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ARCTIC Freezer 36 vs Corsair A500: Comparison
ARCTIC Freezer 36 and Corsair A500 separate most on max speed: ARCTIC Freezer 36 at 1800 RPM, Corsair A500 at 2400 RPM, 25% in favour of Corsair A500. Warranty splits them by another 17%, this time favouring ARCTIC Freezer 36. They match on 8 other specifications, including cooler type, tower type and tower layout.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ARCTIC | Corsair |
| Cooler Type | Air Tower | Air Tower |
| Series | ARCTIC Freezer 36 | Corsair A500 |
| Tower Type | Single-Tower | Single-Tower |
| Model Number | ACFRE00121A | CT-9010003-WW |
| Height | 159 mm | 165 mm-4% |
| Socket Compatibility | AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700 | AMD AM4, Intel LGA115X/2066/2011-3 |
| Tower Layout | Single-Tower | Single-Tower |
| Fan Count | 2 | 2 |
| RGB Lighting | No | No |
| Heatpipe Count | 4 | 4 |
| Fan Size | 120 mm | 120 mm |
| Max Speed | 1800 RPM-25% | 2400 RPM |
| Bearing Type | Fluid Dynamic | Magnetic Levitation |
| PWM Control | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 6 years | 5 years-17% |
| Source URL | https://www.arctic.de/us/Freezer-36 | https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/cpu-coolers/ct-9010003-ww/a500-high-performance-dual-fan-cpu-cooler-ct-9010003-ww |
Verdict
ARCTIC Freezer 36
7.2 / 10 Expert Rating
A perfectly serviceable entry-level upgrade over a stock cooler, without pretending to be more than that.
Corsair A500
8.1 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely strong flagship-tier air cooler that trades a few degrees against Noctua's best for a lower price and Corsair's ecosystem familiarity.