The NZXT Kraken Z63 & X73 AIO Cooler Review: Shiny On Top, Solid Underneath
by E. Fylladitakis on August 19, 2020 11:00 AM ESTConclusion
NZXT is in the business of designing and marketing unique products, both in terms of features and aesthetics. The new Kraken Z-3 series is a testament to those goals, as the versatility of the LCD screen opens up nearly endless possibilities for advanced users. However, the Z-3 is a very costly cooling solution and NZXT knows that it cannot compete in the mainstream market, which is why the company also offers the simpler Kraken X-3 series as well.
The X-3 series is for all practical purposes the same as the Z-3 series, just minus the LCD screen. Other than that, the fans, radiator, and main block assembly (including the pump), are all identical between the two series. As far as aesthetics are concerned, X-3 coolers still have RGB lighting and are compatible with the company’s CAM software. And more importantly for a crowded cooler market, they retail for significantly less than the Z-3 series coolers.
Aesthetics aside, the overall cooling performance of the X73 and Z63 coolers are very good. The X73 can deliver great thermal performance, but other products outpace it in terms of noise – including NZXT’s own Z63. In fact, in some respects the X63 actually outperforms the X73 if we're looking at the performance-to-noise ratio under typical loads. So although the larger X73 can ultimately deliver slightly better thermal performance, the significantly higher noise levels makes it a dubious choice unless the expected thermal load is going to be extraordinarily high. This leaves the more balanced Z63 (and presumably the X63 as well) as the better of the coolers in most situations.
Summing things up, we find that the NZXT Kraken X73 is a competitive product with good market potential. It performs very well overall, offers a great build quality, and looks sharp. Taking into account its performance, full set of features, and software support, at $180 it is a competitively-priced product. And while we didn't get a chance to look at the smaller, $150 X63, given the common architecture of NZXT's coolers, based on what we saw with the Z63, it may be the strongest of them all.
On the other hand, the NZXT Kraken Z63 (and the whole Z-3 series) finds itself at a very niche point in the market. The LCD definitely is a cool feature, but at $250 it nearly doubles the retail price of the cooler, a gap that's a bit much for something the majority of people will glance at but a few times during its entire lifespan. It might make sense as a real-time temperature/load indicator if the PC is positioned on a desk and in such a way that the motherboard is visible at all times by the user but, still, buyers are definitely paying a hefty premium for what's ultimately an aesthetic feature.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
61 Comments
View All Comments
silencer12 - Friday, August 21, 2020 - link
When I read that AMD re-hired Jim Keller 2015-2016, I was glad and ecstatic. I knew that would bring AMD back. I support the underdog and want them to stay in business. I may be currently on an intel processor, since AMD was $400 for there zen processors generation 1 when it launched. Now, there are whooping Intel, and gaining their marketshare back. GOOD!That was not nonsensical.
Off- topic. This is even more unique situation. If was not nonsensical to know the pandemic (covid virus) would over-run the united states with President trump's response to it back in January / February. Had he acted early-on like he should have. Their may be less deaths and faster time in finding a cure that works. 177,000 people have died and rising.
Quote (President Trump) - I have very important people working on this. I can't say who they are, but it is very important people.
Beaver M. - Saturday, August 22, 2020 - link
Yeah, I too have a 6 cylinder engine.Get your script fixed, bot.
silencer12 - Saturday, August 22, 2020 - link
Do you even know what a bot is?I am certain you do not.
Beaver M. - Monday, August 24, 2020 - link
Someone who talks to someone about a topic that is completely off-topic.Hence my car comment.
If you think I dont know what a bot is, then I am very confident that you dont even know what conversational logic and reason is.
If it quacks like a duck...
thestryker - Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - link
It would be really nice if you could include some OEM information within the article in the case of closed loop coolers. I'm aware that this is an Asetek cooler because of prior information, but it's easily possible to not know.I would like to second the prior comment about adding a noise normalized test. While thermal performance is predominantly what I care about knowing the overall quality of the out of the box experience is really important to anyone who isn't going to replace the fans.
Tilmitt - Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - link
Would be nice if you could include an ARCTIC Liquid Freezer in your testing, it's pretty highly regarded.MDD1963 - Thursday, August 20, 2020 - link
Finally, the numbers people want *most* when they go to AIO/water coolers....thermal resistance, and, most important at all, how well it handles cooling a full earth-shattering 60 watts of heat!!!!Unashamed_unoriginal_username_x86 - Thursday, August 20, 2020 - link
The graphs go up to 340w, you have to select it...PeachNCream - Thursday, August 20, 2020 - link
Aside from being yet another rebrand of the same old AIO design, I don't think the complexity of NZXT's pack-in software is going to ultimately be of much benefit while at the same time having the potential of causing both security issues via increased surface of attack (and potentially poor or no response to discovered exploits) and system stability problems by tapping into and interacting with hardware. That has been and continues to be a problem with a lot of smaller companies with ambitious plans to add value to mechanically similar products through software. All of that extra code doesn't do much but add cruft in the same way we used to deal with TSRs back in the DOS era that were shoddy or wasteful of system resources.Quantumz0d - Thursday, August 20, 2020 - link
GN's tests always show AIOs are less loud and have better performance. But with the idea of having a machine reliable with no requirement for any sort of water damage. I would chose Noctua high end Air Cooler only. Yea it looks bulky and all, but I prefer peace of mind rather than these cooler products where they show off those RGB RAM sticks and what not, where that CAM bloatware and unwanted bloat is needed for the machine too.