Cooling

Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB Review

vortez
May 30, 2025 8 Min Read
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An all-in-one liquid cooler which dons a huge 360mm radiator and the three P12 A-RGB fans. Will Liquid Freezer III Pro climb to the top of the cooling league? ACFRE00184A


Product on Review: Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB
Manufacturer: ARCTIC
Street Price: $95 USD | $220 AUD

When it comes to high-performance liquid CPU cooling, Arctic has consistently delivered compelling options for enthusiasts and system builders alike. The new Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB represents the latest evolution in their all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler lineup, incorporating significant design refinements over its predecessor. With a focus on thermal efficiency, acoustic performance, and expanded motherboard compatibility, the Liquid Freezer III Pro aims to push the envelope in both performance and aesthetics. At the centre of these improvements is an upgraded pump and cold plate assembly, paired with a new VRM-fan-integrated pump block and a re-engineered radiator for more efficient heat dissipation.

The Pro 360 variant features a 38mm-thick, 360mm aluminium radiator, cooled by three 120mm ARCTIC A-RGB fans optimized for static pressure. This combination is designed to support high-core-count CPUs, making it a strong contender for both gaming and workstation use cases. Notably, Arctic continues its tradition of integrating a 40mm VRM fan directly into the pump housing—now with revised airflow pathways and lower operating noise. The included A-RGB lighting is fully addressable and compatible with major motherboard ecosystems, allowing for seamless integration into modern RGB setups.


In this review, we’ll put the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB through its paces with a series of tests including thermal performance under load, acoustic measurements, and installation experience. We’ll also assess build quality, cable management design, and compatibility with modern Intel (LGA 1700) and AMD (AM5) sockets. Our test bench features a power-hungry CPU to truly stress the cooling capabilities of this unit. Whether you’re building a silent productivity rig or a high-end gaming machine, our in-depth testing will reveal whether Arctic’s latest offering is the AIO to beat in 2025.

About Arctic
ARCTIC, a leading manufacturer of low-noise PC coolers and components, initiated and continues to shape the trend towards quiet cooling systems. In addition to an extensive range of CPU coolers and fans for home use and servers, ARCTIC offers high-quality monitor arms, wall mounts, thermal pastes, thermal pads, and passive complete PCs.

The company, headed by founder Magnus Huber, has offices in Germany, Hong Kong, USA and China. It has won over PC enthusiasts in more than 74 countries with innovative and user-friendly products that are high quality and sold at competitively low pricing. For over 24 years, ARCTIC has stood for comfortable computing, top-level gaming and overclocking, with the best service and personal support.

Technical Specifications


Below are the technical specifications surrounding the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB:

General Specifications
TIM
MX-6 (0.8 g)
Warranty
6 Years
Operating Ambient Temperature
0—40 °C
Pump
800–2800 rpm
(PWM controlled)
Current | Voltage
0.35 A | 12 V DC
Cold Plate
Copper, Micro Skived Fins
Tube Length
450 mm
Tube Diameter
Outer: 12.4 mm
Inner: 6.0 mm
Weight
2005 g

Compatibility
Intel
LGA1851, LGA1700
AMD
AM5, AM4

Radiator
Material
Aluminium
398 (L) x 120 (W) x 38 (H) mm

VRM Module
VRM Fan
400–2500 rpm
(PWM-controlled)
Current | Voltage
0.05 A | 12 V DC
LEDs
12x A-RGB Gen2 LEDs
Current | Voltage
0.40 A | 5 V DC

Radiator Fan
General
3x P12 Pro A-RGB
Speed
600–3000 rpm
Airflow
77 cfm | 131 m³/h3/h
Static Pressure
6.9 mmH2O
Bearing
Fluid Dynamic Bearing
Current | Voltage
0.33 A | 12 V DC
Connector
4-Pin Fan Plug

RGB
LEDs
12x A-RGB Gen2 LEDs
Current | Voltage
0.40 A | 5 V DC
Connector
3-Pin A-RGB Plug + 3-Pin Socket

Closer Look




Included with this cooler are 3x 120mm fans. These fans are P12 Pro A-RGB, and are capable of 600-3000 RPM and 77 cfm.

The P12 Pros are A-RGB and featured 12 digital LEDs which can be controlled independently via the motherboard header. Just one cable needs to be attached to the motherboard in order to illuminate all fans.


Arctic provide one of their premium 38mm radiators – significantly thicker than the typical 27mm radiator you might find with a conventional liquid cooler. As such, it is worthwhile checking that you have 63mm of total clearance (for radiator and fan thickness).



As we’ve seen in the past, the Pro comes with a circular pump top cover and this cover attaches to the top of the pump. It is necessary to attach the pump cable before attaching the cover because it is concealed.

The coldplate is a flat copper square the lacks the customary mirror finish. Arctic do not pre-apply paste, but a small tuber of MX-6 thermal paste is included. Arctic offset mounting for Intel and AMD platforms which shifts the coldplate to the hotspot on the CPU for better heat transfer.


