Superior cooling and impressive features are the order of the day here
We’ve had a few liquid coolers fitted to our test systems in the past. The likes of Coolermaster, Corsair, and Thermaltake have impressed us with high efficiency, ease of setup and low maintenance kits. Now, though it’s the turn of NZXT, a young company with some rather exceptional skills when it comes to keeping your PC cool.
The Kraken X31 is the entry level liquid cooling solution from NZXT, and features a wealth of mind boggling specifications.For starters, this is the world’s first variable speed pump that utilises a spare USB header on the motherboard to communicate with the NZXT CAM software. With this in place you can effectively control the motor pump speed from 2400RPM up to 3600RPM, while being able to view a plethora of realtime information regarding CPU and liquid temperatures and helpful notifications as to what’s using up your system resources. The pump can also be tuned to specific profiles, such as performance, silent, manual and so on – and you can even access the controls remotely by using the mobile version of CAM for iOS and Android.
It’s a fascinating addition to an already quality product, and one that you could happily spend many minutes in front of tweaking to the highest possible degree. However the list of desirable features doesn’t stop there. The large 120mm fan can be controlled to rotate at up to 2000RPM while still remaining whisper quiet, and the 400mm of flexible tubing is more than long enough for most system setups, including specialised PCs.
Fitting the Kraken is simple too, with mounts and standoffs for Intel LGA 2011-3, 1366, 1156, 1150, and AMD FM2, FM1, AM3/3+, and AM2/2+ CPUs; there’s even a handy online animation that clearly walks you through the process depending on the type of socket you’re fitting the Kraken to.
Needless to say, this is an exceptionally high quality liquid cooler. Every detail has been meticulously engineered to near perfection, even the thermal paste on the cold plate is spot on and neatly dispersed. Also the black aluminium radiator offers a slightly larger than usual area to help draw heat away from the coolant, with the aid of 120mm fan.
We were singularly impressed with the NZXT Kraken X31. The long tubing made it easy to wind around the internal chassis of our test system, while still keeping maximum airflow to other components. The high efficiency of the Kraken combined with its near silent operation, and the included six year warranty, is a must for those who put their systems through demanding overclocking or high intensity CPU tasks. And of course, the icing on the cake here is that variable speed pump and the CAM software.
The entire package is extremely good, and certainly one we can happily recommend regardless of whether you engage in extreme overclocking. Although it lacks a little aesthetically, there's no LED lighting and a solid black unit may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s a lot going for the Kraken. In short, it's one of the best, most cost effective, liquid cooling solutions we’ve had the pleasure of testing. David Hayward
You won’t find a better liquid cooler for £55.
Specifications:
• Model Number: RL-KRX31-01
• Fan Air Flow: 81.32 CFM (max.)
• Fan Air Pressure: 0.44 - 2.76 mmH20
• Fan Bearing: Hydro Dynamic Bearing
• Motor Speed: 2400-3600 ± 150 RPM
• Fan Connector: 4-Pin PWM
• Motor Voltage: 12V DC
• Motor Connector: 3-Pin
• Compatibility: Intel LGA 2011-3, 1366, 1156, 1155, 1150 CPUs AMD FM2, FM1, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2 CPUs
• Fan Dimensions: 120x120x25mm
• Motor Current: 325mA
• Radiator Dim: 155 x 120 x 30 mm
• Fan Noise Level: 18-34 dBA
• Tube Length: 400mm
• Fan Speed: 800-2000 RPM ± 10%
• Fan Voltage: 12V DC
• UPC: 815671012081
• Control Method: Kraken+ Software Module
• Warranty: Six years