The Arctic Cooling Freezer 36 ARGB CPU Cooler Review: Budget Cooling Done Well

Testing Results, Maximum Fan Speed

First, we are evaluating the Arctic Cooling Freezer 36 A-RGB with its included 120mm fans. While the maximum fan speed measured at 1910 RPM is slightly below the rated 2000 RPM, the consistent speed of the fans suggests good quality control.

The Arctic Cooling Freezer 36 A-RGB performs commendably for its size, aligning closely with the performance of other coolers in its class. It maintains an average thermal resistance of 0.158 °C/W at maximum fan speed, which is adequate for general high-load applications. However, it may not be the ideal choice for overclockers, especially those using CPUs with very high power consumption, as its performance under extremely heavy loads does not meet the more stringent cooling requirements demanded by such scenarios.

The Arctic Cooling Freezer 36 A-RGB is designed to manage noise efficiently. With minimal turbulence noise, it indicates a design optimized for low airflow resistance – which makes the selection for two high pressure fans a very peculiar design choice. At full speed, the noise level is recorded at 36.9 dB(A), which is quite reasonable, particularly given the cooler's dual 120 mm fan configuration. This noise level, while not the lowest on the market, offers a fair balance between effective cooling and noise reduction.

Testing Results, Low Fan Speed

In this test we are adjusting our approach by examining how the Arctic Cooling Freezer 36 A-RGB performs with its fans operating at half speed. This change allows us to assess the cooler's efficiency under reduced airflow conditions.

Reducing the fan speed on the Arctic Cooling Freezer 36 A-RGB to half, approximately 990 RPM, results in a moderate increase in thermal resistance to 0.1926 °C/W. This adjustment aligns the cooler's performance closely with that of similar-sized competitors. While it maintains solid performance, it does not lead the pack in thermal efficiency at reduced fan speeds. The cooler continues to perform well, but it is important to consider both thermal and acoustic performance under these adjusted conditions.

At the reduced fan speed of 990 RPM, the noise level of the Arctic Cooling Freezer 36 A-RGB drops to 31.9 dB(A). This level is very quiet, making the cooler barely noticeable in typical home office environments. Under these conditions, it becomes virtually undetectable except in extremely quiet settings devoid of other noise sources. However, this kind of acoustic performance is fairly common among competitors of similar size and design.

Thermal Resistance VS Sound Pressure Level

During our thermal resistance vs. sound pressure level test, we maintain a steady 100W thermal load and assess the overall performance of the coolers by taking multiple temperature and sound pressure level readings within the operating range of the stock cooling fans. The result is a graph that depicts the absolute thermal resistance of the cooler in comparison to the noise generated. For both the sound pressure level and absolute thermal resistance readings, lower figures are better.

The above chart reveals that the Arctic Cooling Freezer 36 A-RGB falls toward the quiet part of the performance spectrum. It exhibits great low-noise performance but increasing the speed of the fans does not yield significantly better results. This may be due to the use of high-pressure fans, which cannot reach very high airflow figures compared to other designs. Nevertheless, the cooler is close to much more expensive single-tower coolers and outperforms popular designs at low fan speeds.