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

Conclusion and summary

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.

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.

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.

Test methodology

The Intel Core i7-5820K in the ASRock X99 Taichi motherboard serves as a heat generator. The whole rig is placed on a Streacom BC1 benchtable without fans that would provide airflow. Stress tests are performed using the Aida64 Extreme application with a duration of 45–60 minutes. The coolers are tested at three speed levels (800, 1200 and maximum) at a processor clock speed of 4200 MHz with a voltage of 1.150 V. This is followed by another series of tests at 4500 MHz with a voltage of 1.350 V. The processor power draw at these clock speeds is approx. 150 W and 200 W, respectively. The second series of tests represents a heavy load for most coolers. Thus, not all tested coolers can be expected to be able to cool the processor at all speed levels.

The noise is measured using a calibrated Voltcraft SL-100 sound level meter in quick measurement mode (125 ms) with a sensitivity range of 30–100 dBA at a distance of 50 cm from the cooler. Measurements take place at three fan speed levels: 800, 1200 and maximum. Speed control is provided by the Noctua NA-FC1 controller. The ambient noise level is below 33.0 dBA. At the end of the test, the highest temperature reached is always recorded. All data regarding temperatures and power draw of the processor are obtained from the HWiNFO64 application. The results are then corrected for ambient temperature as the final Delta T value. The test success limit is set at 80 °C. Any higher value means the processor temperature above 100 °C and a risk of thermal throttling. Therefore, if the cooler does not pass the stress test with a Delta T value below 80 °C, such a test is marked as failed.

Test results

It can already be seen here that a high amount of waste heat in combination with low speeds means that most coolers are not able to prevent the processor from overheating and subsequent throttling. This is not unexpected, it is simply the physical limit of the cooler and does not mean that the cooler is of poor quality.

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.

Conclusion and summary

SilentiumPC Fera 3 Evo ARGB is not very different from the previous model. However, it is important that the cooling potential and pleasantly quiet operation are maintained even after changing the fan to another model. The only significant change is the presence of a more sophisticated type of backlighting, which uses modern ARGB LEDs. The backlight was performed very appealing here, where the upper area of the cooler together with the fan makes the cooler an attractive point of your rig.

The mounting system remains the same as for the Fera 3 and Fera 3 RGB, and so my complaints about this system persist, but this is not a major drawback. The price/performance ratio in this version is worse than in the non-RGB version, but it is still a very solid cooler, especially if you pay attention to the visual side of your build. This cooler simply offers enough without major imperfections for an affordable price. And as a bonus, you get an attractive light show.

• Contents
• Key features
• Measurement methodology and test results
• Conclusion and summary