Category: Cooling

Mystique 360: The first of next-gen DeepCool AIOs

Cooling, CPU coolers, News | | Ľubomír Samák

In a move marked by broader changes, DeepCool is releasing the Mystique line of liquid coolers. Of the main things that affect cooling efficiency, the design of the pump, coldplate, and fans have all been affected. The attractiveness is also supposed to be enhanced by the addition of a brightly colored display for monitoring CPU activity, for example. Price-wise, Mystique coolers are among the cheaper ones when compared to similarly equipped competitors. Read more “Mystique 360: The first of next-gen DeepCool AIOs” »

BeQuiet! Dark Rock Elite – The new king of coolers?

Cooling, CPU coolers, Extra tests | | Pavel Sekerka

I will start this year’s cooler tests with a real treat. I’ve prepared a review of the Dark Rock Elite cooler, the absolute top of BeQuiet!’s range. This is a premium cooler offering very high performance at low noise levels thanks to its sophisticated design in combination with high-end fans. I’m very curious to see how it performs compared to the high-end coolers I’ve had the opportunity to test over the past year. Read more “BeQuiet! Dark Rock Elite – The new king of coolers?” »

Return to FDB – the main new feature of the Arctic P12 Max White

Cooling, Fans, News | | Ľubomír Samák

Arctic has released a new, white version of the P12 Max fan. However, it is not only a choice between light (P12 Max White) and dark (P12 Max Black), but also between different types of bearings, fluid dynamic and ball ones. In any case, it is once again a 120 mm fan that will be taking the top ranks in comparison tests with its performance characteristics. It has all the prerequisites to do so. Read more “Return to FDB – the main new feature of the Arctic P12 Max White” »

A gaming cooler? DeepCool AK620 Zero Dark Zoria in details

Cooling, CPU coolers, Preview | | Ľubomír Samák

DeepCool has modified its successful AK620 Zero Dark cooler in line with the theme of Zoria: Age of Shattering. Thus, we can legitimately talk about a gaming cooler, as long as this designation refers to the visual design. It is literally a work of art, and one of the goals was to make sure that the cooling performance was not degraded in any way after this intervention. It was to remain at the level of the original design, so top-notch. Read more “A gaming cooler? DeepCool AK620 Zero Dark Zoria in details” »

Seasonic MagFlow ARGB: Lighting with LCP? The right way

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

A concept in which an LCP impeller and ARGB LEDs meet is particularly rare. But it has enormous potential for achieving top-notch results. That is, as long as everything fits together optimally and there are no weak spots somewhere that increase the noise level. There are still a few things to tweak with the MagFlow ARGB fan, but already now, in its current form, it is a premium fan, and not only among lighted models. Read more “Seasonic MagFlow ARGB: Lighting with LCP? The right way” »

Noctua NF-A14 PWM: Relevant even after a decade

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

There aren’t many 140mm fans that are more popular than the NF-A14 (PWM). This Noctua model has maintained that for a long time, for over a decade. In the meantime, naturally, a host of newer competing solutions have come along, and the question is how Noctua’s still-flagship 140mm fan will hold up against them in the present day. By analyzing the NF-A14, we’ll also shorten a bit the interminable wait for its successor. Read more “Noctua NF-A14 PWM: Relevant even after a decade” »

A few fans are missing to 70. What will the future bring?

Cooling, Fans, News | | Ľubomír Samák

It went by so quickly. Only recently we painted 2023 as the “year of the fan.” In the end, it didn’t work out as expected, but you don’t have to worry that we’ll slack off on that front, quite the opposite. Fan testing is a key topic for HWCooling, we just need to plan all things more sensibly (realistically, so that they can be done). But no excuses. The big goals, which drive us forward, remain for 2024. Read more “A few fans are missing to 70. What will the future bring?” »

