GamersNexus Arctic Freezer II 280 review

Robert896r1 · 17 Apr 2020 at 09:10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPaSEGe6ML0

Wanted to make a new thread as it's good to a see a non asetek and an inexpensive cooler that takes the crown. At the price this comes in at, it's virtually a no brainer unless RGB is key priority for you. Looking forward to seeing their teardown next.

I've mentioned my fondness of the 360mm version here a few times. I also made a comparison to another powerful AIO here: https://www.reddit.com/r/intel/comments/dti3jg/alphacool_lt_360mm_vs_arctic_freezer_ii_360mm/

Overall, I have and continue to highly recommend this to anyone with a high end chip and is looking to push it. As noted by GN, it's *VERY* quiet also when delivering close it's max performance so you don't have to turn it into a jet engine to get performance out of it.

@MartinPrince tagging you since you were interested.

One thing not mentioned by GN that is very important to me. The unit simply works off your CPU/AIO header on the mobo. It does not need any bloatware to make it work.

megatron · 17 Apr 2020 at 09:52

I've exchanged CAM for liquidctl from github. Its a standalone .exe that only needs to be placed in the system path and setup once a reboot as opposed to a service or taskbar application. I only have 4 mobo headers so it suits me that my X72 only uses 1.

I was just at this article on a bunch of AIOs tested against each other: https://www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/3296-nzxt-kraken-x72-review-and-benchmark

MartinPrince · 17 Apr 2020 at 10:14

Much appreciated, will watch it later with great interest.

SirCanealot · 17 Apr 2020 at 11:11

megatron said:
I've exchanged CAM for liquidctl from github.

Thanks for mentioning that! I Got an x63 recently and I'm having to run CAM literally just for the pump speed :/
I'll check it out!

ltron · 17 Apr 2020 at 15:43

This AIO is incredible, I saw the video today too. It cools the motherboard VRMs well, that little fan is not a gimmick and the AIO is very quiet even at 100% fan speed (quieter than a Noctua NH-D15), this is an area that these liquid coolers can struggle with so I was very impressed. It's also incredible value for money, close to a high end air cooler in price and much cheaper than equivalent AIOs. The only thing that concerns me is the 2 year warranty, any idea why it's so short?

tamzzy · 17 Apr 2020 at 15:47

ltron said:
any idea why it's so short?

It's one way to keep prices low.
One RMA exchange is equivalent to a few units' profit

ltron · 17 Apr 2020 at 15:52

tamzzy said:
It's one way to keep prices low.
One RMA exchange is equivalent to a few units' profit

I see, so it's nothing to do with it being less reliable than for instance a Corsair unit with a 5 year warranty?

Bacon? · 17 Apr 2020 at 16:55

ltron said:
I see, so it's nothing to do with it being less reliable than for instance a Corsair unit with a 5 year warranty?

I mean we have no idea... reliability of a unit cannot be measured until years after introduction

Robert896r1 · 17 Apr 2020 at 17:20

Bacon? said:
I mean we have no idea... reliability of a unit cannot be measured until years after introduction

This is correct. Once the teardown happens, I'd expect GN to provide their guidance on the qualify of the products used, mainly the pump and hoses.

hyperseven · 17 Apr 2020 at 17:23

Watched that review last night and this auto is on my list for my next build although not bothering upgrading until next gen of CPUs are released.

kidloco · 17 Apr 2020 at 17:28

I have the 360 version and it really is good. Nice and quiet and excellent temps.

Space Monkey · 17 Apr 2020 at 19:04

kidloco said:
I have the 360 version and it really is good. Nice and quiet and excellent temps.

Can I ask please what are you cooling with it and what kind of temps are you seeing?

Thanks

tamzzy · 17 Apr 2020 at 19:13

ltron said:
I see, so it's nothing to do with it being less reliable than for instance a Corsair unit with a 5 year warranty?

i didn't say that

i said it's one way to keep prices low
freezer 2 has only been released for less than a year...we don't really know its reliability

MartinPrince · 17 Apr 2020 at 22:50

Robert896r1 said:
This is correct. Once the teardown happens, I'd expect GN to provide their guidance on the qualify of the products used, mainly the pump and hoses.

I'm looking forward to that as well. I'm thinking of changing my Swiftech AIO but I do like the fact that I can now easily change the fluid which avoids the permeation of CLC's.

I would like them to also test the 360 version to see how it compares. From their previous tests on the Kraken X62/X72
the X62 came out top on a few metrics so it would be good to see if that follows suit here with the 280 doing better than the 360.

Robert896r1 · 18 Apr 2020 at 10:13

MartinPrince said:
I'm looking forward to that as well. I'm thinking of changing my Swiftech AIO but I do like the fact that I can now easily change the fluid which avoids the permeation of CLC's.

I would like them to also test the 360 version to see how it compares. From their previous tests on the Kraken X62/X72
the X62 came out top on a few metrics so it would be good to see if that follows suit here with the 280 doing better than the 360.

I have a 360 because my case (haf x) doesn't support anything else. It'd be a good test to see though. Also would like to see a test where these coolers are pushed to their point of failure to see what the maximum load they can handle is. Don't know why that's never included.

Joxeon · 18 Apr 2020 at 10:30

Robert896r1 said:
I have a 360 because my case (haf x) doesn't support anything else. It'd be a good test to see though. Also would like to see a test where these coolers are pushed to their point of failure to see what the maximum load they can handle is. Don't know why that's never included.

the 10900k will be a good test of this.

Robert896r1 · 18 Apr 2020 at 12:26

Joxeon said:
the 10900k will be a good test of this.

True. Currently, a 9900k oc'd with P95 small avx will max out both just as easily.

Andygully · 18 Apr 2020 at 12:36

seen the review from gn and im really tempted to get the 360 model to replace my h115i but iv just drilled holes in my new case to fit it haha

MartinPrince · 18 Apr 2020 at 13:06

Robert896r1 said:
I have a 360 because my case (haf x) doesn't support anything else. It'd be a good test to see though. Also would like to see a test where these coolers are pushed to their point of failure to see what the maximum load they can handle is. Don't know why that's never included.

I'm using a Cosmos II but have previously drilled holes to accommodate a 280mm (I've also got two HAF-X's in my household

). I could go with either the 280 or 360 but just want the quietest per cooling performance, which is why I like GN's noise normalised tests.

It would be good to see them test a 250w+ CPU to see how well they cool, though I suppose the 200W 3950X test is still better than most.

kidloco · 18 Apr 2020 at 13:51

Space Monkey said:
Can I ask please what are you cooling with it and what kind of temps are you seeing?

Thanks

it’s a 4790k (old I know)

idles at around 29. Pushed when gaming it goes to mid 50s.