ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 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 360 and Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE both score 6.8/10 overall.

The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 leads on cooling.

The Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE leads on noise, compatibility and fit and build and installation.

They score the same on value.

The biggest difference is cooling, where the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 scores 9/10 to the Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE's 6/10.

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

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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 360	Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE
Cooling	35%	9/10	6/10
Noise	25%	4/10	7/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	6/10	7/10
Value	15%	8/10	8/10
Build and installation	10%	5/10	7/10
Overall		6.8/10	6.8/10

Specifications

Spec	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360	Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	AIO liquid, 360 mm radiator	Single-tower air cooler
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)	AMD AM5, AM4; Intel LGA1851, LGA1700	Intel 115x/1200/1700/1851; AMD AM4/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	148 mm
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	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)	0.3 Sone at maximum fan speed (third-party reported)	25.6 dBA maximum (manufacturer figure)
Warranty (years)	6 years	3 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 ›

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 ›

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