I purchased this AIO because, as the pump blocks on these types of units keep getting taller, this one is one of the few best remaining options for the Lian Li A4 H20 case. In general, the cooler is fine. One of the other deciding factors in buying this one is that it has been rated by many tech reviewers as one of the quieter units at a normalized temp available in the 240mm form factor. I have to say that my expectations were really high given the reputation this thing has in the PC building community and I am pretty underwhelmed by it. Here are some of the issues:
1. The mounting on this is not necessarily difficult but when I was mounting the pump, there was quite a lot of play once seated over the bracket. That meant that this thing was sliding all over the place as I was trying to center it and tighten the screws with one hand. I am pretty sure that messed up the pre-applied thermal paste.
2. I basically have to get a tube of thermal paste and reseat this thing. You might call it user error given above but if this unit takes two people to mount correctly (so one person can hold it in place while the other person deals with the hardware), then that is a design flaw IMO. Regardless of whether it is the quality of the pre-applied paste or I mucked it up on install, it just isn't doing a good enough job cooling. The result is higher temps than I am really comfortable with and the fans reving up ALL the time, making this not as quiet as I was expecting given the reviews. I will report back after I do a fresh install.
3. The included USB cord for the pump block is way too big. I am building in on an ITX platform (as many people are these days) and the cable presses against the first RAM Dimm. This is a commonly reported issue and I knew it might be a problem. I was less comfortable with just how much pressure it was placing on the RAM than I anticipated. Given the price of this thing, I don't see why NZXT doesn't just throw in some right and left angle cables or just use those by default. For me, I was mounting this with the tube junction on the bottom and needed a left facing cable to avoid the RAM. That cost me an extra $10 for something that should have been just dealt with in the design of the product. If you are reading this and looking for a solution, Duttek makes right and left angled cords that work with this unit.
3. This one is small but I never see anyone mention it, so I will. The NZXT logo in the middle of the infinity mirror is actually on top a rectangular rod that juts out from the middle of the pump block. This means that if you view the unit from an angle, it covers up the rings and it looks really dumb. If you want it to look great, you have to turn the computer to view from head on. I am realizing that tech reviewers do that all the time to make their shot look clean but they never mention this aesthetic issue for potential buyers. Not a big deal, but an unexpected 'issue' for me.
Is my CPU cooled? Yes. Does it look good doing it? Yeah pretty cool. So, it checks those basic boxes. But I shouldn't have to buy a $10 cable to make it work on ITX. It shouldn't be such a struggle to center on the die. I should have to spend $10 on thermal paste to make it cool properly. I shouldn't be contemplating buying $60 of Noctua fans to make it quiet enough. All these issues make me a little bitter. When I bought my last AIO about 8 years ago from NZXTs primary competitor in this space, I had no problems with the install and that thing ran perfectly off its pre-applied paste for like 5 years. I will likely be going back to them next time around unless better options present themselves.
EDIT: I can confirm after pulling this thing out and reapplying thermal paste, that the current pre-application that they use is just insufficient for recent CPUs, which have a larger die than when this cooler first released. When I pulled the cooler, I hadn't significantly marred the preapplication. It simply wasn't enough to cover the CPU. Put some Arctic MX-4 on there and the cooler stopped ramping up all the time.
One last thing I forgot to mention in the original review: When I would set the pump to higher RPM in the Cam software, I got really loud coil whine. That might be just my particular unit with my particular board, but it seemed important to mention.
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From the manufacturer
Kraken X Series
LIQUID COOLER WITH RGB
The refreshed Kraken X Series is a must-have for any build, providing better cooling, stunning visual effects, and intuitive installation. With a re-designed cap and larger infinity mirror ring LED, the new Kraken X delivers an amazing experience in RGB liquid cooling.
- 10% bigger LED ring and rotatable top.
- Easily manage your Kraken’s performance and appearance with CAM.
- Chamfered intake and fluid dynamic bearing provide silent operations and durability.
- Fine nylon mesh sleeves provide durability and protection against mishandling.
