The larger of Cooler Master’s two Nepton chillers may have a 240mm radiator, but in some keys area, it doesn’t differ from its smaller stablemate. The build quality, for starters, remains excellent –the 240M is a sturdy product that won’t flinch when being installed or moved. It looks good too.
The ribbed cables used to carry the coolant stand out when lined up against the smooth tubes used on most of the other coolers on test, and the low-profile waterblock has a neat matt finish.
The Nepton 240M shares also shares the 120XL’s simple installation procedure. The fans attach easily to the radiator, and a second set of screws are provided so that two more fans can be attached on the other side, although a rubber fan bracket is only provided for one set of fans.
The supplied universal backplate works with Intel and AMD hardware, and doublesided screws thread through it to the other side of the motherboard, where they match up with double-sided nuts and fiddly plastic clips.
The waterblock then attaches to this assembly with mounting arms, which come with pre-loaded, spring-loaded screws, and these arms are also adjustable on some Intel sockets.
Every cable is braided as well, and a full tube of thermal paste is included. A splitter cable is found in the box too, enabling the two fans to get power from one connector.
So far, so solid, but $100 is a lot to pay for a cooler, and there’s no software to control the fan speed, and there’s no aesthetic customisation either. Also, the radiator measures 27mm thick and, while some radiators on test are chunkier,we advise making sure there’s space for it in your case.
One advantage of the thick radiator, however, is cooling power, and the Nepton 240M was consistently impressive across our tests. With the fans running at maximum speed in our LGA1150 test rig, the delta T of 49°C was the third best result on test, and it only rose to a still respectable 53°C when using PWM.
The Nepton took third place in the LGA2011 tests too, thanks to a top-speed delta T of 50°C. Only Raijintek’s Triton and the Corsair Hydro H105 proved cooler.
When running in PWM mode, the Nepton’s pair of fans kept the noise down too – the only irritation came from occasional increases in fan speed to keep the processor in check soon after starting the machine, but the noise soon died off.
SPECS
Compatibility Intel: LGA115x, LGA1366, L GA2011; AMD: Socket AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1
Radiator size (mm)274 x 27 x1 19 (W x D x H)
Fans 2 x 120mm
Stated noise 27dB(A)
Conclusion
The Nepton 240M’s cooling ability was consistently impressive, and it’s sturdy, goodlooking and easy to install. It’s a tad expensive, though, and it’s missing some of the fancier high-end features we’re now starting to see on high-end coolers, which means it’s up against some very stiff competition.
As such, people building an LGA1150 rig will be better served by the NZXT or Raijintek coolers, and LGA2011 rigs will be better served by Corsair’s H105. However, the 240M remains a solid cooler if you can find it for a cheaper price.
VERDICT
Consistently decent cooling ability, good looks and great installation. Only a comparatively high price and a lack of new high-end features let it down.
Where to Buy
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