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ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 vs EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240: Comparison
What is the difference between ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240?
The gap that matters here is radiator size: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 280 mm against EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240 240 mm, which puts ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 14% ahead. EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240 also leads on max speed, 1700 RPM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 2200 RPM on the EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240. ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 also leads on warranty, 6 years on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 5 years on the EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240.
Who each one is for
The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 suits value-focused 280mm-radiator builds and motherboards with modest VRM cooling, though it is not the pick for RGB showcase builds (see ARCTIC's ARGB variants instead) and cases needing thin (<30mm) radiators. Take the EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240 for buyers who specifically want an EK-branded product, whether from custom-loop brand familiarity or ecosystem preference. This is EK's accessible entry into the pre-built AIO space for exactly this audience. The same goes for compact cases needing a straightforward 240mm liquid cooling solution. Covers mainstream needs without requiring 360mm clearance. Avoid it for buyers specifically chasing the strongest value-per-dollar in this radiator size without a brand preference. The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240, covered elsewhere on this site, carries the stronger independent testing reputation at a comparable price. 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 EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240 differ on airflow?
Yes. Airflow reads 72.84 CFM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 77 CFM on the EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240.
Is the Cooler Type the same on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240?
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
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- EK Waterblocks
Cooler Type
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AIO Liquid
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- AIO Liquid
Radiator Size
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 280 mmBest
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 240 mm-14%
Series
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- EK-AIO Basic 240
Model Number
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ACFRE00066B
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- EK-AIO Basic 240
Socket Compatibility
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA2066/2011-3/2011/1200/1156/1155/1151/1150
Tower Layout
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Not Applicable
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- Not Applicable
Fan Count
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 2
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 2
RGB Lighting
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- No
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- No
Radiator Thickness
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 38 mm
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 27 mm
Tube Length
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 450 mm
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 350 mm
Pump Max Speed
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 2000 RPM
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 2600 RPMBest
Fan Size
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 140 mm
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 1700 RPM-23%
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 2200 RPMBest
Airflow
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 72.84 CFM-5%
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 77 CFMBest
PWM Control
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Yes
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- Yes
Lighting
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- None
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- None
Warranty
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 6 yearsBest
- EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240
- 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 warranty (6 years vs 5 years).
Choose EKWB EK-AIO Basic 240 if you want the higher max speed (2200 RPM vs 1700 RPM) and the higher airflow (77 CFM vs 72.84 CFM).
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.