NZXT Kraken X72 360 Cooler Review: A Pretty Performer

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Tom's Hardware Verdict

The NZXT Kraken X72 combines 360 AIO cooling, an attractive RBG light show, user-friendly software, and excellent cooling performance. It's a compelling cooling solution that supports just about every modern CPU.

Pros

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    Great cooling performance

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    Sleek design & unique RGB lighting features

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    Support for AMD's Threadripper chips

Cons

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    Expensive

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    CAM software sends data to NZXT

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Features & Specifications

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Garrett Carver
Garrett Carver
CPU Cooling Reviewer

Garrett Carver is a contributor for Tom’s Hardware, primarily covering thermal compound comparisons and CPU cooling reviews; both air and liquid, including multiple variations of each.

15 Comments Comment from the forums
  • richardvday
    A new article on the weekend how novel. Over priced though and my last NZxt AIO died a month after the warranty of course. At least they increased the warranty
    Reply
  • derekullo
    Release the Kraken-Ripper!!!
    Reply
  • megadirk
    No comparisons to any 280mm AIO's? Not even the x62?
    Reply
  • razor512
    I have given up on NZXT coolers due to their planned obsolescence. They dropped software support for their older coolers after as little as a year after release.

    For example, they refused to fix bugs with the kraken control software, thus it slowly became unstable with the many windows updates, and eventually got to a point where the fan speed control no longer worked properly. The fans only ran at 2 speeds (basically around 1500RPM and 2000RPM, both have the fan being insanely loud.

    Dashboard on my Kraken X40: https://i.imgur.com/i4GgD57.jpg

    Fan curve: https://i.imgur.com/Sski2gJ.jpg

    Fan speed graphed VS temperature. https://i.imgur.com/K3N9Dfp.jpg

    Early versions of the CAM software did not have this issue, and supported the X40, but those beta versions were also unstable and if they crached, the the fan speed would be stuck at whatever the last fan speed was, thus if it freezed while the system is idle, the fan speed does not increase while you are gaming.
    They eventually fixed many of the stability issues, but they also removed support for the X40, thus the software would no longer detect it, thus you are stuck with the no longer properly compatible kraken control software.

    In bring that to their attention, all they could say is to buy one of their other overpriced coolers.

    So I took their advice and ditched the X40 and went with a NH-D15, and replaced the NZXT fan with a 140mm noctua fan for the exhaust vent.

    Overall, my system went from this: https://i.imgur.com/gmyiEFH.jpg, to this : https://i.imgur.com/yIfWGjC.jpg (taken while installing the replacement cooler).

    I will eventually upgrade again when I find a good 240mm or 280mm radiator to mount to the top of the case, but given NZXT's software support, my next cooler will not be from them.
    Reply
  • Karadjgne
    Nzxt x61 user. Cam works perfectly, always has. As far as the interface goes, that's a little different story, each new version changes the appearance and while everything lines up with what other software reports, the one thing that's always been bunk is the drives. 1 ssd, 1 hdd with 4 partitions. Not a hard concept, yet none of either the space used or even the partitions themselves are accurate.

    I don't care if nzxt gets my build info in an attempt to use that in order to create a better product. I do care that nzxt gets my build info and doesn't bother to fix the issues I have, before moving on to the next best thing.
    Reply
  • Tanyac
    A potential great piece of hardware (albeit somewhat expensive), ruined by the software that controls it. Sure it has lighting, but it will rarely work reliably because CAM is more buggy than Windows 10. Riddled with Telemetry, bugs and an extremely slow response from the developers to said bugs, with each new version introducing more bugs, and you've essentially ruined what could have been a great performer.
    Reply
  • ElectrO_90
    Why is it using an outdated mini usb port?
    That's just shameful.
    Reply
  • nrdwka
    Do CAM software work if his access to internet blocked by firewall?
    Reply
  • megadirk
    21026215 said:
    Why is it using an outdated mini usb port?
    That's just shameful.

    Mini USB is only being used to transfer temp data and control lighting. It would be pointless to switch to USB C especially since the other end of the cable is pinned out to connect directly to your USB 2.0 motherboard headers. They also include the cable in the box so you don't have to worry about having one. Not to mention a ton of other manufacturer's AIO's that also use mini USB.
    Reply
  • penguinjoe
    For those worried about the CAM software phoning home, there is another option not mentioned by the writer: Simply block the CAM software from communicating with the Internet using your firewall. You get its functionality without it's phoning home. For updates you can always manually check for updates on NZXT's site.

    It is a good cooler, but for those running a Threadripper 1920x or 1950x that asetek adapter bracket is only good to get you running until you can get a real cooler. This one is nothing special for threadrippers. You are WAY better off with an Enermax Liqtech TR4 cooler.
    Reply