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The NZXT Kraken X40 Compact Liquid Cooler Review (Part 1)

7/3/2013 9:20:12 AM

By owning a larger radiator, a 140mm large fan, enhanced pump, longer tube, managing and monitoring software, could this new device be the best air cooler?

Founded in 2004, NZXT Corporation has launched a variety of products including the cases of many different models, power supply devices, controllers, cables, accessories and cooling systems. Recently, two new liquid cooling solutions, which are well-known under the name of Kraken, have been introduced by this corporation. As you might know, Kraken is the name of a legendary sea monster, Jack Sparrow’s phobia.

We will clearly discuss the Kraken X40 in this review today.

The NZXT Kraken X40

The NZXT Kraken X40

The senior X60 model will be summarized in the upcoming review.

Package and accessories

NZXT Kraken X40’s package is a small cardboard whose front side is printed many images of the product.

The product’s package

The product’s package

You can find the specifications, main features and compatibility platforms on other sides.

The specifications on the box

The specifications on the box

Inside the cardboard find you a tray with many compartments for each type of components of the system.

Fans and heatsink are individually wrapped in each cardboard bag. Therefore, it seems that Kraken’s components are well protected against any damages during the transportation.

Accessories’ box

Accessories’ box

There are two back-plates, retention plates and a fixing ring, screws and spacers, a user manual and a software CD which can also be found besides the cooler.

The accessories

The accessories

Manufactured in China, the NZXT Kraken costs about $99 and comes with a 2-year warranty.

Outfit and features

Kraken’s design is inspired be the classical design of the closed-loop liquid cooling system. It is comprised of the combination of a water block and a pump, a radiator with fan, and connecting pipes.

The product’s image

The product’s image

We have tested and researched on the similar designs many times, but still we found the Kraken X40 special in one aspect:

The connecting pipes

The connecting pipes

Of course, what we want to imply on here is the large-size heatsink with the dimension of 138.4 x 172.5 x 27.0 mm.

The product’s design

The product’s design

According to NZXT, compared to other normal available solutions, the surface of the radiator has been increased 36% with 120 mm radiators. The cooling liquid moves along 13 flat pipes instead of just 9 or 11 pipes like usual.

The radiator surface

The radiator surface

The pipes are connected by soldering a wave-shape aluminum ribbon (or even just glued). The thickness of the radiator’s body is only 16 mm, so it does not have any advantage over other products built based on the Asetek platform in this class.

The stickers on the radiator show information about the product’s name and power specifications (12 volts, 7.5 watts). Other parameters surely belong to the pump.

The radiator sticker

The radiator sticker

On the other side of the radiator are there two connecting pipes, whose exterior diameter is 10mm, press-fitted on them.

The connecting pipes on the radiator

The connecting pipes on the radiator

From 300mm, the length of these pipes has been increased to 400 mm, allowing you to lay the NZXT Kraken X40 anywhere inside your system case.

Just by looking from the outside, there would be no difference in the new water block and the pump. Its size is still Ø72x32 mm. The performance of the pump does not clearly show.

The waterblock and the pump

The water block and the pump

However, according to what has been recorded by our testing tool, we know that the pump’s motor works at the speed of 2900 (± 150) RPM. A thin layer of high-efficiency thermal interface has been pre-applied on the water block’s base.

You will find an electric motor and a small PCB by removing the plastic cap.

The pump’s construction

The pump’s construction

NZXT states that, like all Asetek-based models, the copper water block follows a micro channel structure, although NZXT does not confirm any relationship between the Kraken X40 and Asetek. The contact spot of the water block is processed quite well.

The waterblock’s contact spot

The water block’s contact spot

We have found the thermal grease on the convex heatsink of our CPU.

The thermal grease on the convex heatsink

The thermal grease on the convex heatsink

It is obvious that the highest pressure is at the center of the water block and heatsink of the CPU.

The pump’s design features the logo of the manufacturer.

Its color and brightness can be adjusted by some special software. We will discuss them very soon.

A 140 mm FX-140 fan is installed into the Kraken X40.

The fan system

The fan system

A device with just nine fans which is 134mm in diameter is totally capable of cooling a thin radiator even with the low rotation speed. Their speeds are regulated by the PWM technology and vary in the range of 800 to 2,000 RPM. The fan’s capability is creating an air flow from 54 to 98.3 CFM at the noise level of 21 to 37 dBA and static pressure from 0.8 to 2.2 mm of water.

The sticker provides a lot of information, including that the 42mm motor of the fan operates based on the fluid dynamic bearing technology.

Its estimated useful life is about 35,000 hours or 4 years of working continuously. Despite that fact, the maximum power consumption of the fan is believed to be 7.08 watts, which is not much higher than the level of 5.3 watts that we recorded.

The fan is connected with a 4-pin cable, going out from the pump.

The connecting ports

The connecting ports

A second fan can be connected but it cannot be regulated by the PWM. The pump’s cable’s length is 240 mm, whereas that of the fan’s cable is about 385 mm. The pump is also connected to the 3-pin port of the mainboard and USB header (with a 600 mm cable). Now we will briefly discuss what is needed for the software aspect of the Kraken X40.

Compatibility and installation

In order to be compatible with the NZXT Kraken X40, it is essential for your computer case to have a space of a 140 mm fan. Such cases have now become popular, but their market shares are still very moderate. Anyway, it is possible to find a list of compatible cases on the website of NZXT. A list named Kraken Case Compatibility V1.1 includes nearly 50 of such models.

The compatible sample cases

The compatible sample cases

Since there exists something called version number, the list would be updated and extended. You might want to have a look over it if you intend to buy a Kraken X40.

In terms of the compatibility of the water block with CPU platform, there would be no problem as the Kraken X40 can be installed into any contemporary Intel or AMD processors. The installation steps are not much different from that of other similar products that we have checked out before, and they are showed in a very detailed way in the user manual. Generally, it is the same for AMD…

The installation process on AMD

The installation process on AMD

… and Intel platforms and there are just some simple steps.

The installation process on Intel

The installation process on Intel

Our Antec Twelve Hundred system case does not own a 140 mm fan, so we have to test the Kraken X40 outside. The waterblock is installed into the CPU. The radiator and the fan are laid down beside the computer on a piece of foam rubber.

The finished installation

The finished installation

Fortunately, the cables and pipes are long enough for us to do so.

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