ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 vs Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE

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 Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE at 6.8/10.

The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 leads on cooling, value and build and installation.

They score the same on noise and compatibility and fit.

The biggest difference is cooling, where the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 scores 9/10 to the Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE's 6/10.

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

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

Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE

6.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE is for builders who want a low-cost single-tower air cooler for a current Intel or AMD platform. It suits mainstream CPUs in cases with enough height for a 148mm cooler. Owners mostly praise its value, quiet running and easy fitting.

Typically about £15.95 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	Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE
Cooling	35%	9/10	6/10
Noise	25%	7/10	7/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	7/10	7/10
Value	15%	9/10	8/10
Build and installation	10%	8/10	7/10
Overall		8.1/10	6.8/10

Specifications

Spec	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240	Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	AIO liquid, 240 mm radiator	Single-tower air cooler
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)	Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700; AMD AM5 and AM4	Intel 115x/1200/1700/1851; AMD AM4/AM5
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)	Radiator 277 × 120 × 38 mm (L × W × H)	148 mm
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	One 120 x 120 x 25 mm TL-C12C PWM fan, 1550 RPM max, 66.17 CFM max, 1.53 mm H2O max, S-FDB bearing
Noise level (dBA)	not listed	25.6 dBA maximum (manufacturer figure)
Warranty (years)	6 years	3 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 ›

Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE

+ Supports Intel 1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5
+ Owners praise value, quiet running and easy installation
+ 3-year warranty
− One owner reports it running warm under heavy load
− 148mm height may be too tall for some cases

Skip it if:

Buyers with a high-power CPU under sustained heavy load
Anyone with a compact case or limited CPU cooler height
Builders using tall RAM modules who need a confirmed clearance figure

Read the full Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE review ›

More comparisons

Compare all CPU coolers · Best CPU coolers