Noctua
Noctua NH-U12A
Air tower
90
/ 100
From $109
VS
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black wins by 3
Arctic
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black
360 AIO
93
/ 100
From $109
Specdex verdict
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-U12A lands at 90 and Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black at 93. That puts Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Noctua NH-U12A if…
- ✓Multi-socket bracket support
- ✓Quiet fans at idle
- ✓Strong TDP rating
Pick Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black if…
- ✓Multi-socket bracket support
- ✓Quiet fans at idle
- ✓Strong TDP rating
Noctua NH-U12A 90
vs 93 Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black
Score breakdown
Noctua NH-U12A
90 thermals 90
noise 86
install 88
value 86
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black
93 thermals 93
noise 89
install 88
value 86
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Noctua NH-U12A | Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Air tower | 360 AIO |
Noctua NH-U12A
Pros
- +Multi-socket bracket support
- +Quiet fans at idle
- +Strong TDP rating
Cons
- −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
- −AIO pump noise varies
- −Installation requires motherboard-off
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black
Pros
- +Multi-socket bracket support
- +Quiet fans at idle
- +Strong TDP rating
Cons
- −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
- −AIO pump noise varies
- −Installation requires motherboard-off
FAQ: Noctua NH-U12A vs Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black
Which is better, Noctua NH-U12A or Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black? +
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Noctua NH-U12A worth the price? +
At $109, Noctua NH-U12A delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in thermals.
Is Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black worth the price? +
At $109, Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in thermals.
Does Noctua NH-U12A or Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 · Black last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.