ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 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 360 scores 6.8/10 overall, ahead of the Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 at 5.6/10.

The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 leads on cooling and value.

The Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 leads on noise and build and installation.

They score the same on compatibility and fit.

The biggest difference is cooling, where the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 scores 9/10 to the Noctua NH-L9a-AM5's 4/10.

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360

6.8/10verdict: good, not the best

This is a 360 mm all-in-one cooler for people with a high-power AMD or Intel chip who want maximum cooling headroom. It suits builders who are happy to set a fan curve and fit a long radiator. It is a weaker choice for anyone who wants a quiet build with little setup.

Typically about £67.49 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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

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 360	Noctua NH-L9a-AM5
Cooling	35%	9/10	4/10
Noise	25%	4/10	7/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	6/10	6/10
Value	15%	8/10	5/10
Build and installation	10%	5/10	8/10
Overall		6.8/10	5.6/10

Specifications

Spec	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360	Noctua NH-L9a-AM5
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	AIO liquid, 360 mm radiator	Low-profile top-flow air cooler
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)	AMD AM5, AM4; Intel LGA1851, LGA1700	AM5
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)	Radiator 398 (L) x 120 (W) x 38 (H) mm; tubing 450 mm; weight 2020 g	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	3 x P12 Pro 120 mm, 600-3000 rpm, 77 cfm, 6.9 mmH2O; pump 800-2800 rpm; VRM fan 400-2500 rpm	1 x 92x92x14 mm NF-A9x14 PWM
Noise level (dBA)	0.3 Sone at maximum fan speed (third-party reported)	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 360

+ Lower temperatures than two 360/420 mm rivals in Club386's tests
+ MX-6 paste is pre-applied and the warranty runs six years
+ Separate VRM fan covers the socket area
− TechPowerUp calls the fans excessively loud above 50% PWM
− Intel mounting is a hassle and no manual was included
− An owner returned one over pump noise

Skip it if:

Buyers who want a quiet system and will not tune fan speeds
Intel builders who want a simple, well-documented mounting process
Anyone whose case cannot take a 398 mm-long 360 mm radiator

Read the full ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 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 ›

More comparisons

Compare all CPU coolers · Best CPU coolers