NZXT Kraken G12

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Anyone here have experience with this? It looks like it would be really cool, particularly in cases with restricted airflow. I'm considering trying this in an upcoming build just for fun.
 
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It works well. The issue you'll likely run in to is that the bracket only works with the older Asetek-style "twist to lock" AIOs. Pretty much the only one left is the EVGA CLC120 and it requires some modification to get to fit.
 
Any updated version or similar products that are compatible with more of today's AIO coolers?
 
I just did a build with one of these. They are VERY good at reducing temperatures and noise. If you can get your hands on an EVGA 120mm AIO (should still be on sale right now), use it as an exhaust fan and run the GPU on that. Get yourself the 4 pin pwm to fan adapter to use the GPU sensors for cooling purposes: https://www.amazon.com/CRJ-4-Pin-Adapter-Sleeved-Graphics/dp/B07Q5BTTDX

It doesn't officially support newer GPUs, and for SOME GPUs you have to ensure that you mount the fan on the correct side to actually cool the VRMs. In some cases, the VRMs aren't even touched by the default fan location. I had to cable tie mine to the opposite side of the bracket and put heatsinks on the GPU VRMs so that they would stay cool

The Brackets will work on most GPUs, in some cases guys use the AMD brackets on newer Nvidia cards and they see no issues, obviously YMMV. Definitely use this as a guide for what GPUs it supports stock, and if you're putting it on an unsupported GPU, look on youtube for guys that are modding it to fit. In a lot of cases, they just snipped the bracket mounts off of the bracket and used it with no cross-bracket beam.

Bankie said:
It works well. The issue you'll likely run in to is that the bracket only works with the older Asetek-style "twist to lock" AIOs. Pretty much the only one left is the EVGA CLC120 and it requires some modification to get to fit.
Click to expand...


It's VERY easy to get one of these coolers used on ebay, and if you want one new you basically stick to ANY of the brands listed on this page from the Asetek website: https://www.asetek.com/liquid-cooling/gaming-enthusiasts/g-e-partners/ .
There is one additional company that made these brackets who either discontinued them or they don't exist, but I forgot their name/links. There's also these but they are VERY expensive: https://www.titanrig.com/cooling/all-in-one-cooler/aio-gpu-cooler.html


Every single AiO from the brands below are made with the Asetek "twist to lock" connector -- all of these coolers will work in a Kraken G12:
Thermaltake
NZXT (except the M22, which is NZXT's attempt at getting around the Asetek patented design)
Antec
MSI
Corsair (only some models, double check the waterblock, if it's square then it's not an Asetek design)
eVGA
PHANTEKS


I spent so many hours researching this when I did my new build, hit me with any other questions and I can answer as best as I can.
 
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JonCZ said:
Any updated version or similar products that are compatible with more of today's AIO coolers?
Click to expand...
Not that I have seen. I know there were people actually building these and you'd find custom ones on ebay that supported different brand AIO's. But I am guessing that market dried up because I can't find them anymore with a quick search.
 
They are really good. I had a 2080ti for a long time that was a zotac dual slot cooler and that wasn't really good at cooling the card. I put a G10 w/ a corsair H90 and it kept it really cool. Very quiet too. From the NZXT site:
AIO Liquid Cooler Compatibility:

  • NZXT: Kraken Z73, Z63, X73, X63, X53, X72, X62, X52, X42, X61, X41, X31, X60, X40
  • Corsair: H105, H110, H90, H75 (CW-9060015-WW only), H55, H50 (CW-906006-WW only)
  • Thermaltake: Water 3.0 Riing RGB 360, 280, 240, Red 280, 140 - Water 3.0 Ultimate - Extreme S, Extreme, Pro, Performer - Water 2.0 Extreme, Pro, Performer
  • Antec: KUHLER H2O 920V4, 620V4, 920, 620
  • Zalman: LQ-320, LQ-315, LQ-310
 
AmongTheChosenX said:
It's VERY easy to get one of these coolers used on ebay, and if you want one new you basically stick to ANY of the brands listed on this page from the Asetek website: https://www.asetek.com/liquid-cooling/gaming-enthusiasts/g-e-partners/ .
There is one additional company that made these brackets who either discontinued them or they don't exist, but I forgot their name/links. There's also these but they are VERY expensive: https://www.titanrig.com/cooling/all-in-one-cooler/aio-gpu-cooler.html


Every single AiO from the brands below are made with the Asetek "twist to lock" connector -- all of these coolers will work in a Kraken G12:
Click to expand...

