Installation …
AMD AM4/AM5 Installation
The Freezer 36 is compatible with the AMD AM4 and AM5 sockets as well as with the Intel LGA1700 socket, i.e. with the Intel Core CPU generations 12, 13 and 14. In the following, we show an example of the installation on an AMD AM4 system, whereby the installation for AM5 does not differ from AM4, as the two AMD sockets are designed identically with regard to cooler installation. As with most AM4/AM5 coolers, the original cooler bracket must first be unscrewed from the mainboard. Then 4 plastic spacer sleeves are placed on the threaded bushes of the original backplate and fixed in place by screwing on two metal brackets. It is important to ensure that the two central threaded nuts in the metal brackets point upwards. Unfortunately, incorrect assembly is possible here, which is only noticed later when the cooler is fitted.
The supplied MX-6 thermal paste can then be applied to the heatspreader of the CPU and the cooler can be fitted without the fan after the protective film has been removed from the cooler. Single-tower air coolers are usually quite easy to install as the mounting screws are easily accessible. This is also the case with the Freezer 36. Only two Phillips screws need to be screwed in as far as they will go, as the correct preload force is applied via the two coil springs underneath.
There is no need to worry about collisions with particularly high heat sinks on overclocking RAM modules with the Freezer 36, as the fans do not protrude beyond the RAM slots. It is therefore child’s play to attach the two fans to the cooler using the new click mechanism. Arctic hasn’t gone overboard with the height of the cooler either, so the Freezer 36 should fit into any current midi tower PC case. To be on the safe side, you should still look up the maximum permissible dimensions for coolers in the operating instructions for the case. Finally, plug in the cables and the cooler installation is complete.
Intel LGA 1700 Installation
Intel processors of the latest generations suffer from temperature problems, which are partly due to the low stability of the heat spreader (IHS). This is because it deforms under the force of the CPU retention mechanism (ILM) acting on it at certain points, which leads to poor contact between the cooler and processor and thus impairs heat dissipation through the cooler. Arctic counteracts this by adding a so-called contact frame, which replaces the original Intel ILM and ensures a more even distribution of contact pressure on the IHS.
Arctic Freezer 36 A-RGB Test setup and results …