Scythe Fuma 3 – A pair of counter-rotating impellers

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” »

Intel discontinues Cryo Cooling Technology, ends the app updates

Three years ago, when Comet Lake processors came out – the very last of several Skylake architecture refreshes produced in the troubled 14nm era – Intel tried to boost it with cryogenic cooling technology, or rather cooling with an auxiliary thermoelectric element that lowered the temperature of the “coldplate”, cooling the processor below the ambient temperature. This technology is now yet another activity that Intel has cut back on. Read more “Intel discontinues Cryo Cooling Technology, ends the app updates” »

Noctua’s top-end dual-tower cooler given more precise launch date

Noctua’s tentative plans for the next period specify the possible release of a successor to the NH-D15 cooler. Along with that comes the assurance that the next generation of 140mm fans that this cooler will use is really close. In addition to this, there is also the notable announcement of an upgrade to the NH-L12(S), a lower-profile cooler with a horizontal fan (or fans, if the heatsink will be cooled by two fans again). Read more “Noctua’s top-end dual-tower cooler given more precise launch date” »

Enermax Liqmaxflo 360 – Hefty, silent and efficient

Enermax has recently introduced the new Liqmaxflo cooler model series. These coolers feature a hefty radiator, a fan above the pump to cool the area around the CPU socket, and their loop can even be refilled with liquid. Today’s review will focus on the 360mm variant, the middle of the range (240mm and 420mm variants are also available). I have pretty high expectations for this cooler, so hopefully it will be able to live up to them. Read more “Enermax Liqmaxflo 360 – Hefty, silent and efficient” »

BeQuiet! released Dark Rock Pro 5. Plus one, more elite cooler

The new generation of high-end tower coolers also comes with one change in segmentation. The Dark Rock Pro is no longer the top model. It is now the Dark Rock Elite. The differences between these twin-tower CPU coolers are quite small, partly relating to the available cooling performance and partly to their aesthetics, into which BeQuiet! has implemented ARGB LEDs. But it did so rather subtly. Read more “BeQuiet! released Dark Rock Pro 5. Plus one, more elite cooler” »

Enermax gives the AIO cooler mainstream thicker radiators

Radiators on the vast majority of AIO coolers are very similar and… relatively thin compared to what the new Liqmaxflo models from Enermax come with. Additionally, on the 40% thicker than normal radiators, there are fans that are known to achieve high static pressure. And when you factor in the fact that these are still affordable solutions by liquid cooler standards, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at this offering. Read more “Enermax gives the AIO cooler mainstream thicker radiators” »

Pure Loop 2, or BeQuiet! renewed the cheapest line of AIO coolers

In the lower class of BeQuiet! liquid coolers, the new Pure Loop 2 models replace the old (Pure Loop) models in up to four formats. This means that this news may be of interest to users of SFF systems as well as those on the opposite end of the spectrum, with full tower cases. The key changes between generations are the pump upgrade (finally with PWM control) as well as fans with higher static pressure. Read more “Pure Loop 2, or BeQuiet! renewed the cheapest line of AIO coolers” »

Valkyrie Vind SL125 – Interesting synergy of two fans

Last time we took a look at an interesting all-in-one cooler from Valkyrie and today we’ll loosely follow up on that theme with a review of the Vind SL125 air cooler, which is the only air cooler model Valkyrie has in its lineup so far. The Vind SL125 air cooler combines a single dense fin bundle with a pair of mirrored fans. So I’m curious to see how this interesting combination performs in our stress tests. Read more “Valkyrie Vind SL125 – Interesting synergy of two fans” »

Noctua has LGA 1851 support. Mounting stays physically the same

The first generation of Intel CPUs with support for the future LGA 1851 socket is still a long way off, but the first info about cooler support is already making its way to the public. Documents have surfaced where materials around the Noctua NH-U12A cooler are linked to this platform, for which everything is ready. Noctua doesn’t deny this, and meanwhile ideas arise about how it could possibly be with the mounting systems of other coolers. Read more “Noctua has LGA 1851 support. Mounting stays physically the same” »

Valkyrie Dragonfang 360 – New player has entered the chat

Today’s article serves as an introduction of a new player on our market, besides the usual review. This is Valkyrie, a company that offers mainly liquid AIO coolers, although you can also find one air cooler in their offer. The focus of today’s article, however, is the Dragonfang 360, which is a liquid AIO cooler that promises solid efficiency at a reasonable price, which of course I intend to rigorously test on my test rig. Read more “Valkyrie Dragonfang 360 – New player has entered the chat” »

Psychoacoustic optimization of coolers… A gag? Physics

“Modifying” a cooler by replacing the fan with a relatively more efficient model may not always lead to the desired result. Sometimes you will get significantly less improvement than you would expect, other times you may even be worse off. This means that at equal noise levels, you will achieve lower cooling performance, and it doesn’t really matter what fan you use. Sometimes the design of the heatsink has the final say. Read more “Psychoacoustic optimization of coolers… A gag? Physics” »

DeepCool shakes up top-flow coolers, AN600 with a height of 67 mm

A newcomer joins the ranks of CPU coolers with a fan above/below the fins – the DeepCool AN600. And according to the parameters, it immediately attacks the established coolers of its height category, which it naturally wants to beat. Regarding the TDP, 180 W is claimed, which seems plausible given the structure of the cooler. A larger fan is used, and even into the visually massive heatsink, heat is delivered via an adult portion of heatpipes. Read more “DeepCool shakes up top-flow coolers, AN600 with a height of 67 mm” »

DeepCool Assassin IV – The almost perfect CPU cooler

The long awaited DeepCool Assassin IV cooler is finally here. According to the manufacturer it should offer very quiet operation with high cooling effectiveness and it is also an interesting piece visually. In today’s review I’m going to subject it to a thorough analysis and examine the manufacturer’s bet on an unconventional cooler design. I’m also expanding the stress tests to include a wider range of noise levels and a spectral analysis of the cooler. Read more “DeepCool Assassin IV – The almost perfect CPU cooler” »

Intel LGA 1851: No changes and ending support for current coolers?

There are reports that the upcoming Intel LGA 1851 socket will have different cooler requirements. This is even while maintaining the same physical dimensions of the mounting holes or processors as such. A forceful way of selling new coolers? This may not be the case and the real reason may be purely technical. And we probably have some idea why processors from the Arrow Lake generation onwards will benefit from more downforce. Read more “Intel LGA 1851: No changes and ending support for current coolers?” »

DeepCool Assassin IV cooler officially. Tests are close

Perhaps the boldest dual-tower cooler design in a decade is becoming a retail market reality. We’ve already written about the preparations for the Assassin IV, but now we have more details, there’s even a test sample in our editorial office already. Let’s pass the wait for the test results by philosophising about not all the elements that can positively or negatively shape cooling efficiency. Read more “DeepCool Assassin IV cooler officially. Tests are close” »