Computers are powerful devices that help people with their daily tasks. For gamers, it’s a lifestyle that needs consistent maintenance. In our NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler review, you’ll learn about a cooler that helps your PC push the boundaries of what a PC can do.
The Kraken X73 is one of NZXT’s Kraken X coolers. It is the largest cooler with an extra fan. With its extensive range and extra fan, it brings a stronger cooling prowess to your PC. By that, you can look forward to going beyond the limits of what your PC can really do.
With all that said, let’s get right into our NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler review.
NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler Packaging
Before we discuss our NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler review, we will go over the items that go with the product.
The NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler arrives in a quite-heavy violet and white package. You will notice the product’s image and the logos on the front and top of the box.
On its sides, you will see the technical details of the product. These provide the necessary information regarding its composition and material.
At the back, you can find several descriptions regarding its features and functions. It gives you accurate information on what the product does.
Let’s now open the package. When opening the package, unlock the latch on top of the box, then gently lift the cover. There, you will find the product and all the necessary items that come with it.
First, you will be greeted with the instruction manual of the product. Next, the cardboard mould that holds all the items in place. This is to preserve the quality of the product when it arrives.
Lastly, all the items inside are wrapped in plastic to prevent any unwanted substances from entering. Inside, you will find the radiator, pump, tubes, cables, 3 fans, mounting equipment, and instruction manual.
NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler Review – Design and Functionality
Alright, now let’s take a look at its design in our NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler review.
The NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler is one of NZXT’s Kraken X cooler series. It is the largest among the coolers there, with up to three fans instead of two. It is built for high-performing gaming systems that need that extra cooling power.
Other than its power, the Kraken X73 also contains the same software as the other Kraken X coolers. There, you can optimise your settings to your heart’s content. Apart from that, the Kraken X73 focuses on enhancing the quality of your performance and efficiency.
Our Kraken X73 styles the ever-common all-black cooler design. This is the most common theme for any computer appliance, whether a keyboard, motherboard or more. On its radiator, you are given 3 Aer P120 fans instead of the usual 2.
This difference is significant because it makes it stronger in its cooling prowess. Other than that, the radiator is much bigger compared to other Kraken X coolers. It does take up more space, but it brings a lot of advantages as well.
Aside from these, the Kraken X series features a customisable RGB lighting effect that operates with the CAM software provided. It also has the same silent features as the other Kraken X coolers.
Key Features of the NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler
Moving from the product’s physical properties, we now head on to see the features of this product in our NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler review.
Kraken X Series
The Kraken X series is NZXT’s latest line of coolers. They offer a wide variety of features and functions, each with its own uniqueness. It is made for stabilising high-powered gaming systems and allows for extended overclocking and more.
Other than its amazing visuals and user-friendly instalments, the Kraken X series is special because of its performance-enhancing functions. When paired with the CAM software, you can look forward to getting a better experience.
Incredible Performance
Every Kraken X cooler has its own distinct feature that makes it stand out from other Kraken X coolers. The Kraken X73 focuses on power, which is because of its extended radiator and additional fan.
Having an extended radiator and extra fan means that it allows a stronger cooling prowess. This makes stabilisation of the temperature of the processor faster and cooler. Thanks to that, your computer can take more power and run demanding tasks and applications at a less risky take.
Simple Installation
Bigger and wider parts mean they consume more space in your PC setup. This can be a hassle for those with small to medium-sized cases. Surprisingly, this isn’t the case for this cooler.
The Kraken X73 comes with a nylon mesh sleeve that allows the tubes to be easily bent for quick and decisive movement. It also has caps that allow for 360-degree maneuvering and 30-degree increments that make it much simpler to adjust.
This reduces interference with other components inside the computer. By that, it allows you a worry-free experience during instalment.
Specifications
Furthermore, our NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler review oversees all the information regarding the product. This means taking a look at every bit of information the product has.
Water Block
The Kraken X73 sizes 80 by 80 and 55 millimetres in dimension. For the material used, it is made up of copper and housed in plastic. Plastic is an easy material to manufacture, and copper is a very good conductor for the temperature.
