Software
All control and fine tuning is done through NZXT’s CAM program. At the first startup a firmware update of the cooler to v5.7 was performed, all tests ran with this version. CAM hasn’t exactly been known for conserving resources in the past, and the online account requirement also caused frustration. The need for 297 Mbytes of memory is still manageable, but the hunger during active use in the foreground or as a background process is quite large:
About 180 Mbytes of RAM are used in various processes. And it should be said that I have already deselected several modules in the settings. Only monitoring and the lighting and cooling tabs required for control are active. In the meantime you can choose a guest mode, but it caused me 1-2 times problems and the program didn’t start.
Apart from that, there are still minor problems with the program in German, as some text boxes are not big enough for the mostly longer terms. Translations like “liquid” for “liquid” on the sensor for water temperature are also rather unfortunate. But the general functionality is good, various presets for the 320×320 pixel LCD display are extended by the possibility to upload your own GIF. Static images have to be converted first, simply displaying a static PNG or JPEG file is not possible.
Pump as well as fans can be controlled in 16 steps and even a Zero-RPM mode is possible for the fans. Various data can be read out directly in the program, similar to an Aida64 sensor panel.
Of course, it is a little unfortunate when CAM appears twice in the display for the currently most demanding processes.
Test and methodology
A Ryzen 5 3600 has to be cooled at factory settings, in addition 16GB Crucial Ballistix Sport (2x8GB) DDR4 memory on a MSI B550 Tomahawk (BIOS 7C91vA3). The Asus ROG Strix GTX 1060 6GB is running in zero-fan mode for the CPU stress tests only for the image output, and a BitFenix Whisper M 450W serves as the power source, all housed in the Thermaltake Core P3 as an open benchtable.
All records are logged with HWInfo64 v6.30-4240 – 2000ms logging, the specified temperature is derived from the sensor CPU Die (Average). The load of Prime95 produces an average of 88 watts of CPU package power. Since I don’t have air conditioning, the values in the graphs are the delta between room temperature and CPU temperature. This allows all cooling systems to be compared fairly, even if the ambient temperature is different. The thermal paste supplied with the cooler or pre-applied is used in each case
Benchmarks
The first pass is made with gradually increasing fan speed, the pump remains fixed at the maximum speed:
|
100% pump |
30% PWM |
60% PWM |
100% PWM |
|
Pump speed |
2700 RPM |
2700 RPM |
2700 RPM |
|
Fan speed |
730 RPM |
1365 RPM |
1980 RPM |
|
Noise characteristics |
still |
Noise |
loud hiss |
|
Ambient temperature |
23,1 – 24,0°C |
23,8 – 23,7°C |
23,7 – 24,2°C |
And next reverse it again, increase the pump power gradually and keep the fans at 100% PWM:
|
100% Fan |
30% PWM |
60% PWM |
100% PWM |
|
Pump speed |
1130 RPM |
1890 RPM |
2700 RPM |
|
Noise characteristics |
low hum |
low hum |
Hum |
|
Fan speed |
1980 RPM |
1985 RPM |
1980 RPM |
|
Ambient temperature |
23,2 – 22,2°C |
23,0 – 23,2°C |
23,7 – 24,2°C |
And finally, the general overview with three more test runs as well as a comparison to the competition:
It wasn’t quite enough for first place, with six fans the EK-AIO Elite still has a minimal lead. For that, the Kraken can take the trophy for the best 360mm AiO with three fans at the time of testing.
Summary and conclusion
If you look at the Kraken Z73 on its own, the cooling performance as well as the optical gimmicks and software are convincing, even if it still hangs a bit there. 6 years warranty is just as outstanding for a complete water cooling system! The workmanship can also only be described as impeccable.
But then the big “but” is the high price. While this was perhaps justifiable at the time of market launch due to the innovation with the display, because no one else had one, it is now difficult to justify. The competition doesn’t sleep and manufacturers like Asus or Gigabyte already have their own, cheaper AiO coolers with built-in screens in their range. In the end, however, the optics will probably be the decisive purchase criterion for such products.
25 Antworten
Kommentar
Lade neue Kommentare
Moderator
Urgestein
Moderator
Urgestein
Moderator
Urgestein
Urgestein
Mitglied
Moderator
Mitglied
Moderator
Veteran
Moderator
Veteran
Veteran
Moderator
Urgestein
Urgestein
Moderator
Alle Kommentare lesen unter igor´sLAB Community →