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With the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB, users get a strong balance between noise output and cooling performance, with particular emphasis placed on tolerable noise levels even when at full fan speed. This makes a pleasant change for an AIO cooler and is a design approach that I appreciated throughout testing.
The result is, of course, a reduction in maximum cooling capability versus some of the higher fan speed and louder AIOs. But this is actually a compromise that I would be willing to make personally, as the Freezer II 360 A-RGB cooler’s noise output never got to an intrusive level and the cooling performance was always competent, if not chart-topping.
That embedded VRM fan seems to add minimal value to the overall package. VRM temperatures were simply ‘OK’ but no more. Though the VRM cooling performance was marginally more impressive when we reduced the fan speeds for lower noise operation. Would I miss the VRM fan if it was removed? Not for our test system. But users with other motherboard designs may see greater benefits.
In terms of downsides, there are a few.
Despite featuring very eye-catching, premium Arctic P12 PWM A-RGB fans, the overall aesthetic of the cooler leaves plenty to be desired in my opinion. The pump block unit is needlessly oversized and is missing an LED lit VRM fan in the A-RGB cooler. And the material over the EPDM tubes is far less premium than braided alternatives used by the likes of ASUS or Fractal.
Other than those points, I have very few complaints. The 6-year warranty is superb, I love the fact that the cable management is so straightforward for an end-user, and even classy touches such as including a tube of thermal paste have me impressed.
Rounding out my approval for the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB is the absolutely superb current availability price of just under £120. Yes, the cooling performance is not quite up to the level of competing AIOs that are only slightly more expensive from the likes of Fractal. But the balance in the package that Arctic offers for just around £120 is very good in our opinions.
You can purchase the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB for £119.99 at Overclockers UK HERE.
Pros:
- Very good noise balanced performance.
- Excellent PWM speed control setting with just one cable.
- Very clean cable management pre-done for users.
- Tube of thermal paste is good to see.
- Aesthetics from the fans are solid.
- 6-year warranty and around £120 current price are excellent.
Cons:
- Pump-block unit is cumbersome in certain dimensions and does not look sleek.
- No LED on the VRM fan feels like a missed opportunity.
- Full fan speed performance does struggle versus some competing AIOs.
- Limited installation options due to the pump-block and tubing arrangement.
KitGuru says: The Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB is particularly strong in the noise-balanced performance department. Add competitive pricing, a 6-year warranty, and good RGB fans into the mix, and it is easy to give this cooler a recommendation.
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