• TWEAK
• Cooling
• Air cooling

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420

Before we take a closer look at the Liquid Freezer III 420 from Arctic, I found the specifications from their website.

The technical specifications:

• Intel Socket: LGA1700, LGA1851
• AMD Socket: AM4, AM5
• Fan Size: 140mm x 140mm x 25mm
• Fan Speed (100%): 1700 rpm
• Noise Level (100%): - dB
• Pressure: 2.40 mm H2O (Max)
• Pump speed (rpm): 2800
• Pump connector: 4-pin
• RGB connector: -
• Tube length (mm): 450
• Size & Weight radiator
  • (H x W x D) 458 x 138 x 38 mm
  • 2,235g

All about the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420

The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 is equipped with a new and improved contact frame that ensures optimal heat transfer from the CPU and supports the latest sockets. The cooler is ready to use straight out of the box with pre-installed paste and simple mounting that makes installation quick and hassle-free. Its upgraded radiator design with extra thick cooling fins and three 140mm PWM fans provide superior cooling efficiency and reduced noise levels. At the same time, it includes an integrated VRM fan for extra stability in the CPU area, making it ideal for demanding users and intensive tasks.

In the box for the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420, you will find the cooler with three pre-installed 140 mm PWM fans and an efficient radiator. Included is a new contact frame for Intel sockets, which supports both LGA1700 and LGA1851, as well as a bracket for AMD, making it compatible with the latest systems. The pre-installed MX-5 thermal paste makes installation easier, and a QR code on the box provides quick access to the digital installation guide. All necessary mounting equipment is included, so the cooler can be installed directly from the box.

The included P14 PWM fans for the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 are 140 mm fans, designed with a focus on high cooling efficiency and low noise level. The fans have a wide control range thanks to PWM control, which makes it possible to adjust the speed as needed – from almost silent operation at low load to powerful cooling during intense use. The optimized blades of the P14 fans provide a high static pressure that ensures efficient airflow through the thick radiator, which is ideal for liquid cooling systems. Their durable bearings contribute to long life and reliable performance, even with continuous use.

The umpen i Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 is designed with a focus on both performance and energy efficiency. The compact pumphead has a built-in VRM fan that helps cool components around the CPU, improving overall system stability and durability. The pump is infinitely regulated and automatically adjusts its speed according to the temperature of the CPU, resulting in quieter operation at low loads and increased performance during intensive use. The advanced design with optimized heat sink and cooling channels ensures efficient heat transfer, while the high build quality ensures long durability.

The radiator on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 is designed for maximum heat dissipation and efficiency. It measures 420mm and is extra thick compared to standard AIO radiators, giving a larger surface area to dissipate heat. This design improves cooling capacity and ensures lower temperatures, even under intensive load. The radiator's fine structure is optimized to work together with the included P14 PWM fans, which create a high static pressure and effectively push air through the cooling fins. The solid build quality and corrosion-resistant material contribute to the radiator's durability and reliability over time.

Assembly

Mounting the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 on an Intel processor is simple and straightforward. Start by applying the included Intel contact frame, which is compatible with sockets such as LGA1700 and LGA1851. First install the back plate behind the motherboard and secure it with the supplied screws.

The pump is then installed above the CPU, where the contact frame ensures optimal contact and heat transfer. To facilitate installation, you can scan the QR code on the box, which leads to a detailed, step-by-step guide online.

The Test – Use and Performance

Test system

• MSI MEG Z690 Unify
• Intel I9 12900K
• MSI Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti
• 32 GB HyperX Fury DDR5 5200 MHz CL36
• Samsung 970 EVO 500 GB SSD
• Seasonic Prime TX-1300

Test software

• Cinebench (Benchmark)
• HWinfo64 (Monitoring)

Procedure

The test is set up so that we first warm up the system with Cinebench for 5 minutes. Then run it further for 10 minutes where we measure the average temperature in HWiNFO64. We then finally subtract the room temperature at the given time and land on a delta temperature to give as neutral a picture as possible. The fans are set to run at full speed, so that you get a picture of the maximum cooling performance with the load we are now giving it. It should give a real picture of how much you can stress on the different coolers, and whether they can take more or less than what we give it.

