NZXT’s devices have always felt premium, from their cases to their PSUs (Power Supply Unit), there is a specific design language: sleek and stylish. When it comes to CPU (Central Processing Unit) cooling options builders have a lot of choice, but a nice middle ground between complex liquid works and simple block units with fans is the AIO or All in One cooler. It offers a solid starting point for liquid cooling by being already assembled and correctly filled. So how does NZXT’s Kraken Elite fair as a premium AIO device?
Sporting a full-sized cooler, the Kraken Elite is a smashing-looking device. Integrated RGB fans and a cool programmable screen make this incredibly attractive in a windowed case. The box is designed to show off the device well, so it’s covered in pictures and information about the Kraken. In the box is the device, the brackets mechanism for both Intel and AMD, connecting screws (believe it or not, that’s a rarity), documentation and some protective packaging. The device itself is hefty and should be handled fairly gently as the CPU connector dangles from soft piping of the device. Where it connects to the CPU it has a plastic shield to protect the pre-applied thermal paste, a nice touch for those who don’t want to do their own.
Installing the cooler requires a bit of PC knowhow as users need to connect the radiator to their case, which requires at least a mid-tower due to its size. Then they must construct the bracket on their motherboard before they can attach the cooler head. The actual connecting stage is easy enough but remember to apply each screw gradually to get even pressure! Lining up the radiator so that it gets plenty of air passing through is important, so planning the case around this device is a must for the best performance. For power, this cooler is fairly performant and it’s easy to set up as NZXT have kindly included their breakout cable set.
When it comes to customisation it interfaces with the NZXT RGB systems via their NZXT Cam software. this software allows users to control all NZXT devices in one place and apply customisations to things like RGB and the AIO screen output. The screen on the unit is lovely, super sharp and vibrant with some great built-in modes to show CPU temperatures. However, for users with more fun setups there is also the ability to use the screen to show a custom image or gif, however it does not support custom video at this time.
The performance of the Kraken elite is amazing, keeping temperatures low while under load. Even when the CPU is being pushed hard through games like Baldur’s Gate 3, the cooler is whisper-quiet aside from the occasional, just barely audible, “whsssssssssssh” as the fans kick up. This is usually impossible to hear over speakers or when wearing headphones. With the Kraken in place, it was possible to boost the processor performance through so overclocking but during review it was only a small push to ensure neither device would be too taxed or close to breaking. With the overclock in place, the cooler was still just as effective, but the base temperature was raised slightly (still well under 60 degrees).
