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ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 vs Noctua NH-C14S: Comparison
What is the difference between ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Noctua NH-C14S?
Fan count is where these two genuinely part company, ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 2 against Noctua NH-C14S 1, a 50% lead for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280. Add max speed to that, 1700 RPM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 1500 RPM on the Noctua NH-C14S, and the pattern holds. Noctua NH-C14S also leads on airflow, 72.84 CFM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 82.52 CFM on the Noctua NH-C14S.
Which should you buy, ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 or Noctua NH-C14S?
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 the wrong buy for RGB showcase builds (see ARCTIC's ARGB variants instead) and cases needing thin (<30mm) radiators. it is not the pick for High-TDP CPUs pushed near their power limits and builders who want maximum thermal headroom for overclocking. It is equally the pick for builds where a tall tower cooler physically won't fit under a side panel or radiator. It is not the one for anyone who just wants the cheapest quiet cooler and doesn't need the low-profile trick. 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. Our rating of the Noctua NH-C14S (8.1/10): A genuinely clever convertible design that earns its price premium in the specific builds it's meant for, not a general-purpose upgrade over a standard tower cooler.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Noctua NH-C14S differ on cooler type?
Yes. Cooler Type reads AIO Liquid on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus Air Top-Down on the Noctua NH-C14S.
Is the Tower Layout the same on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Noctua NH-C14S?
It is. Both are listed at Not Applicable, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC
- Noctua NH-C14S
- Noctua
Cooler Type
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AIO Liquid
- Noctua NH-C14S
- Air Top-Down
Series
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Noctua NH-C14S
- Noctua NH-C14S
Model Number
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ACFRE00066B
- Noctua NH-C14S
- NH-C14S
Socket Compatibility
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3
- Noctua NH-C14S
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X
Tower Layout
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Not Applicable
- Noctua NH-C14S
- Not Applicable
Fan Count
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 2Best
- Noctua NH-C14S
- 1-50%
RGB Lighting
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- No
- Noctua NH-C14S
- No
Cooler Weight
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 1572 g
- Noctua NH-C14S
- 1015 gBest
Fan Size
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 140 mm
- Noctua NH-C14S
- 140 mm
Max Speed
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 1700 RPMBest
- Noctua NH-C14S
- 1500 RPM-12%
Airflow
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 72.84 CFM-12%
- Noctua NH-C14S
- 82.52 CFMBest
PWM Control
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Yes
- Noctua NH-C14S
- Yes
Warranty
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 6 years
- Noctua NH-C14S
- 6 years
Which one should you pick?
Choose ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 1), the higher max speed (1700 RPM vs 1500 RPM) and the higher warranty (6 years vs 6 years).
Choose Noctua NH-C14S if you want the higher airflow (82.52 CFM vs 72.84 CFM).
Price comparison
| Retailer | ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 | Noctua NH-C14S |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Noctua NH-C14S
8.1 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely clever convertible design that earns its price premium in the specific builds it's meant for, not a general-purpose upgrade over a standard tower cooler.