**After following up a bit on the I9 12900K and heat generation, I have chosen to turn off Hyper-Threading, to give the cooler the opportunity to show what it can do, rather than pushing the CPU to its maximum. All tests in the future will run like this.

The measurements:

• Room temperature: ~ 24 degrees
• Fan speed: ~ 1700 RPM
• TDP: 199W

We start by looking at the idle, for the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420, which ends up having a delta temperature of 3 degrees. Which places it nicely among many of the others.

On to the load test, the system must be started, and we can see if the big cooler can play with its muscles compared to some of the others. The Liquid Freezer III 420 is again going to settle nicely in the middle, perhaps a bit disappointing considering the large cooler which only ends up at 44 in delta temperature. It ended up hitting 199W, which is slightly below the others, which are between 200-205W.

Noise level

Our noise measurements were made with a UNI-T UT353 dB meter. The measurements were made in a "real world" setup and thus not in a sound chamber. External influences have of course been tried to be reduced as much as possible, but as I said, this has not been done in a sound chamber. Our measurements must therefore most of all be taken as a general indicator and not a scientific measurement. They primarily serve as a basis for comparison across tested products, which are always tested under as comparable conditions as possible.

Price

I was able to find the Liquid Freezer III 420 from Arctic for a price of 100$. Which is incredibly competitive.

If you want to find more information about the Liquid Freezer III 420 from Arctic, you can click on the banner.

Conclusion

After completing the test of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 with our specific test system, including an Intel i9-12900K processor and benchmarking via Cinebench and HWiNFO64, we can conclude that the cooler has several notable strengths, but also some points that drag a bit down. The biggest advantage of the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 is its efficiency and performance combined with a price of around 100$, which makes it extremely competitive in its class. Installation is easy and straightforward, thanks to the intuitive design and to installed elements such as thermal paste. Compared to similar coolers, it is in a price bracket where you get good value for money, especially when compared to the efficient VRM cooling that keeps the system temperature stable in areas around the CPU, which is a rare advantage in this price range.

During the idle test, the Liquid Freezer III 420 has a delta temperature of 3 degrees, which shows its ability to keep the system cool at low load. It performs solidly and ranks among the other high-end AIO coolers. During the load test, where the system was stressed to the maximum, the Liquid Freezer III 420 achieved a delta temperature of 44 degrees. While this is satisfactory, the result is a bit disappointing considering the size of the cooler, especially since the large 420mm radiator and three P14 PWM fans could have been expected to perform on par with the most powerful models on the market. However, the delta temperature of 44 degrees is still impressive for the price, and the slightly lower TDP of 199W may indicate that the cooler handles load in an efficient and energy-saving way.

In terms of noise, the Liquid Freezer III 420 excels very positively. At maximum load and a fan speed of approximately 1700 RPM, the noise level remained low, which is a great advantage for those who prioritize a quiet environment. The cooler's ability to combine performance with low noise production, without the need for software, makes it attractive to users who want a simple and reliable solution. The physical design is robust and durable, but the size and weight can be a challenge, especially in smaller enclosures where space can be a limitation. This drawback is worth noting, as the cooler requires a case with good space and support for its size for optimal performance.

Looking at the benefits overall, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 gets a strong recommendation for users who want high performance without high cost, as long as there is room for it. The VRM cooling is a valuable addition and the price is low compared to competing models with the same cooling capacity. On the other hand, if you are looking for the absolute lowest delta temperature and have room for a slightly more expensive model, you can consider alternatives. But at the price of 90€, where Arctic delivers on both performance and noise level, the Liquid Freezer III 420 is hard to beat. Therefore, I also end up giving a score of 9 out of 10, where especially the price gives a product that comes with a good performance.

Benefits

• Easy to install
• Low noise level
• Great performance
• VRM cooling
• (No software)
• Price

Disadvantages

• Large size
• Weight

Score: 9