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This is a buyer's guide compiled from manufacturer specifications and published reviews. GameRath did not test this product.
The Liquid Freezer III 240 is Arctic's 240mm all-in-one liquid cooler, notable for a dedicated VRM fan on the pump block and a 6-year warranty. Published coverage is more mixed than the spec sheet suggests, so it helps to know what outlets actually found before paying for an AIO instead of a good air cooler.
Key specs
- Radiator: 240mm aluminum, 277 x 120 x 38mm (Arctic)
- Fans: two P12 PWM units running 200 to 1,800 RPM, listed at 56.3 CFM (Arctic)
- VRM fan: 60mm module on the pump, 400 to 2,500 RPM, PWM controlled (Arctic)
- Tubing: 450mm hoses with the fan cables routed through the sleeving, so one cable reaches the motherboard
- Sockets: Intel LGA 1851 and LGA 1700, AMD AM5 and AM4
- Warranty: 6 years
- Intel LGA 1700 boards need Arctic's contact frame in place of the stock retention bracket, a step both Tom's Hardware and Vortez flagged
What published reviews found
Tom's Hardware reviewed the Liquid Freezer III lineup in April 2024 and called the result "unimpressive." Its reviewer reported that every model thermally throttled once CPU power limits were removed, and that cooling per watt landed near a mid-range air cooler such as the DeepCool AK620. Noise-normalized results were mediocre, and the 240mm unit developed pump whine, reaching 39.6 dBA against a 38.2 dBA target. The outlet did list low noise for an AIO as a strength, and it pointed to the mandatory contact frame and the lack of older socket support as drawbacks.
Tom's Hardware revisited the lineup in August 2024 after adding GPU load to its methodology. In that mixed CPU and GPU setup, the 360mm model ran 8 to 10°C cooler than Noctua's flagship air coolers at a 165W CPU load. The reviewer concluded the cooler suits gaming and GPU-heavy work better than sustained CPU-only loads. That retest used the 360mm size, a different CPU and a more humid room, so treat it as directional for the 240mm.
Vortez examined the 240 A-RGB White and liked its cooling for a 240mm unit, crediting the VRM fan with extra headroom for overclocked systems. Its complaints were the contact frame swap on LGA 1700, a 38mm-thick radiator that may not fit every case, a default fan profile that is slightly loud at light loads, and a higher-pitched tone from the VRM fan.
Price and availability
Arctic's US store lists the standard 240 at $102.95 and the black 240 A-RGB at $112.85 as of October 6, 2026, although one Arctic product page showed the standard model as currently unavailable. Tom's Hardware cited $145.99 for the 240mm at its April 2024 publication, and Vortez put the white A-RGB version near $120 in the US. Street prices change often, so check current retailers.
The lineup has also been superseded in part. Arctic now sells a Liquid Freezer III Pro series with new P12 Pro fans and refined mounting, which Tom's Hardware reviewed in April 2025 and gave an Editor's Choice award, a warmer reception than the original received.
Who it's for
This cooler fits builders on AM5, AM4, LGA 1700 or LGA 1851 who want a 240mm AIO with extra airflow over the VRMs and a long warranty, have a case with room for a 38mm radiator, and can find it near the low end of its price range. Gaming-focused systems match where the retest found the lineup strongest.
Skip it if you run an older Intel socket such as LGA 1200, which Arctic does not list. Skip it too if your work is sustained, CPU-only rendering or compiling, where Tom's Hardware saw throttling. At the time of its original review, Tom's pointed to the Iceberg Thermal IceFLOE and Enermax LiqMaxFlo as better options at similar prices. An air cooler is the other route: Tom's Hardware's May 2026 look at the Arctic Freezer 36-S lists a $28.49 base MSRP and performance comparable to many dual-tower coolers, and our page on the Cooler Master Hyper 212 3DHP covers a similar budget option. For the rest of a mainstream build, see the budget gaming PC build guide.
Bottom line
The Liquid Freezer III 240 offers a VRM fan and a long warranty, and a retest with gaming-style loads painted it more kindly than the first round. The strongest published criticism is that it does not clearly beat good air coolers or similarly priced AIOs on CPU-heavy work, and the Intel contact frame adds a step. It makes sense on sale for a gaming build; otherwise compare an air cooler or the newer Pro series first.
Still planning airflow and cooling? Our Best Gaming Hardware in 2026 hub places the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 next to the other case and cooler guides and explains how to match them to your build.
Sources: Tom's Hardware - Arctic Liquid Freezer III AIO Review, Tom's Hardware - A second look at Arctic's Liquid Freezer III, Vortez - ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB White Review, Arctic - Liquid Freezer III 240
Pros
- 6-year warranty and a dedicated 60mm VRM fan on the pump block
- Tom's Hardware listed low noise for an AIO as a strength
- Vortez found strong cooling for a 240mm unit, with extra headroom for overclocked systems
- A retest with combined CPU and GPU loads gave the 360mm model better results in gaming-style use
Cons
- Tom's Hardware could not recommend the original lineup over similarly priced alternatives
- Intel LGA 1700 installs require swapping in Arctic's contact frame
- Tom's Hardware reported pump whine on the 240mm in noise-normalized testing
- Supports only LGA 1851, LGA 1700, AM5 and AM4, with no older sockets
