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The Arctic Freezer 36-S A-RGB is very much a cheap and cheerful CPU cooler option, which might sound good in the current economic climate. It can be picked up for around £20 in the UK and offers a straightforward tower cooler with a little A-RGB lighting thrown in, without pushing the price up significantly. It’s quick and easy to install too, making it a practical option for a budget gaming system or anyone looking for a simple replacement for a basic stock-style cooler.
Despite its low price, the Freezer 36-S A-RGB can handle a demanding gaming CPU such as the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Our results show that it will keep CPU temperature under control, although it is towards the hotter end of our charts. For a compact single-tower cooler with a single 120mm fan, that is a respectable result, particularly when you consider the price point.
There are, however, some compromises. The P12 Pro fan can get fairly loud when running at its maximum 3000 RPM. Reducing the fan speed to keep noise levels under control does come with a noticeable thermal penalty. Compared with some of the better-performing single-tower 120mm coolers, the Freezer 36-S A-RGB gives up some cooling performance, while larger dual-tower air coolers and 240mm or 360mm AIOs are in another class altogether.
Taken as a whole, the Arctic Freezer 36-S A-RGB isn't trying to compete with those more expensive cooling solutions, but at around £20 it is a budget-friendly option that offers decent cooling, easy installation and a touch of RGB lighting, while being capable of running a powerful gaming CPU like the 9800X3D. If you're looking for maximum thermal performance or low noise, there are better options available, but if you just want a low-cost air cooler that gets the job done, the Freezer 36-S A-RGB makes a reasonable case for itself.
The Arctic Freezer 36-S A-RGB is available to purchase now from Scan priced at £18.98 HERE.
Pros:
- Available in two colour options and with or without RGB.
- Low cost.
- Speedy installation and setup.
Cons:
- Average thermal performance.
- Quite loud at max fan speed.
KitGuru says: The Arctic Freezer 36-S A-RGB is cheap and cheerful, it adds a little RGB to your system and can handle a powerful gaming CPU like the 9800X3D. However, don't expect the same performance and thermal results as larger air coolers or AIOs.
