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ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 vs Phanteks PH-TC14PE: Comparison
What is the difference between ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Phanteks PH-TC14PE?
Cooler type is the dividing line, ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 AIO Liquid against Phanteks PH-TC14PE Air, Dual-Tower. There is a split on socket compatibility as well, AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3 on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200 on the Phanteks PH-TC14PE.
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 vs Phanteks PH-TC14PE: which one fits your build
Buy the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 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. The Phanteks PH-TC14PE suits noise-obsessed builders who want a proven, ultra-quiet dual-tower design and enthusiasts who appreciate a long-running, well-tested cooler design, though it is the wrong buy for anyone chasing the single best thermal result available today and builders who want RGB lighting. It also earns its place with 220W-class CPUs where quiet operation matters more than absolute peak thermals. 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 Phanteks PH-TC14PE (8.2/10): A genuine classic that remains one of the quietest dual-tower coolers available, still worth buying today despite its age.
What ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Phanteks PH-TC14PE have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, fan count and rgb lighting included, so the decision does not turn on any of those.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC
- Phanteks PH-TC14PE
- Phanteks
Cooler Type
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AIO Liquid
- Phanteks PH-TC14PE
- Air, Dual-Tower
Series
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Phanteks PH-TC14PE
- Phanteks PH-TC14PE
Model Number
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ACFRE00066B
- Phanteks PH-TC14PE
- PH-TC14PE
Socket Compatibility
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3
- Phanteks PH-TC14PE
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200
Fan Count
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 2
- Phanteks PH-TC14PE
- 2
RGB Lighting
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- No
- Phanteks PH-TC14PE
- No
Which one should you pick?
Choose ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 2).
Choose Phanteks PH-TC14PE if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
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.
Phanteks PH-TC14PE
8.2 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuine classic that remains one of the quietest dual-tower coolers available, still worth buying today despite its age.