The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB is the new addition in the brand’s cooling solutions, offering high performance and a highly affordable price, not exceeding the price of a high-end cooler! Compared to the previous model, it has improvements to the VRM fan and the cold plate and it comes with pre-installed fans, to make the installation process faster and easier.
So far, Arctic has impressed me with its high-performance yet highly affordable fans, so I was eager to test a cooling solution from this brand. I have evaluated the Arctic’s cooling solutions in the past. Still, it was on a custom-made load and not a real system. It will be interesting to see how the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB compares to high-end AIO and air-cooling solutions.
The Liquid Freezer III has an upgraded cold plate and VRM cooler, which is a fan at the top of the block, sending air around the CPU socket and helping cool down the mainboard’s VRMs.
Arctic offers an LGA1700 contact frame in the cooler’s bundle to replace the stock one, which locks the CPU to the socket at two points, leading to possible uneven pressure points that affect the contact surface with the cooler’s block. Arctic states that thanks to the provided mounting frame for LGA1700 sockets, the CPU is evenly locked to the socket, ensuring better contact with the cooler’s block.
| Model | MSRP | Promo Price (until May 20th, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid Freezer III 240 (Black) | $105 | $77 |
| Liquid Freezer III 280 (Black) | $120 | $86.23 |
| Liquid Freezer III 360 (Black) | $130 | $90 |
| Liquid Freezer III 420 (Black) | $140 | $98.55 |
| Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB (Black) | $125 | $87.77 |
| Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB (Black) | $140 | $98.55 |
| Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB (Black) | $150 | $107.8 |
| Liquid Freezer III 420 A-RGB (Black) | $160 | $115.49 |
| Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB (White) | $128 | $90 |
| Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB (White) | $142 | $101.63 |
| Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB (White) | $154 | $110.10 |
| Liquid Freezer III 420 A-RGB (White) | $164 | $119.34 |
In this table, you can see the MSRP prices for all Liquid Freezer III models.
Cybenetics Coolers Database
- Model name: Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB Black
- Color: Black
- Socket Support: Intel LGA1700
- Socket Support: AMD AM5/AM4
- Radiator Dimensions: 317 (L) x 138 (W) x 38 (H) mm
- Radiator Material: Aluminum
- Block base: Copper, Micro Skived Fins
- Tube Length: 450mm
- Tube Diameter: Outer: 12.4 mm | Inner: 6.0 mm
- Pump Speed Range: 800–2800rpm (PWM controlled)
- Pump Connector: 4-Pin
- Pump Rated Voltage: 12 VDC
- VRM Fan Speed: 400–2500 rpm (PWM controlled)
- VRM Fan Current/Voltage: 0.05 A | 12 V DC
- VRM Fan LEDs: 12x A-RGB LEDs
- Number of Fans: 2x
- Fan Models: P14 PWM A-RGB
- Bearing Type: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
- Fan Dimensions: 140 x 140 x 27 mm
- Fan ARGB: ✓
- Fan Daisy Chain: ✓
- Fan Speed: 200–1900 rpm
- Fan Airflow: 69.90cfm | 117.06 m³/h
- Fan Air Pressure: 2.0 mmH₂O (Max)
- Max Noise Output: 34.3 dB(A)
- Fan Connector: 4-pin PWM
- Street Price (excl. VAT): $140 ($98.55 promo price till May 20th, 2024)
- Warranty: 6 years
“Lower is better” in “Average Watt” chart: why? would not the correct word be “HIGHER is better”?
When the CPU gets more Watts, it means that its cooling is more effective, so for this purpose higher is better.
So the information in the chart title is wrong, right?
it is correct.
I’m confused.
The charts say “lower is better”. Why?
Hi, great review as always.
I see on Amazon France the 280 normal at 71€ and 83€ for the rgb.
If you could add on the backlog the newest Thermaltake TOUGHFAN EX12 Pro, i ordered the 3 pack version. Hope it performs as well as the 12 Pro.
Thanks <3 (we need more cat pictures)
I really believe that Aris did not get my remark. lol
He die not said what is correct,so he is not wrong.Ahah
I guess he did not realize that in ALL reviews’ charts of “CPU Wattage” category, there is the wording “Avarage Power Consumption – *Lower* is Better”, INSTEAD OF “Avarage Power Consumption – *Higher* is Better”. It is just kind of a typo or whatever. I hope it is fixed. Howsoever, this review is outstanding!
yes indeed it was a typo. Changing all graphs now is huge work, so please bear with it 🙂