Compare: Assassin III vs Freezer 36

Design and Aesthetics:

Assassin III

The Deepcool Assassin III sports a premium design with two large aluminum heatsink towers, connected by eight heat pipes that efficiently transfer heat away from the CPU. The cooler comes with two 140mm PWM fans that provide efficient heat dissipation and a striking appearance. The overall design is sleek and minimalist, with an attractive black finish that complements a wide variety of build themes.

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.

Install Notes:

Assassin III

The Deepcool Assassin III features a versatile mounting system compatible with a broad range of Intel and AMD sockets, and the installation process is user-friendly and straightforward. Although there are more steps involved with this cooler's installation, the parts for both Intel and AMD are well-labeled, and the steps are intuitive and easy to follow without much difficulty. It's important to note that this cooler has a large mounting footprint, which may require some consideration in terms of case and RAM clearance. As a result, checking compatibility before purchasing is essential to ensure a hassle-free installation experience.

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.

Cooling Performance:

Assassin III

The Assassin III's dual-tower design and eight heat pipes deliver exceptional cooling performance, making it suitable for even high-end CPUs with high TDPs. The two 140mm PWM fans ensure optimal airflow and cooling performance while maintaining low noise levels, providing an excellent balance between performance and acoustics.

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.

Noise Performance:

Assassin III

The Deepcool Assassin III fans are engineered to produce minimal noise during regular operation, and they can also be adjusted through the PWM control to find the perfect balance between cooling and noise for your specific needs. In most scenarios, the Assassin III operates at a low noise level, making it a suitable choice for users who value a quiet computing environment.

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.

Summary:

Assassin III

The Deepcool Assassin III is an impressive dual-tower air cooler that offers excellent cooling capabilities, quiet operation, and a visually appealing design. Its performance makes it a popular choice for PC enthusiasts seeking a reliable and efficient cooling solution for their high-performance systems.

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.