while NZXT has increased the update rate and efficiency of their own software and displays, it's actually going to be beneficial to your system too, with the Elite currently using around 5% of the CPU on the old firmware, and dropping to around 3% after the firmware update, despite the improved performance. This is based on testing using an i7-8700K. And last, but not least, the CAM software can now be put into full-screen mode, rather than being forced to a window size, which is handy if you want to throw it onto a secondary monitor. Performance The NZXT Kraken range is available now from many major retailers. They've already proven themselves to be some of the best coolers on the market too, with me having reviewed the NZXT Kraken 240mm AIO a few months ago and the Kraken 360mm not long before that. We'll have the Kraken Elite on the test bench soon enough too, but keep in mind, it's largely the same cooler as the Kraken, but costs more due to its premium RGB fans, and the larger higher resolution and more capable display built into its pump. Of course, you can see these coolers, as well as a range of impressive NZXT hardware, such as the NZXT F120 RGB Core fans, Cyberpunk 2077 H710i ATX Mid-Tower Case, NZXT N7 Z790 motherboard, and the Kraken 360 RGB in our recent build video, where we built and tested the ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty gaming PC. How Much Does it Cost? The NZXT Kraken coolers have been on the market for months now, so they're readily available at a wide range of retailers. Just keep in mind, that to unlock their full potential you'll absolutely want to update their firmware, which is the whole point of why I wrote this feature after all! All prices were correct at the time of writing, but obviously, are subject to change. There are a lot of variants too, but don't be too put off by the level of choice, as the breakdown is easier to digest than it appears. There are standard models which come with black or white fans to colour-matched the black or white coolers, all are also available with matching RGB fan variants, and all are available in 240mm, 280mm, and 360mm variants. The same is true again with the Elite, which is the same thing again, but it costs more due to the more advanced pump display, which we've covered on previous pages. NZXT Kraken NZXT Kraken 240 Black - £109.98 NZXT Kraken 240 RGB Black - £159.95 NZXT Kraken 240 RGB White - £137.50 NZXT Kraken 280 Black - £135.97 NZXT Kraken 280 RGB Black - £159.98 NZXT Kraken 280 RGB White - £159.98 NZXT Kraken 360 Black - £161.16 NZXT Kraken 360 RGB Black - £199.63 NZXT Kraken 360 RGB White - £199.63 NZXT Kraken Elite NZXT Kraken Elite 240 Black - £204.82 NZXT Kraken Elite RGB 240 White - £217.20 NZXT Kraken Elite 280 Black - £205.98 NZXT Kraken Elite RGB 280 Black - £245.42 NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB White - £234.08 NZXT Kraken Elite 360 Black - £249.95 NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB Black - £252.10 NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB White - £267.90 What's Next? What do you think of the new updates for NZXT CAM and their cooler firmware? If you're an existing user of the NZXT Kraken coolers, this is undoubtedly a tasty free upgrade for something you already own, and we'd love to see you post your new configuration on our Discord! Plus, for those that are looking to buy an NZXT Kraken, their value has certainly improved, offering more features than ever, and the price didn't need to increase, so it's a bit of a win-win scenario really!