Compare: Freezer 36 vs Dark Rock Pro 5 (Quiet)

Design and Aesthetics:

Freezer 36

This cooler features an all black design with a single heatsink, two Arctic P12 fans, and a polished top. It offers a clean and polished appearance that's ideal for an all-black setup, which is my preferred build.

Dark Rock Pro 5 (Quiet)

This cooler features a sleek black design that stands out. The signature Be-Quiet fan adds a unique touch, breaking away from the cooler's boxy appearance. Additionally, the top of the cooler boasts a clean design, contributing to a polished and refined look for your setup.

Install Notes:

Freezer 36

the Arctic Freezer 36 features a novel way to secure the fan to the cooler. It uses buttons that are pre-installed and attached to the fan to snap into the cooler. This makes the process much easier relative to the main steam method that uses wires that can sometimes bend the heatsink fans. The rest of the installation process follows the industry standard with mounting brackets that secure the cooler to the motherboard. Given it's size, it's much easier to handle than some of the larger dual tower coolers.

Dark Rock Pro 5 (Quiet)

The Dark Rock Pro 5 marks a notable advancement over its predecessors, featuring a mounting system that aligns with those of most mainstream coolers. This iteration enhances the design by securing the mounting bracket directly to the cooler, a change from the prior generation. Fan installation sees improvements too; the front fan comes pre-attached, ensuring perfect alignment, while the middle fan is designed to slide in from the top, secured by the top mount instead of side brackets. These enhancements significantly improve the cooler's setup and performance compared to the previous generation. Additionally, given the option to change the power speed on the top of the cooler, the middle fan has a 5 pin connector to facilitate this functionality, which forces you to use their connection rather than direct control through the motherboard.

Cooling Performance:

Freezer 36

This cooler is better than many others and runs almost at full speed when cooling high-power CPUs with a lot of use. It works well for medium-level CPUs that produce a moderate amount of heat. However, it might not cool down CPUs very well if they generate a lot of heat.

Dark Rock Pro 5 (Quiet)

There are two modes to this cooler, the performance mode and the quiet mode. The cooler selected covers the quiet mode of the cooler. Overall, this cooler provides better cooling than the average cooler tested. However, this cooler get's puts to its limits when placed under high loads. With that in mind, if you're looking to place this cooler on a CPU that produces a lot of heat, you may want to consider other options. Check out our temperature graphs to see how the cooler performance on your respective CPU.

Noise Performance:

Freezer 36

This cooler is relatively quiet, making it perfect for setups where silence is important. Its efficiency in cooling relative to its noise level is matched by very few other coolers.

Dark Rock Pro 5 (Quiet)

This cooler maintains a quiet profile relative to the average coolers tested and won't start to make noticeable noise until around 70% fan speed. This offers a significant benefit compared to most coolers if you're looking for a quiet setup.

Summary:

Freezer 36

The Arctic Freezer 36 features a novel fan attachment method with pre-installed buttons for easy setup, avoiding the complications of traditional wire methods. Its compact size and standard mounting brackets simplify installation, making it less cumbersome than larger coolers. With an all-black design, single heatsink, and two Arctic P12 fans, it offers a sleek look ideal for all-black setups. This cooler performs well, efficiently cooling high-power CPUs under heavy use, best suited for medium-level CPUs. Despite its effectiveness, it may not handle extremely hot CPUs as well. Its quiet operation is a significant advantage, making it perfect for noise-sensitive environments, standing out for its exceptional cooling-to-noise ratio.

Dark Rock Pro 5 (Quiet)

The Dark Rock Pro 5 represents a significant upgrade with its user-friendly mounting system and improved fan installation, ensuring better alignment and performance. It features a sleek design, enhanced by a signature quiet fan, and offers the ability to adjust power speed directly on the unit. This cooler excels in quiet mode, providing superior cooling under average loads but may reach its limits with high-heat CPUs. Its noise levels remain low up to 70% fan speed, making it ideal for those prioritizing a quiet setup.