The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB CPU Cooler combines beauty and performance. This exceptional piece of hardware is truly a game-changer and something that looks incredible in any case. I plumped for the white A-RGB version as it matches my M808W Gaming case from Sahara Gaming. However, there is a black version and a non-A-RGB version if you wish to be more stealthy. Alongside this, there are an array of radiator sizes to pick from and this increases versatility without undermining performance.
For this review, I benchmarked the cooler against my newly built PC. I went quite high-end, so I was excited to see how the cooler performed compared to its peers. I will list the build below for clarity. Sadly, I was unable to test this on an Intel build as my wife would kill me if I invested heavily in 2 monster gaming PCs. However, I’m comfortable in the knowledge that this beastly cooler would perform admirably no matter the system you use.
Test Bench for the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB CPU Cooler.
- CPU: AMD 7800X3D.
- Motherboard: ASUS Tuf Gaming 650m-plus Wi-Fi DDR5.
- Graphics Card: MSI GeForce RTX 4080 Super Gaming X Slim White 16GB.
- Memory: 32GB G-Skill White DDR5 6000.
- Storage: 2Tb Samsung 970 Pro m.2.
- Power Supply. Seasonic Vertex GX-1000W.
- Thermal Compound: Arctic MX-6.
- O/S: Windows 11.
What’s new?
- The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB CPU Cooler is a big jump from its predecessor. Therefore, you can expect impressive performance improvements. Furthermore, there are an array of hardware changes that improve connectivity and heat dissipation. Accordingly, this is the ideal toy for your high-end gaming rig.
- An improved copper cold plate combines large fin volume and water channels to improve heat dissipation.
- The VRM fan has adaptive speed options between 400 and 2500 RPM. Additionally, the fan is larger and this helps with airflow.
- The cooler is available in black or white and can be purchased with or without the A-RGB option. Moreover, you can pick from 4 unique radiator sizes. 420mm, 360mm, 280mm, and 240mm ensure that this is suitable for any CPU and case.
- An Intel socket mount includes an LGA1700 contact frame to improve connectivity.
- The 38mm aluminium radiator has been extended by 23% by increasing the fin stack. This helps to slow down the build-up in the water cooling system to manage temperatures and power peaks over a longer period.
- The P-Series high static fans use a multi-award winning design. Their high static pressure achieves significantly better results compared to high air circulation fans.
Specifications:
- Compatibility: Intel and AMD AM4/5.
- Warranty: 6 years.
- Operating Ambient temperature: 0-40°C.
- Pump: 800-2800 RPM (PWM controlled).
- Radiator dimensions: 398 (L) x 120 (W) x 38 (H) mm.
- Radiator fans: 3x P12 PWM PST A-RGB.
- Speed: 200 – 2000 RPM.
- Fan dimensions: 120mm x 120mm x 25mm.
- Fan connector: 4-pin PWM.
Setting the playing field.
For testing purposes, I ran the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB CPU Cooler multiple times whilst attempting to retain a level of ambient temperature. At times when this was not possible, I disregarded the results and re-ran the test. Even when the ambient temperature had increased by a few degrees, the cooler performed consistently with no major peaks or noticeable shortcomings. Additionally, I normalised the noise output to 45dBA for a level playing field.
I ran a Cinebench looped test and a separate 3DMark stress test to gather my information and push the cooler to its limits. Throughout this time, I was able to record the lows and highs as well as the mean temperature after a fair warming-up period. Moreover, I did not overclock any components, but I did push the fans to their maximum speed.
How did the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB CPU Cooler perform?
With the fans pushed to 100% of their capacity, I noted some impressive mean temperatures. The device peaked at around 77°C and averaged an incredible 75°C. If you then remove the ambient temperature of 12°C (yes I like my room to be cool), you experience a delta figure of 65°C and 62°C. This was spectacular, especially when you consider the punishing nature of the stress tests. This figure was almost identical no matter which test I undertook. Furthermore, except for one blip, the 3 recorded tests delivered almost identical results.
When I focused my attention on the normalised dBA, I experienced slightly higher temperatures. However, the results were still impressive nonetheless. A peak performance of 81°C and an average of 79°C delivered a great result. When you calculate the delta figure you have a return of 69°C and 67°C. This overall performance was outstanding when you consider the quiet nature of the hardware.
Build quality.
The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB CPU Cooler is a glorious-looking device. The vibrant addressable RGB lighting complements the crisp white livery. On top of this, the pump housing is robust, chunky, and well-built. I like the improved copper plate and the Intel LGA1700 contact frame. Both of these elements improve connectivity and this will help the cooler perform at its best.
The large 120mm fans are impressively quiet no matter how hard you push them. This was particularly important for me as my gaming workspace is small, and I’m not too fond of the constant whoosh of a noisy fan. Moreover, it is off-putting when you think your system is about to take off or explode next to you. Considering the amazing value-to-temperature return, this cooler does a fantastic job.
Is the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB CPU Cooler worth it?
There are many great cooling systems available to buy. Yet, AIO coolers are a fashionable and high-performance option. The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB CPU Cooler delivers on every level. Consequently, if you were to invest in this product, you wouldn’t be disappointed. Not only is it affordable, but there is a choice of colours and sizes. Moreover, it is exceptionally quiet whilst delivering some incredible core temperatures. As such, I adore this piece of hardware and I recommend buying it here!
(More information on Arctic can be found here!)
(Full disclosure! Arctic provided a sample for this review!)
