XASTRA is a new name in the industry. While it is new, the team is not new. DIY enthusiasts with solid experience and knowledge united to form a brand and started their journey with new identity. XASTRA named is adopted using X from Math, where it is an unknown variable, and in modern language, it represents the Extreme ideology. ASTRA is taken from the Latin’s Astrum meaning star. Together, it symbolizes the idea of future exploration and infinite possibilities.

I am taking a look at one of the liquid coolers named Astra LZ360. This cooler is available in white and black colors. It is also available in 240mm and 360mm sizes. The salient feature of this product is the matrix display with pixels and the possibility to customize each pixel using software. It reminds me of my childhood games where pixels were everything. XASTRA has actually done a fantastic job in the presentation and handling of this concept. What surprises me more is the comprehensive software that focuses on the core function instead of showing unnecessary system details.

The LZ360 features a 360mm radiator, and it comes with three pre-installed fans. Even these fans have an LED display for the matrix show. This is brilliant! The cooler features a PWM pump, ceramic bearings, and a three-phase, 6-pole motor. The fans feature an ARGB lighting halo on the front while the side frame shows the matrix display. The opposite side shows an aluminum frame.

This cooler requires Xastra Matrix software (latest version), providing a user-friendly interface and control options, including the ARGB lighting. This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA115x/1200/1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. MSRP of this cooler is USD 227.99.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The LZ360 is shipped inside a cardboard box using a green and white theme. Egged carton holds the cooler and accessories for safe shipping.

The mounting kit and controller are provided in dedicated boxes.

The following accessories are provided:

• 1x Intel Backplate
• 1x Intel Ring Bracket
• 1x AMD Ring Bracket
• 4x Intel Spacers
• 4x Thumb Screws
• 4x AMD Bolts
• 1x XASTRA T60 thermal Paste
• 1x Spatula
• 12x Radiator Screws
• 2x Tube Clips
• 1x User Guide
• 1x Controller Hub
• 1x USB Cable
• 1x ARGB and PWM Cable
• 1x Dual Sided Self-Adhesive Tape

Closer Look

It is time to take a closer look at each component of the main unit, starting with the radiator.

3x 120mm fans come pre-installed over the radiator. These fans feature a distinctive design, which we will cover later in the section.

Fans feature an aluminum cutout on the side frame for bold yet stylish looks. A braided cable comes out from each fan. These are not daisy-chained rather, they will be connected directly to the control hub. These cables don’t have standard PWM connectors.

The cooler has an aluminum radiator measuring 394x120x27mm (LxWxH). The cooler has a total height of 56mm with the 28mm thick fans. The fin stack has a 20 FPI count and comprises 12 channels for the coolant flow. There is 105mm standard gap between any two opposite end mounting holes. I did not see any bend or broken fin.

The tube connection on the radiator housing is well concealed using black rounded clamps. The gap between these connections is considerable. You can see a serial number sticker with the warranty void text as well.

You can see another Warranty Void sticker on the side of the radiator. It seems like this side has a port or something which is typically reserved for factory use only. I wonder why these brands simply don’t put the text “For Factory Use Only” instead of threatening with warranty-void text!

The radiator housing on the LZ360 has XASTRA branding on the right side. This is the side that will remain visible to the user after installing the cooler. You can see LEDs on the side frame of the fans and on the pump top. The rubber tubes are covered under the nylon braided sleeves. These tubes run to approximate to 400mm in length. The length could have been a bit more in my opinion.

Block/Pump Head

XASTRA has provided a 16×16 LED screen over the pump top. The overall dimension of the pump top is 70x70x65mm (LxWxH). It is lightweight and is well-rounded to provide better looks. The housing is made of ABS material.

The sides of the housing have cutouts which are probably to vent the heat from the pump. The curvature on the side bodes well with the rounded edges on the main housing.

The backside of the pump top has tube connections at 90° and can be rotated sidewise. The cables come out from the side of the frame. I found these tube connections difficult to rotate. They are rigid and provide maximum resistance to sliding, which is strange.

