NZXT Kraken Z73 vs Corsair H150i

All-in-One Coolers or AiO’s are getting more and more recognition in the PC market. Most people looking for good-looking and performing PCs use AiOs. From their clean and good looks to their cooling performance, no wonder why more people want to buy them.

AiOs can offer better cooling performance than traditional CPU Coolers. They use liquids to cool your CPU without having the need to create custom loops, unlike the traditional CPU Coolers that only use air to cool the CPU.

NZXT is one of the gaming industry’s leaders. NZXT has already built a reputation for itself in the gaming community despite its age. The company provides a variety of gaming peripherals and hardware. The NZXT Kraken Z73 is one of NZXTs AiOs in the Kraken Line.

Corsair is also one of these gaming industry leaders. Corsair has been in the industry for a long time, providing consumers with all the gaming peripherals and hardware they need. The H150i is an AiO sold by Corsair in their Hydro Series.

If you’re looking to purchase AiO’s to upgrade your computer or to build your own, let’s compare the NZXT’s Kraken Z73 and Corsair’s H150i Elite Capellix to see which one is the better choice for you.

 

Main Differences

  • The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix has RGB fans, and the NZXT Kraken Z73 does not.
  • The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix has “only” an RGB pump head, and the NZXT Kraken Z73 has an LCD display on the pump head.
  • The Corsair iCUE H150i is considerably cheaper than NZXT’s Z73.

 

Comparison – NZXT Kraken Z73 vs Corsair H150i

NZXT Kraken Z73

Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix

Radiator Size

360 mm / 14.17"

360 mm / 14.17"

Fans

3

3

Fan Size

120 mm / 4,72"

120 mm / 4,72"

Fan Thickness

26 mm / 1.02"

25 mm / 0.98"

Fan Speed

500 to 2,000 rpm

400 to 2,400 rpm

Maximum Airflow

73.11 CFM

75 CFM

Fan LED

RGB

Pump LED

LCD Display

RGB

Noise Level

21 to 36 dBA

10 to 36 dBA

Control Method

4-Pin PWM 

(Pulse Width Modulation)

4-Pin PWM 

(Pulse Width Modulation)

Power Consumption

3.84 W

not stated

Intel LGA 115X

Intel LGA 1200

Intel LGA 1366

Intel LGA 2011-3

Intel LGA 2066

AMD AM4

AMD sTRX4

Threadripper bracket not included

Threadripper bracket not included

AMD TR4

Threadripper bracket not included

Threadripper bracket not included

Warranty

6 years

5 years

NZXT Kraken Z73

Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix

Radiator Size

360 mm / 14.17"

Radiator Size

360 mm / 14.17"

Fans

3

Fans

3

Fan Size

120 mm / 4,72"

Fan Size

120 mm / 4,72"

Fan Thickness

26 mm / 1.02"

Fan Thickness

25 mm / 0.98"

Fan Speed

500 to 2,000 rpm

Fan Speed

400 to 2,400 rpm

Maximum Airflow

73.11 CFM

Maximum Airflow

75 CFM

Fan LED

Fan LED

RGB

Pump LED

LCD Display

Pump LED

RGB

Noise Level

21 to 36 dBA

Noise Level

10 to 36 dBA

Control Method

4-Pin PWM 

(Pulse Width Modulation)

Control Method

4-Pin PWM 

(Pulse Width Modulation)

Power Consumption

3.84 W

Power Consumption

not stated

Intel LGA 115X

Intel LGA 115X

Intel LGA 1200

Intel LGA 1200

Intel LGA 1366

Intel LGA 1366

Intel LGA 2011-3

Intel LGA 2011-3

Intel LGA 2066

Intel LGA 2066

AMD AM4

AMD AM4

AMD sTRX4

Threadripper bracket not included

AMD sTRX4

Threadripper bracket not included

AMD TR4

Threadripper bracket not included

AMD TR4

Threadripper bracket not included

Warranty

6 years

Warranty

5 years

 

Installation and Compatibility

AiOs are made to be compatible with different PC Components. Different sized AiOs can fit different sized cases and different CPUs depending on what you choose. The Kraken Z73 and H150i Elite Capellix are no exception to this rule.

Both of these AiOs give you a ton of compatibility from the case to the CPUs. They are also very easy to install.

 

Case Compatibility

If you’re choosing to go with either the Kraken Z73 or the H150i, you’ll need a large case for them to fit. Since both the NZXT Kraken Z73 and the Corsair H150i are 360mm AiOs, they can only fit inside Full Tower or Mid Tower Cases; anything smaller won’t fit.

 

CPU Compatibility

The Kraken Z73 and the H150i are compatible with Intel Series Celeron to I9and AMD Series Ryzen 3 – Ryzen 9, including the Threadripper. Both don’t have the Threadripper included and are sold separately and are sold on their website.

