SilentiumPC Fera 3 Evo ARGB – Third time’s a charm?

Today’s article concludes a review trilogy of SilentiumPC’s Fera coolers. After the good old Fera 3, we tested the colorful and quieter version – the Fera 3 RGB. And now it’s time for the Fera 3 Evo ARGB. This cooler is just a minor upgrade of the previous model and differs only in the fan used. However, this change can change the cooling efficiency and noise, which we will look at in today’s review.

Key features of the cooler

The construction of SilentiumPC Fera 3 Evo ARGB is identical to the previous model. The cooler is also based around four copper heatpipes that use direct contact with the processor’s heat spreader. These pipes then intersect a bundle of aluminum fins which is cooled by a 120mm fan. The dimensions and weight of the cooler remained the same, the fan used is the only change from the previous version. And that is Pulsar HP ARGB 120 PWM, whose white semi-transparent material of the frame and blades serves as a light diffuser for integrated ARGB LEDs. The upper fin is covered with a milky white diffuser, under which other ARGB LEDs are hidden.

This diffuser has a black cover with a cutout of the manufacturer’s logo and several other aesthetic elements that allow the backlight to shine through. Overall, this is a very appealing solution. The cables for backlighting allow serial connection, which eliminates the need for hubs and simplifies the cabling. However, you still have to work with three cables – one for fan speed control and two for the fan and heatsink backlighting. The mounting of the fan is solved in the same way as other Fera 3 models, i.e. by means of metal clips, which are attached to the grooves in the fins on the sides of the heatsink.

   
   
   

The cooler accessories are also the same as for the Fera 3 RGB version. The mounting system for both Intel and AMD processor sockets is complemented by a second set of clips for another fan for the push-pull configuration. The package also includes a small tube of thermal paste Pactum PT-2 and a brief user guide. The presence of an Nano-reset ARGB backlight control is very practical if you do not want or cannot connect the ARGB backlight cable to your motherboard. You can then simply connect the cable from the Reset button in your PC case to this control. And then you can use the Reset button to switch between the RGB backlight modes without the need for any software.

The cooler mounting system is identical to previous versions. My reservations, which I mentioned in the review of SilentiumPC Fera 3 and Fera 3 RGB, still apply. What I miss the most is the absence of integrated spring screws to attach the heatsink to the mounting system. The screws used are relatively short and it is not so easy to hold the heatsink in the correct position and at the same time tighten the screws, which you must apply more pressure on to reach the thread. Therefore, I still recommend mounting this cooler outside the case with the motherboard in a horizontal position.

   

Specs of the cooler and fan

As mentioned above, the Fera 3 Evo ARGB is identical in size and weight to the previous RGB version and differs only in the fan used. With its height of 146 mm, the cooler is compatible with most common ATX cases and, due to the offset design of the heatsink, there is no conflict with high RAM modules. You can install it on all motherboards with sockets for current Intel and AMD processors except TR4/sTR4 sockets.

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Unfortunately, SilentiumPC does not provide much information about the fan. It is a standard 120mm fan with PWM control. The backlight is provided thanks to a standard three-pin ARGB connector, which you can connect to the motherboard or use the supplied Nano-reset control.

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