- Joined
- Feb 2, 2025
- Messages
- 171 (1.28/day)
| System Name | Under revision... |
|---|---|
| Processor | Same |
| Motherboard | Same |
| Cooling | Overhaul pending |
| Memory | Same |
| Video Card(s) | Same |
| Storage | Same + others under way |
| Display(s) | Same |
| Case | Same |
| Audio Device(s) | Same + others under way |
| Power Supply | Same + additional equipment incoming |
| Mouse | Same |
| Keyboard | Same |
| Software | Windows 11 Pro 24H2 |
| Benchmark Scores | Incoming |
Offensive remarks
Given my horrible experience with this AIO, I figured other people should benefit from this information, which is something that I wasn't fortunate to have before my purchase decision and before proceeding to install this sketchy POS and nuke my mobo.
www.techpowerup.com
This is a tiny sample, but looking at some of the comments (for reviews of other AIOs) it is concerning that a good number of people are interested in seeing results for the LF3. Hopefully their interest is strictly academic and they're not actually looking to buy it. Because if they are they would make a mistake. And as you will see mistake is a fact and not just my opinion.
Now I'm not going to discuss the positive aspects of this AIO (truthfully there are many positives) because the reviews manage to highlight these positives therefore it would be redundant.
The issue with this AIO is how do you benefit from that performance? Well you have to install it first. And this is where this product gets disqualified in my opinion.
Because it has to be evaluated as a product and not just as an AIO.
I don't care about "pros", "veterans" and "enthusiasts", the general audience is made up of regular people who have regular PCs (even if higher end ones) and these people need to be adequately informed about every aspect regarding a product, from their perspective, as regular consumers, because that's how they will use the product and that's how they are treated by manufacturers in case something goes wrong.
On both platforms, Intel or AMD, you get a bad experience, in different ways, but ultimately bad.
You can check out the installation procedures in the above video (@19:03).
Starting with AMD you get a risky mounting method. Imagine the screwdriver slipping and thrusting tip first somewhere on the mobo PCB, probably around the socket/VRM area.
And imagine that every time you repaste you will have the exact same experience.
Do you honestly need that kind of stress? Is it worth saving 20-30 dollars/euros (compared to the competition) when this is what you get in return? When you can answer this question you can make your own informed purchase decision.
Now with Intel things get even darker. Having to use the contact frame means you are very likely voiding your motherboard warranty, which cannot be justified by a low price. Even if the AIO was free who would forfeit the mobo warranty for that? Very conveniently this aspect is almost universally left out of reviews.
The rationale with LGA1700 was that the older ILM was having less than optimal pressure, it was both high and uneven. Thus with every cooler that was mounted on top of the ILM there was performance left on the table. That's what gave rise to the contact frame bonanza.
However, as highlighted in the above video @13:15, the Arctic contact frame is not the best.
But still it was an improvement over the ILM, so at least in this scenario there is some justification to proceed with this modification.
But on LGA1851, there is a new ILM, the RL-ILM.
Which is an improvement over the older one. It still isn't great but at least it's decent.
So for LGA1851 owners, myself included, there is less reason (from a performance standpoint) to use the contact frame, especially considering it's not the best performing one.
In fact the dumbest thing an LGA1851 owner could do is install this AIO. Yes me, guilty as charged!
To remove a perfectly functional mechanism that comes with previously mentioned risks and consequences, only to install a mediocre performing contact frame is utter stupidity!
The biggest issue is that this modification is irreversible (even if the warranty is unaffected), yes you can remount the RL-ILM but you will never put it back exactly the way it was from the factory. And this bring further issues if you decide to buy a different cooler and ditch the LF3. The LF3 insidiously sabotages your attempt to switch to a different product, because now you have altered conditions than before removing the RL-ILM.
And no one called this out.
www.techpowerup.com
Look at the cons mentioned here, do you see how lightly the installation issues are treated?
Further in the detailed explanation the major issues are called minor complaints? And how in the end it gets a highly recommended badge? A product that jeopardizes your mobo warranty? Really?
Also the Pro version which comes with the new contact frame optimized for LGA1851 is a very perverse product that could lure Arrow Lake owners into buying this AIO, all charmed by the temp improvement, which while true, isn't worth ruining your mobo.
Another aspect is the overall thickness, which is greater than the competition. Assuming regular people that use regular cases (and not benchtables) this extra thickness can easily lead to problems even in cases where the AIO fits. Just because it fits doesn't mean everything is fine when the available space is now reduced, and is reduced enough so that you run into issues with cable management or other kind.
And it begs the question, what is the purpose of this extra thickness? It's not extra performance that's for sure, some units with 27mm rads are on par or even slightly better. But even for units that are slightly below the LF3 the difference in degrees is much less than the difference in mm of thickness. So this AIO is actually a poor performer when factoring in the rad volume.
This is why when the hype fog is lifted the real face of this AIO is revelead, a horribly designed product that has far greater cons than pros.
The AIO warranty period, the customer support, the build quality, even the performance etc. that doesn't matter when you weigh in the cons.
If you are looking to buy a new AIO and you are leaning towards the LF3, please reconsider! PLEASE! At least take a couple more days and think this through, look at the other options, look carefully at the installation method, and please ignore the lower price for the LF3, it's not worth nuking your mobo. Also consider what experience you will have in the future when you repaste. Don't fall for the hype like I did.
