Compare: Assassin X 120 R SE vs Freezer 36

Design and Aesthetics:

Assassin X 120 R SE

Despite its budget-friendly nature, this cooler impresses with a surprisingly refined and visually appealing design that seamlessly blends aesthetics into any PC setup. It serves as an excellent and stylish choice for maintaining optimal CPU temperatures, transcending budget constraints.

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 X 120 R SE

This cooler employs a conventional installation process commonly found in mainstream air coolers, utilizing a pair of brackets for connection, first to the motherboard and then to the cooler. Thanks to its compact size, it easily slots into place with minimal fuss.

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 X 120 R SE

With its combination of four heat pipes and a solitary fan, this cooler effectively provides robust cooling capabilities. Although it may not match the extreme heat dissipation of dual heatsink coolers, it remains a top-notch option for those seeking efficient cooling solutions within the realms of low to moderate thermal demands.

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 X 120 R SE

Fitted with a four heat pipes and a single fan, this cooler brings forth considerable cooling for its size. Although it may not compete with dual heatsink coolers regarding handling extreme cooling needs, it remains a standout selection for those whose cooling needs fall within the spectrum of low to moderate demands.

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 X 120 R SE

The Thermalright Assassin X 120 R SE offers an easy installation process with brackets securing it to the CPU backplate. This cooler has a visually appealing design despite its budget-friendly nature. Equipped with four heat pipes and a single fan, it provides strong cooling performance, making it a solid choice for those with moderate cooling needs.

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.