Kraken Z73 360mm

This Kraken Z73 is perfect for anyone putting together a build that has aesthetics and function in mind, and as for me served as the perfect final touch to my build. First off installation is a bit of a hassle with this due to the extra connections that the little screen requires. For some this may end up being a dealbreaker because of the fact that it may not fit in some smaller form factor builds or even a Mid-tower ATX build with all the RAM slots occupied. Furthermore there's a bit of a known issue involving certain AMD motherboards and the USB connection to those motherboards. I didn't encounter this particular issue with a Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master but your mileage may vary. In case you do have an issue, contact NZXT support and they'll provide a usb hub that works as a workaround until they can roll out Krakens with the permanent fix built in or whatever. One more thing to be aware of is that unlike what the manual says there are only 2 viable installation directions if you are planning on the screen facing right side up. It's true that there is a way to rotate the image through the NZXT CAM software but if it isn't installed in one of the aforementioned orientations then unfortunately it wont be able to rotate it to the correct orientation which seems like an odd limitation but it is what it is. Okay so the performance of this cpu cooler is good, but I was honestly expecting just a bit more cooling efficiency from this latest pump design but it misses the mark by a non-insignificant amount. I previously used a Deepcool Castle EX which is also a 360mm radiator AIO and the difference in not only temperature but also noise is definitely noticeable and is a bit disappointing for a AIO cooler at this price point. But let's be honest if you're buying this or considering buying this then the reason for it is most likely because of the awesome little screen that this thing has, and I can assure you that one shining feature was more than worth it for me but it may not be for someone else, obviously. I was surprised at how crisp and clear the screen is for how small it is, and while you can upload your own gifs, pictures or whatever there is a bit of a learning process in making sure your chosen gif fits the way you want it to without a loss in quality or even unexpected cropping or sizing issues. There's a growing number of useful guides online to guide you in how to do this so it's generally a non issue. Now for the CAM software, I'll admit I've never used it prior to with this Kraken Z73 and I didn't really have a very good opinion of it based of off some very negative things I've either heard from friends or read from users online, but with all that baggage built up going into this I'm relieved to say that my fears were unfounded. The current version of the software has a intuitive user interface with plenty of data and options for those looking to tweak things to their exactly preferences. While the one downside I will mention is that it appears to take much longer than competing software when it comes to fully loading on startup. This isn't too bad of an issue more of a nagging annoyance, but it does take some getting used to as when it finally loads your user profile depending on your fan curve and lighting set up it could range from hardly noticeable, to a gale force disco colored hurricane. I would definitely recommend this for a certain type of pc builder, this is obviously mostly for show and as long as you do go into this with that in mind I find it difficult to believe that you won't be as thrilled as I am having this stunning little screen inside my build firing off different gifs or whatever I decide to have on the screen. It's always the first thing anyone asks me about when they see my computer because of how unique it is and how clear and vivid that little screen actually is. Overall I'm very happy and would definitely order this again if I were to build another PC today.

