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Kraken Core RGB (2025) |
With the Pump Cap mounted in the previous step, this part will focus on installing the radiator and fan.
What hardware do I need?
For this step of the guide you will need the following hardware from the accessory bag:
For most installs you will only require the following:
| Kraken Core 240 | Kraken Core 360 |
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* Additional I Long Screws are provided for using the Kraken with alternative individual fans. Kraken Core 240 will include additional I Long Screws for push-pull configurations.
Mounting the Fan and Radiator
| Where should I mount my radiator? |
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The proper place to mount your Kraken's radiator will depend entirely on your case. We generally recommend to top mount the radiator with the fans in a push configuration whenever possible. For more information, please refer to the user's manual for your PC case. This guide will only cover Top and Front mounting. When choosing a place to mount the radiator, make sure that the highest point in the radiator remains above the Pump Cap. Mounting the radiator entirely below the Pump Cap can cause reduced performance or pump failure. |
Top Mount
For this example, we will be mounting the Kraken Core 360 in the H6 Flow (2023).
When top-mounting the radiator, we recommend mounting the fan(s) to the radiator before installing the radiator in the case. In a top mount we want to exhaust air through the radiator and out of the case using a Push configuration. Place the exhaust side of the fan(s) against the radiator, then secure the fan(s) using the I Long Screws.
For the included NZXT fans for the Kraken Core, the exhaust side will be the closed side with the exposed motor spokes.
With the fan(s) mounted, secure the radiator to the case by inserting the J Small Screws through the K Washers and screwing into the radiator.
Front Mount
For this example we will be mounting the Kraken Core 360 in the H5 Flow (2024).
The above diagram demonstrates a generic 360 mm radiator in the H5 Flow (2024). For the included fans, only 4 I Long Screws are necessary.
When front-mounting the radiator, it is recommended to mount the fans between the inside of the case and the radiator as shown above. Some cases may include a removable mounting bracket that is placed between the fans and the radiator which can make the install process easier. For more information please refer to the user's manual for your PC case.
Secure the radiator to the case by inserting the I Long Screws into the mounting holes on the case, through the fans, screwing the fans into the radiator. If the mounting holes on your case are wider than the head of the screws, thread them through a K Washer before inserting them into the case.
| Front Mounting - Tubes up or down? |
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If you are using a case which will only support a Front mount, you may find some debate as to if the tubes should be at the top or bottom of the radiator. For most users, this will be up to your own personal preferences for the look of your build. There are no major performance differences found between Top and Bottom mounting tubes. It is more important to make sure that the highest point in the radiator remains above the Pump Cap for reasons mentioned above. |
Powering the Fans
To power the fans, connect the 4-pin Fan PWM Connector from the fan(s) to one of the following headers on your motherboard:
- CPU_FAN
- SYS_FAN
- Depending on your motherboard, this may also be called CHA_FAN. For more information refer to your motherboard user's manual.
| Should I use CPU_FAN or SYS_FAN? |
| The header you should use will depend on what options are available on your motherboard. If you connected the Pump to CPU_FAN in the previous step, connect the fan to an available SYS_FAN header. |
Connecting the 5V ARGB
This portion of the guide only applies to the following fan models:
- F240 RGB Core (EV-B) (included with Kraken Core 240 RGB)
- F360 RGB Core (EV-B) (included with Kraken Core 360 RGB)
Like the Pump Cap, the fans included with the above Kraken Core models is powered exclusively by 5V Addressable RGB (ARGB) which is found on many motherboards under various names such as ADD_HEADER, JRAINBOW, D_LED, ADD_GEN2, etc. For more information refer to your motherboard user's manual.
When connecting the 5V ARGB from the Fan you will have two options out of the box depending on how you would prefer to control the lighting on your system:
| Option 1 - Independent Connection | Option 2 - Daisy-chain from Cap |
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Option 1 - Independent Connection
Connect the 5V Female Connector from the fan directly to a 5V ARGB header on the motherboard.
As mentioned above, 5V ARGB headers can have many different names depending on your motherboard model. For more information, please refer to your motherboard user's manual.
| Can I connect the 5V ARGB to a 12V RGB header? |
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Do not attempt to connect the 5V ARGB header on the Kraken Core or its included fan to 12V RGB or UART connectors! This can cause permanent damage to your PC and/or the Kraken. Damage caused by improper installation of the Kraken is not covered under warranty. |
Option 2 - Daisy-chain from Cap
Remove the plastic cover from the 5V Male Connector on the Pump Cap cable, then connect the 5V Female Connector on the included fan to the 5V Male Connector.
| Can I connect other 5V ARGB devices to the Male Connector on the cap? |
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The 5V Male Connector on the Pump Cap's cable is compatible with most standard 3-pin 5V ARGB devices. This can be useful if you want to share an RGB effect on the Pump Cap on another accent lighting piece such as a light bar or light ring inside of the case. Note: The LED effect of the first 19 LEDs will be shared between the Pump Cap and the first daisy-chained RGB device. |
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