Consumercarts

Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more

ARCTIC Freezer 36 vs Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2: Comparison

ARCTIC Freezer 36 vs Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2: the warranty difference

On warranty the spread is 17%, ARCTIC Freezer 36 6 years against Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2 5 years, so ARCTIC Freezer 36 takes it. Add max speed to that, 1800 RPM on the ARCTIC Freezer 36 versus 2000 RPM on the Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2, and the pattern holds. They differ on bearing type too, Fluid Dynamic on the ARCTIC Freezer 36 versus Rifle on the Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2. There is a split on lighting as well, None on the ARCTIC Freezer 36 versus ARGB on the Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2.

Who each one is for

Buy the ARCTIC Freezer 36 for budget-conscious buyers upgrading directly from a stock cooler and mainstream non-overclocked builds needing roughly 200W of headroom, though it is the wrong buy for buyers wanting RGB lighting, since ARCTIC keeps this unlit. It is the wrong buy for overclocked or high-TDP builds, where direct-touch heatpipe designs generally lag brazed-base competitors. The Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2 is the one to take for budget 240mm-radiator builds wanting some RGB and Fractal Design case owners, though it is not built for High-TDP flagship CPUs needing 360mm cooling and buyers wanting maximum RGB brightness/effects. Our rating of the ARCTIC Freezer 36 (7.2/10): A perfectly serviceable entry-level upgrade over a stock cooler, without pretending to be more than that. Our rating of the Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2 (7.3/10): A budget-friendly 240mm AIO that adds tasteful RGB without a big price jump.

Frequently asked questions

Do the ARCTIC Freezer 36 and Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2 differ on cooler type?

Yes. Cooler Type reads Air Tower on the ARCTIC Freezer 36 versus AIO Liquid on the Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2.

Is the Fan Count the same on the ARCTIC Freezer 36 and Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2?

It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    ARCTIC
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    Fractal Design
  • Cooler Type

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    Air Tower
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    AIO Liquid
  • Series

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
  • Model Number

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    ACFRE00121A
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    FD-W-L1-S2412
  • Socket Compatibility

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/1150/1151/1155/1156/1366/2011/2011-3/2066, AMD AM5/AM4/FM2+/FM2/FM1/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2
  • Tower Layout

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    Single-Tower
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    Not Applicable
  • Fan Count

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    2
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    2
  • RGB Lighting

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    No
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    Yes
  • Fan Size

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    120 mm
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    120 mm
  • Max Speed

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    1800 RPM-10%
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    2000 RPMBest
  • Bearing Type

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    Fluid Dynamic
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    Rifle
  • PWM Control

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    Yes
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    Yes
  • Lighting

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    None
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    ARGB
  • Warranty

    ARCTIC Freezer 36
    6 yearsBest
    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    5 years-17%

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose ARCTIC Freezer 36 if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 2) and the higher warranty (6 years vs 5 years).

    Choose Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2 if you want the higher max speed (2000 RPM vs 1800 RPM).

    Price comparison

    RetailerARCTIC Freezer 36Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2
    AmazonView on AmazonView on Amazon

    Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

    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.

    Fractal Design Lumen S24 v2

    7.3 / 10 Expert Rating

    A budget-friendly 240mm AIO that adds tasteful RGB without a big price jump.

    More comparisons in CPU Coolers