ARCTIC Alpine 23 - Compact AMD CPU Cooler for AM5 and AM4, Thermal Compound MX-2 pre-Applied, Computer, PC - Black

Easy to install and the heatsink fan cools AMD Processors so well! Very cost effective and cooling efficient if you don’t mind it not having RGB!Doesn’t have RGB But it can reflect the RGB case fan light off it and simulate the light effect!

So reading through various other reviews, I noticed that the expectations were set pretty high given today's power hungry processors. I purchased this to use with older equipment that had broken stock coolers (mainly Windows 7 era hardware) and I'm happy to report that it does a great job at that! I've purchased a few additional units for a few other motherboards I'm putting together in some retro gaming builds, and so far they've all been great an quiet.Do mind the size of this unit on older builds since processor sockets didn't always have the level of open space we have today, but I can definitely recommend this for older systems as this provides more than enough to keep things cool.

Good for a cheaper alternative to some of the more expensive fans. It's does a perfectly adequate job.

Replaced an old and loud CPU cooler on an aged yet still useful FM1 socket system running an Athlon II X4 638 quad core CPU. Even though Arctic only lists this as working with the AM4 socket, it should work with all AMD sockets that use the two clip system.Comes with pre-applied thermal paste. I usually like to use Arctic MX-4 but this MX-2 this comes with seems to work just fine too.Also has a 4 pin power connector for proper PWN fan control by the motherboard.Other manufacturers should take heed of Arctic's packaging philosophy. They strive to be green and it is very apparent by how little packaging material is used for their products. Aside from the external box there is only one piece of plastic and one piece of cardboard inside. Such little packaging but it is smartly done and still perfectly protected for shipping purposes. I always try to buy Arctic products when possible partially because of this. It also helps their products are excellent and typically inexpensive.

I've had really good luck with Arctic CPU coolers over the years. I was a bit dubious about a solid aluminum heatsink, but that's how they were designed back in the day before copper cores and heat pipes were introduced. Aluminum is a fine conductor so this should be plenty good for a stock clocked FX 8300.The build quality seems fine, esp considering the price point. It's a very similar design to stock Intel radial fin CPU coolers. The low-profile means it should be easy to work around and fit in tighter enclosures. The fan and shroud rotate a few degrees on the fins. This may be for alignment purposes, but honestly, that's unnecessary. The heatsink is machined such that it only fits into the mounting frame on the motherboard one way. Have it rotated 90* wrong, and it simply won't fully seat onto the CPU or even into the frame. There's simply not enough clearance with how the fin height has been machined. The flat attachment arms have got to be the MOST fiddly design I've ever seen. It took some time and patience to get them lined up with the frame tabs and screwed in. Installing it with the motherboard out of the case made the job much easier. The fan wire is really sub-par, especially compared to the Arctic Freezer 7 Pro it was intended to replace.I'm rather disappointed with the fitment of this particular option, though. I tried it in two different AM3+ motherboards: an ATX from Asus and a mATX from Gigabyte. On the Asus, the CPU temp skyrocketed to 68* C within seconds of booting. The stock AMD Wraith CPU cooler keeps this CPU at around 23* C at idle, so 3X higher temps are not good. Upon inspection, I noticed that the heatsink fins were contacting the AMD mounting frame in a number of places. Nothing I did, including removing the fan and its frame, would get the heatsink to fully seat. I had a bit better luck with the Gigabyte motherboard but as you can see in the included images, the clearances are close. VERY close.I would not recommend this heatsink. There are far better options for similar expense available.

Pros:Almost everything. Excellent fin design, top-quality silent fan, precision-applied thermal grease, attractive price, low-profile for small cases.The one Con:The mounting system is an old and basic style, and the cooler realistically needs to be applied to the CPU when the whole motherboard is outside the case, especially if the case is small. Even then, I had trouble. An update to the retaining bracket is all this needs to make it perfect.

This cooler was problematic in using. Did not allow much room . Plus it was noisy

dead silent and im serious so silent i had to check if it was on and i had the case open and my ear to it. im impressed at this price point.