The pump is PWM regulated, which is a wise move. Speaking of the pump, it uses ceramic bearings and is powered by a 3-phase, 6-pole motor that rotates up to 3000 RPM ±10%. The matrix display is controlled via a 9-pin USB 2.0 connector.

The cooler has a copper base measuring 60 x 60 mm. You can see hints of oxidation near the upper border. This is a new cooler and not even been used!

Block in action.

FANS

XASTRA has provided 3x high-performance A-RGB Halo fans with this cooler. Each fan has 9x blades which sit inside a curved frame. The ring diffuser is located on the border of this curvature frame. This is the only area that lights up. XASTRA branding is visible on the center. Seems like Green is the official brand color for this manufacturer. Each mounting corner has a ring anti-vibration pad.

Looking at the backside of the fan, you can see a slope design on the inner frame. A 4-arm assembly is visible in an angular manner, providing focused flow. These fans are made in China. They use FDB Bearings. The fan is rated for 0.65A, taking 7.8W of power. This seems to be the total power draw of the fan, including the fan motor, A-RGB LED, and LED display. This is why a proprietary connector is used per fan. If this is only the fan’s motor power rating, then this is quite high power draw for a 12x28mm fan.

I am showing the two sides of the fan. You can see an aluminum cutout frame on one side, giving a heck of good looks to the fan, and the other side shows a 28×8 LED screen. Yes, even the fans come equipped with the LED display.

Each fan has a proprietary 9-pin USB 2.0 connector.

Control Hub

XASTRA has provided a control hub to use with the LZ360. This hub has 14 ports using USB 2.0 9-pin ports. You have to connect all fans to this hub and the pump’s USB 2.0 cable to this hub. 7 ports are on one side, and 7 ports are on the opposite side. They are labeled from 1 to 14. Order does not seem to be of any importance since the software does not show any way to recognize the number base connection. This controller has no magnetic attachment. XASTRA has provided a dual-sided self-adhesive tape. They should have considered a magnetic mount as well.

Two other ports are USB and M/B. The micro-USB cable is connected to this port, and its 9-pin connector is connected to the motherboard’s USB 2.0 header. The M/B stands for motherboard, and the cable provided for this port comes with a standard A-RGB and 4-pin PWM connector.

This controller uses two SATA connectors, which indicates a high power draw requirement due to the LED display on the fans as well.

Installation

We don’t cover the installation steps. Please use the installation guide for that. We only mention observations recorded during installation.

XASTRA has mentioned, “Made from High-purity oxygen free copper for top-notch heat transfer and minimal thermal resistance, with superior oxidation resistance, ensuring stable and efficient cooling for the core.”

Editor’s Note: I took the pictures of the cooler on one day and packed it again. The cooler was opened in the next week and dang. Oxidization has already started. The cooler was not installed or taken out of the box till this point. This invalidates the XASTRA claim of superior oxidation resistance. Something they should look into.

I did not observe any issue in the installation of this cooler on the AM5 platform.

Clearance

Make sure your PC Case has clearance for a 360mm AIO measuring 394x120x58mm.

Software

Xastra Matrix is the name of the software you need to control every aspect of the cooler except the pump’s speed. You can download this software from the XASTRA website. One good thing about this software is that you don’t need to restart the PC in order of the software to pick the connected components correctly.

The first page shows the fans’ LED display control and customization. You can control the A-RGB LED lighting and fan speed. XASTRA has even provided fan profiles (Silent, Game, Custom), and you can sync them to the motherboard as well.

You can create a group of fans depending on the configuration and define display and other settings based on the grouping. This is an excellent feature. You can even rotate the display orientation, and using Pixel, you can use 30 pre-defined modes.

You can then access the block by clicking on Liquid Cooling. There you will see the same options listed as for the Fans. You can rotate the display on the pump top and can use any of the 30 pre-defined modes. Next, you can even define your own mode and can customize any pixel using the bundled tool.

Note for XASTRA: Please provide documentation for this creating/customization on this page.

I think XASTRA used a single interface for liquid coolers and air coolers. If you use XASTRA air cooler with an LED display, then the Air Cooling page will be used for customization and control. The hardware page lists the system specs.

