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be quiet! Light Loop 360 vs Zalman CNPS20X: Comparison
What is the difference between be quiet! Light Loop 360 and Zalman CNPS20X?
These two are close on paper, and noise level is the only measure that separates them at all: be quiet! Light Loop 360 36.8 dBA against Zalman CNPS20X 29 dBA. be quiet! Light Loop 360 also leads on fan count, 3 on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 versus 2 on the Zalman CNPS20X. be quiet! Light Loop 360 also leads on max speed, 2100 RPM on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 versus 1500 RPM on the Zalman CNPS20X. They differ on fan size too, 120 mm on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 versus 140 mm on the Zalman CNPS20X.
Who each one is for
The be quiet! Light Loop 360 suits High-TDP flagship CPUs needing 360mm cooling and RGB-themed cases with front or top radiator mounts, though it is the wrong buy 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. The Zalman CNPS20X is the one to take for RGB dual-tower builds on a mid-range budget and High-TDP CPUs needing dual-tower cooling, though it is not the pick for buyers prioritizing premium-brand warranty support and silence-first builds. Our rating of the be quiet! Light Loop 360 (8/10): be quiet!'s cooling quality with a genuine RGB showcase, a strong pick for builders who want both. Our rating of the Zalman CNPS20X (7.9/10): an aggressively priced RGB flagship-class dual-tower for builders who want the look without premium-brand cost.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Light Loop 360 and Zalman CNPS20X differ on airflow?
Yes. Airflow reads 61.8 CFM on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 versus 61 CFM on the Zalman CNPS20X.
Is the RGB Lighting the same on the be quiet! Light Loop 360 and Zalman CNPS20X?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- be quiet!
- Zalman CNPS20X
- Zalman
Cooler Type
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- AIO Liquid
- Zalman CNPS20X
- Air Tower
Series
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- Zalman CNPS20X
- Zalman CNPS20X
Model Number
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- BW022
- Zalman CNPS20X
- CNPS20X
Socket Compatibility
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X
- Zalman CNPS20X
- AMD AM5/AM4/AM3+/AM3, Intel LGA1700/1200/115X/2066/2011
Tower Layout
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- Not Applicable
- Zalman CNPS20X
- Dual-Tower
Fan Count
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- 3Best
- Zalman CNPS20X
- 2-33%
Noise Level
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- 36.8 dBA
- Zalman CNPS20X
- 29 dBABest
RGB Lighting
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- Yes
- Zalman CNPS20X
- Yes
Cooler Weight
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- 1480 g
- Zalman CNPS20X
- 1300 gBest
Fan Size
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- 120 mm
- Zalman CNPS20X
- 140 mm
Max Speed
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- 2100 RPMBest
- Zalman CNPS20X
- 1500 RPM-29%
Airflow
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- 61.8 CFMBest
- Zalman CNPS20X
- 61 CFM-1%
Bearing Type
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- Rifle
- Zalman CNPS20X
- Fluid Dynamic
PWM Control
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- Yes
- Zalman CNPS20X
- Yes
Lighting
- be quiet! Light Loop 360
- ARGB
- Zalman CNPS20X
- ARGB
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Light Loop 360 if you want the higher fan count (3 vs 2), the higher max speed (2100 RPM vs 1500 RPM) and the higher airflow (61.8 CFM vs 61 CFM).
Choose Zalman CNPS20X if you want the lower noise level (29 dBA vs 36.8 dBA).
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Light Loop 360 | Zalman CNPS20X |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View 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
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.
Zalman CNPS20X
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
An aggressively priced RGB flagship-class dual-tower for builders who want the look without premium-brand cost.