I have to say a great addition to my build and keeps it very cool. My build is a ryzen 3700x, rtx 2070 super and phanteks evolv x, and keeps my cpu very cool at around 60c when under heavy load during a time spy cpu stress test, 99.2% frame rate maintained for 20 runs. The thermals in my room is not the best and I have been running with the pre-applied thermal paste, so take the thermals with some reservation. Although when running with my old air cooler and using good thermal paste, I would get around 85c for the same run on time spy stress. So I went down 25c and can go down more if I reapplied thermal paste. The installation for Z73 was easy enough in my case and had no problems. I did replace the fans with corsair ll 120s because I wanted to have my rgb with my case. I have to say those fans fit perfectly if you want to do the same. Also my case made it easier to put in, since I could take the top panel off for an easy install, just keep in mind how your case will allow you to install. The LCD screen is a nice touch for constant temperature showing when running stress tests and benchmarks to see how it's performing. The best thing about the screen is that you have an added part to your lighting and make it an interesting part of the theme you are doing. I do multiple themes for my setup and it is great for changing up your looks as much as you want (Sunset theme in video). It adds more to your build to have more fun with the theme your going for. The noise level is quite good with this aio. If your looking for a quiet aio, the Z73 is a contender because on quiet mode you can't really hear it and still cools very well, never really went past 65c (don't have the best ambient temperature and never reapplied paste). I usually have headphones (Corsair Virtuoso) on and have it running on performance, where it is louder but with headphones on I can't really hear the pump and fans. If you aren't using headphones, the noise is noticable but if you have your speakers running, it's not too bad. It just depends on how close you are to your pc. I have my on desk but I also have it connected to my tv and I will be a bit of distance away and can't really hear it when gaming off the TV. The only problem I have to say with this cooler is the cam software. The monitoring side of the software loves to act weird after an update for a week and give you some weird readings. It reads my gpu as running at 527 degrees sometimes because it doesn't registers the demcial point because it was running at 52.7c. Also the software doesn't remember your previous setup sometimes after an update and resets your settings for mode your running and the LCD screen. Also if you are running a ryzen system, your temperature will fluctuate a bit because cam and other softwares can't read as accurate as ryzen master, so don't be worried when it jumps around in temperature. Summary Pros- Install, Cooling, Noise, Looks, Performance Cons- Cost (if you are worried about the cost), CAM software, non rgb fans included

Awesome. Beautiful. Lovely. A bit of a learning curve for instillation, defiantly read up on how to do it properly or watch videos if you aren't already pretty familiar with them because one can definitely install it wrong pretty easily which could ruin the product. The screen can be set to anything using a desktop app but the color was slightly off for me, not a big deal but something to think about.

I bought a case from NZXT about a year ago, and it came with a scratch on the front panel. After debating for a while on this product, I decided that a would get it. Worse case scenario I return it for a refund. Turns out there was no need for a refund. Installation was easy. All the screws and brackets came in labeled bags and the cables were in a bag of their own. I installed an AIO sleeving kit from CableMod but used some black electric tape instead of the clips that come with it. The pre-applied thermal paste was useful - I didn't want to apply it myself. The usb connector isn't long enough to be routed up and behind the motherboard, so I had to route it down BEHIND the graphics card. You just have to be careful not to crush it. In my opinion, it looks beautiful. The software is very easy to navigate and you even put gifs on the LCD display, which is AMAZING, by the way. The crisp and clear display is clearly visible through the tempered glass and looks very appealing. The temperatures are surprising - after a few days of use, my average idle was between 35 to 40 ℃ and under load, around 60 ℃. All in all, this cooler is incredible and I highly recommend it. It looks breathtaking, installation was simple, temps are great, and the software is easy to navigate and use. If you have the money and are looking for a 360mm liquid cooler, GET THIS. Trust me, you won't regret it.

I upgraded from an intel core i7 8700K, Gigabyte Z390 AORUS ULTRA MB, and a corsair H60i CPU AIO. It’s important to mention I have an NZXT 510i case and an EVGA RTX2080 XC Hybrid graphic Card. I upgraded my processor to an AMD Ryzen 5950X and my motherboard to an MSI B550 Meg Unify. After the upgrade, I had several crashes where my video and sound would just go dark in the middle of a game. CPU temp fluctuated between 56c – 67c idle and 90+c under load. The only solution was to reduce the CPU frequency and dial down the voltage two clicks. This reduced the temps and stabilized the processor, but still did not provide me any comfort in the temps. So, I decided at this point to purchase a new case and the NZXT Kraken X53, (a new case for improved airflow). I purchased the NZXT Kraken X53 and the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh mid-tower. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh to work so I continued with the NZXT 510i, (the Lian Cool was an open box). The Kraken works splendidly. Now my CPU temp doesn’t get higher than 70c on load and the idle temp is a consistent CPU 43 – 45, GPU 37 – 39c. Those numbers are with overclocking the CPU and the GPU. Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase and happy that the outcome is what I hoped for. Unfortunately, I was not able to reach my expected temp goals with the Corsair H60i. We can argue that the NZXT has a larger radiator and dual fans where the Corsair has one fan and a smaller radiator, but I would think that it still should be efficient enough to keep the temps at a more stable number. However, for this processor, I do recommend the Kraken especially if you can only fit 2 fans. I am sure there is better, but this works for me. I will be upgrading the case to an NZXT 710i and returning the Lian Li Cool Mesh 2 case. The bonus to the Kraken is the LCD that provides temp read-outs for the CPU and the GPU. It also allows you to add a gif of your choosing, cool. My next project will be to either pick up another RTX2080 and add an NVLink or get an RTX 3080, well that’s once prices come down to earth. However for now the dual 2080 is looking like a more viable option.