Pump
In regards to the pump, it has a motor speed that ranges between 800 to 2,800 plus 300 rotations per minute. For the power, it uses 12V DC, 0.3A.
Tube
The tube spans 400 millimetres in length. Its material is composed of an ultra-low evaporation rubber wrapped in a nylon-braided sleeve.
The nylon-braided sleeve protects it from harsh bends and keeps it sturdy. For the evaporation rubber, it prevents the liquid from dispersing away.
Radiator
Our Kraken X73 sizes the largest radiator in the whole Kraken X series. It covers 121 by 394 and 27 millimetres in size. It’s composed of Aluminum as well to keep the liquid intact.
It can hold up to 3 fans in its compartment. This makes it cooler compared to the other coolers.
Cap
The cap itself is made of plastic and brass. It has a 360-degree rotational orientation with 30-degree increments, a common feature for most Kraken X series coolers.
It has four LED strips up to ten LEDs per strip for the NZXT RGB Channel Output LED quantity, as well as six NZXT RGB accessories and up to five Aer RGB fans.
Fans
The fans used for the Kraken X73 are the Aer P120 model. It has three fans for the radiator. It sizes 120 by 120 and 26 millimetres. It also has a rotation speed of 500 to 2,000 plus 300 per minute.
Furthermore, it brings an airflow of 18.28 to 73.11 cubic feet per minute. Other than that, an air pressure level of 0.18 to 2.93 millimetres. It also features a silent operation with a noise level of 21 to 36 dBA.
It has a fluid-dynamic bearing on the fan to make the spins seem weightless. This causes a low noise level for a quieter experience. Other than that, it makes the fins of the fan spin faster.
For the power consumption, it only uses 12V DC, 0.32A, 3.84W. It also has a 4-pin PWM connector and a 6-year life span which is 60,000 hours.
Compatibility
The Kraken X73 is compatible with a number of sockets and processors for both Intel and AMD.
For Intel sockets, they are LGA 1200, 1151, 1150, 1156,1155,1366,2011,2011-3 and 2066. Regarding the Intel Core, they are i9, i7, i5, i3, Pentium and Celeron.
For AMD sockets, you have AM4, sTRX4*, TR4*. Lastly, for its processors, you have AMD Ryzen 7, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 3, Ryzen 9 and Threadripper.
Hands-on with the NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler
In our NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler review, we will verify the legitimacy of the product. This way, we can authenticate its claims.
We don’t expect anything less when it comes to NZXT, as we have reviewed many of their products before. Even so, we still need to put this product under observation.
The first thing we did was the instalment process. This was relatively easy due to the mounting and insulating hardware already provided in the package. It was easy to move the product around thanks to its tubing material and caps.
It took roughly 10 minutes to set up the product on our computer. Other than that, it looked great on our PC as the RGB effects easily synced with our other NZXT products.
During the operation, it ran smoothly and well with no issues. It was effective in keeping temperature levels to an optimal low. Other than that, the Aer P120 fans helped in circulating the air. This also reduced heat levels around the interior of the computer.
Moreover, our temperature level on the processor was at a steady 48°C. This was low for a processor during normal computer operations. When we started using heavy applications and intense gaming sessions, it went up to 51°C.
With that, we can say the Kraken X73 has done brilliantly in equalising the temperature levels of the processor. This keeps your PC internally safe and free from damages and overheating. Overall, the NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler stands out in keeping the heat out.
NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler Review Summary
Before we come to a close, we end our NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler review with our verdict regarding the product.
The NZXT Kraken X73 CPU Cooler is a cooler that focuses on relieving your computer from overheating. With the extended radiator and extra fan, you can be ensured of your PC’s safety.
Thanks to the quality of the Aer P120 fans, tubes and cold plate, you can look forward to playing games at an elite level. Together with CAM’s software features, You can push the boundaries and limits and fine-tune it to an optimal range.
With that said, we recommend this product to those looking for that extra push in their gaming rigs. If you are looking for a product like this, then click here to learn more on how to get it.