So when I decided I wanted an all-white build I went on the hunt for an AIO that would match the aesthetic, as well as provide excellent performance for high-end components. There was only one option – the NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB AIO cooler.
Unboxing and setup
The packaging for NZXT products is always good, and this was no exception. Inside you get the radiator which features nicely braided pipes to the AIO control unit, brackets so it supports Intel and AMD as well as two 140mm RGB Core fans and the necessary cables and fixings.
Setting up the AIO was straightforward as well and the instructions are pretty clear to follow. Always work out where you’re going to put your AIO before mounting your fans and which side you will want the pipes on. Once you know that, screw on the fans, mount to the case and affix the cooler to the CPU. The cooler comes with pre-applied thermal paste so it’s very beginner friendly.
NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB AIO Features
The NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB AIO cooler is impressive and has several features that make it a particularly good choice.
Firstly, it is very easy to assemble. I swapped out the RGB core fans with two F140 fans to match the rest of the case, and this was very easy to do.
The CPU block’s design is simple. It’s effectively a cylinder with an impressive LCD display that is edge-to-edge and vivid in both colours and brightness. I love this display, and it’s one of the biggest selling features of this particular AIO. The screen is a 2.36” diameter wide-angle LCD display with 640×640 resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate and through the NZXT Cam software you can control what’s displayed on it. The LCD sceen has support for GIFs, static images and useful readout information such as CPU and GPU temperatures. This truly allows you to customise the screen to fit your build’s theme. For me, pairing it with the H5 Flow (Starfield Edition) meant it was the perfect place to display the Constellation logo or the ship startup GIF depending on how I’m feeling.
The AIO comes in 240mm, 280mm and 360mm options as well as black and white colour options. This provides good versability in the range to suit pretty much every case.
The AIO is based on an Asetek platform with a 27mm thick aluminium radiator, a solid copper cold plate with micro-skived fins and pump speeds of up to 2800RPM.
Using the NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB AIO
I’ve been using this AIO for a while now in my PC build (7900x CPU) with the radiator mounted to the top of the case and the fans set to exhaust. The performance has been fantastic across the range of activity – from productivity tasks to extensive gaming, the AIO has done its job and ensured the thermals of the CPU remain well within tolerance. While the CPU did get very close to its TDP limit out of the box, I have never experienced throttling and these components are designed to run hot! However, I have meticulously undervolted my CPU because I’m just not comfortable with those stock temperatures. Since then, the cooler has been even more effective at keeping the temperature in limits I’m comfortable with under load.
The fans can run in a variety of different modes, all controlled through the NZXT software and I recommend pairing this AIO with NZXT fans in your case of choice so you can use the NZXT hub (not the included one, which only links ARGB) to minimise cables going into the motherboard. NZXT care about the aesthetic though, and the single cable running out of the CPU block is proof of that.
What’s in the box?
- Kraken Elite 280 RGB
- F140 RGB Core fan
- Installation Accessories
- RGB Controller
- Breakout cable set
Specifications
Cap
- Material:Aluminum, Plastic
- Display Orientation:Software adjustable Default, +90, +180, and -90 Degrees
- Display Panel Active Area:2.36” (60mm) diameter
- Display Color:24-bit true color LCD
- Display Resolution:640 x 640 px
- Display Brightness:690 cd/m²
- Display Panel Type:TFT-LCD (Wide Viewing Angle)
Water Block
- Dimensions:Diameter: 81.9mm H: 59.5mm
- Material (Block):Copper
- Material (Housing):Plastic
Pump
- Motor Speed:800 – 2,800 ± 300 RPM
- Power:12V DC, 0.3A
Radiator
- Dimensions:143 x 315 x 30mm
- Material:Aluminum
Tube
- Length:400mm
- Material:Ultra-low Evaporation Rubber with Nylon Braided Sleeve
Compatible Socket & CPU
- Intel:Intel Socket LGA 1700, 1200/115X Intel Core i9 / Core i7 / Core i5 / Core i3 / Pentium / Celeron
- AMD:AMD Socket AM5, AM4, sTRX4*, TR4* (*Threadripper bracket not included) AMD Ryzen 9 / Ryzen 7 / Ryzen 5 / Ryzen 3 / Threadripper
Final thoughts on the NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB AIO
This AIO is the perfect addition to my all-white build and provides a great level of personalisation with the LCD display. It’s easy to install making it suitable for beginners and provides powerful cooling even to the highest end CPUs.
For more information on the NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB AIO, and the other AIOs from NZXT, head to their website. The AIO currently retails for around £239.99.
