Introduction

A big thanks to Arctic for supplying the review sample.

Arctic has a 20-year history of pushing the envelope on what consumers can expect when it comes to PC cooling components. Be it CPU coolers, GPU coolers, or fans, Arctic has an established legacy of excellent products, from the Freezer 7 Pro during the Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad era to the more recent Liquid Freezer II lineup. All on top of releasing popular thermal pastes such as the MX series. Combine those accomplishments and its no wonder Arctic is well known in the enthusiast DIY PC market.


The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 Black shares many features of its predecessor, including being pre-assembled and pre-wired for an easier install. Arctic opted to evolve what didn't need revolution, focusing on optimization. From the larger VRM fan for better airflow, to a new pump and cold plate design, everything including the installation hardware has received an overhaul. Even the appearance as a whole has a received a makeover resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing design. Combine all the changes, the new looks, and their already stellar 6-year warranty and I have to admit I am quite excited to see how it performs, but before we do that, let's take a closer look at the unit itself.

Packaging

When it comes to the box Arctic keeps things a bit more simple using a black and white scheme with just a touch of color. The front showcases a mechanical drawing of the Liquid Freezer III 240 Black, along with supported CPU sockets and the generous six-year warranty. A quick look at the left side has a QR code for the manual, and a box contents list. Moving on to the back is where you will find a simple specifications table that details the fan and pump RPM ranges along with the radiator dimensions and tubing length.


Taking a look at the left side just tells potential customers at retail that the box contains an all-in-one liquid cooler. Arctic could have covered some of the features here instead, making it a bit of a missed opportunity. As for the top you will find a few more mechanical drawings of the cooler, the Arctic logo, and the product name but little else.

Contents

The internal packaging is completely different compared to what I have seen with other all-in-one liquid coolers. The box offers very little protection for the product with only a bit of extra cardboard placed between the radiator and the outer box. Meanwhile, the pump and VRM fan are placed in a separate tray that keeps them centered above the radiator and pre-mounted fans. While everything arrived safe and sound, and I am sure this approach helps keep prices down, more protection for the product would have been nice to see.


Where Arctic really differs is in socket support. Unlike the competition they face, Arctic has bravely pushed forward with the Liquid Freezer III series, offering support for only the newest sockets. This includes Intel's LGA1700 and AMD's AM4 and AM5 sockets. Essentially, if you're not rocking a modern platform, you won't be installing the Liquid Freezer III.

Common parts supplied for mounting include:

• 8x Fan screws
• 8x Radiator screws
• 8x Short fan screws
• 8x Washers
• 4x Intel LGA1700 contact frame
• 4x Spacers
• 4x AMD screws
• 2x AMD mounting brackets
• 2x P12 120 mm fans
• 1x T20 Driver
• 1x CPU contact frame
• 1x Shoulder screws
• 1x PWM all-in-one cable
• 1x PWM individual control cable