And not to end this without providing a few alternatives, look at the following:
Lian Li GA II Lite 360 Performance
Corsair Nautilus 360 RS
Montech HyperFlow Silent 360
There are others as well, the good news is that there are viable alternatives that don't nuke your other components.
Fxxx the Arctic Liquid Freezer III (Pro) and fxxx everyone that promotes it!
TechPowerUp
Now I'm not going to discuss the positive aspects of this AIO (truthfully there are many positives) because the reviews manage to highlight these positives therefore it would be redundant.
The issue with this AIO is how do you benefit from that performance? Well you have to install it first. And this is where this product gets disqualified in my opinion.
Because it has to be evaluated as a product and not just as an AIO.
I don't care about "pros", "veterans" and "enthusiasts", the general audience is made up of regular people who have regular PCs (even if higher end ones) and these people need to be adequately informed about every aspect regarding a product, from their perspective, as regular consumers, because that's how they will use the product and that's how they are treated by manufacturers in case something goes wrong.
On both platforms, Intel or AMD, you get a bad experience, in different ways, but ultimately bad.
You can check out the installation procedures in the above video (@19:03).
Starting with AMD you get a risky mounting method. Imagine the screwdriver slipping and thrusting tip first somewhere on the mobo PCB, probably around the socket/VRM area.
And imagine that every time you repaste you will have the exact same experience.
Do you honestly need that kind of stress? Is it worth saving 20-30 dollars/euros (compared to the competition) when this is what you get in return? When you can answer this question you can make your own informed purchase decision.
Now with Intel things get even darker. Having to use the contact frame means you are very likely voiding your motherboard warranty, which cannot be justified by a low price. Even if the AIO was free who would forfeit the mobo warranty for that? Very conveniently this aspect is almost universally left out of reviews.
The rationale with LGA1700 was that the older ILM was having less than optimal pressure, it was both high and uneven. Thus with every cooler that was mounted on top of the ILM there was performance left on the table. That's what gave rise to the contact frame bonanza.
However, as highlighted in the above video @13:15, the Arctic contact frame is not the best.
But still it was an improvement over the ILM, so at least in this scenario there is some justification to proceed with this modification.
But on LGA1851, there is a new ILM, the RL-ILM.
Which is an improvement over the older one. It still isn't great but at least it's decent.
So for LGA1851 owners, myself included, there is less reason (from a performance standpoint) to use the contact frame, especially considering it's not the best performing one.
In fact the dumbest thing an LGA1851 owner could do is install this AIO. Yes me, guilty as charged!
To remove a perfectly functional mechanism that comes with previously mentioned risks and consequences, only to install a mediocre performing contact frame is utter stupidity!
The biggest issue is that this modification is irreversible (even if the warranty is unaffected), yes you can remount the RL-ILM but you will never put it back exactly the way it was from the factory. And this bring further issues if you decide to buy a different cooler and ditch the LF3. The LF3 insidiously sabotages your attempt to switch to a different product, because now you have altered conditions than before removing the RL-ILM.
And no one called this out.
Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB Review
Arctic is expanding its AIO liquid cooler collection with the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB. The cooler boasts a wider RPM range for its radiator fans, A-RGB lighting, and a proven high-performance design. You could say they took an already excellent product and made it better!
Further in the detailed explanation the major issues are called minor complaints? And how in the end it gets a highly recommended badge? A product that jeopardizes your mobo warranty? Really?
Also the Pro version which comes with the new contact frame optimized for LGA1851 is a very perverse product that could lure Arrow Lake owners into buying this AIO, all charmed by the temp improvement, which while true, isn't worth ruining your mobo.
Another aspect is the overall thickness, which is greater than the competition. Assuming regular people that use regular cases (and not benchtables) this extra thickness can easily lead to problems even in cases where the AIO fits. Just because it fits doesn't mean everything is fine when the available space is now reduced, and is reduced enough so that you run into issues with cable management or other kind.
And it begs the question, what is the purpose of this extra thickness? It's not extra performance that's for sure, some units with 27mm rads are on par or even slightly better. But even for units that are slightly below the LF3 the difference in degrees is much less than the difference in mm of thickness. So this AIO is actually a poor performer when factoring in the rad volume.
This is why when the hype fog is lifted the real face of this AIO is revelead, a horribly designed product that has far greater cons than pros.
The AIO warranty period, the customer support, the build quality, even the performance etc. that doesn't matter when you weigh in the cons.
If you are looking to buy a new AIO and you are leaning towards the LF3, please reconsider! PLEASE! At least take a couple more days and think this through, look at the other options, look carefully at the installation method, and please ignore the lower price for the LF3, it's not worth nuking your mobo. Also consider what experience you will have in the future when you repaste. Don't fall for the hype like I did.
And not to end this without providing a few alternatives, look at the following:
Lian Li GA II Lite 360 Performance
Corsair Nautilus 360 RS
Montech HyperFlow Silent 360
There are others as well, the good news is that there are viable alternatives that don't nuke your other components.
Fxxx the Arctic Liquid Freezer III (Pro) and fxxx everyone that promotes it!