You can also display the system sensor values on the LED display using the software.

I recorded two sample videos showing the animation on the screens.

The above pictures show the LED display on the cooler.

Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin Black Opal X570 Pro 4TB NVMe SSD
• CPS YN1000 PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W]
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting absolute temperature in the graph because the room temperature was at 22°C throughout the day. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Also Read: Quntis Monitor Light Bar Glow Review – EnosTech.com

Result

The XASTRA Astra LZ360 A-RGB Black cooler offers a highly competitive performance, albeit its sound output is high, for which you can use the Auto PWM function or a custom fan curve.

Conclusion

I have taken a look at the Astra LZ360 A-RGB Black liquid cooler from XASTRA. This cooler provides a distinctive design as it has an LED on the pump top and the fans with a matrix display, and every pixel can be customized/controller via software. This is definitely a deviation from the market trend, hence a fresh take is highly appreciated. This pixel display reminds me of childhood memories.

This cooler is available in 240mm and 360mm size and white edition is also available. It is compatible with Intel LGA115x/1200/1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. Three 120mm A-RGB Halo fans come pre-installed over the radiator.  The radiator has overall dimensions of 394x120x58mm with fans. 58mm thickness from the 28mm thick fans. It has 12 channels for coolant flow with a fin density of 20 FPI. The manufacturer uses rubber-tubing which runs to 400mm in length and has a black nylon braided sleeve mesh.

The pump housing is made of ABS material and has a dimension of 70x70x65mm. It is quite lightweight. XASTRA has equipped a 16×16 LED screen on the pump top for pixel/matrix display. This area has no A-RGB backlighting. The pump uses a ceramic bearing and a 3-phase, 6-pole motor. It is rated for up to 3000 RPM ±10%. It is PWM-regulated. A USB 2.0 connector is also provided for the screen display.

Each fan has a 28×8 LED display on the side frame, whereas the other side has an aluminum frame for quite some looks. Each fan has a dimension of 124x120x28mm. The fan is 28mm thick, which provides more static pressure. Each fan is rated for 800 to 2200 RPM ± 10%. Airflow rating is 74.76 CFM, and air pressure rating is 3.72 mmAq. The noise level is rated at ≤ 33.9 dB(A). These fans use HFDB Bearings. The fan’s power draw is 7.8W.

XASTRA has provided a controller hub with 14 ports. Each port uses a USB 2.0 9-pin interface. This controller uses a USB 2.0 cable for connectivity with the motherboard, without which the Xastra Matrix software will not work. The controller also provides cables with standard 3-pin ARGB and 4-pin PWM connectors for motherboard connectivity so that fan speed and lighting can be synced to the motherboard’s BIOS settings. The controller uses two SATA connectors to handle a power load of up to 14 devices.

Software has no control over the pump speed since its 4-pin PWM connector is to be connected directly to the motherboard. Installation of this cooler is simple, excluding the pain of dealing with 9 cables for total connectivity. On the AMD platform, you need 9 items to install the block on the CPU.

This cooler packs competitive performance as it sits at 6th place in our graph, handling the 243W all-cores load on Ryzen 9 9900X. The sound output is high, and I would recommend using a custom fan curve or the Auto PWM function.

Combining this good performance with the spectacular matrix display with comprehensive and good software (I seldom praise software as most of the time I don’t find these software user-friendly) gives one heck of a solution for your cooling and bling requirements. Now, if XASTRA could release a PC Case with an integrated matrix display, this cooler would be a handy choice for this case, in my opinion. This cooler has a price tag of USD 227.99. This is a steep price and bulk of it would be coming from the LED display on the fans and pump top.

