Compatible with a wide range of NVIDIA and AMD solutions, the Kraken G10 adapter bracket lets you modify your AIO CPU cooler for graphics card cooling.
Compatible with a wide range of NVIDIA and AMD solutions, the Kraken G10 adapter bracket lets you modify your AIO CPU cooler for graphics card cooling.
All In One CPU coolers – from the likes of Corsair, Antec and including NZXT’s own Kraken X40 & X60 – have been pretty popular with system builders and enthusiasts for the last couple of years. That should be no surprise given how simple the majority of them are to install, and how much less risk there is in moving a PC system with one is install (over a standard tower cooler). For some reason however they haven’t quite taken off as a solution for cooling power-hungry GPUs, and NZXT hope to change that with the release of the Kraken G10.
The new Kraken G10 is a metal bracket for a graphics card which allows you to mount an All-In-One cooler’s heatsink above the card’s GPU. Also included is a 92mm fan to cool VRM and other components, and socket backplate to ensure that there is minimal flex and as true a contact between GPU and heatsink as possible. If you’re keen to colour-cordinate you can pick it up in Red, White and Black depending on your own preferences (and dare we say it, your preferred GPU vendor).
In their own testing NZXT are claiming up to a 40% improvement in GPU temps over the reference GTX 780 when coupled to a Kraken X40, their 140mm radiator AIO. Better temperatures at higher load would naturally be expected of the 280mm Kraken X60, but be aware that you still need to mount these radiators somewhere inside your case. Tube length will be key in this regard, but even with that caveat there seems to be little downside if you’re careful.
Although a wide range of cards are listed as compatible, including the very high end AMD Radeon R9 290X and NVIDIA GTX 780/Titan, it should be noted that this is only the case for the reference designs. You’ll need to be much more circumspect with 3rd party layouts employed by partners such as GIGABYTE and MSI, paying special attention to the GPU socket height.
Those who have picked up one of the new AMD Hawaii-based GPUs this past month could find the Kraken G10 to be an inexpensive way of employing 3rd-party cooling for lower temps and/or quieter operation. With the exception of water cooling or waiting for partner solutions, it may be the best alternative to the rather loud reference design.
Interestingly NZXT aren’t restricting compatibility to their own Kraken AIO coolers, and have claimed that it’s serviceable for mounting coolers from a wide range of vendors. Included among them are members of the Corsair H-series, Antec Kuhler H2O’s and Thermaltake Water 2.0 and 3.0 designs. Of course they’d prefer it if you went with the Kraken X-series designs, but it’s nice to see that that’s not a necessity.
Tech Specs
The Kraken G10 is available in three colours direct from NZXT’s own Armory store for $29.99 plus shipping.
