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Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 vs Noctua NH-C14S: Comparison

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 vs Noctua NH-C14S: the fan count difference

The gap that matters here is fan count: Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 2 against Noctua NH-C14S 1, which puts Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 50% ahead. Airflow runs the same way, 56.3 CFM on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 versus 82.52 CFM on the Noctua NH-C14S, another win for Noctua NH-C14S. Max speed runs the same way, 1800 RPM on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 versus 1500 RPM on the Noctua NH-C14S, another win for Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240.

Which should you buy, Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 or Noctua NH-C14S?

Take the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 for buyers who want genuine liquid-cooling value in a compact 240mm form factor. This is widely regarded as the strongest value pick in this exact category. The same goes for compact cases that can't fit a 360mm radiator. The 240mm size opens up liquid cooling to a broader range of case options. It is the wrong buy for the hottest, most demanding CPUs. The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 or Pro 360 ARGB, both covered elsewhere on this site, offer more headroom for sustained high-wattage loads. it is not built 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. Avoid it for anyone who just wants the cheapest quiet cooler and doesn't need the low-profile trick.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 and Noctua NH-C14S differ on static pressure?

Yes. Static Pressure reads 2.2 mmH2O on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 versus 2.08 mmH2O on the Noctua NH-C14S.

Is the Tower Layout the same on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 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 III 240
    Arctic
    Noctua NH-C14S
    Noctua
  • Cooler Type

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    AIO Liquid
    Noctua NH-C14S
    Air Top-Down
  • Series

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    Noctua NH-C14S
    Noctua NH-C14S
  • Model Number

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    ACFRE00134A
    Noctua NH-C14S
    NH-C14S
  • Socket Compatibility

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700
    Noctua NH-C14S
    AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X
  • Tower Layout

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    Not Applicable
    Noctua NH-C14S
    Not Applicable
  • Fan Count

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    2Best
    Noctua NH-C14S
    1-50%
  • Cooler Weight

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    1490 g
    Noctua NH-C14S
    1015 gBest
  • Fan Size

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    120 mm
    Noctua NH-C14S
    140 mm
  • Max Speed

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    1800 RPMBest
    Noctua NH-C14S
    1500 RPM-17%
  • Airflow

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    56.3 CFM-32%
    Noctua NH-C14S
    82.52 CFMBest
  • Static Pressure

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    2.2 mmH2O
    Noctua NH-C14S
    2.08 mmH2O-5%
  • PWM Control

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    Yes
    Noctua NH-C14S
    Yes
  • Warranty

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240
    6 years
    Noctua NH-C14S
    6 years

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 1), the higher max speed (1800 RPM vs 1500 RPM) and the higher static pressure (2.2 mmH2O vs 2.08 mmH2O).

    Choose Noctua NH-C14S if you want the higher airflow (82.52 CFM vs 56.3 CFM).

    Price comparison

    RetailerArctic Liquid Freezer III 240Noctua NH-C14S
    AmazonView on AmazonView on Amazon
    NeweggView 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

    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.

    More comparisons in CPU Coolers