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BIGGER AND BRIGHTERA 10% bigger LED ring allows for more vivid RGB. A rotatable top accommodates re-orienting the logo no matter the direction the cooler is installed. |
BETTER CONTROLCAM provides sophisticated controls with an intuitive, user-friendly interface. Now with better sync for lighting across all NZXT RGB devices, full CAM integration allows you to manage your Kraken’s performance with precision, making adjustments with the click of a button. |
INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCERGB channel easily integrates with any RGB accessory, including AER RGB 2 fans. |
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| Kraken X53 240mm | Kraken X63 280mm | Kraken X73 360mm | Kraken Z63 280mm | Kraken Z73 360mm | |
| Dimension | 120 x 120 x 26mm | 140 x 140 x 26mm | 120 x 120 x 26mm | 140 x 140 x 26mm | 120 x 120 x 26mm |
| Speed | 500-2,000 + 300 RPM | 500-1,800 + 300 RPM | 500-2,000 + 300 RPM | 500-1,800 + 300 RPM | 500-2,000 + 300 RPM |
| Air Flow | 18.28 - 73.11 CFM | 27.27 - 98.17 CFM | 18.28 - 73.11 CFM | 27.27 - 98.17 CFM | 18.28 - 73.11 CFM |
| Air Pressure | 0.18 - 2.93mm-H2O | 0.21 - 2.71mm-H2O | 0.18 - 2.93mm-H2O | 0.21 - 2.71mm-H2O | 0.18 - 2.93mm-H2O |
| Noise | 21-36dBA | 21-38dBA | 21-36dBA | 21-38dBA | 21-36dBA |
| Bearing | Fluid Dynamic Bearing | Fluid Dynamic Bearing | Fluid Dynamic Bearing | Fluid Dynamic Bearing | Fluid Dynamic Bearing |
| Power Consumption | 12V DC, 0.32A, 3.84W | 12V DC, 0.38A, 4.56W | 12V DC, 0.32A, 3.84W | 12V DC, 0.38A, 4.56W | 12V DC, 0.32A, 3.84W |
| Connector | 4-pin PWM | 4-pin PWM | 4-pin PWM | 4-pin PWM | 4-pin PWM |
| Life | 60,000 hours / 6 Years | 60,000 hours / 6 Years | 60,000 hours / 6 Years | 60,000 hours / 6 Years | 60,000 hours / 6 Years |
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2023
Style: Kraken XSize: 240mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2023
Style: Kraken RGB 2023Size: 240mm RadiatorColor: WhiteVerified Purchase
So i bought this aio for my first custom pc and i love it. Really easy to install (never built a pc before) has really nice rgb which you can control through nzxt cam and feels and looks amaizing. Idling, my cpu is around 24-27c in the hot summer weather which seems crazy to me and i wonder how low it can get in winter time while playing games like valorant,csgo,cod,etc my i5 12600k paired with a 3060ti and 32gb of ram is only getting to 33-43c while playing games in summer. Noise levels are pretty quiet and barely hear it without headphones. Overall this cooler blows my mind and really keeps my components cool to expand there life time and exceded my expectations.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2023
Style: Kraken 2023Size: 360mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2023
Style: Kraken 2023Size: 360mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
Style: Kraken XSize: 240mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2023
Style: Kraken 2023Size: 280mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2023
Style: Kraken RGB 2023Size: 280mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
てぃな
i9-13900の冷却にも耐えれはする！
Reviewed in Japan on June 27, 2023Style: Kraken X RGBSize: 280mm RadiatorColor: WhiteVerified Purchase
Jake
Cool and Cool
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2023Style: Kraken X RGBSize: 280mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
abbystabby
Unleash the Power of Liquid Cooling with the NZXT Kraken X53 240mm!
Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2023Style: Kraken XSize: 240mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
abbystabby
Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2023
Not only do I do a ton of gaming, but I use Blender and Unreal Engine which can make your CPU run very hot. With NZXT Kraken X53 240mm things have been ice cold no matter what I throw at it.
The first thing that impressed me was the sleek and stylish design of the Kraken X53. The pump unit features a glossy black finish with subtle RGB lighting that adds a touch of elegance to my PC. The 240mm radiator fits perfectly in my case and provides ample cooling capacity, ensuring that my CPU stays cool even during the most demanding tasks as I mentioned earlier.
Installation was a breeze thanks to NZXT's user-friendly design. The all-in-one design means that the cooler comes pre-filled and requires no maintenance or complicated setup. The included mounting hardware and clear instructions made the installation process quick and hassle-free. Within minutes, I had the Kraken X53 up and running.
But what truly sets this cooler apart is its exceptional cooling performance. The 240mm radiator, coupled with the two high-performance Aer P120 fans, efficiently dissipates heat from the CPU. I've noticed a significant drop in temperatures compared to my previous air cooler, even under heavy workloads and intense gaming sessions. This has allowed me to push my CPU to its limits while maintaining optimal performance and stability. I even hit my CPU with a cheeky overclock now that I can keep it cool.
The noise levels aren't too bad, if you don't use headphones you'll for sure hear the fans going.
One standout feature of the Kraken X53 is the powerful software control. Using NZXT's CAM software, I have full control over the cooler's performance, fan speeds, and lighting effects. The intuitive interface makes it easy to monitor temperatures, adjust settings, and create custom profiles for different scenarios. It's a versatile tool that empowers me to fine-tune the cooler's performance to suit my needs.
Durability is also worth mentioning. The Kraken X53 is built with high-quality materials, ensuring long-lasting performance. The reinforced nylon-braided tubing adds a premium touch and enhances durability, while the copper cold plate ensures efficient heat transfer from the CPU.
In conclusion, the NZXT Kraken X53 240mm is a top-tier liquid cooler that delivers on all fronts. With its sleek design, easy installation, exceptional cooling performance, and customizable software control, it's a must-have for anyone looking to maximize their CPU's potential. Whether you're a hardcore gamer, a content creator, or a PC enthusiast, this cooler will keep your CPU running cool and unleash its full power. I highly recommend the Kraken X53 for anyone seeking superior cooling and a touch of style for their PC build.
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zero
かっこいい
Reviewed in Japan on July 22, 2023Style: Kraken 2023Size: 120mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
綿飴
安定
Reviewed in Japan on May 17, 2023Style: Kraken XSize: 360mm RadiatorColor: BlackVerified Purchase
