Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 vs Thermalright Silver Soul 135: Comparison
What is the difference between ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Thermalright Silver Soul 135?
Fan count is where these two genuinely part company, ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 2 against Thermalright Silver Soul 135 1, a 50% lead for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280. Add airflow to that, 72.84 CFM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 82 CFM on the Thermalright Silver Soul 135, and the pattern holds. They differ on tower layout too, Not Applicable on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus Single-Tower on the Thermalright Silver Soul 135. They differ on fan size too, 140 mm on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 120 mm on the Thermalright Silver Soul 135.
Who each one is for
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. Buy the Thermalright Silver Soul 135 for enthusiasts wanting flagship-adjacent cooling on a budget and single-fan-clearance cases, though it is not the pick for buyers wanting premium brand warranty support and RGB-themed builds. 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 Thermalright Silver Soul 135 (8.1/10): near-flagship single-tower cooling at a fraction of the premium-brand price.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Thermalright Silver Soul 135 differ on max speed?
Yes. Max Speed reads 1700 RPM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 versus 1850 RPM on the Thermalright Silver Soul 135.
Is the Bearing Type the same on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 and Thermalright Silver Soul 135?
It is. Both are listed at Fluid Dynamic, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- Thermalright
Cooler Type
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AIO Liquid
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- Air Tower
Series
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
Model Number
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- ACFRE00066B
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- Silver Soul 135
Socket Compatibility
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011
Tower Layout
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Not Applicable
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- Single-Tower
Fan Count
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 2Best
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- 1-50%
Fan Size
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 140 mm
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 1700 RPM-8%
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- 1850 RPMBest
Airflow
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- 72.84 CFM-11%
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- 82 CFMBest
Bearing Type
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Fluid Dynamic
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- Fluid Dynamic
PWM Control
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
- Yes
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 1).
Choose Thermalright Silver Soul 135 if you want the higher max speed (1850 RPM vs 1700 RPM) and the higher airflow (82 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.
Thermalright Silver Soul 135
8.1 / 10 Expert Rating
Near-flagship single-tower cooling at a fraction of the premium-brand price.