Pros:

• Thermal Performance
• 16×16 LED Matrix/Pixel Display on Pump Top
• 28×8 LED Matrix/Pixel Display on Fan
• A-RGB Halo lighting
• Customize sized 120mm A-RGB Fans
• Compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 sockets
• Compatible with AMD AM4/AM5 sockets
• SATA-powered Controller Hub
• Xastra Matrix Software

Cons:

• Noise
• Price
• Total Dependency on Controller Hub

Thunderbolt 5 protocol is built on the Thunderbolt 4 technology, but it has taken the game up considerably compared to the last gen. It was released back in 2023, with supporting products starting to roll out in 2024. It is not yet available in mainstream consumer PC hardware. Although USB 4.0 was introduced in Intel and AMD’s latest generations, USB 4.0 V2 or even Thunderbolt 5 is far from reach.

We have got our hands on the Orico X50 Pro, which is a Thunderbolt 5-based storage drive enclosure that supports PCIe Gen5 and Gen4 NVMe SSDs. This is a passive cooling solution, which I have reservations about based on my testing. The salient features include:

• This enclosure is based on 80Gbps bandwidth, which technically falls under USB 4.0 V2 and Thunderbolt 5 as well.
• This enclosure features 4-layer cooling, all but passive. It is engineered with an innovative micro-fin design and hydrogel thermal film to increase dissipation area by 200%.
• Since this enclosure does not come with any fan, it is a passive cooling solution providing silent operation.
• This enclosure supports up to 4TB NVMe SSDs.
• It is made from aviation-grade aluminum with precision CNC machining for durability.
• It is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac.
• It comes equipped with an 80Gbps-rated USB-C cable.

This enclosure has an MSRP of USD 239.99 but can be had at USD 199.99 on the Orico website.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The product ships in a cardboard container, which is placed inside a paperboard-made cover. The enclosure is placed in white Styrofoam. Accessories are placed under the enclosure.

The following are provided in a box:

• 1x Enclosure
• 1x USB-C Cable
• 1x Thermal Pad
• 1x Screwdriver
• 1x Screw to install SSD on the socket
• 1x User Guide

Closer Look

Orico X50 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5 Compatible Portable SSD/M.2 Enclosure is an advanced portable storage option that features 80Gbps bandwidth, hence favoring the PCIe Gen5 drives on paper, but it is not the case since this enclosure is rated for up to 6000MB/s sequential read and 5800MB/s sequential write speed, which is the domain of PCIe Gen4 drives. This enclosure has a dimension of 110x60x18.7mm (LxWxH). It is not a compact form, but you can carry it in your hand comfortably.

Looking at the top of the enclosure, you can see a black perforated cover. Orico has mentioned that this product employs advanced Hydro Film for extreme cooling. The black cover is only there to vent the heat from the thermal pad placed under it. This side of the enclosure is sealed, and the only way to open the enclosure is from the underside.

The complete enclosure is made of a single piece of aluminum, giving a perfect uni-look to it. The sides of the housing are silver in color, providing a nice blend of silver with a black top. You can see Orico branding on one side and manufacturing data on the opposite side.

The enclosure features a single USB-C port on one end. The 80Gbps rating symbol is also visible before the port, confirming its operating speed. A small hole next to the port has a white LED that comes to life during operations on the installed drive.

Looking at the base of the enclosure, you can see a fin design with 15 fins in total. According to Orico, this provides up to 200% more surface area for effective heat dissipation. The black rubber pads provide a lift to the enclosure from the surface on which it will be placed. The enclosure is to be opened from this end as well. You can see a screw on the far end of the right side. You need to undo it to take off the aluminum cover.

Orico has provided a USB-C cable that conforms to 80Gbps speeds. Its length is 0.5m. The cable is thick but flexible.

Insides

You need to remove a screw (only one screw is visible, so it should not be an issue). This will release the back cover. The inside view is shown in the picture.

Orico has used a black PCB. You are not seeing any thermal pad on this side because the controller is located on the backside of the PCB. The PCB is secured to the main frame using 4x screws. This enclosure only supports 2280 format M.2 drives. You can’t use (technically) drives with a length lower than 2280.

I have removed the PCB, and you can see a pink color 2mm thick thermal pad. This pad contacts the controller on the PCB, and on the other end, it connects to the top aluminum layer. The Hydro Film is located on the opposite side of this top aluminum layer. Orico relies heavily on thermal pads to transfer the heat from the drive and PCB towards the top for dissipation.

