Arctic already released the Liquid Freezer II in 2019, which was able to convince with low temperatures at a low volume and a favorable price in our then review and thus secured the Gold Award. Even today, the Liquid Freezer II enjoys high popularity due to these features. A little over 1.5 years later, Arctic is expanding the AiO range with RGB and ARGB versions. Both versions are available now.
We have the Liquid Freezer II 240 in the RGB version in front of us. Whether the AiO can continue the success of the original, we clarify in the following test.
Specifications
| Model | Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB | ||||||||||||
| Dimensions Radiator ( H x W x D) | 277 x 120 x 38 mm (without fan)
277 x 120 x 63 mm (with fans) |
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| Compatible sockets | Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066
AMD AM4 |
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| Fan |
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| Pump |
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| Hose length | 450 mm | ||||||||||||
| Features | RGB fan, VRM fan (40mm, 1000-3000 rpm), integrated cable management | ||||||||||||
| Warranty | 6 years | ||||||||||||
| Price | € 19.49 * |
Scope of delivery
The Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB comes in a very compact black box, on which the old familiar AiO is easily recognizable, but now with RGB fans. In addition to the compatible RGB programs of the individual manufacturers, one also advertises with the only recently, from 2 to 6 years, extended warranty. This is far above what other manufacturers, in the same and also mostly in higher price ranges, offer. On the back of the box we find some more info and details of the AiO.
The inside of the box is very clear. This is mainly due to the fact that the fans are already mounted on the radiator. In addition to the water cooler itself, we only find a small cardboard box here, in which there are two bags with the material needed for assembly and the thermal paste. For the thermal paste, we now rely on a 0.8g tube of the Arctic MX-5, which was also only introduced this year. The company does not include a printed manual, but instead uses a QR code to refer to an animated manual that is available online.
Design and workmanship
The appearance, apart from the fans, corresponds to that of the normal Liquid Freezer II, the design is thus still rather simple and inconspicuous. The pump, where you continue to rely on an in-house development, and the radiator are completely black. The hoses are, apart from the light gray stripes, also black. At the connection points of the hoses, silver caps are used.
The 40 mm diameter VRM fan on the radiator block and the thickness of the radiator are still noticeable features of the AiO. At 38 mm, the radiator is significantly larger than most AiOs. The thicker radiator allows for more water to be used in the circuit and increases the surface area, allowing for better heat exchange between the radiator and fan.
Another special feature is the cable management. While normally the pump and fan are connected separately and thus also require two connectors on the motherboard, here the cable of the fans is passed under the sheathing of the hoses and everything is connected together with one cable. This also includes the VRM fan. The fans are also already connected to each other and the cables are well hidden. Another cable is for the RGB connection of the motherboard.
For the fans, we now rely on the new P12 PWM PST RGB or ARGB fans. Depending on which RGB effects you want to realize, you have to choose a model here. The RGB variant, which we also have in the test here, allows you to display one color. Several different colors are not possible at the same time. Of course, effects like rainbow are possible, but different colors are displayed one after the other. The fans are connected via a 12V RGB connector with 4 pins.
If you need more possibilities, different colors at the same time and thus also clearly recognizable transitions or gradients, then the ARGB model is the right choice for you. This one uses a 5V RGB connector with 3 pins. Apart from that, the two fans are identical. Anti-vibration pads are also attached, so there is nothing to complain about here.
The workmanship is basically very good. We did not notice any defects or sharp edges, and the sheathing of the hoses is also of high quality.
Mounting
The mounting material for all currently common sockets is included. As mentioned at the beginning, no printed instructions are included. There is a QR code on the packaging, and if you scan it, you will get to the support page including instructions. The manual itself is easy to understand.
Since the fans are already connected to the radiator, this usual step is omitted and we can attach it directly to the case. After that, we attach the backplate. Since this is attached with the help of screws, no slipping or sliding out of small parts is possible this way. We then apply a small blob of MX-5 thermal paste, place the heatsink and screw it into place. Overall, the assembly turns out to be very quick and easy.
Cooling performance and noise
For the cooling performance comparison, we compared the Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB with the Intel boxed cooler. For realistic and optimal conditions, both coolers were tested in the Fractal Define 7. The rest of the hardware was identical and the case fan speed was fixed. The room temperature was 21 °C in both tests.
To maximize the CPU load, we use Prime95. During the thirty-minute stress test, we recorded the maximum temperatures. Furthermore, we observed the temperature course to avoid readout errors of the sensors.
Our test system:
- ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WiFi Motherboard
- Intel Core i5-11400F processor
- 32GB G. Skill RipJaws V 3200 RAM
- MSI Radeon RX 5500 XT Gaming X 8G Graphics Card
- TeamGroup T-Force Cardea IOPS 1TB SSD
- Crucial P5 2TB SSD
- Seasonic Focus GX-550 Power Supply
- Fractal Design Define 7 Clear TG black/white
In our stress test, we tested the Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB once with a fan speed of 50%, and once with the maximum fan speed. Here we must note that not only the fans, but likewise the pump is downregulated, which has a negative effect on the temperature, but further reduces the noise. Since the boxed cooler is not sufficiently performant, we only tested it at maximum speed.
| Cooler | Temperature |
| Intel Boxed (100%) | 68 °C |
| Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB (50%) | 63°C |
| Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB (100%) | 56°C |
While we reach temperatures of up to 68°C with the boxed cooler, we are 5°C below that with the Liquid Freezer II RGB at 50%, and a 12°C difference at 100%.
While the difference seems relatively small with the 50% setting, we must note that the boxed cooler is uncomfortably loud and the Freezer II RGB is extremely quiet at this setting. While on many AiOs the fans turned down are very quiet but then the pump is quite audible, we can’t hear the pump out here. At maximum speed, the fans are well audible, but the volume is not particularly high either.
In conclusion, we can say that the Liquid Freezer II RGB convinces with a high cooling performance, but can also be very quiet, which means that the AiO can be adjusted to suit all preferences. A small disadvantage of the cable management is that the pump and fan cannot be controlled independently, which would allow for further optimization.
Conclusion
The RGB version of the Liquid Freezer II 240 also leaves a very good impression. Cooling performance and volume can convince in the test, as well as the self-developed pump, which can only be heard from close up when turned down. The small VRM fan does its job very well and quietly, and the new 120 mm fans with RGB are also appealing. We are a bit ambivalent about the cable management. On the one hand, this is very practical, but it also has small drawbacks.
Arctic deliberately does without technical gimmicks, such as elaborate lighting, display and others, which has a positive effect on the price. In its price range, the Liquid Freezer II RGB is probably one of the best AiOs and also offers an adjustable pump and 6-year warranty, which sets it apart from the competition. If you’re looking for a very good, very quiet, yet also inexpensive AiO with RGB fans, you can strike here without hesitation.
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 RGB
Design
Workmanship
Mounting
Cooling
Loudness
Value for money
91/100
Very good and quiet AiO, in which Arctic concentrates on the essentials. Especially due to the almost perfect value for money for very many worth a look.
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