Final Thoughts on the NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB
Disguised behind the somewhat muted design of the Kraken Core 360 RGB are some impressive performance results. Both idle and load testing found the Kraken Core 360 to be a top performer across all of our tests. The pretty standard static pressure provided by the 360mm F360 fan did a good job moving air through the somewhat sparse 18 fin-per-inch radiator, which I think is where we found the most performance to be had. I think companies sometimes try to increase radiator surface area by going with 20-22 fins-per-inch and pairing it up with a high static pressure fan to force cool air through the radiator for maximum heat transfer. I just don’t think this always results in better performance, and we have seen that today with this cooler. It also resulted in good noise output, as the free-flowing air through the radiator is much quieter than the same amount of air moving through a denser fin stack.
As far as looks go, the pump housing and its RGB lighting look good, but just don’t stand up to the LCD screens found on many other AIOs. That said, the Kraken Core 360 also doesn’t cost as much as an LCD-equipped cooler. With regards to the F360 RGB Core Fan, the RGB LEDs in the center of the fan do a good job illuminating the fan blades themselves, though I wish they did a better job lighting up the strips along the edges of the fan body. It does make sense from a cost savings perspective to use the fan LEDs, but I think having some dedicated LEDs along the sides of the fan body would actually achieve the look NZXT was going for.
The NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB offers a simple design that is easy to install and performs really well. This simplicity includes a lack of software control for deeper customization, which can be a plus or a minus depending on how you look at it. In the end, with a price point of $119.99 at our favorite online store, the Kraken Core 360 RGB is a fantastic value. The NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB earns a 9 out of 10.
Pros:
- Great Idle and Load Performance
- Quiet Operation
- F360 Fan Simplifies Installation
Cons:
- No Software
- Fan Not Installed