This enclosure supports M-Key and M/B-Key PCIe/NVMe drives only, meaning you can’t use NGFF and SATA M.2 drives.

Orico has employed JMS583 from JMicron, which is a bridge controller between the USB host and the PCIe interface device. The choice of this low-speed bridge controller is a bit surprising.

Orico has employed the JHL9480 controller from Intel. This is the main game on the enclosure, providing high-speed connectivity to the host. It supports quad-port configuration. It supports PCIe Gen4x4. Take a note on this. This means, even if you use a PCIe Gen5 NVMe drive featuring blazing fast 14000MB/s speeds, it will scale down to the x4 link speed, substantially reducing the speed. This controller is capable of 80Gbps bandwidth and 120Gbps high-resolution displays.

The other chips used on the PCB include TXU0104, which is a four-channel uni-directional level shifter, CYPM1322-9 7BZXI for PD function with the capability of driving up to 240W, and winbond 25Q16JVN1Q, which is a 16M-bit (2MB) serial flash memory chip providing firmware update support where possible.

Installation

Setting up X50 Pro is a simple task.

You need to remove the back cover from the enclosure. Install the NVMe SSD in the socket as you do on the motherboard, place a thermal pad over the SSD after peeling the protective covers from both sides of the pad, and close the cover.

Editor’s Note: While I did not face any issues during the installation process, the rapid temperature hike during the operation suggests that the back aluminum cover might not have proper contact with the thermal pad. I did not feel anything sticky on the cover either. To check that I replaced the pad with a thicker one from Gelid, and it put some pressure on the back cover, confirming proper contact.

Testing

The below-mentioned test build is used:

• Intel Core Ultra 7 265k
• DeepCool AK700 NYX Digital
• Asus ROG Strix B860-A WiFi
• Asus ThunderboltEX 5 AIC Card
• XPG Lancer RGB DDR5 7200MHz, CL34 Kit
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD [OS Drive]
• CPS YN1000 PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

We have used the following software:

• ATTO Disk Benchmark
• CrystalDiskMark
• DiskBench
• Blackmagic Disk Benchmark

Microsoft Windows 11 24H2 is used for the testing.

I have used the following NVMe SSDs for this testing:

• Biwin Black Opal X570 4TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD
• Biwin Black Opal NV7400 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
• Netac NI7000-Q 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
• XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD

In case you are wondering why, three Gen4 drives, two of these drives (Biwin and Netac) are DRAM-less editions, whereas the XPG SSD has a dedicated cache chip. During testing, I observed write speeds suffering on the DRAMLess drive (Biwin). To verify this, I put another DRAMless drive to the test and observed the same behavior. Then I used a drive with a DRAM chip, and the write speeds were ok. I will show that below in the test result.

Also Read: TerraMaster D1 SSD Enclosure Review: A Rugged DIY Portable SSD Enclosure – EnosTech.com

Test Results

I have used a PCIe Gen5 drive for all tests unless mentioned in the results. Even if you use a PCIe Gen5 drive, it will operate in Gen4x4 mode, as confirmed using Crystal Disk Info. Sorry, I did not take a picture of that; otherwise, I would have shown it here.

CrystalDiskMark

The first test result is from the PCIe Gen5 drive from Biwin. This drive is rated for up to 14000MB/s sequential read speed and 13000MB/s sequential write speed. Random read speed is up to 2000K IOPS, whereas the random write speeds are up to 1600K IOPS.

As you can see, this drive did achieve over 6000MB/s in sequential read and 5800MB/s in sequential write departments, confirming the rated speeds for this enclosure by Orico. However, random read and write speeds in every category are low.

The above is a test run on Biwin NV7400, which has a rated read speed of up to 7450MB/s and write speed of 6500MB/s. Its random read and write speeds are 1000K IOPS and 900K IOPS. You can see that write speeds are struggling regardless if I enabled the Caching feature from the Device Manager or not.

