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ARCTIC Freezer 36

~£20.49typical UK price when we researched it
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ARCTIC Freezer 36 review

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

by SudoPicks Research · editor Paul HR · published 25 Oct 2026 · updated 25 Oct 2026

ARCTIC Freezer 36
7.1out of 10verdict: good, not the best

The ARCTIC Freezer 36 is for builders who want a quiet, low-cost air cooler for a current Intel or AMD desktop CPU. It suits mainstream and upper-mid-range chips rather than the hottest processors at sustained heavy loads.

joint 4th of 12 CPU coolers we've reviewed
~£20.49typical UK price when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)Or look for a used one on eBay UK ›

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New to CPU coolers? What they are and what to look for

A CPU cooler keeps the processor from overheating. Most are a metal heatsink with a fan; liquid coolers (AIOs) pump coolant to a radiator instead.

Do you need a CPU cooler? Needed if your processor doesn't come with a cooler, or if the one in the box is too loud. Faster processors need bigger coolers.

What to look for

  • Support for your processor's socket
  • A height that fits your case, or a radiator size the case can mount
  • Low noise: a good tower air cooler is often quieter than a liquid cooler

Unsure about a word? Jargon explained

How the 7.1 adds up

Our CPU coolers rubric
  • 7Cooling35% of score
  • 7Noise25% of score
  • 7Compatibility and fit15% of score
  • 6Build and installation10% of score
  • 8Value15% of score

Against the 12 CPU coolers we've reviewed

bar = the range of all 12 · dot = this one · better →

  • Overall score 7.1/10joint 4th of 12
  • Price £20.492nd cheapest
  • Value for money Better value than most2nd best of 12

Support and features

Software updatesNo end date announced; 6-year warranty is not a support date source

Compatibility

LinuxNot confirmed. No Linux-specific information, drivers, or control software was found for the ARCTIC Freezer 36; whether Linux applies is not established by the sources. source

Pros and cons

+ pros

  • Quiet operation praised by owners
  • Ties Dark Rock Pro 4 in GamersNexus testing
  • Supports LGA1851, LGA1700, AM5 and AM4

− cons

  • Intel installs require the included contact frame
  • Peerless Assassin ran 3.3 °C cooler
  • Failed a 205 W load in Techspot's test

Price history

Price history appears here once we have tracked this product for a few days.

The full review

Where it fits

The Freezer 36 is a single-tower air cooler with two 120 mm P12 PWM PST fans in a push-pull layout. ARCTIC released it on 6 March 2024. It is 159 mm tall and supports Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700 plus AMD AM5 and AM4.

There are three variants: Black (ACFRE00123A), CO (ACFRE00122A, with dual ball bearings) and A-RGB (ACFRE00125A). The Freezer 36-S is a different model, so check the part number before buying.

Cooling7/10

Reviewer results put it in solid but not top-tier territory. Tom's Hardware averaged 219 W of cooling, slightly better than the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4. GamersNexus reached 57 °C at 100% fan speed, tying the Dark Rock Pro 4. In the same testing, the Peerless Assassin ran 3.3 °C cooler.

The upper limit shows up with hot CPUs. Techspot found it could not handle a 205 W load on a Ryzen 9 7950X, though it easily handled 170 W on the same chip. With that gap between the two loads, the Freezer 36 suits mainstream and upper-mid-range processors better than a 7950X pushed to its limit. Owners echo this: one recurring complaint is mid-tier performance compared with dual-tower coolers.

Noise7/10

The fans use fluid dynamic bearings and run from 200 to 1800 rpm. They stop completely below 5% PWM, so a lightly loaded system can run the fans at zero rpm. ARCTIC publishes no noise rating. Tom's Hardware measured 40.3 dBA at full-performance testing. GamersNexus recorded about 39 dBA with the fans at 1,861 RPM at 100% speed.

Tom's Hardware also normalised noise to 38.2 dBA, and the cooler averaged 214 W there. That is 5 W below its full-speed average of 219 W, for a drop of about 2 dBA. Cooling holds up well when the fans are slowed. Owners often praise its quiet operation, which fits those figures.

Fit and installation6/10

Height is 159 mm, which is the clearance figure to check against your case. Intel LGA1700 and LGA1851 installs require the included contact frame. ARCTIC says the frame does not deform the CPU, but owners still complain that it is forced on Intel users.

The fans click into place, and owners praise that mounting. Thermal paste is not pre-applied. ARCTIC includes a 0.8 g tube of MX-6, so you can fit the cooler without buying paste separately.

Warranty and variants

ARCTIC states a six-year warranty in the A-RGB spec. The CO variant, ACFRE00122A, has dual ball bearings. The A-RGB variant, ACFRE00125A, is the one whose spec carries the warranty statement.

Who it suits

Owners praise its value for money, and the review numbers back up why. It tied the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 in GamersNexus's 57 °C result and includes two fans and paste. Its 0 rpm mode below 5% PWM adds to that case. The trade-off is headroom. If you run a processor that draws 200 W or more under sustained load, Techspot's 205 W result is the figure to weigh. For a quiet build on a typical modern CPU, the cooling results and owner feedback point the same way.

What owners report

Recurring themes from public owner feedback, summarised in our own words.

  • Owners often praise how quiet it runs.
  • Owners say it is good value for money.
  • Owners like the click-in fan mounting.
  • Some owners dislike the mandatory Intel contact frame.
  • Some owners find performance mid-tier next to dual-tower coolers.
Who should skip it
  • Buyers pairing it with a CPU drawing 200 W or more under sustained load
  • Intel builders who do not want a contact frame on the CPU
  • Anyone chasing the lowest temperatures an air cooler can give
Full specifications
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)Single-tower air cooler, push-pull fans
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700; AMD AM5 and AM4
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)159 mm
Fans included and their size2× 120 mm P12 PWM PST, fluid dynamic bearing, 200–1800 rpm, 0 rpm below 5% PWM
Noise level (dBA)40.3 dBA at full-performance testing (measured by Tom's Hardware; no manufacturer rating published)
Warranty (years)6 years (manufacturer-stated in A-RGB spec)
Sources

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