Thermaltake - All of their current models are the square block although they do seem to still have some availability on the twisties.
NZXT (except the M22, which is NZXT's attempt at getting around the Asetek patented design) - Can't believe I forgot about NZXT. I blame my ITX case not being able to fit the "tall" pump on the GPU.
Antec - All current models are square.
MSI - All current models are square.
Corsair (only some models, double check the waterblock, if it's square then it's not an Asetek design) - All current models are square.
eVGA - Only the one 120mm is twist-style
PHANTEKS - All current models are square.


Yeah you'll probably be able to find them on eBay but I'd rather not mess with that.

When my Corsair unit died I tried the EVGA 120mm but I couldn't get good enough contact with the GPU. It worked but didn't cool near as well as the outgoing Corsair. I ended up just throwing the stock 2080ti cooler back on.
 
Bankie said:
Thermaltake - All of their current models are the square block although they do seem to still have some availability on the twisties.
NZXT (except the M22, which is NZXT's attempt at getting around the Asetek patented design) - Can't believe I forgot about NZXT. I blame my ITX case not being able to fit the "tall" pump on the GPU.
Antec - All current models are square.
MSI - All current models are square.
Corsair (only some models, double check the waterblock, if it's square then it's not an Asetek design) - All current models are square.
eVGA - Only the one 120mm is twist-style
PHANTEKS - All current models are square.


Yeah you'll probably be able to find them on eBay but I'd rather not mess with that.

When my Corsair unit died I tried the EVGA 120mm but I couldn't get good enough contact with the GPU. It worked but didn't cool near as well as the outgoing Corsair. I ended up just throwing the stock 2080ti cooler back on.
Click to expand...
You can, quite literally, buy the EXACT Asetek model that the OEMs use if you need the twist lock mechanism if you really had to. Even then, Asetek's newest coolers do in fact use the twist lock connection: https://www.asetek.com/liquid-cooling/gaming-enthusiasts/cpu-cooling/gen6-mainstream-cpu-coolers/

Thermaltake's newest models use the Asetek 6th gen pump with twist lock connectors: https://www.thermaltake.com/water-3-0-120-argb-sync.html
The latest Kraken models STILL use the Asetek Connector: https://nzxt.com/product/kraken-z73
ALL eVGA coolers use the Twistlock connector, here's a snip of the 360mm: https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=400-HY-CL36-V1#images-5
MSI coolers use a similar-shaped cooler. While it won't twist lock, it'll fit in the Kraken G12 bracket: https://www.worldstockmarket.net/msi-mag-core-liquid-280r-review-when-you-want-silence-and-beauty/

Like I said, I just did hours of research on this topic. Trust me, you can still do it
 
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Side note: For the eVGA 120mm, you need to REMOVE the cover piece of the block -- it's held on by 4 screws near the twist lock connector -- in order to get it to fit in the bracket. If you do that, you'll be able to get it through the Kraken bracket and then re-assemble the pump piece (or just glue it down/let it hang if you don't want to deal with it).
 
The only manufacturers that do NOT use Asetek designs are:

EK
Arctic
Explicit designs that get around the Asetek patent (NZXT M22)

All of these use vendor-designed pumps as well
 
AmongTheChosenX said:
The only manufacturers that do NOT use Asetek designs are:

EK
Arctic
Explicit designs that get around the Asetek patent (NZXT M22)

All of these use vendor-designed pumps as well
Click to expand...

A lot of the newer square Corsair coolers are CoolIT designs aren't they?

I think the Lian Li Galahad is also a non-Asetek design.
 
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