ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 vs Noctua NH-L9a-AM5

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against CPU coolers at a similar price

The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 scores 8.1/10 overall, ahead of the Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 at 5.6/10.

The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 leads on cooling, compatibility and fit and value.

They score the same on noise and build and installation.

The biggest difference is cooling, where the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 scores 9/10 to the Noctua NH-L9a-AM5's 4/10.

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240

8.1/10verdict: buy

The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 is for builders who want strong cooling from a 240 mm all-in-one liquid cooler. It suits Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700 systems as well as AMD AM5 and AM4 builds. It is best for people who have checked their case can take a 38 mm thick radiator.

Typically about £59.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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Noctua NH-L9a-AM5

5.6/10verdict: good, not the best

The Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 is for AM5 builders who need a low-profile cooler for a small case. It suits 65 W-class Ryzen chips and buyers who put quiet running ahead of cooling headroom. It is not aimed at overclockers or higher-end processors.

Typically about £49.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240	Noctua NH-L9a-AM5
Cooling	35%	9/10	4/10
Noise	25%	7/10	7/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	7/10	6/10
Value	15%	9/10	5/10
Build and installation	10%	8/10	8/10
Overall		8.1/10	5.6/10

Specifications

Spec	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240	Noctua NH-L9a-AM5
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	AIO liquid, 240 mm radiator	Low-profile top-flow air cooler
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)	Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700; AMD AM5 and AM4	AM5
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)	Radiator 277 × 120 × 38 mm (L × W × H)	37 mm with fan (23 mm without fan)
Rated cooling capacity (W TDP)	not listed	65 W (Noctua rating as stated by Vividrepairs; quietpc lists 95 W maximum TDP, so sources conflict)
Fans included and their size	2 × P12 Pro, 120 mm, 600–3000 rpm, 77 cfm, 6.9 mmH2O, fluid dynamic bearing, 4-pin PWM; pump 800–2800 rpm; VRM fan 400–2500 rpm	1 x 92x92x14 mm NF-A9x14 PWM
Noise level (dBA)	not listed	23.6 dB(A) maximum; 14.8 dB(A) with Low-Noise Adaptor
Warranty (years)	6 years	6 years

Strengths and weaknesses

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240

+ Tom's Hardware calls it the strongest AIO it has tested
+ Noise-normalised result ties for the best the reviewer has seen
+ Pre-applied MX-6 paste, pre-installed fans and a 6-year warranty
− Pump can be louder than some users prefer at full speed
− 38 mm radiator means checking case clearance first
− Some owners find noise only good, not exceptional

Skip it if:

Buyers whose case may not have room for a 38 mm thick radiator.
Anyone who wants a completely silent PC sitting close to their desk.
People who prefer an air cooler over any liquid-cooled setup.

Read the full ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 review ›

Noctua NH-L9a-AM5

+ Quiet running, with 14.8 dB(A) using the Low-Noise Adaptor
+ Only 37 mm tall with the fan fitted
+ NT-H1 paste, AM5 mounting kit and 6-year warranty included
− 65 W rating leaves little headroom for hotter chips
− RAM clearance is tight with taller DDR5 heatspreaders
− AM5 only; AM4 needs a separate model

Skip it if:

Buyers planning to overclock or run a higher-end AM5 processor under heavy load.
Builders with tall DDR5 heatspreaders or an ultra-compact case.
Anyone on AM4, who needs the separate NH-L9a-AM4 model.

Read the full Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 review ›

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