Yesterday, Intel released 65W “non-K” Arrow Lake processors, which represent a cheaper mainstream option for desktops on its new LGA 1851 platform compared to the 125W “K” models that are overclockable and geared more towards enthusiasts. The non-K versions will have one small advantage, a bundled cooler, which can save you some money on the build. For the new generation, these coolers have been given a better and quieter design.
As in the past, these coolers will not be sold separately, only being available as accessories to CPUs, but that’s where buyers of Intel processors will be meeting them on a regular basis, because they should be bundled with all 65W and 35W CPUs bought in the retail “box” type packaging (but not in the less common “tray” design).
There are two types of the new coolers, while there were three for the previous LGA 1700 platform. The weakest Laminar RS1 model bundled with Celerons and Pentiums was discontinued by Intel at the end of 2024 and replaced by the second, more powerful model in the series (Laminar RM1) where applicable.
Tip: 65W and 35W Intel Arrow Lake CPUs released: Models and parameters
Intel Laminar RM2 for most of the CPUs
On the LGA 1851 platform, most processors will ship with a cooler called the Intel Laminar RM2 instead of the two older types. The design is a bit similar to the RM1 predecessor, but in terms of appearance, the top ring made of semi-transparent plastic that looked a bit like a continuation of the heatsink fins has been replaced with a simple continuous ring with a blue stripe. This part, by the way, should use partially recycled material including potentially ocean-bound waste plastic (but only 8% of its weight).
But the change is not only in the appearance, according to Intel, cooling capabilities should also be improved. The heatsink has aluminum fins, but its core (forming the base and contact with the processor’s IHS) is copper, which adds more capacity to accumulate heat during short power spikes that briefly generate more heat. With a copper core, the fan speed does not have to jump up as quickly as with an all-aluminum heatsink, which has a lower weight and lower heat capacity.
The previous Laminar RM1 cooler, which we also tested in-depth, should also already have a copper core (Intel’s comparison table incorrectly states that it was all aluminum), but it is possible that the one in the Laminar RM2 will have a larger diameter and weight, or other optimizations have been made.
In fact, according to Intel, the noise level will drop to 36 dBA (presumably at some typical or comparable operating speeds and at an intake air temperature of 40 °C), while the company quotes a noise level of up to 39 dB for the Laminar RM1 for LGA 1700. At first glance this may not seem like much of a difference, but decibels are a logarithmically scaling unit and adding 3dBA should mean almost double the sound intensity (a 10 decibel difference would be a 10X increase in noise).
The quoted noise level is at a fan speed of 2400 rpm. The maximum speed is 3250 rpm with noise levels of up to 46 dBA, while the minimum speed is 600 rpm. Fan control is PWM-based via a standard 4-pin connector. The inter-generational noise comparison between the RM1 and RM2 that Intel presents is probably based on the new cooler needing lower RPMs to achieve the same cooling performance, it’s not at identical RPMs for both coolers (in which case the noise level likely couldn’t drop that significantly).
The weight of the cooler is 340 grams and the height is 47 mm, which should fit into the vast majority of SFF cases. Mounting is done using push-pins (which thereby “pull” on the PCB of a board), as has long been the case with these Intel coolers.
Intel will ship this cooler with most of its processors – with the Core Ultra 7 265 (and the 265F without an iGPU) and with all Core Ultra 5 (models 245, 235, 225 and 225F). While not specifically mentioned, it is possible that it will also be included with the Core Ultra 3 205. Intel is not talking much about this cheaper processor yet, it is possible that thisSKU will start selling only later after the Core Ultra 5 models.
Intel Laminar RH2: a higher performance top-flow solution
You probably won’t see the second cooler that often, because it will be bundled only with Core Ultra 9 processors – and there is only one model of those so far (the 285). For such more expensive CPUs, the user will probably more often than not buy a better aftermarket cooler as well, but nothing stops you from keeping the bundled RH2 cooler and using it in another build with a cheaper CPU (instead of the RM2 included with it).
The Laminar RH2 is based on the design of the Laminar RH1 cooler (which was also bundled only with 65W Core i9 processors on the LGA 1700 platform). Again, the look has changed, the previously finned rim around the fan is now a continuous ring. In contrast to the cheaper cooler, the ring around the fan is backlit – this is an ARGB backlight that the board will be able to control via a 5V ARGB connector to set different colours and effects. It could even look quite neat (these coloured LED rings had quite a nice effect on some AMD stock coolers). Additionally, the Intel logo in the center of the impeller should also be illuminated, but with white LEDs only.
The cooler has a copper core as well and should be more efficient than the previous RH1 type on the LGA 1700 platform. Intel claims a relatively greater noise level reduction than with the cheaper type – the new model should have a noise power level of 22 dBA (versus 26 dBA for the Laminar RH1) at some typical comparable speeds. Directly on its website, Intel lists yet another figure – 27 dBA, which is at 1600 rpm and at an intake air temperature of 40°C. However, the maximum speed (if the board sets the PWM signal to 100%) is higher – 3000 rpm, for which the listed noise level is 47 dBA. The minimum speed, according to the specifications, is 1000 rpm.
Again, we assume that the intergenerational noise comparison between RH1 and RH2 is probably based on the new cooler needing lower rpm to deliver the same cooling performance, not measured at identical rpm for both coolers (in which case the noise level could not drop that significantly, and according to the specs of the RH1 it looks like at 1600 rpm, it would have similar noise level to the RH2 – but probably lower cooling performance).
How representative the officially stated noise figures are is impossible to know without independent testing and measurement, of course. But Intel provides pretty detailed specifications for the coolers (although they don’t include any indication of cooling capacity in watts), so we’re hoping the figures might be correct.
The Laminar RH2, according to the pictures that Intel showed, also has a backplate in the package and the mounting system fastens the heatsink to this backplate with screws, so there are no longer just ordinary pushpins that are potentially stressing the PCB of a board. The height of the cooler is 71 mm (from the base to the top of the fan) and the weight is 450 grams.
There is a three-year warranty on these bundled coolers, by the way, but this is probably only of interest to companies that will use them in complete builds. We assume that a retail customer won’t want to RMA the whole CPU package because of a fan failure and will instead opt to buy some cheap replacement cooler instead.
Sources: Intel (1, 2), VideoCardz
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
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