Specifications

• 36 dbA Noise Level
• 23 CFM per fan
• 4200 RPM
• Fits Athlon and PII

Introduction

The Athlon Freezer is a high performance Slot A cooler that provides enough cooling for the overclocking enthusiast. It is priced a bit lower than an Alpha or Global Win. 3DCool offers the freezer as a Standard and Pro version. The only difference between the two are the fan grills seen in the picture. For an extra $3, you get the grills. I would definitely recommend them as they keep wires from being hacked and add a certain cosmetic feel to the cooler. :)

Installation

Mounting the heatsink to the CPU is extremely easy. There are two quick-release tabs that simply snap on and off. These tabs hang over the top of the Athlon when properly mounted. This may cause a slight problem to people with GFD cards. I did not have a problem with my Northwind card. However, I did have to mount the card before closing the clips. Your results may vary.

Unfortunately, the Athlon Freezer is not K7M or 7IX friendly. The power supply connector does get in the way. All that is needed to be done is to move the one fan up a bit. Again, this will cut down on airflow but is the only solution for a crowded board. After modification the cooler will look something like the following.

Make sure to bend the fins together a bit before attaching the screws. This will make for a tighter fit.

Performance

I took a temperature reading using a digital thermometer from Radio Shack. The probe was placed inside the Athlon casing on the back side of the Processor. From now on, I will take all readings in this manner. After about an hour of moderate use the temperature reached 109 degrees F. Compared with the Alpha, this was about 3 degrees warmer.

Final Comments

Overall, the Athlon Freezer is a good performer. The assembly of the unit is nothing spectacular as the fans are actually mounted with what appears to be drywall screws. However, the unit does its job and is a good choice for overclockers on a budget. Thanx to 3DCool for supplying me with the Athlon Freezer.

Discuss in Forum

HOME