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be quiet! Light Loop 360 vs NZXT Kraken 240: Comparison

What is the difference between be quiet! Light Loop 360 and NZXT Kraken 240?

Start with radiator size, because it is the widest measured gap between them: be quiet! Light Loop 360 360 mm against NZXT Kraken 240 240 mm, 33% in favour of be quiet! Light Loop 360. Add warranty to that, 3 years on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 versus 6 years on the NZXT Kraken 240, and the pattern holds. NZXT Kraken 240 also leads on static pressure, 2.51 mmH2O on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 versus 4.5 mmH2O on the NZXT Kraken 240. be quiet! Light Loop 360 also leads on fan count, 3 on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 versus 2 on the NZXT Kraken 240.

Which should you buy, be quiet! Light Loop 360 or NZXT Kraken 240?

The be quiet! Light Loop 360 is the one to take for High-TDP flagship CPUs needing 360mm cooling and RGB-themed cases with front or top radiator mounts, though it is not the pick for silence-first builds (see Pure Loop 2 instead) and cases limited to 240mm radiator space. It is equally the pick for showcase builds wanting be quiet! build quality. Take the NZXT Kraken 240 for NZXT ecosystem buyers who want CAM software integration without flagship Kraken pricing. The same goes for mid-tier builds needing roughly 230W of headroom in a compact 240mm radiator. It is the wrong buy for buyers chasing the best value-per-degree, where the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240, covered elsewhere on this site, cools more for less.

Frequently asked questions

Do the be quiet! Light Loop 360 and NZXT Kraken 240 differ on noise level?

Yes. Noise Level reads 36.8 dBA on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 versus 30 dBA on the NZXT Kraken 240.

Is the Cooler Type the same on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 and NZXT Kraken 240?

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

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    be quiet!
    NZXT Kraken 240
    NZXT
  • Cooler Type

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    AIO Liquid
    NZXT Kraken 240
    AIO Liquid
  • Radiator Size

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    360 mmBest
    NZXT Kraken 240
    240 mm-33%
  • Series

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    NZXT Kraken 240
    NZXT Kraken 240
  • Model Number

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    BW022
    NZXT Kraken 240
    RL-KN240-B1
  • Socket Compatibility

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X
    NZXT Kraken 240
    AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X
  • Fan Count

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    3Best
    NZXT Kraken 240
    2-33%
  • Noise Level

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    36.8 dBA
    NZXT Kraken 240
    30 dBABest
  • RGB Lighting

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    Yes
    NZXT Kraken 240
    No
  • Radiator Thickness

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    27 mm
    NZXT Kraken 240
    27 mm
  • Tube Length

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    400 mm
    NZXT Kraken 240
    400 mm
  • Pump Max Speed

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    2900 RPMBest
    NZXT Kraken 240
    2800 RPM
  • Fan Size

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    120 mm
    NZXT Kraken 240
    120 mm
  • Max Speed

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    2100 RPMBest
    NZXT Kraken 240
    2000 RPM-5%
  • Airflow

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    61.8 CFM-16%
    NZXT Kraken 240
    73.47 CFMBest
  • Static Pressure

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    2.51 mmH2O-44%
    NZXT Kraken 240
    4.5 mmH2O
  • Lighting

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    ARGB
    NZXT Kraken 240
    None
  • Warranty

    be quiet! Light Loop 360
    3 years-50%
    NZXT Kraken 240
    6 yearsBest

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose be quiet! Light Loop 360 if you want the higher radiator size (360 mm vs 240 mm), the higher fan count (3 vs 2) and the higher max speed (2100 RPM vs 2000 RPM).

    Choose NZXT Kraken 240 if you want the lower noise level (30 dBA vs 36.8 dBA), the higher airflow (73.47 CFM vs 61.8 CFM) and the higher static pressure (4.5 mmH2O vs 2.51 mmH2O).

    Price comparison

    Retailerbe quiet! Light Loop 360NZXT Kraken 240
    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

    be quiet! Light Loop 360

    8 / 10 Expert Rating

    be quiet!'s cooling quality with a genuine RGB showcase, a strong pick for builders who want both.

    NZXT Kraken 240

    7.8 / 10 Expert Rating

    A sensible, well-built mid-tier AIO for NZXT ecosystem buyers who don't need RGB or a display.

    More comparisons in CPU Coolers