NZXT Kraken Plus 360 RGB Review: silent heat assassin

NZXT’s Kraken line of liquid coolers dates back more than a decade. And along with its long line of PC cases, motherboards, and PSUs, the company has plenty of experience dealing with PC heat dissipation. Today, we’re looking at the company’s latest flagship AIO, the Kraken Plus 360 RGB.

What sets this cooler apart from competitors is its ability to excel in two scenarios: By default, it operates stealthily, delivering essential thermal performance. Most users will prefer this mode of operation. However, for those who want to win overclocking competitions or simply just want the best possible temperatures, unlocking the fan speeds results in total thermal domination, at the cost of noise levels.

Let’s take a quick look at the Kraken Plus 360 RGB’s specifications, then we’ll dive into its features and our benchmark testing.

Cooler specifications

Packing and included contents

The packaging for the cooler is the typical cardboard, showcasing the product on the outside.

Included in the box are the following:

• F360 RGB Core Fan
• 360mm radiator
• Mounting accessories for modern AMD and Intel platforms
• Installation manual
• Connection cables
• 1.54-inch 240x240 LCD Screen

Features of NZXT’s Kraken Plus 360 RGB

▶ Heatsink and Fan design

The design of the radiator seems fairly normal, with a standard-sized 27 mm-thick radiator.

The main obvious difference in this unit’s design versus competitors is the inclusion of a unified fan, the F360 RGB Core.

This choice has the advantage of a cleaner look and simpler installation. But the downside is in the theoretical situation where one motor might fail, forcing you to replace it with a new unified fan or three separate new spinners.

These fans support ARGB lighting with 8 LEDs each, controlled by NZXT’s CAM software. They’re just a little thicker than traditional fans, at 26 mm. Airflow is rated at 77 CFM per fan, with a maximum of 3.07 mm H20 static pressure per fan. Fan speeds are rated at 500-2400 RPMs, +-10%.

▶ Pre-installed thermal paste, large copper cold plate

The AIO arrives with pre-installed thermal paste applied to a large copper cold plate. But make sure you get the installation right on the first try, because there’s no extra paste included.

▶ 1.5-inch LCD Display

On top of the CPU block is a 1.5” LCD with a 240x240 resolution. While this is useful, I’d like the screen to be larger. Most high-end AIO competitors incorporate a 2.5-inch or larger screen and 480x480 resolution (or higher) into their AIOs.

▶ CAM Software

To control and customize this AIO, you’ll need to download NZXT’s CAM software. By default, the AIO operates based on the temperature of its liquids. You can change this to respond to the CPU's temperature, or another sensor, if you so desire.

There are a few different options for customizing the AIO’s small display. You can display up to two separate temperature sensors.

Alternatively, you can set the display to a clock face – or use it to play videos from YouTube.

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▶ Complete RAM Compatibility, no matter the size of DDR5

As is typical with most AIO liquid coolers, NZXT’s Kraken Plus 360 RGB does not interfere or overhang RAM DIMMs, allowing for full compatibility, no matter how tall (or short) your DDR4 or DDR5 is.

Real world testing configuration – Intel LGA1700 and AMD AM5 platform

My results may differ from others because I emphasize results that are comparable to real-world use. This means that I test CPU coolers inside a closed desktop case, which increases cooling difficulty compared to other testing methods.

Many will test CPU coolers outside of a case, on an open test bench. Open benches have lowered ambient temperatures, which makes weak coolers appear stronger than they are. Some publications have also used generic thermal plates to test cooling solutions. I reject both of these methods because they don’t accurately reflect the real-world conditions where a CPU cooler is typically used.

My previous reviews have tested Intel’s latest platform, using the Core Ultra 9 285K Arrow Lake CPU. But we’re retiring this from our testing suite. Between BIOS changes and Windows updates, Arrow Lake’s thermal characteristics have changed in some scenarios, rendering much of our previous testing data useless.

With today’s review, we’re also testing AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This is a beast of a CPU, providing the best gaming and multithreaded performance on the market. It can prove quite challenging thermally when PBO is enabled for overclocking.

AM5 and 1851 installation

The installation of this cooler is simple for both Intel and AMD CPUs.

1. You’ll first need to apply the included backplate if you’re using an Intel CPU. AMD users will remove the default mounting mechanism.

2. Next, you’ll need to install the standoffs against the mounting holes.

3. This cooler does not need mounting bars, but has them built into the CPU block. If you’re using AMD, you’ll need to remove the default Intel brackets and replace them with the AMD supporting ones. Press the CPU block against the standoffs, and secure it with the included thumb screws.

4. Next, you’ll need to connect the fan and CPU block wires, which have a few connections: PWM, SATA, and others that connect to the AIO and fans.

5. Once complete, turn on your computer. You’ll see that despite the extra cabling, the AIO has a very clean look and won’t cause the appearance of cable clutter!