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ARCTIC Freezer 36 vs Noctua NH-D9L: Comparison
ARCTIC Freezer 36 and Noctua NH-D9L separate most on fan count: ARCTIC Freezer 36 at 2, Noctua NH-D9L at 1, 50% in favour of ARCTIC Freezer 36. Height splits them by another 45%, this time favouring Noctua NH-D9L. They match on 5 other specifications, including cooler type, rgb lighting and heatpipe count.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ARCTIC | Noctua |
| Cooler Type | Air Tower | Air Tower |
| Series | ARCTIC Freezer 36 | Noctua NH-D9L |
| Tower Type | Single-Tower | Compact Dual-Tower |
| Model Number | ACFRE00121A | NH-D9L |
| Height | 159 mm-45% | 110 mm |
| Socket Compatibility | AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700 | AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X |
| Tower Layout | Single-Tower | Dual-Tower |
| Fan Count | 2 | 1-50% |
| RGB Lighting | No | No |
| Cooler Width | 126 mm | 95 mm |
| Cooler Weight | 890 g | 531 g |
| Heatpipe Count | 4 | 4 |
| Fan Size | 120 mm | 92 mm |
| Max Speed | 1800 RPM-10% | 2000 RPM |
| PWM Control | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 6 years | 6 years |
| Source URL | https://www.arctic.de/us/Freezer-36 | https://www.noctua.at/en/products/nh-d9l/specifications |
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.
Noctua NH-D9L
8.2 / 10 Expert Rating
The best compact dual-tower option for small-case builds that still want Noctua-grade reliability and don't want to compromise all the way down to a single-tower cooler.