NZXT Kraken 280 RGB
“With a built-in LCD screen, you can play videos, GIFs, and probably even some games on this 280mm AIO cooler for you CPU. Oh, and its temperatures are pretty good, too.”
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Can you really put a price on the joy you get from running GIFs on a tiny screen inside your gaming PC? Well, yes, as it turns out, but not as much as it cost before. NZXT Kraken 280 RGB and its bigger Elite model are both the cheapest they’ve ever been.
Over on Amazon, you can get 20% off bringing the AIO down to $159.99. This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen for the white model, saving you $40. We have spotted the black version for $2 less for a few days in February, but otherwise it’s just as good a saving. Unfortunately, we’ve checked various European storefronts, but this deal is exclusive to the US.
NZXT Kraken 280 RGB features a customisable 1.54in square LCD display. I know what you’re probably thinking, and your eyes don’t deceive you. That’s certainly a circle water block that runs at 2,800RPM. The screen occupies the centralised square portion and just looks seamless thanks to its housing. It features 240×240 resolution with a 30Hz refresh rate.
You’ll probably even be able to play Doom on the mini monitor, since you can play the FPS game on just about anything. I wouldn’t say it’d satisfy your gaming appetite, though, unless you want to strain your peepers. Instead, perhaps stick to animated GIFs or images.
If you fancy something a little bigger, NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB also sports 26% off at $199.99. Not to give you deja vu, but this is also the lowest price we’ve seen. Roughly 53% bigger, the 2.36in LCD has double the refresh rate at 60Hz and a comparatively whopping 640×640 resolution. The only potential contention here is that it’s circular rather than square, which may limit or open your options depending what you want to run.
All models come with two high-pressure F140 RGB Core fans decked out in the same colour as the radiator. The fluid dynamic bearings spin between 500 and 1,500RPM and push around 90.79CFM of airflow. Packing eight addressable LEDs, they shine pretty bright, and you can pick your colours using NZXT CAM. Granted, this isn’t our favourite software to use, but it’s come a long way over the years.
Much like 420mm AIOs, we prefer 280mm models more than most because they house 140mm fans. These larger blowers push the same amount of air at slower speeds, making them quieter. The only issue is making sure you can fit the radiator in your PC case first. Not all chassis are built with enough space.
As usual with this being an Amazon bargain, you can get the AIO cooler tomorrow with a Prime subscription. Alongside next-day delivery, there are a load of benefits with the membership. I’m not sure if you can watch Prime Video on this tiny screen but you should absolutely give it a go.
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