Nzxt Kraken AIO
Premium tier cooling for ever hotter CPUs.
Over the years, Nzxt has earned a reputation for its high quality range of AIO cooling products. The Kraken X73 we’re reviewing here is an updated version of the popular X72. New features include an improved pump and fans. The X73 is a 360mm design, however it’s also available in 240mm and 280mm versions. There’s also a higher end version called the Z73, which features a customisable LCD screen atop the pump. As you’d expect, the X73 is compatible with all the current (and many older) platforms, including Threadripper CPUs that ship with an included adapter that’s compatible with the X73.
The X73 utilises popular Asetek components, though Nzxt added its own aesthetic and functionality touches. The tubing is 400mm long, which is a clear advantage for users with large cases. The pump head looks fantastic with its infinity mirror RGB design. A really nice touch is the way the cap can be rotated so the Nzxt logo can be seen in the orientation that you choose. This solves the problem of having to orient a logo sideways or upside down to accommodate the requirements of your installation.
The X73 comes with three 120mm AER P120 fans. Somewhat surprisingly, they don’t have any RGB lighting, though whether that’s a good or a bad thing is up to your personal taste. The fans make use of fluid dynamic bearings and have a rated speed of 500 to 2,000 rpm. When under light load the fans are all but silent, and only when you push them to the maximum do they become somewhat loud. That’s the way for all fans when you push them hard though, no matter how quiet they are promoted as being.
Nzxt products can be controlled via the CAM software. It can be used to control various things such as the RGB colouring, fan and pump speeds though it even has functionality related to overclocking and system monitoring. It can be a resource hog though, and unless you’re using a rare Nzxt motherboard, we’d stick to the motherboard manufacturer’s software suites where applicable.
As is the case with most AIOs these days, installation was easy, however the USB and SATA power leads mean you’ll need to give some thought to cable routing. It’s not something that lends itself to a clean build as these cables are basically impossible to hide.
We tested the X73 with an Intel i9-9900K system overclocked to 5 GHz at 1.28v with a -1 AVX offset which means temperatures can get pretty toasty when under load. A sustained full load with a peak temperature of 79c is very good at a 25c ambient temperature.
The Nzxt X73 is definitely a top tier cooling solution, however at $275, it’s seriously pricey. Most users will be better served by an air cooler, but if you’re running an overclocked 9900K or HEDT system, you’ll need top notch cooling to handle it. The Nzxt X73 does it with ease, but its pricing needs to be more attractive in order to earn an unequivocal recommendation.