I was using a regular cpu fan cooler but found it pretty boring and just didn’t love the look of it. So I decided to check out AIO’s however I did not like the logo based ones. The LCD screen just looks cool and it’s sweet that you can customize it. The only reason I bought this one over Corsair H115i was because this one was a bit cheaper and I planned on using different fans anyway. Even tho my fans are Corsair. I am a big fan of shopping Amazon warehouse items to save a few bucks, but unfortunately it did not pay off for this item. Ended up buying a couple in “very good” and “like new” condition and let me tell you they were not. One was clearly used for an extended period of time and the other had issues with the LCD. I know they can’t hook every single one of the up to test them upon return but they should spend a little more time inspecting them. Regardless I knew the risk. Ended up just buying new. It’s pretty straightforward to install but as others said, if you have intel LGA 1700 then some won’t come with a bracket depending on manufacture date. However it was very easy to request one through NZXT’s site. Just show proof of purchase (you need receipt for both CPU and AIO) and I had in my possession within a few days. I had issues with one of the cables at first. It was not registering my aio but I swapped it and everything was fine. Definitely not the most high quality display if you plan on displaying a graphic but really not a big deal you’re not watching Tv on the thing. You can put gifs on it which is pretty cool. I mainly just keep the temp displayed but you can also change the color to match whatever RGB light puke show you got going on. I haven’t had it long so can’t speak to longevity but I believe it has a 6 year warranty which is great tho I have heard some not so good things about nzxt customer support. We will find out if the time comes. Overall if you plan to purchase this, you’re buying it mainly for aesthetics. Which is pretty obvious. I mean most aio’s, lcd screen or not, are sought after for aesthetics. Considering a cheap cpu fan often benchmarks better than a lot of expensive aio’s… but worth the buy in my case (ha). Just makes your PC look even cooler (ha again).

It's not just the Z73 I recommend but any of the Kraken Coolers. I've used Corsair AIOs before and they do look as good as the NZXTs but the price isn't there. NZXT AIOs are also pricey but they tend to make up for it in the aesthetics, reliability and performance department. My previous build was a Kraken X53 with an i7-9700K and I had really solid temps such as 30 degrees idle and did not see it go more than 50 when playing games and having other applications open. The Z73 I purchased is in my new build paired with a i7-12700K which runs hot. I was actually blown away to see that my idle temps were around low 20s and under load they were around mid 30s. I am using Arctic MX-4 thermal paste and Silent Wings High speed from Be Quiet! On the radiator as they push out more air more silently and efficiently. The LCD is cool and for sure will make your pc pop! Overall it's a solid AIO and the X73 is the same thing so if the price of the Z73 scares you than I do also recommend the X73! Keep in mind the only difference between the two is the Screen on the Z is customizable while the X allows you to change the color of the logo and infinity mirror.

Gripes : Motherboard backplate is cheap plastic, Not found of the single plug in flat data, Fan, Power cable. The Good : Cools extremely Well, LCD Screen is pretty Sweet , Software is fairly decent, Comes with a 6yr Warranty if I recall correctly, Very Power Efficient. Have bought 6 of these so far between my two PC's, My Fathers & a few builds for customers, No issues with ANY of them so far. Software is also stable with no issues on Windows 10/11 .