Compare: Fuma 3 vs Liquid Freezer III 240

Design and Aesthetics:

Fuma 3

This cooler boasts a sleek appearance with a smooth top surface. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that the plastic covering the exposed heat pipes, while contributing to a polished appearance, is a rather subdued gray and lacks the eye-catching appeal of more vibrant or shiny options. This cooler is an excellent choice for those seeking exceptional cooling performance coupled with a more understated aesthetic.

Liquid Freezer III 240

This cooler showcases a sleek, symmetrical design with a modern aesthetic. While this model doesn’t include RGB lighting, there are versions available that do, allowing you to choose based on your style preferences. Overall, it adds a clean, contemporary look to your PC setup.

Install Notes:

Fuma 3

This cooler employs the standard mounting system commonly found in premium coolers. In comparison to the Fuma 2, the Fuma 3 has introduced a minor adjustment that enhances the ease of installation by preventing over-tightening, a feature absent in the Fuma 2. Overall, the installation process for this cooler is straightforward, and it has demonstrated improvements compared to previous Fuma iterations.

Liquid Freezer III 240

The Arctic Freezer III 240 retains the easy installation features of its predecessor while offering added convenience. What sets this cooler apart is its pre-installed fans on the radiator, simplifying the setup compared to other all-in-one (AIO) coolers. The detachable CPU mounting bracket further enhances the installation process by eliminating interference from aesthetic components. However, attaching the control cable to the motherboard can be challenging once the cooler is mounted. To avoid this, it’s advisable to connect the cable to the motherboard before installing the cooler.

Cooling Performance:

Fuma 3

The Fuma 3 is a mid-performance cooler offering moderate cooling capabilities. While it may not be suitable for high-heat CPUs, it's an excellent option for users who appreciate its aesthetic appeal and require effective cooling for CPUs with moderate thermal loads.

Liquid Freezer III 240

The Arctic Freezer III 240 offers some performance improvements over its predecessor, the Arctic Freezer 240, but this comes with increased noise. Relative to other coolers in it's weight class, this cooler outperforms most.

Noise Performance:

Fuma 3

The dual 120mm Kaze Flex fans are engineered for maximum airflow and moderate noise levels. In terms of the noise-to-cooling ratio, it strikes a good balance, providing an average level of noise for the cooling performance it delivers.

Liquid Freezer III 240

The Arctic Freezer III 240 has a more powerful pump that has the potential to be quite audible. Since our testing was conducted with the AIO pump running at 100% speed, lowering the pump speed during less demanding tasks can help reduce noise levels without sacrificing too much performance.

Summary:

Fuma 3

The Fuma 3 cooler uses a standard premium cooler mounting system but adds a minor tweak from the prior generation for easier installation. Its sleek design features a subdued gray plastic top, making it suitable for users who prioritize both cooling performance and aesthetics, especially for mid-heat CPUs. Equipped with two 120mm fans, it strikes a balanced noise-to-cooling ratio.

Liquid Freezer III 240

The Arctic Freezer III retains its user-friendly installation design, featuring pre-attached radiator fans and a detachable CPU mounting bracket for simpler setup. However, connecting the control cable can be challenging once the cooler is installed, so it's best to attach it beforehand. The cooler sports a modern design, with some versions offering RGB lighting for added customization. While it boasts aesthetic improvements and lower noise levels compared to standard coolers and its predecessor, the Arctic Freezer 240, the Arctic Freezer III 240 delivers average performance and struggles to effectively cool high-core CPUs under heavy workloads.