Overall, the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 A-RGB is a damn good all-in-one liquid cooler. While performance wasn't all that different compared to the other two 280 mm units, Arctic holds a slight edge once you take into account noise levels. That trend continues with noise-normalized performance tests, where Arctic is again clearly a top-tier performer. Also, as far as AIOs go, it is a damn good value, with the price tag of $120 helping it beat the pants off the many high-priced liquid coolers available today. Add a six-year warranty, decent build quality, perfect memory, and graphics card clearance and you end up with a very attractive offering. Even the VRM fan, while gimmicky, actually did lower temperatures by a few degrees on our test benches. While not enough to make it a must-have feature, it at least works from a performance standpoint. Even the A-RGB lighting is well implemented, though it's a love or hate feature, and in this case, its inclusion along with the VRM fan doesn't break the bank, so if you are not a fan of either, it at least won't feel like you are paying for feature creep.

That said, the cooler does have some shortcomings. First and foremost, the pump design isn't all that attractive. Sure, looks are in the eye of the beholder, but I honestly don't see anything visually appealing about the pump design. Additionally, the rigid fittings used on the pump limit a user's ability to route the tubing as they lack the flexibility provided by swivel fittings. While not the end of the world since the tubing is 450 mm long, it is still something to keep in mind. As for the mounting hardware, it's not awful, but due to various changes between revisions and the pump's overall design, there could be potential compatibility issues in certain situations, not to mention the many bits and pieces. Again, while not the worst design I have encountered, there is still room for improvement. The same goes for the packaging. While the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 A-RGB did arrive safe and sound, the packaging is barebones in regards to the protection it offers. I would prefer some improvements there as well.

In summation, most of the issues I have with the Arctic cooler are trivial. The Liquid Freezer II 280 A-RGB's performance, value as far as AIO coolers go, and warranty make it easy to recommend if the visual aesthetics of the pump don't bother you.