NZXT Kraken Z53 AIO Liquid Cooler Review

NZXT announced their latest addition to the Kraken AIO liquid coolers early last 2020. Today, we have the Kraken Z53 featuring the same pump design, performance, and customization as the Z63 and z73, with the difference of having a smaller 240mm radiator for compatibility purposes with most mid-tower cases.

NZXT Kraken Z53 Specifications

  • Compatible Socket
Intel LGA 1200, 115X, 1366, 2011, 2011v3, 2066

AMD AM4, sTRX4, TR4

Water Block Depth: 79mm, Diameter: 52.4mm
Pump
  • Speed: 800-2800 RPM (+300)
  • Power: 12VDC, 0.3A
Radiator Dimensions: 275 x 123 x30mm (LxWxH)
Tube
  • Length: 400mm
  • Material: Ultra-low evaporation rubber with nylon braided sleeve
Cap
  • Material: Aluminum and plastic
  • Display Orientation: Software adjustable Default and -90° orientation
  • Display Panel Active Area: 2.36” (60mm) diameter
  • Display Color: 24-bit true color LCD
  • Display Resolution: 320 x 320 px
  • Display Brightness: 650 cd/m²
  • NZXT RGB Channel Output Voltage: 5V DC
  • NZXT RGB Channel Output LED Qty.: Up to four LED strips – 10 LEDs per strip, Up to five AER RGB fans, Up to six NZXT RGB accessories
Fans
  • Model: Aer P 120mm
  • Quantity: 2
  • Dimension: 120 x 120 x 26mm
  • Speed: 500-2,000 + 300 RPM
  • Air Flow: 18.28 – 73.11 CFM
  • Air Pressure: 0.18 – 2.93mm-H2O
  • Noise: 21-36dBA
  • Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
  • Power Consumption: 12V DC, 0.32A, 3.84W
  • Connector: 4-pin PWM
  • Life: 60,000 hours / 6 Years
Warranty 6-years limited warranty

Design and Packaging

The packaging for the Kraken Z53 is the same as we’ve seen with their other Kraken series with probably the cleanest aesthetically if compared with other AIO liquid cooling. Like most brands, NZXT has designed the Kraken Z53 to fit in their ecosystem and compatibility with the CAM monitoring software.

Kraken Z53 AIO

Inside the box are a pair of NZXT 120mm high-performance airflow fans, and of course the main AIO liquid cooler.

NZXT Z53 AIO

The accessories include an installation manual, cables for the pump and fans, mounting brackets, and screws for the fans. One of the distinct cables that you’d normally see in an NZXT cooling package is the proprietary cable that comes with their AIO liquid coolers that require the pump to function and act as a splitter to power up the fans as well.

Kraken Z53 AIO Liquid Cooler

Featuring a 7th generation Asetek pump design, the Kraken Z53 AIO offers up to 800RPM quiet cooling performance. The pump has a customizable LCD display that can be customized via the NZXT CAM software to display both the CPU and GPU temperatures. One that most PC builders appreciate.

Two headers can be found on the pump. One for the proprietary cables and the other micro USB cable to connect to the USB header in order to customize and monitor using the NZXT CAM software. While under it are some pre-applied thermal paste for easier installation.

NZXT CAM Software

The NZXT CAM software is an accumulation of functions for system monitoring and customization using the NZXT ecosystem. The user interface is pretty straightforward and easy to use. Here you are able to customize the Krazen Z53 AIO and toggle the performance mode. Just ensure that that USB cable is connected to the pump.

Test Set up

[table id=23 /]

Testing the NZXT Kraken Z53 AIO, it peaked at around 63 degrees. The fans provide a great push of heat without producing much noise. The Z53 basically allows overclocking while keeping the temps at a low temperature. We were able to stabilize our Intel Core i9-9900k at 5.0 GHz at 56 degrees.

Conclusion

There hasn’t been anything to dislike about the NZXT AIO Cooling series. They have been a dependable brand and causes almost no leaks. With the release of the NZXT Kraken Z53 AIO, they offer an affordable option of keeping temperatures low for high-end processors like Intel Core i9 or the AMD Ryzen 9. The most affordable price we’ve seen in the market is at ₱12,000.00.