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ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 vs Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux: Comparison
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 vs Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux: the radiator size difference
Radiator size is where these two genuinely part company, ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 280 mm against Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux 240 mm, a 14% lead for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280. Max speed runs the same way, 1700 RPM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 2300 RPM on the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux, another win for Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux. Add warranty to that, 6 years on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 5 years on the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux, and the pattern holds.
Which should you buy, ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 or Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux?
The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 is the one to take for value-focused 280mm-radiator builds and motherboards with modest VRM cooling, though it is not built for RGB showcase builds (see ARCTIC's ARGB variants instead) and cases needing thin (<30mm) radiators. Take the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux for buyers who prefer sourcing their cooler from an established, broad-portfolio brand. Cooler Master's air cooling reputation extends into this AIO offering. The same goes for compact cases needing a 240mm liquid cooling solution. Covers mainstream thermal needs without requiring 360mm clearance. It is not the one for buyers specifically chasing the strongest value-per-dollar in this radiator size. The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240, covered elsewhere on this site, carries the stronger independent testing reputation at a comparable price point. Our rating of the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 (8.5/10): outstanding thermal value at 280mm, the VRM fan is a genuinely useful extra most AIOs lack.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux differ on airflow?
Yes. Airflow reads 72.84 CFM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 72.37 CFM on the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux.
Is the Cooler Type the same on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux?
It is. Both are listed at AIO Liquid, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Cooler Master
Cooler Type
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AIO Liquid
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- AIO Liquid
Radiator Size
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 280 mmBest
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 240 mm-14%
Series
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
Model Number
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ACFRE00066B
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- MLY-D24M-A23PZ-R1
Socket Compatibility
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- AMD AM4/AM5/TR4, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3
Tower Layout
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Not Applicable
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Not Applicable
Fan Count
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 2
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 2
RGB Lighting
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- No
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Yes
Radiator Thickness
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 38 mm
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 27.2 mm
Fan Size
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 140 mm
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 1700 RPM-26%
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 2300 RPMBest
Airflow
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 72.84 CFMBest
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 72.37 CFM-1%
PWM Control
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Yes
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Yes
Lighting
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- None
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- ARGB
Warranty
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 6 yearsBest
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 5 years-17%
Which one should you pick?
Choose ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 if you want the higher radiator size (280 mm vs 240 mm), the higher fan count (2 vs 2) and the higher airflow (72.84 CFM vs 72.37 CFM).
Choose Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux if you want the higher max speed (2300 RPM vs 1700 RPM).
Price comparison
| Retailer | ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 | Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
Outstanding thermal value at 280mm, the VRM fan is a genuinely useful extra most AIOs lack.