ARCTIC Freezer 36 A-RGB (single tower, dual 120mm)

Our analysis

Next to the Thermalright Assassin X 120 R SE V2, it doubles the fans on the same single-tower layout: two 120 mm fans in push-pull against one, addressable A-RGB against a fixed color, and 159 mm of height against 148. We size the Thermalright for a 65 W Ryzen 5 or Core i5; this one targets processors up to about 125 W, and it is the pick when you want the cooling and the lights in one part.

What stands out

• Push-pull on one tower. Two fans move air through a single heatsink, which is how it covers chips up to around 125 W without stepping up to liquid cooling.
• A-RGB built in. The lighting comes with the cooler, so you do not buy separate fans or strips to make the build match.
• Six-year warranty. ARCTIC's figure, on a part that runs every time the PC is on.
• Current sockets covered. AM4, AM5, LGA1700 and LGA1851, so it follows you if you move between AMD and Intel.

Where it falls short

• The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is a dual tower with six heat pipes, so on pure heatsink size this is not the bigger cooler.
• It is 159 mm tall, 4 mm more than the Peerless, so measure your case before assuming a single tower fits anywhere.
• Above about 125 W, a dual tower or a liquid cooler is the better match.

Look elsewhere if

• Lighting means nothing to you: the Peerless Assassin 120 SE steps up to a dual tower with six heat pipes. If your chip is a Ryzen 9, or a Core i7 or i9 from the K series, the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 adds a 360 mm radiator and a fan for the motherboard's power delivery.

Our TDP-based cooler guide shows where it lands against the dual tower, and you can line up the specs side by side in the comparator.