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Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB vs Noctua NH-D12L: Comparison

Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB vs Noctua NH-D12L: the fan count difference

On fan count the spread is 67%, Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB 3 against Noctua NH-D12L 1, so Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB takes it. Static pressure runs the same way, 6.9 mmH2O on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB versus 2.34 mmH2O on the Noctua NH-D12L, another win for Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB. Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB also leads on max speed, 3000 RPM on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB versus 2000 RPM on the Noctua NH-D12L. Add airflow to that, 77 CFM on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB versus 60.09 CFM on the Noctua NH-D12L, and the pattern holds.

Who each one is for

Take the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB for anyone who wants the best-cooling 360mm AIO without paying NZXT or Corsair money. It is equally the pick for Intel LGA1700 and LGA1851 builds. The bundled contact frame is worth about 13C on its own. It is not the one for cases with less than 63mm of radiator clearance. This is the single most common reason people return it. The Noctua NH-D12L suits builds with tall heatsink-covered RAM modules and quiet-focused mid-range and upper-mid-range CPUs, though it is not built for extreme overclocks needing maximum dual-fan airflow and buyers wanting RGB aesthetics.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB and Noctua NH-D12L differ on cooler type?

Yes. Cooler Type reads AIO Liquid on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB versus Air Tower on the Noctua NH-D12L.

Is the Fan Size the same on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB and Noctua NH-D12L?

It is. Both are listed at 120 mm, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    Arctic
    Noctua NH-D12L
    Noctua
  • Cooler Type

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    AIO Liquid
    Noctua NH-D12L
    Air Tower
  • Series

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    Liquid Freezer III Pro
    Noctua NH-D12L
    Noctua NH-D12L
  • Model Number

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    ACFRE00184A
    Noctua NH-D12L
    NH-D12L
  • Socket Compatibility

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700
    Noctua NH-D12L
    AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X
  • Tower Layout

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    Not Applicable
    Noctua NH-D12L
    Dual-Tower
  • Fan Count

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    3Best
    Noctua NH-D12L
    1-67%
  • RGB Lighting

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    Yes
    Noctua NH-D12L
    No
  • Cooler Weight

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    2005 g
    Noctua NH-D12L
    890 gBest
  • Fan Size

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    120 mm
    Noctua NH-D12L
    120 mm
  • Max Speed

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    3000 RPMBest
    Noctua NH-D12L
    2000 RPM-33%
  • Airflow

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    77 CFMBest
    Noctua NH-D12L
    60.09 CFM-22%
  • Static Pressure

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    6.9 mmH2O
    Noctua NH-D12L
    2.34 mmH2O-66%
  • PWM Control

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    Yes
    Noctua NH-D12L
    Yes
  • Warranty

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    6 years
    Noctua NH-D12L
    6 years
  • Fans

    Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB
    3x P12 Pro A-RGB, 120mm
    Noctua NH-D12L
    1x NF-A12x25r PWM 120mm

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGB if you want the higher fan count (3 vs 1), the higher max speed (3000 RPM vs 2000 RPM) and the higher airflow (77 CFM vs 60.09 CFM).

    Choose Noctua NH-D12L if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerArctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ARGBNoctua NH-D12L
    Best Buy

    $109.99

    View on Best Buy
    AmazonView on Amazon

    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 III Pro 360 ARGB

    9 / 10 Expert Rating

    The strongest 360mm AIO you can buy, and still not expensive.

    Noctua NH-D12L

    8.3 / 10 Expert Rating

    An excellent no-compromise pick when tall RAM rules out a standard dual-fan tower.

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