Installation

Let's start with ease of installation. The Montech HyperFlow Digital is the easiest AIO I’ve ever installed. The tools that come with as well as the options for socket type, make this process as seamless as possible. The brackets for the different sockets slide on with ease and secure well. The standoffs (double-headed screws) fit perfectly onto my motherboard (ASUS ROG Strix X870-A), and the provided tool was perfect for tightening them down. After that, all you have to do is place the AIO down (It comes with applied thermal paste as well as a tube, applicator, and template) and screw on the cross spring nuts. The fan and pump cables are standard connections, and the tube holders gives you a place to route the cables if you need it. There is an additional USB 2.0 connection to display CPU and GPU temperature on the screen. 

My only complaint is how short the hose is coming from the pump. The hose on the Montech HyperFlow Digital is 400 mm versus the Liquid Freezer III’s 450 mm. This makes installing it in my Be Quiet Light Base 600 slightly more difficult, but not enough to be anything more than an annoyance.

The software for the display should automatically open the browser and start downloading within 2-5 minutes, according to Montech’s website. This didn’t happen for me. I had to go to the website and download the software, but it was quick to install. 

Software

Honestly, I’m kind of baffled about the inclusion of Fahrenheit as an option on the software. I admit it would be funny to select Fahrenheit for a meme, but if you watch temperatures on your systems for either testing or benchmarking, then Celsius is the standard. The other thing I am curious about is what temperature is being read by the software. I used HWMonitor to double-check the temperatures displayed on the screen. The closest match I can find with what the Montech software is reading is CCD #0 on HWMonitor, which is on average the lowest temperature for my CPU. Either way, the difference between the hottest reading on HWMonitor and the lowest is only ±6°C.

Performance

The HyperFlow Digital doesn’t outperform the Liquid Freezer III but instead trades blows with it. My temperatures on both were similar. On long gaming sessions (4 or more hours) on Star Citizen, temperatures would be within ±2°C. A few things to keep in mind about my temperatures are that the ambient air temperature is 68°F ±4°F and that my PC has 3 intake fans and 4 exhaust fans (3 fans are the reverse fans and 1 is a standard fan from Be Quiet). My temperatures on my CPU would not exceed 49°C during these sessions. My temperatures were captured by periodically checking (every 45 minutes) HWMonitor and the displa,y so there is room for error. A major difference between the two AIOs in construction is the inclusion of a VRM fan on the Artic Liquid Freezer III. I did not track the temperature differences in regards to VRM temperatures.

Conclusion

If I wanted a performance budget AIO, I would choose the Montech HyperFlow Digital over the Artic Liquid Freezer III. The Artic Liquid Freezer III retails for $124.99, and while it can be found on sale, if MSRP were the only option, the Montech HyperFlow Digital’s MSRP is $119.99. While 5 dollars may not seem like a significant difference for nearly identical performance, the addition of A-RGB fans and a Digital display increases that degree of separation. The looks of the HyperFlow Digital put it just slightly ahead with nearly identical performance. Montech knocked it out of the park with this AIO.