ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240 vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 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 Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 6.8/10.

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

They score the same on compatibility and fit.

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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Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

6.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The Phantom Spirit 120 SE is for builders who want a dual-tower air cooler for a current Intel or AMD desktop CPU on a modest budget. It suits mainstream and gaming systems, including Ryzen 7 7800X3D builds, where one owner reports around 65c under load. It is a less obvious choice for anyone who wants near-silent running under sustained heavy load.

Typically about £24.87 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 Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Cooling	35%	9/10	7/10
Noise	25%	7/10	6/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	7/10	7/10
Value	15%	9/10	8/10
Build and installation	10%	8/10	6/10
Overall		8.1/10	6.8/10

Specifications

Spec	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	AIO liquid, 240 mm radiator	Tower air cooler, dual-tower
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)	Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700; AMD AM5 and AM4	Intel LGA115X/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)	154 mm
Rated cooling capacity (W TDP)	not listed	280 W (retailer figure, not manufacturer-published)
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	2 x TL-C12B V2 PWM, 120 x 120 x 25 mm, 1500 RPM ±10%, 66.17 CFM max, 1.53 mm H2O max, S-FDB bearing, 4-pin PWM
Noise level (dBA)	not listed	25.6 dBA (fan rating, manufacturer)
Warranty (years)	6 years	12 months

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 Phantom Spirit 120 SE

+ Supports LGA1851, LGA1700, AM5 and AM4
+ Owners praise its value for money
+ One owner reports around 65c on a 7800X3D
− Owners report loud fans under load
− Owners say it is hard to clean
− Owners report a fan speed floor near 360 rpm

Skip it if:

Buyers who want near-silent running under sustained heavy load
Builders who want fans that idle well below 360 rpm
Anyone who dislikes cleaning a dual-tower cooler

Read the full Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE review ›

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