Originally known as Arctic Cooling, ARCTIC GmbH first entered the field of PC cooling in 2001 and has maintained its position as a leader in cooling technology ever since. Known for its best-in-class thermal compounds, the company has since focused on cooling solutions while also expanding into other technology accessories, including advanced monitor stands and audio products.
With the launch of the Liquid Freezer III series, ARCTIC has taken another important step forward in the refrigeration market. This new product range builds on the success of the previous Liquid Freezer II range, whose excellent value for money has made it a popular product. Today, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at ARCTIC’s newest offering, the Liquid Freezer III series, specifically the 280 A-RGB white model. We will evaluate the features, quality, and thermal performance of the ARCTIC series of AIO (all-in-one) coolers with which it hopes to capture a large portion of the mainstream market.
| ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 280mm A-RGB White AIO CPU (ACFRE00151A) Cooler specifications |
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| type | All-in-one liquid cooler | ||
| aspect | 317 x 138 x 63 mm (radiator with fan)
42 x 42 mm (cold plate) |
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| fan | 2 x 140mm P14 PST FDB bearing fans 1900 rpm (maximum) |
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| RGB | Yes (ARGB) | ||
| Supported sockets | Intel: LGA1700/LGA1851
AMD: AM5/AM4 |
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| Warranty | 6 years | ||
| price | $99 (during sale) | ||
Packaging and bundling
We received the Liquid Freezer III in a typical cardboard box with a custom insert to protect the cooler during shipping. The artwork on the box is very clean and sophisticated, with a white/black theme. Basic information about the cooler and its features can be found on the sides and back of the box, however, there is a QR code that leads to a very comprehensive digital manual.
ARCTIC makes the bundles as frugal as possible, but they include all the essentials. In addition to the basic hardware needed to install the cooler, the company provides a unique contact frame for the LGA1700/LGA1851 processor socket, a small syringe of MX-6 premium thermal compound large enough for multiple installations, and two different power connectors . When connected to three separate motherboard headers, one of the connectors can precisely control the pump, VRM fan, and radiator fan, while the other connector is connected to a single header, and all three mechanisms share the same PWM signal. No installation manual or manual is provided, users must look for it online. ARCTIC also does not include an LED driver, which means that if the motherboard does not have an A-RGB LED header or a third-party controller is present, the LEDs cannot be used. Please note that Liquid Freezer III is only compatible with socket LGA1700, LGA1851, AM4 and AM5 processors. ARCTIC dropped compatibility with older sockets, presumably to support a slightly lower retail price.
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB White All-in-One Cooler
The Liquid Freezer III series is available in four sizes (240, 360, 280 and 420 mm radiators), each size in three colors (black without LED, black with A-RGB LED and white with A-RGB LED) A-RGB LED). ARCTIC provided an A-RGB white version of the Liquid Freezer III 280mm cooler for this review.
At first glance, the Liquid Freezer III 280 mm cooler looks similar to most other all-in-one coolers, coming standard with a single radiator, two hoses, and a main block that combines the CPU contact plate and liquid pump. However, the major differences between it and most available coolers quickly become apparent. First and foremost, everything about the cooler is white and there are very few loose cables, making the design exceptionally clean and visually appealing. ARCTIC’s engineers routed the fan wires through the inside of the tube’s sleeve, a clever strategy we first encountered recently on Corsair’s iCUE LINK H150i RGB AIO cooler. The difference here is that, unlike the Corsair, the ARCTIC retains the standard power and LED connectors, which does make the fan cables visible around its frame, but also allows the user to replace these fans with any available product on the market if desired.
The radiator is perhaps the highlight of the Liquid Freezer III cooler, ARCTIC has chosen a 38mm thick radiator. This can be a source of compatibility issues, especially with older and/or smaller cases, as the full cooler requires at least 65mm of clearance to fit and also significantly increases the heat exchange surface area.
Design-wise, the heatsink follows a standard dual-channel cross-flow configuration, with tiny fins welded onto elongated oval tubes, a common design feature shared by most AIO cooler radiators. A closer look at the fins reveals that they are serrated, a strategy that sacrifices heat exchange area in favor of airflow dynamics and is generally suitable for larger radiators. Regardless of the serrated fins, ARCTIC uses its P-Series fans, which are high-pressure designs with few and wide blades. The company logo is subtly etched on both sides of the radiator.
The main block assembly of the Liquid Freezer III cooler is significantly different from most other designs. It’s much larger than most, not because the pump is too big or the contact area is large, but because it includes a small fan to cool the VRM heatsink surrounding the CPU socket. Note that the fan is not the small blades you see on top of the module (these blades are merely decorative), but a narrow, tall plastic impeller hidden beneath it.
The top half of the module housing the VRM fan and RGB LED is magnetically attached and can be easily removed by simply pulling it off. This reveals the basic electronics of the module, allowing the power cord to be plugged into the right side. Please note that the power cord needs to be routed from under the plastic cover, where the LED cables exit the module, otherwise the top cover will not fit. We can see that almost the entire block is made of plastic, except for the copper contact plate and metal mounting parts. This even includes fittings for the coolant hose.
There is a very small copper contact plate on the bottom of the cooler that is held in place with four screws. The surface of the board is very well polished and very flat, ensuring good contact with the processor’s pads. The contact area is very small, just over 40 x 40 mm.
The RGB lighting application on the Liquid Freezer III works very well. LEDs are mounted in the fan’s hub, illuminating the opaque blades. ARCTIC used the same opaque material on the faux blade on top of the CPU block cover in an attempt to mimic the same lighting effect. The problem here is that, unlike a fan’s real blades, the artificial blades don’t spin when the cooler is powered. The end result, while not the best, is aesthetically pleasing.