Both the Kraken Z73 and H150i Elite Capallix do include brackets for installing into different boards or sockets. This can help when installing the AiO into different socket types without the need of buying brackets additionally.

 

Installation

Installing the Kraken Z73 and the H15i are similar, just like every other AiOs. First, you need to figure out where you want to put the radiators, then install the CPU Block with the correct bracket on the motherboard (after installing the CPU and other hardware that you can.). Then you can screw in the radiators and fans on their locations and plug them in.

Cooling Power

AiOs are made to provide more cooling power and efficiency to help your CPU even under heavy use. Both the Kraken Z73 and the H150i are said to have excellent cooling power. With their powerful fans and large radiators, they are sure to keep your CPU cool.

Both AiOs have almost the same cooling power, with the H150i does have faster fans that help with cooling.

 

Fans

The Kraken Z73 and the H150i can hold three 120mm fans already included in their packages. So you don’t have to worry about purchasing fans when you buy these AiOs.

The Kraken Z73 to force air through the radiator, NZXT includes three 120mm AER P120 fans with fluid-dynamic bearings. Each fan blade features inverted wings near the tip and is enclosed by a different molded shroud at 2000 RPM (max). The H150i Elite Capellix comes with three 120mm ML120 RGB fans that can spin up to 2400 RPM and send cold air towards the radiator.

 

Radiator

Both the Kraken Z73 and the H150i have 360mm radiators that can help with the cooling power. Because 360mm radiators are long, they have a  larger surface area that helps the cooler remove excess heat efficiently.

 

Look

The Kraken Z73 and the H150i Elite Capellix look fantastic and have their own style that makes them unique. The Kraken Z73 has a more modern and minimalistic look, as NZXT always does, while the H150i Elite Capellix has more RGB that will make your PC shine.

The Kraken Z73 has an all-black look and has a simple and minimalistic approach, and it’s also RGB-ready. The H150i Elite Capellix has a more “Gamer Focused Design” with its bright RGB lights all around.

If you want a flashy setup with RGB Lighting and a more gamer theme, go for the H150i Elite Capellix. If you want your setup to be more minimalistic or plan to have a blackout build, you should choose the Kraken Z73.

 

Fans

The Kraken Z73 does not include RBG Fans right out of the box. In contrast, the H150i does have RGB Fans included in the package.

 

Color

The H150i has two colorways, white and black. The Kraken Z73, on the other hand, only comes in the color black.

 

Pump Head

The H150i Elite Capellix only has an RGB Pump Head, but it does include two separate pump caps that can give you the chance to customize your AiO according to your preferences. While the Kraken Z73 has an LCD Display on the Pump Head that can indicate the temp in real-time, it can be customized to show animations or GIFs of your choosing.

 

RGB Sync

Even though the NZXT Kraken Z73 doesn’t include any RGB Fans, it is RGB Ready and can sync up with any NZXT products you have. The H150i has Corsair’s ICUE system integrated, meaning it can be customized and synced to other Corsair products that support ICUE.

Noise Level

Both the Kraken Z73 and the H150i, though powerful, are not very loud. The Kraken Z73 is rated only to produce a sound level of 21-36db, while the H150i Elite Capellix makes 10-37db. Although they have minor differences in Noise Levels, the Kraken Z73 is quieter than the H150i Elite Capellix, even under a full load.

If you want to minimize the noise your PC might produce, you should choose NZXT’s Kraken Z73 for its lower noise level, even its performance. But if you don’t mind the noise level your PC makes and focus more on its performance, you should choose Corsair’s H150i Elite Capellix.

 

Power Consumption

Both the Kraken Z73 and the H150i are powerful AiOs, and they require power to work properly. The Kraken Z73 would need less power to work since it only needs to power the fans, pump, and LCD Display. Compared to the H150i, which would power the fans and the pump and the RGB Lighting.

Price

The Kraken Z73 and the H150i Elite Capellix are some of the more expensive sides of the AiO market, ranging from $150 upwards. The Kraken Z7 and the H150i Elite Capellix are in the same price range, but they have a significant gap in between. The Corsair H150i Elite Capellix is priced at $169.99, cheaper than the NZXT Kraken Z73 costs around $289.99.

 

Conclusion – NZXT Kraken Z73 vs Corsair H150i

The Kraken Z73 and the H150i are fantastic AiOs that provide excellent performance and are made from quality materials. The clear winner for this comparison would be the H150i Elite Capellix, whose quality performance, good looks, reputable brand, and low price win over NZXT’s Kraken Z73.

Matt

Senior Editor at TechVert.com. Passionate about tech & gaming. Gamer since 2003.

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