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NZXT Kraken Elite 360

~£279.95typical UK price when we researched it
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NZXT Kraken Elite 360 review

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

by SudoPicks Research · editor Paul HR · published 25 Oct 2026 · updated 25 Oct 2026

NZXT Kraken Elite 360
6.8out of 10verdict: good, not the best

The NZXT Kraken Elite 360 is for builders who want a 360 mm AIO on a current Intel or AMD platform. It suits people who want low temperatures under heavy load and a simple install.

joint 7th of 12 CPU coolers we've reviewed
~£279.95typical UK price when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)Or look for a used one on eBay UK ›

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New to CPU coolers? What they are and what to look for

A CPU cooler keeps the processor from overheating. Most are a metal heatsink with a fan; liquid coolers (AIOs) pump coolant to a radiator instead.

Do you need a CPU cooler? Needed if your processor doesn't come with a cooler, or if the one in the box is too loud. Faster processors need bigger coolers.

What to look for

  • Support for your processor's socket
  • A height that fits your case, or a radiator size the case can mount
  • Low noise: a good tower air cooler is often quieter than a liquid cooler

Unsure about a word? Jargon explained

How the 6.8 adds up

Our CPU coolers rubric
  • 7Cooling35% of score
  • 7Noise25% of score
  • 7Compatibility and fit15% of score
  • 8Build and installation10% of score
  • 5Value15% of score

Against the 12 CPU coolers we've reviewed

bar = the range of all 12 · dot = this one · better →

  • Overall score 6.8/10joint 7th of 12
  • Price £279.9512th cheapest
  • Value for money Poorer value than most12th best of 12

Support and features

Software updatesNo end date announced; the 6-year warranty is not a support date. source

Compatibility

LinuxPartly works on Linux. The mainline nzxt-kraken3 driver covers other Elite Kraken models and may not cover the Elite 360, while liquidctl and community tools show partial, indirect support mainly for RGB and LCD variants. source

Pros and cons

+ pros

  • Reviews report temperatures mostly below 70 °C under heavy load
  • Straightforward installation with pre-applied paste and tool-free brackets
  • Six-year warranty and wide socket support

− cons

  • Fans reported as harsh near maximum speed
  • Owners call the price high
  • Thin accessory bundle with no spare thermal paste

Price history

Price history appears here once we have tracked this product for a few days.

The full review

Where it fits

The Kraken Elite 360 is a liquid AIO with a 360 mm radiator measuring 401 × 120 × 27 mm. Its socket list includes Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115X, plus AMD AM5 and AM4. NZXT sells it in two forms. The Elite 360 has three F120P (2024) 120 mm fans. The Elite 360 RGB has a single F360 RGB Core fan unit that contains three 120 mm fans.

Cooling7/10

Review figures vary, and the test setups differ. PCGamesN recorded 81 °C on an i7-13700K in performance mode and 86 °C in silent mode. CGMagazine reports readings often below 70 °C under heavy load in its test case. Tensor Science reports sub-70 °C in stress tests with an overclocked CPU. GeekaWhat measured a 60 °C average and a 67 °C peak in a Cinebench 4-thread run on the 2024 V2 unit.

Owners back this up. Low temperatures under heavy load are a common point of praise. One reviewer saw high CPU temperatures at first, and these settled after the pump cleared air bubbles. That is a single mention, but it is worth knowing if your first readings look wrong.

Noise7/10

The Elite 360 fans run from 500 to 2,000 RPM (±200) and are rated at 30 dBA each. The RGB version's fans run from 500 to 2,400 RPM (±250) and are rated at 30.0 dBA per fan. NZXT states 33.88 dB for the RGB model, and PCGamesN lists 34 dBA. CGMagazine reports 30–34 dB(A) at idle.

PCGamesN found it quieter than a Noctua NH-D15 in a 10-minute stress test. The NH-D15 was quieter under lighter load. Owners describe the cooler as quiet and cite fluid dynamic bearings. Reviews also report that the fans become audible or harsh near maximum speed. Because that harshness shows up at the top of the range, a fan curve that avoids full speed is the sensible approach.

Fit and installation8/10

The pump cap is 93.5 mm in diameter and 65 mm high. The tubing is 420 mm of CIIR rubber with a PET braided sleeve. Your case needs room for a 401 mm radiator, so check its 360 mm support before buying.

NZXT lists pre-applied thermal paste, tool-free brackets and a single breakout cable. Owners describe installation as straightforward and speak well of the NZXT CAM software. The one gap is the accessory bundle. Owners call it thin, and it includes no spare thermal paste. If you remount the cooler, you will need your own paste.

The warranty runs for six years.

Value5/10

Owners call the price high, and the thin bundle adds to that. The case for the Elite 360 rests on three things: the low temperatures reported under heavy load, the quiet running at moderate load, and the long warranty. If you are happy to spend at this level for those, the reports are broadly positive. If you are not, the price is the main complaint you will meet.

Who it suits

The Elite 360 suits a builder with a case that takes a 360 mm radiator and a CPU that produces a lot of heat. It also suits anyone who wants quick installation with paste already applied. Anyone sensitive to fan noise should plan to cap fan speed, given the reports of harshness near maximum.

What owners report

Recurring themes from public owner feedback, summarised in our own words.

  • Owners praise low temperatures under heavy load.
  • Owners find installation straightforward and rate NZXT CAM well.
  • Owners describe it as quiet, citing fluid dynamic bearings.
  • Reviews report harsh fan noise near maximum speed, and owners call the price high and the bundle thin.
Who should skip it
  • Buyers whose case cannot take a 401 mm radiator
  • Buyers sensitive to fan noise who want to run fans at full speed
  • Buyers on a tight budget who object to a high price and thin bundle
Full specifications
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)Liquid AIO with 360 mm radiator
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115X; AMD AM5, AM4
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)Radiator 401 × 120 × 27 mm; pump cap 93.5 mm diameter × 65 mm high
Fans included and their sizeElite 360: 3 × F120P (2024) 120 mm static-pressure fans, 500–2,000 ±200 RPM, 30 dBA each. Elite 360 RGB: 1 × F360 RGB Core fan containing three 120 mm fans, 500–2,400 ±250 RPM, 30.0 dBA per fan
Noise level (dBA)Elite 360 RGB: 33.88 dB stated by manufacturer; PCGamesN lists 34 dBA
Warranty (years)6 years
Sources

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