Above is the finished look – as you can see, this cooler looks impressive in its completed state and the RGB is completely customisable.

Video: Unboxing


Below we’ve filmed an unboxing of the Arctic Freezer III Pro, which highlights the included items within the bundle:

Video: Installation


Below, we’ve filmed the installation process on the Intel platform. This should help to guide you through the process and show how easy it is:

Test Setup & Methodology


HARDWARE

Rather than analyse CPU coolers on a test bench, we prefer to simulate a real-world configuration where all of the components are housed within a computer case. By doing this, our readers are able to see the CPU cooler in a real-world scenario.

Special thanks go to Intel, MSI, Corsair, Noctua and AverMedia for providing the hardware configuration for our CPU cooler reviews:

CPU – Intel Core i9-12900K
Board – MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4
RAM – Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO SL (16GB)
Power Supply – Corsair RMx850
Hard Drive – Intel S3500 128GB
Case – MSI SEKIRA 500G


BENCHMARKS

In order to perform our thermal and acoustics tests we use AIDA64 Stability test. The 12900K CPU is left in its default stock state with EIST, Turbo enabled.

For the moment, the comparison results highlight only a small number of CPU coolers, this is because we’ve updated our hardware configuration. The number of tested coolers will increase.

To reflect the most accurate user experience we always test our coolers in their out-of-the-box state, with the cooling fans/components they are sold with. However, we do not use the supplied thermal paste as this would skew results – for our thermal paste we use Noctua NT-H2 which provides us with that level playing field and consistency.

To record the idle temperatures result, our system is booted into Windows and left to idle for 20 minutes. The average core temperatures are recorded (Using Core Temp), and then we following this we apply the AIDA64 Stability test to apply an intensive load on the CPU. After 20 minutes have elapsed, we then record the average core temperatures.

All temperature results are delta, this is calculated by subtracting the ambient from the average core temperature. Ambient temperature is recorded using a digital thermometer placed near the front intake of the case.

In regards to acoustics we use the exact methodology above except all case system fans are disabled. This isolates the CPU cooler fans and allows us to accurately report on the decibel readings. We record acoustics using the NDI KC-330D Sound Level Meter at a distance of approximately 30cm.

Thermal Results


Below are the results for our thermal test. We record both the idle and load temperatures – stress is applied to the CPU using AIDA64’s stability test.

Acoustic Results


In terms of the acoustics test, we disable all case fans and place our sound level meter approximately 30cm away from the cooling fans and the result is then obtained.

Conclusion


In conclusion, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB delivers excellent performance in both thermal dissipation and acoustic efficiency, reinforcing Arctic’s reputation for engineering high-quality, well-balanced AIO cooling solutions. Under sustained CPU loads, the cooler maintained impressively low temperatures while keeping noise levels to a minimum, thanks to the high-static-pressure A-RGB fans and the refined pump design. Even during high-power workloads, the VRM fan kept surrounding motherboard components within optimal thermal margins, all without significantly increasing system noise—an area where many AIOs still struggle.

While performance is undoubtedly strong, the gains over the previous Liquid Freezer II (non-Pro) version are marginal, particularly in terms of raw thermal capacity. The improvements are more incremental than groundbreaking, offering better acoustics and slightly lower temperatures under load, but not enough to make the upgrade a must-have for existing LF II users. However, new buyers will appreciate the multiple size options available in the Liquid Freezer III Pro lineup, allowing flexibility across different build sizes and thermal requirements. The inclusion of Arctic’s MX-6 thermal paste in a separate tube is also a welcome bonus, especially for enthusiasts who may wish to reapply the paste during future maintenance.


Noise-conscious users will particularly value the cooler’s low-noise operation, even at higher fan RPMs. With a radiator and fan stack measuring a combined 63mm in thickness, however, users should be aware that this cooler is notably thicker than most typical AIO units. This may present clearance issues in smaller or more compact cases, especially near the top or front mounting areas. Case compatibility should be carefully verified before purchasing, particularly for builds with limited internal space.

At around $95 USD or $220 AUD, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB sits comfortably in the mid-range price tier. It’s not the cheapest AIO cooler on the market, but its strong performance and thoughtful design justify the cost. That said, installation—especially on Intel platforms—can be a bit fiddly due to the requirement of removing the motherboard’s Integrated Loading Mechanism (ILM). This extra step adds complexity and risk that may deter some novice builders. Nevertheless, for those willing to navigate the installation quirks and who have adequate case clearance, the Liquid Freezer III Pro is an outstanding choice that balances performance, noise, and value in a very competitive cooling landscape.

Pros
+ Excellent thermal and acoustic performance
+ Multiple size options
+ MX-6 included
+ Available in assortment of black/white and RGB/non-RGB

Cons
– Intel install requires removal of ILM
– Cooler is notably thicker and could see case compatibility issues

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