REVIEW: ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO a new Semi Passive CPU Tower Cooler

Today we present the review of the semi passive CPU tower cooler of the ARCTIC brand called ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO, a model compatible with Intel or AMD processors with a design very similar to the previous ARCTIC Freezer i32. This model gives us total silence at certain times because they do not start working until the CPU does not exceed a certain level of load if it reaches a specific temperature. A model that we have used in conjunction with the latest AMD Ryzen processors with Vega GPU giving us an excellent result. We will see in the review how this product behaves.

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ESPECIFICATIONS

Model ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO
Socket Compatibility Intel: 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 2066, 2011(-3)
AMD: AM4
Measures with vent 123 x 65 x 150 mm
Measures without vent 124 x 86 x 150 mm
Weight with vent 560 g
Weight without vent 614 g
Material Cooper (pipes), aluminium (fins).
Recommended TDP 150W
Cooler max. 320W
Package Vent ARCTIC 120mm
Back plate
Thermal paste MX-4
Intel mount kit
Wires to fix extra vent
Rubber gaskets
Vent
Model ARCTIC 120mm
Bearing Double ball
Max. spin 1350 RPM PWM
Min. spin PWM 0 RPM
Max. noise 0.3 sone
Min. noise 0 sone
Input power 2 W
Voltage 12 V

CONTENT DESCRIPTION

Package content

The ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO model is presented in a conventional box with an image of the product and the basic specifications in text, it is perfectly fixed and we have the necessary elements to assemble the fan in a simple way, we will need a screwdriver to tighten the screws. Two extra rods are included to mount a second 120mm extraction fan.

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Product details

The dissipation block of the ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO as we can see it is composed with the classic structure, we have a lower contact plate with the CPU that integrates four lapping copper pipes to conduct the heat through a series of aluminum sheets that, this system help to dissipate the temperature with the air that pushes the fan through fins.

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The front fan is PWM type (automatic spin speed control) with the typical four-wire wiring and has another connector for a second fan, this model has a hardware controller that allows the system to lower to 0 RPM with which we completely forget about any type of configuration.

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The total height of this fan and heatsink assembly is 150 mm, it must be taken into account when selecting a suitable box, a conventional volume is correct like the SilverStone PS11 case.

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In the lower part we find a piece of aluminum that contains the four pipes that come into contact with the CPU, an area that is always highly polished to ensure maximum contact, this area we have to apply the MX-4 thermal paste that comes with the package. On this aluminum plate we must screw the two pieces of steel that serves as connection to the back plate in the form of a cross, this fixing system is compatible with the sockets of Intel and AMD.

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PERFORMANCE TEST

For the testing of this ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO fan we have used an AMD Ryzen processor with maximum Vega GPU of 65W TPD a figure that is already half of what is recommended by the brand, the set is installed inside a SilverStone PS11 box in the that the fan has enough space for mounting.

Internal assembly

Installing the ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO is simple, in the box we find all the necessary elements to complete the installation as well as an envelope with thermal paste MX-4. On the back of the fan we will glue the four rubber gaskets to avoid vibrations before starting the assembly, then fix the fan to the heatsink with the two metal wires. On AMD models the anchor plate comes by default, on the Intel models the plastic part included is used.

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We fix the fan heatsink assembly between the fixing screws and the back plate that we can usually stick to the back of the motherboard. We are going to tighten the screws one by one never to the maximum, first one a little, then the next one in the sense of the needles of the clock another, turning round tightening all until it is fixed. With this method we avoid that the system is decompensated in tightening and the contact is not optimal.

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Thermal test

We perform the usual thermal performance tests to the ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO, we compare its performance in different scenarios of daily use and we compare it with the Wraith Stealth fan that comes by default with our AMD Ryzen processor, a fresh processor that will make the passive ventilation system keep our equipment quiet for much part of the time.

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We verified that the system is effectively maintained at 0 RPM when the processor temperature is low and while surfing the internet, watching videos or doing simple tasks, you can even stop at games with basic demand.

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We perform our tests to see how the fan is defended in three scenarios, idling with the system on the Windows desktop and a minimum CPU usage, browsing and watching videos in what would be a normal use and taking it to the maximum where we forced to the fan reaches its maximum 1350 RPM. The result is similar to the standard fan in all scenarios, comparing it with fans for Gamers this model behaves well but perhaps there are other better alternatives for that scenario, for normal use is perfect.

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Noise test

As we can see the data of the ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO are very good because as we see in basic use we are in 0 dBA with specific jumps at 27 dBA if we navigate in a heavy way or work with some program of some power, something that is attenuated even more by the acoustic panels of the SilverStone PS11 box. Only taking the CPU to a performance scenario triggers the fan which, as we have seen, reaches a maximum of 1350 RPM, which also does not generate a very high sound.

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CONCLUSIONS

Opinion

As always we are attentive to all the semi-passive solutions that come to the market and in this aspect the new ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO seems to us an excellent product in this aspect. With our test we have been able to verify that the system complies with what it advertises, when we have a low performance of the CPU the ventilation system is maintained at 0 RPM (total silence) and therefore we do not have any noise.

For normal use at user level and as a non-extreme gamer, the ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO is excellent since we will only have some noise when playing but not in desktop use. Only if we have to get an extreme performance we notice that it is not a perfect system, so if it matches our uses it is certainly an option to take into account. The relation quality price and what it offers to us by default is very interesting for all type processors.

WHERE TO BUY

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ARCTIC Freezer 33 CO

8.1

Performance

7.5/10

Components

8.5/10

Noise

9.5/10

Thermals

7.5/10

Price

7.5/10

Pros

  • Semi passive system
  • 0 noise in desktop
  • Good performance
  • No configuration
  • Components quality
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