Corsair is giving its affordable Nautilus liquid CPU coolers a second generation. The new NAUTILUS II RS and NAUTILUS II RS ARGB replace the original NAUTILUS RS series with Corsair’s new FlowDrive 2S pump, a thinner cold plate optimized for AMD processors, and the company’s new RS II fans. Both models are available with 240mm or 360mm radiators, while the standard RS comes in black and the RS ARGB adds black and white options with customizable lighting.
The FlowDrive 2S pump is the biggest change under the hood. Corsair says the new pump is designed to provide consistent coolant flow under sustained loads while keeping noise down. The redesigned cold plate is thinner than the previous version, reducing thermal resistance and improving heat transfer. XTM60 thermal paste also comes pre-applied, which should make installation a little less messy for builders who would rather not perform their own thermal-paste art project.
The fans are also getting an upgrade. NAUTILUS II uses RS II fans featuring Corsair’s AirGuide technology and Magnetic Dome Bearings. The 360mm models use a Unified Frame design that combines the three 120mm fans into a single assembly. That means fewer cables and only four screws to deal with when installing the radiator fans, instead of mounting each fan individually. The fans also support Zero RPM Mode for quieter operation when the CPU isn’t under significant load.
The main difference between the two standard NAUTILUS II versions is lighting. The NAUTILUS II RS is the straightforward blacked-out option, while the RS ARGB adds motherboard-controlled RGB lighting. The ARGB models use standard 5V ARGB connections, so there’s no requirement for a dedicated Corsair controller just to make the lights glow. The 360mm ARGB model includes 32 individually customizable LEDs, while the 240mm version has 24.
Corsair has also launched NAUTILUS II RS LCD models in 240mm and 360mm sizes. Those add a rectangular 3.5-inch IPS display running at 480 x 640 and 60Hz, a considerable upgrade from the previous generation’s circular 2.1-inch display. The LCD can show system information, animated GIFs and iCUE Widgets, and it connects through DisplayPort, allowing it to function as a secondary Windows display.
For builders who don’t need a screen, the pricing is very approachable. In the US, the NAUTILUS II 240 RS starts at $89.99, while the 360mm version is $109.99. The RS ARGB models are $99.99 and $129.99 respectively. The LCD models start at $129.99 for 240mm and $159.99 for 360mm. All of the NAUTILUS II coolers carry a five-year warranty.
Corsair has made the NAUTILUS II compatible with current AMD and Intel platforms, including Intel’s LGA 1851 and 1700 sockets and AMD’s AM5 and AM4. The coolers can connect directly to a motherboard for basic fan and lighting management, while builders who want deeper Corsair iCUE control can integrate them with a COMMANDER DUO controller.
For PC builders, the interesting part of the NAUTILUS II refresh isn’t any single headline feature. Corsair has attacked several of the little annoyances that come with installing and managing an AIO at once, from the pump and cold plate to fan cabling and motherboard connectivity. Sometimes the best upgrade is simply having fewer cables staring back at you when the side panel comes off.
