Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 Black ARGB V2 Water Cooling CPU Cooler vs Lyai 2-in-1 ARGB PWM Fan Hub with Controller

Cooling Performance

The Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 Black ARGB V2 Water Cooling CPU Cooler offers a dedicated water-cooling solution designed to enhance CPU cooling, whereas the Lyai 2-in-1 ARGB PWM Fan Hub with Controller does not provide cooling itself but manages fan speed and lighting. The Frozen Notte 240 features a full copper mirror plane base combined with a 240 specification black aluminium fin cold plate and a high polymer woven protective water pipe. Its pump head spins at up to 5300RPM±10%, delivering efficient heat dissipation to maintain optimal CPU temperatures. In contrast, the Lyai hub acts as a controller, allowing connection of up to nine 4-pin PWM fans but does not directly cool components. For users prioritising raw cooling power, the Frozen Notte 240 is the clear choice as it physically lowers CPU temperatures, whereas the Lyai hub supports cooling indirectly through fan management.

Lighting and Aesthetics

Both products emphasise ARGB lighting, but their approaches differ substantially. The Frozen Notte 240 integrates ARGB lighting in both its PWM fan and water-cooling head, synchronised via a 5V 3-pin motherboard connection, producing a 1600W soft light effect designed to create rich and dazzling illumination. This enables the cooler to combine efficient CPU cooling with a visually striking appearance. The Lyai 2-in-1 hub provides full control over ARGB lighting for up to nine 5V 3-pin devices, supporting motherboard sync for popular brands such as ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock. It includes a wireless remote offering over 360 dynamic lighting effects and seamless switching between remote and sync modes. While the Frozen Notte 240 creates immersive lighting on a single cooling unit, the Lyai hub enables broader ARGB customisation across multiple fans and devices.

Compatibility and Installation

Compatibility and ease of installation differ notably between the two. The Frozen Notte 240 supports a wide range of Intel sockets including LGA 1150 through LGA 2066 and AMD sockets from AM2 to AM5, making it versatile for many CPU platforms. It features a dual-platform full metal black buckle system designed for easy installation and recommends chassis widths greater than 250mm to accommodate its size. On the other hand, the Lyai fan hub is a compact controller measuring 12×5.5×1.8 cm, designed to attach magnetically to metal surfaces inside the PC case without the need for adhesive tapes. While it does not require specific CPU socket compatibility, it assumes the presence of PWM fans and ARGB devices to control. Thus, the Frozen Notte 240 demands more planning around physical installation and chassis space, whereas the Lyai hub offers a flexible and unobtrusive installation process inside most cases.

Power and Control Features

Power delivery and control mechanisms are central to the Lyai hub’s design while secondary for the Frozen Notte 240. The Lyai 2-in-1 ARGB PWM Fan Hub draws stable power directly from the PSU via a SATA connection, supporting up to nine fans simultaneously without voltage drops. Each fan port supports intelligent PWM speed control, automatically adjusting fan speeds based on motherboard thermal signals to optimise airflow and reduce noise. It also manages ARGB lighting with multi-mode control through a wireless remote or motherboard sync. In contrast, the Frozen Notte 240’s pump head operates at a fixed high speed of up to 5300RPM±10%, focusing on consistent CPU cooling performance rather than dynamic speed adjustments. Its ARGB lighting synchronises with the motherboard but lacks integrated fan hub controls. Therefore, the Lyai hub excels in power stability and precise fan speed management, complementing system cooling setups.

Size and Build Quality

The Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 is a robust water-cooling assembly featuring a full copper cold plate base, an aluminium fin cold plate, and a high-strength acrylic top cover on the pump head. Its components are crafted to ensure durability and high thermal conductivity, with a high polymer woven protective water pipe enhancing longevity. The Lyai 2-in-1 hub is smaller and designed from high-quality ABS plastic with an integrated strong magnetic base for secure attachment inside the case. Measuring 12×5.5×1.8 cm, it prioritises compactness and convenience over raw material robustness. While the Frozen Notte 240 is a substantial cooling unit requiring chassis space, the Lyai hub is a lightweight, minimalist controller unit that fits discreetly in any build.

Price Comparison

Price is a significant differentiator between the two products. The Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 is priced at £44.99, reflecting its advanced water-cooling technology and integrated ARGB lighting. In contrast, the Lyai 2-in-1 ARGB PWM Fan Hub with Controller is markedly more affordable at £10.99, offering a cost-effective solution for fan speed and lighting management without including any cooling hardware. This substantial price gap highlights that the Frozen Notte 240 is positioned as a performance-focused cooler for users seeking both thermal management and visual appeal, while the Lyai hub is aimed at users wanting to optimise their existing fan and lighting setup at a lower cost.

Use Case and Target Audience

The Frozen Notte 240 targets PC enthusiasts and gamers who require high-performance CPU cooling combined with integrated ARGB aesthetics. Its comprehensive cooling features, extensive platform compatibility, and visual effects make it suitable for users building or upgrading a system where CPU temperature is critical. Meanwhile, the Lyai 2-in-1 hub suits users who already have multiple PWM fans and ARGB devices installed and want a centralised controller for fan speed and lighting synchronisation. It is particularly useful for those seeking to reduce noise and optimise airflow without investing in a new cooling unit. Essentially, the Frozen Notte 240 is a hardware upgrade for cooling, whereas the Lyai hub is an accessory for managing existing cooling and lighting components.

Which should you buy?

Choosing between the Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 Black ARGB V2 Water Cooling CPU Cooler and the Lyai 2-in-1 ARGB PWM Fan Hub with Controller depends on your priorities. If you require a dedicated cooling solution to improve CPU temperatures with integrated ARGB lighting, the Frozen Notte 240 at £44.99 is the superior choice, offering a high-speed pump, copper cold plate, and extensive socket compatibility. However, if you already have multiple PWM fans and ARGB devices and want a compact, affordable (£10.99) controller to synchronise fan speeds and lighting effects with stable power delivery, the Lyai hub is more appropriate. For direct cooling performance, choose the Frozen Notte 240; for fan and RGB management without replacing hardware, the Lyai 2-in-1 hub is ideal.