Custom PC - UK (2020-07)

W

hentheoriginalARCTICFreezer7 Prowasfirst

doingtherounds,all-in-oneliquidcoolers

didn’tevenexist,andevenheatpipe-equipped

heatsinkswerestillrelativelynew.Theoriginalcoolerwas

a greatbitofkit,though,offeringdecentcoolingforunder

£20,andenablingpeopletobintheirCPU’sstockcooler

andgetlowernoiselevelsandbettercooling.Today,its

replacementstillcoststherightsideof£20,whiletakingaim

atstockcoolersandshavinga tennerortwooffthepriceof

cheap120mmheatsinks.

It’sstilla compact92mmcooler,though,sowhileARCTIC

claimsit offers 10 percentmorecoolingcapacitythanthe

original115WTDP-ratedFreezer7 Pro,youwon’twanttopair

it withanoverclockedCorei9-9900KorRyzen9 3950X.

However,itsheightofjust133mmmakesit idealforsmaller

cases,whereyou’reotherwiselimitedtolow-profileorAIO

liquidcoolersthatcancostsignificantlymore.

Interestingly,ARCTIChasalsomovedawayfromthree

6mmheatpipestojusttwo,butthey’renowindirectcontact

withyourCPU’sheatspreader.Meanwhile,the92mmPWM

fanfeaturesa fluiddynamicbearingandis veryquietindeed,

evenatitsfullspeedof2,000rpm.

Installationis blissfullysimple,asnorearmountingplate

is required.ForSocketAM4,twoclipshookdirectlyonto

thestandardmotherboardmountingarms.A sturdypush-

pin-securedbracketis firstfittedforLGA115xsockets,butit

usesthesameclipsonthecooler,whicharetightenedusing

screwsonceyou’vehookedtheminplace.Wewereupand

runninginundera minuteonbothourtestsystemswithout

a sorefingerinsight.

SUPPLIERscan.co.uk

ARCTICFREEZER

7 X/£18incVAT

CPUAIRCOOLER

Thermalpasteis pre-appliedtothe

contactplate,whichsavestime,but

meansyou’llneedtobuymorepaste

shouldyouswapCPUs.Thecooleris

alsocompatiblewithIntel’supcoming

LGA1200socket.

InourLGA1151system,theFreezer

7 X was9°CwarmerthantheCorsair

A500wetestedrecently,and

whilethisis a bigmargin,it stilljust

abouttamedouroverclockedCore

i5-9600Kfora quarter oftheprice.

Ouroverclocked8-coreRyzen7 1700

presentedjustastougha challenge,

butagaintheFreezer7 X stayedwithin

10°CoftheCorsaircooler.Here,we

alsostrappedthestockRyzen7 1700

coolertoourtestsystemand,withina

minute,theCPUtopped100°C,while

theFreezer7 X onlyjusttopped90°C

aftertenminutes.

Conclusion

OuroverclockedtestCPUspushed

theFreezer7 X toitslimits,butit coped

well.It’sidealforstock-speed6-core

and8-coreCPUs,andit couldcope

withoverclockedRyzen5 CPUs.If

you’relookingfora wallet—friendly

upgradethat’squietandmilesbetter

thana stockcooler,andyou’renot

lookingforhugeoverclocks,the

Freezer7 X is a fantasticchoice.

ANTONYLEATHER

REVIEWS / COOLING

VERDICT

Excellent value and decent cooling –

a great, affordable upgrade over a

stock cooler.

SPEC

Compatibility

Intel: LGA115x; AMD:

Socket AM4, AM3/+,

AM2/+, FM2/+, FM

Heatsink size with

fans (mm)

111 x 74 x 133

(W x D x H)

Fa ns

1 x 92mm

Stated noise

22.5dBA

ARCTIC FOX

• 
  

  Great value

  
  


• 
  

  Easy installation

  
  


• 
  

  Quiet at full speed

  
  

ARCTIC ROLL

• Struggles with
  some overclocked
  CPUs


• No extra thermal
  paste provided

cc

uuss

tommPP

CC

P

R

E

M

IUM GR

A

D

E

OVERALLSCORE

84 %

COOLING

30 / 40

FEATURES

14 / 20

DESIGN

20 / 20

VALUE

20 / 20

FITTING

Easy

AM

OVERALLSCORE

84 %

COOLING

30 / 40

FEATURES

14 / 20

DESIGN

20 / 20

VALUE

20 / 20

FITTING

Easy

LGA

AMD SOCKET AM4 DELTA T

ARCTICFreezer7 X 66°C

ARCTIC LiquidFreezerII 240 56°C

CorsairA500 57°C

Stock coolerFail

0255075100

Lower is better

INTEL LGA1151 DELTA T

ARCTICFreezer7 X 65°C

ARCTIC LiquidFreezerII 240 53°C

Corsair A500 56°C

0255075100

Lower is better