NZXT Kraken X42 Review - Introduction

Meet The Kraken X42
NZXT Taking A 140mm AIO Liquid Cooling To A New Level

We review the NZXT Kraken X42 Series Liquid cooler, the little brethren of that X62 we reviewed. The smaller model is nearly as good as its big brother though. This revision CPU cooler is compatible with CAM software. This allows you to program, customize and monitor this all-in-one liquid cooling solution for your processor. 

Armed with one 140 mm PWM fans and a thus a 140 mm radiator the performance of this product remains pretty darn good really. And with the CAM software you can monitor temperatures, adjust cooling performance and customize LED lighting directly from your desktop. You know, in the world of CPU coolers nothing ever stops developing. These days you can pick a hundred different heat-pipe based coolers, where many are shaped, formed and priced the same. The better heatpipe based coolers are good though. Next in line are LCS systems (liquid cooling), the entry level products are affordable, easy to install pre-fab liquid cooling kits. We've seen and tested many of them as Corsair, Asetek, Cooler Master and yes NZXT and so on all have interesting kits.

 
The bigger problem is cooling performance. The gear behind these kits are good yet the performance is often battling a small included 120 mm radiator with thin tubing and lacking coolant levels due to missing reservoirs. To compensate FAN RPM goes up making a good looking product noisy again. With that in mind NZXT started to develop a new Kraken series  coolers. The product we test in specific is the Kraken X52, an updated design with new cooling block and regulated control for pump and fans. Next to that what's interesting is that this product is based on a 140 mm radiator which gives it quite a bit of cooling surface area. It is a cooler series that is easy on the eyes and comes with a relatively tool free installation. Next to some very good performance, the product is compatible with NZXT CAM software. You hook up the LCS unit towards a USB port and then the software allows you to program, customize and monitor this easy to install liquid cooling solution.

And guess what, NZXT took it even further as the Kraken X62 / X52 / X42 has a new RGB LED concept, the most wicked one you probably have ever seen, and it is very cool. 
  

Before we begin I like you guys to watch the above demonstration video so that you can understand and grasp the LED lighting system as this is a premium feature on this LCS kit. So without further ado, let's have a peek at the Kraken X42 from NZXT and then head on-wards into the review as this small and compact 140 mm version managed to really impress us!