NZXT Kraken 360 RGB White AIO Cooler Review

How Much Does it Cost?

The Kraken 360 RGB cooler is available now, with it on Amazon in both black here or white here, however, right now, the prices from NZXT’s own web store are actually more favourable, so be sure to check both to see what’s better when you plan to purchase one. The MSRP is basically £200, which is a lot, but as we’ve seen, you get not only a great cooler but a lot of aesthetic features that justify the premium price point.

Overview

NZXT has made a very mighty cooler here, and that is clearly represented in the overall presentation of the product, the build quality, features and, of course, the overall performance. However, I must admit that I still have a bit of a deep hatred for AIO coolers, as I often find they have far too many cables and can be quite a lot of work to install nicely. The NZXt Kraken 360 RGB is no exception, and while the build looked fine, the cable spaghetti it generated is truly appalling. Not that this isn’t common for AIO coolers though, but I would like to see some improvements. Especially when it comes to having a thick ribbon cable from the pump that’s a nightmare to route.

There are some benefits to all those cables though, with the fans all having their own PWM headers, you can use the CAM software and the included splitter cable to control the fans from the software, which I like, as it’s quick and easy. However, I could just as easily use my own PMW controller too, as they’re not proprietary fittings; looking at you Thermaltake, tut tut.

The ARGB headers are standard 5V too, so again, you can control them from the NZXT software if you so desire, and it’s very easy to do so. Or you can use your own hub, your motherboard, or whatever, and have it all sync with other software or hardware of your choosing. However, you do need CAM to control the LCD display on the pump, but that’s to be expected. Alas, it’s easy to set up, and changes apply fast, so a big thumbs up there.

The build quality is great though, with good quality fans, and all the fittings and fixtures were easy enough to work with inside the NZXT H7 Flow PC case we use for our test bench. As I said, cables are a pain, but that’s AIOs for you. The RGB is vibrant, the fans aren’t too noisy, and the most important aspect, the cooling performance is freaking awesome.

Should I Buy One?

The Intel Core i9-12900K is not an easy CPU to deal with, but coming in with temperatures that are 24c cooler than a Noctua NH-15S makes the NZXT Kraken 360 a beast to be reckoned with. If you’re looking to push your system hard, it’s going to be a fantastic cooler for high-end gaming PCs.