Layout, design and features …
The NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB CPU water cooling system is based on a 27mm-thick 360mm aluminum radiator with a total length of 397mm, which is exceptionally well-built. The radiator is connected to the pump-and-cooler unit via 420mm-long, perfectly sleeved CIIR/EPDM hoses, which offer good flexibility and have been optimized for low diffusion.
In the 240mm version, the hoses are 400mm long. The pump-cooler combo unit is based on the proven Asetek design and is compatible with Intel 115x, 1200, 1700, and 1851 CPU sockets as well as AMD AM4/AM5 sockets, allowing for a wide range of applications. The round design of the pump unit is simple yet conveys a high-quality and elegant impression. On top sits a transparent cover with A-RGB lighting behind it, featuring the NZXT logo in the center. The pump is electrically connected via a 4-pin PWM cable to allow for precise control of the pump’s speed.
For addressable RGB lighting, there is a standard 3-pin A-RGB connector and a female connector to pass the signal on to another A-RGB component if needed.
Contact with the CPU is established via a generously sized copper cold plate that adequately covers all common desktop CPUs, thereby ensuring proper heat transfer. Thermal paste has already been pre-applied to the cold plate, which is sufficient for exactly one installation, as the Kraken Core Water Cooling system unfortunately does not include any additional thermal paste.
The pump unit also lacks an additional fan to cool the voltage regulators surrounding the CPU. When using a high-performance CPU, you should therefore ensure adequate airflow inside the case.
In any case, the 360mm single-frame fan included with the Kraken Core liquid cooler generates decent airflow. Its three 120mm impellers spin at speeds of up to 2,400 RPM, each producing an airflow of up to 75 cfm and an air pressure of up to 3.07 mmH₂O.
Thanks to fluid dynamic bearings on the impellers and rubber mounts at the corners of the fan frame, vibrations are well dampened before being transmitted to the case. The minimum speed of 500 RPM also contributes to the quietest possible operation.
Standard connectors for PWM fan control and A-RGB lighting are available on the 600mm-long cable. This RGB fan unit does not feature an 8-pin NZXT connector this time.
NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB Installation …