Buying Guide
The Best CPU Coolers for First Builds
From the Freezer 36 to the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW: three air coolers ranked on heat pipe count and fan size, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read3 products evaluated
A first build goes smoother with an air cooler: no pump, no radiator placement and a simpler mount. Every pick names AM5 support and cost $70 or less.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: heat pipes, fan size and fans included come from each maker's published specs; nothing here was tested in-house, and gaps in the specs are flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Which of the 3 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
ARCTIC Freezer 36Undercutting the Peerless Assassin 120 SE on price when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $50.
Check price for ARCTIC Freezer 36 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SEA dual-tower heatsink.
Best for: Buyers who want dual-tower heatsink.
Check price for Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Highest Heat Pipe Count
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOWThe highest heat pipe count here (7).
Best for: Buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the Peerless Assassin 120 SE on price when we checked. | Keeping the cost under $50. | Check price for ARCTIC Freezer 36 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A dual-tower heatsink. | Buyers who want dual-tower heatsink. | Check price for Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest heat pipe count here (7). | Buyers who put heat pipe count first. | Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
ARCTIC Freezer 36
The Freezer 36 is a single tower with fans in push-pull and a contact frame for Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $50.
Skip if
- Skip it if heat pipe count matters most to you; the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW offers 7.
Why we like it
Its six-year warranty matches Noctua's. Its four offset heat pipes run in a single tower with two fans in push-pull. The click-in fan mounts make fan swaps easy, and it takes most 120mm fans.
Its side-flow heatsink lets the rear fan pull air through the fins and out of the case, and ARCTIC backs it with a six-year warranty. Its pressure-optimised fans push air through four offset heat pipes, which suits high-end CPUs in a single tower. Its 4 heat pipe count is the lowest in this group; the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW leads at 7. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Peerless Assassin 120 SE was closest.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 4
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Warranty
- 6-year
- Fans included
- 2
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 6-year warranty
- Two fans included
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Push-pull single tower
Cons
- Heat pipe count trails the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW (7)
The catch
Heat pipe count is its weakest area, and the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW covers it better at 7.
Also Consider2 of 3
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
The Peerless Assassin 120 SE is the budget dual tower most builders reach for, with six heat pipes and two 120mm fans.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual-tower heatsink.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Freezer 36, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Thermalright does not list its height on Amazon, so check the spec page before buying for a narrow case. At 155mm tall it fits most mid-towers, and its six heat pipes and two PWM fans handle mainstream CPUs. It is one of the best-known budget dual towers.
On heat pipe count it sits mid-pack at 6: the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW offers 7, and the Freezer 36 comes in at 4. It also comes with a 25.6dB(A) noise rating. The maker names AM5 but not Intel LGA1851, so check the maker's site if you are building on Core Ultra. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper Freezer 36 and the pricier Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 6
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Fans included
- 2
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- Two fans included
- Dual-tower heatsink
- 25.6dB(A) noise rating
- Heat pipe count of 6, ahead of the Freezer 36
Cons
- Costs more than the Freezer 36 at the time of writing
Highest Heat Pipe Count3 of 3
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW
The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW is the all-white version of the Digital EVO, with a temperature display on top.
Best for
- Buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Freezer 36 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
TRCC software shows CPU and GPU temperatures on the display, and the text colour can be changed. Nothing else here matches its 7 heat pipe count; the Peerless Assassin 120 SE comes closest at 6. You also get a magnetic ARGB display panel that shows CPU temperature.
Check that your case offers at least 160mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. Only the Peerless Assassin 120 SE came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks. It gives ground on fan size, where the Freezer 36 comes in at 120mm.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 7
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 160mm
- Fans included
- 2
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 7 heat pipes
- Two fans included
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- All-white finish
Cons
- Costs more than the Freezer 36 at the time of writing
How We Chose These CPU Coolers for First Builds
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We set side by side three coolers on heat pipe count, fan size, fans included and sockets named as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 4 of the 4 fields compared are stated for every pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Freezer 36 to the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW, state heat pipe count, fan size and fans included.
- Who each pick suits
- The Freezer 36 for undercutting the Peerless Assassin 120 SE on price when we checked; the Peerless Assassin 120 SE for a dual-tower heatsink; the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW for the highest heat pipe count here (7).
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Freezer 36 (under $50) to the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW ($50 to $100).
What to Look for in a CPU Cooler for First Builds
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much heat pipe count you need
The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW tops heat pipe count at 7 and the Freezer 36 sits lowest at 4. For less, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE is the runner-up at 6 (under $50 tier).
Features beyond the spec table
The Freezer 36: a contact frame for LGA1851 and LGA1700. The Peerless Assassin 120 SE: a 25.6dB(A) noise rating. The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW: a magnetic ARGB display panel that shows CPU temperature.
A case with purple-lit front fans and the motherboard area behind them Where your budget lands
Under $50 buys the Freezer 36 and the Peerless Assassin 120 SE; $50 to $100 buys the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Keeping the cost under $50: the Freezer 36. Buyers who put heat pipe count first: the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC Check the cooler height against your case
Every case offers a maximum CPU cooler height. Tower coolers run from about 150mm to 170mm, and low-profile coolers from under 40mm to about 70mm.
Leave a few millimetres for the side panel.
How to Choose a CPU Cooler for First Builds
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $50 | Freezer 36 | Undercutting the Peerless Assassin 120 SE on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want dual-tower heatsink | Peerless Assassin 120 SE | A dual-tower heatsink |
| Buyers who put heat pipe count first | Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW | The highest heat pipe count here (7) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW leads on heat pipe count at 7, ahead of the Peerless Assassin 120 SE at 6.
| Cooler | Heat pipes | Fan size | Fans included | Sockets named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freezer 36 | 4 | 120mm | 2 | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
| Peerless Assassin 120 SE | 6 | 120mm | 2 | AM5, AM4, Intel |
| Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW | 7 | 120mm | 2 | AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Freezer 36, sat in the under $50 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW at $50 to $100; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Coolers |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Freezer 36, Peerless Assassin 120 SE |
| About $50 to $100 | Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Peerless Assassin 120 SE compare with the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW on heat pipe count?
The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW leads at 7, with the Peerless Assassin 120 SE at 6. The Freezer 36 is at the other end of this group with 4.
Is the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW worth paying more than the Freezer 36?
On paper it adds heat pipe count (7 against 4). The Freezer 36 sat in the under $50 tier and the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if heat pipe count decides your purchase.
What makes the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW the Highest Heat Pipe Count?
It carries the badge for the highest heat pipe count here (7). The Peerless Assassin 120 SE is next on heat pipe count at 6, so this pick's 7 is 17% further out. The Freezer 36, the cheapest pick, sat in the under $50 tier against $50 to $100 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who puts heat pipe count first.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Freezer 36 and the Peerless Assassin 120 SE apart?
The Freezer 36: a push-pull single tower. The Peerless Assassin 120 SE: a dual-tower heatsink. The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW: an all-white finish.
Should I pick the Freezer 36 or the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW?
The Freezer 36 suits keeping the cost under $50; the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW suits buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Freezer 36, chosen for undercutting the Peerless Assassin 120 SE on price when we checked. Look at the Peerless Assassin 120 SE for a dual-tower heatsink and the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW for the highest heat pipe count here (7) if those matter more to you.
Remove the plastic film from the cold plate before mounting; it's the most common first-build mistake.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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