Test of Thermalright HR-10 2280, a premium SSD cooler

Cooling, Extra tests, SSD coolers | | Ľubomír Samák

One of the most powerful SSD coolers reminds a bit of the era of massively finned heatsinks that used to be on motherboards. Thermalright is well known for producing small coolers with a large number of fins. Such a concept in the form of the HR-10 2280 cooler should score points on SSDs as well. And it does so even in comparison with almost 60 competing solutions. Read more “Test of Thermalright HR-10 2280, a premium SSD cooler” »

BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL108): Efficient and “cheap” in 140 mm

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

The long break is over, back to fans. BeQuiet! recently updated its entry-level line – Pure Wings – and at least the slower 140-millimeter models have to be on your radar. The Pure Wings 3 fans in the BL108 variant represent an extremely efficient low-cost option for some situations, while not suffering from the common shortcomings of their price class. What’s quiet here is not only the aerodynamic component, but also the motor one. Read more “BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL108): Efficient and “cheap” in 140 mm” »

12VHPWR cable thermal imaging: Different PSU, different temps

Cooling, Extra tests, PSUs | | Ľubomír Samák

Something for warm-up. We’ll start our ATX 3.0 PSU tests with perhaps the most talked about topic surrounding them, the temperatures of the new cables with 16-pin PCIe connectors. The overview of the PSUs of twelve brands answers well the question of how the manufacturers handled which models. With high current loads, the temperature differences can be quite significant, both on the connector housings and on the wire insulation. Read more “12VHPWR cable thermal imaging: Different PSU, different temps” »

Last delay of Noctua 140 mm LCP fans?

Cooling, CPU coolers, Fans, News | | Ľubomír Samák

This news won’t please anyone who was eyeing the new generation of 140mm Noctua fans in early 2024. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for that one, although the planned release delay is quite small, but don’t count on a January date. But it looks like the period in which these fans will be coming out will be a very fruitful one. In fact, the successor to the NH-D15 cooler is also said to come out in the same quarter. Read more “Last delay of Noctua 140 mm LCP fans?” »

Scythe Fuma 3 bonus tests: Third fan and same rotation

Cooling, CPU coolers, Extra tests | | Ľubomír Samák

What impact does adjusting the fan configuration have on the efficiency and acoustic pfrofile of the Scythe Fuma 3 cooler? We report on the possible changes in the additional tests, where in one of the modes, the heatsink is supplemented with a third fan and in the other we replaced the low-profile fan with a thicker model, but at the same time we deprived the cooler of one of the advertised advantages – the counter-rotating fans. Read more “Scythe Fuma 3 bonus tests: Third fan and same rotation” »

Scythe Fuma 3 – A pair of counter-rotating impellers

Cooling, CPU coolers, Extra tests | | Pavel Sekerka

Another cooler that we will have time to look at this year is the Scythe Fuma 3. This cooler uses several atypical design elements, which makes it different from the usual dual-tower coolers in its class. Moreover, with a price tag of just over 50 EUR, it could offer an interesting price/performance ratio. Additionally, this is my first experience with a Scythe cooler, so I’m also duly curious to see how the Fuma 3 performs in stress tests. Read more “Scythe Fuma 3 – A pair of counter-rotating impellers” »

Tuned for low noise: Case, cooler and PSU from DeepCool

Cooling, Extra tests, PC builds | | Ľubomír Samák

Very quiet operation, but with “sufficient” cooling performance that doesn’t hold back the components. That’s the assignment we gave ourselves when building a mid-range PC with which, regarding cooling hardware, we went with DeepCool. The case which became the basis of this configuration has great potential to achieve the desired result, but everything needs to be set adequately. Read more “Tuned for low noise: Case, cooler and PSU from DeepCool” »

Seasonic has MagFlow with ARGB LED. Impeller shape is also new

Cooling, Fans, News | | Ľubomír Samák

Seasonic’s second fan expands the range of lighted models. But it does so in a very non-violent way that doesn’t require lower impeller stiffness. The latter, on the contrary, is extra rigid, made of LCP, and compared to the older MagFlow 1225 fan, the shape of the blades has also undergone a change. The elegant magnet connection method that Seasonic prides itself on has been retained. Read more “Seasonic has MagFlow with ARGB LED. Impeller shape is also new” »

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