Three years after analyzing its predecessor, the Freezer II A-RGB, and previously even the non-RGB version, we have the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB for review today. We are presented with a revision that refines the design of the reservoir while maintaining the unique VRM fan, as well as featuring prominent ARGB lighting on the fans.
Before starting the review, we want to thank Arctic for providing us with the Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB cooling system for our analysis.
Technical specifications of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB:
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB
Compatibility:
Intel LGA 1700
AMD AM5 / AM4
Radiator:
Aluminum fins
398 x 120 x 38 mm
Block:
Copper base with micro-serrated fins
PWM pump (800 – 2800 RPM)
PWM fan for VRM (400 – 2500 RPM)
108 x 76 x 80 mm
Tubes:
Meshed 450 mm (6 – 12.4 mm Ø)
Fans:
3 x Arctic P12 PWM A-RGB 120 x 120 x 25 mm
Speed: 200 – 2000 RPM
Noise level: 0.3 Sone
Airflow: 48.8 CFM
Static pressure: 1.85 mm/H2O
Fluid dynamic bearings
ARGB LED lighting with 12 LEDs
Weight:
1.870 grams
Other:
Includes Arctic MX-6 thermal paste syringe
6-year warranty
Packaging and Accessories
We begin the review of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB by placing its packaging on our workbench. We have a long white cardboard box in front of us, indicating that we have the White version, although there is also an entirely black option available.
It is important to note that on the sides of the packaging, we find two QR codes, one with the product specifications page and another with the assembly manual, which is very important since it does not come in paper form. Meanwhile, on the back, we have the complete technical specifications.
Inside the packaging, we find the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB kit well protected by cardboard frames, with accessories in a separate cardboard box.
The mounting kit includes a metal frame for the Intel LGA 1700 socket, which requires us to change the default frame on all motherboards. For AMD, no change is needed, but the use of two metal bridges is necessary. Also included are the necessary screws for installation, two alternative cables to control fan speed in a unified or separate way, and a high-quality ARCTIC MX-6 thermal paste syringe.
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB
We continue the review of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB once it is fully unpacked and placed on our workbench. We have an all-in-one kit that is practically assembled and ready for use, as the fans are already installed on the radiator.
Triple radiator with three ARGB fans
Specifically, we have three Arctic P12 PWM A-RGB fans with dimensions of 120 x 120 x 25 mm. Thanks to PWM control, the fans allow rotation between 200 and 2000 RPM, providing an airflow of 48.8 CFM and a static pressure of 1.85 mm/H2O, with a maximum noise level of 0.3 Sone. As expected, they have a 4-pin PWM connector for rotation and a 3-pin A-RGB connector for controlling their lighting. What’s more, the cables are perfectly interconnected, so they are barely visible, perfecting the finish of the system and making our job much easier.
On the opposite side, we find the large aluminum fin radiator of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB. It has dimensions of 398 x 120 x 38 mm, allowing the installation of three 120 mm fans on each side. It is worth noting that its thickness is about 10 mm greater than most models included in AIO kits.
From the radiator, a pair of 450 mm meshed rubber tubes emerge. This mesh also hides the fan cables, which is ideal for minimizing visible wiring in the system.
At the other end, the tubes reach the reservoir, which has a truly unique and more aesthetic design compared to the Freezer II.
Reservoir with updated design and integrated fan
In terms of aesthetics, there is a massive leap from the previous generation. Now the reservoir is finished with a plastic cover that resembles fan blades – an interesting detail considering there’s a small fan underneath.
In the previous image, we can see the integrated turbine-type fan in the reservoir that can rotate between 400 and 2,500 RPM to help cool the VRM.
Additionally, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB features a small copper base with internal micro-channels designed for compatible sockets.
Mounting and installation of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB
As we mentioned earlier in the review, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB comes with a simple mounting process, as the fans are pre-installed and interconnected on the radiator. However, if we opt for installation on an LGA 1700 socket motherboard, we will need to change the socket frame. This is a straightforward process, as we only need to remove four screws, but we must be careful when doing so. It’s best to leave the processor in place to avoid damaging the socket pins.
Once the CPU Contact Frame is installed, we apply the Arctic MX-6 thermal paste from the included syringe onto the processor and place the reservoir on top.
Next, we secure the reservoir to the frame with the two side screws and place the aesthetic cover on the reservoir. Once the radiator is also installed in the chassis, the assembly is complete.
Test System
For our tests, we used our new test system comprising:
Thermaltake Core P3 TG Pro Chassis
MSI MEG Z690 Unify motherboard
Intel Core i9-12900K processor
G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB memory at 5600 MHz
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card
be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W power supply
Windows 11 Pro operating system
As seen in the images, both the reservoir and the fans of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB feature ARGB LED lighting. We can configure it through the software of any modern motherboard or any 3-pin ARGB controller.
Test Methodology
We fix the CPU voltage in the BIOS to 1.15V, the P cores to 4.9 GHz, and the E cores to 3.9 GHz. This allows comparison with simple coolers by forcing a consumption of around 120W.
We perform a stress test in Aida64 with the processor and memory boxes activated for 5 minutes, clear the history, and note the average of the following minute.
Idle values are measured with active power-saving modes.
Fans will rotate at the speed set in each mode, as will the pump, which also changes its revolutions. If there are no predefined modes, the motherboard’s PWM is applied, and we also test with the fans at their maximum speed (MAX).
For the ranking, delta temperatures are used between ambient and the corresponding test.
Performance tests of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB
With an ambient temperature of 21ºC, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB maintains around 27ºC with the system at idle, while its fans rotate so slowly that they are inaudible above the ambient noise.
During the stress test, we have a core temperature of 57.3ºC, with a noise level so low that it is hardly audible above the ambient noise at 37.4 dB. Meanwhile, with the fan speeds at their maximum, the temperature drops by 2.5ºC, but the noise level increases to 44 dB. Even so, the liquid cooling system is not too noisy, as it does not become disturbing, but it is noticeably more audible.
Conclusion
After completing the review of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB, it is clear that we have a sensational liquid cooling solution. It offers almost unrivaled performance in the market, improving the temperatures of nearly any other cooling system, excluding custom liquid solutions or, of course, liquid nitrogen. Moreover, it has an extremely low noise level so that at full performance, we can barely hear its four fans spinning, plus the pump. Additionally, the aesthetically pleasing design of the ARGB reservoir and fans adds a sensational touch of color to the overall ensemble.
The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB is already available for sale with a significantly discounted launch price that will last for three months. The prices are quite impressive considering its performance and the current market situation, making this series perhaps the best liquid cooling system available on the market.
Product advantages:
+
Excellent performance/price ratio
+
Unrivaled performance, minimal temperatures
+
Extremely low noise level
+
Original reservoir design, with integrated VRM fan
+
Includes three ARGB fans with hidden wiring
+
ARGB lighting in fans and the reservoir
+
Arctic MX-6 thermal paste syringe included
+
100% compatible with any RAM memory
Negative aspects:
–
Requires changing anchors for Intel sockets
Other aspects:
*
38 mm thick radiator
El Chapuzas Informático awards the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB liquid cooling system with its Platinum Award.
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