To confirm this behavior, I installed the Netac NI7000-Q 2TB drive in the enclosure and tested it again. It produced the same result. This drive has rated sequential read and write speeds of 7100MB/s and 6200MB/s. You can see a similar result to that from the Biwin NV7400 drive.

I installed the XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade 2TB NVMe drive in the enclosure and repeated the tests. Now, we have good results in the sequential read and write departments. This only concluded that this enclosure does not favor the DRAMLess drives.

ATTO Disk Benchmark

The maximum read speed using the Gen5 drive 5.80GB/s in read and 5.48GB/s in write.

Blackmagic Disk Benchmark

We have used Blackmagic Disk Benchmark as well. This is a critical benchmark from the point of view that it monitors the three video compression coders against multiple formats and checks if the drive in hand supports that format, and if it does, then at what speed.

Real World Testing

Now, it is time for real-world use. For that, we have used DiskBench in multiple scenarios to check the real-world data transfer rates. We prepared a data set of mixed files and folders, including compressed files. My focus was on random speeds, hence I made sure to use a large number of small-sized files.

A 97GB-sized compressed file was copied to the drive. The file was then read from the DiskBench. The operation took 38.346 seconds at an average speed of 2490.024MB/s. This is somewhat acceptable performance.

Next, I copied the same compressed file from one folder to another on the same drive. The transfer rate was 1399.851MB/s and it took 1.136 minutes to complete this operation.

Next, we copied a folder of 610GB size containing multiple compressed files, sub-folders, and mixed files. The main folder was copied from the same drive to a destination drive on the same drive. The transfer rate was 1045.427 MB/s, and it took 9.974 minutes to complete this operation.

Overall, I was expecting a better performance given the higher link speed available for the data transfer on Thunderbolt 5.

Gaming Load Time

This is the time when gamers are using NVMe SSDs for their games for faster loading. This is why we also test the game load times. This is done using the Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Benchmark using High settings.

It took 11.866 seconds in total to load the game. This is a much higher load time compared to the usual load times of the PCIe Gen4x4 drives, ranging from 5 to 7 seconds depending on the configuration.

Sustained Speeds

I also wanted to see the behavior of the drive under continuous operations with no brake. I have tested the PCIe Gen5 and PCIe Gen4 drives with both options having a dedicated DRAM chip. CrystalDiskMark was set up to torture the drives with a continuous sequential 1M, Q8T1 configuration for read and write speeds. Each run was 18 minutes.

I will first show the result from the XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade 2TB.

The drive did well in the read department, operating at almost above the 5100MB/s mark with a few dips, which are still above the 5000MB/s. The drive reached 72°C during this operation.

Well, well, well! The drive struggled in the write department. It started good from 5100MB/s approximate, but then dropped down to the 1800MB/s mark. The maximum temperature was 74°C.

This shows the throttling in the write department using this enclosure.

Now, I will show the results from the Biwin Black Opal X570 4TB.

We have persistent performance in the read department where speeds remain between 6200 and 6240 MB/s.

The write department shows a persistent performance as well, with speeds above 5800MB/s for the most part. The temperature reached 84°C during the operation.

Is the Gen5 result any good?

Well, the graph will say that speeds are consistent and persistent, hence indicating that the drive was able to sustain the continuous operation. You need to remember that this drive is already operating at 4×4 link speed, not 5×4. We are below half the rated speeds of 14000MB/s and 13000MB/s in sequential read and write speeds, respectively. Despite the 84°C temperature on the drive, there is no throttling because the drive is already operating at 57% reduced read speed and 55% reduced write speed under 4×4 mode. The real-world tests show a decent performance, which is not at the level of PCIe Gen4 drives if installed on the motherboard.

Thermals

The maximum temperature on a PCIe Gen4x4 drive under continuous load was 74°C, and it was 84°C for the PCIe Gen5x4 drive (operating at Gen4x4).

Editor’s Note: The enclosure was hot to touch and to my surprise, it was retaining the heat more than it dissipates. It took hours for the enclosure to normalize the temperature at idle after testing without active cooling. But when I introduced a 120mm fan blowing some air at standard speed, the enclosure quickly normalized the temperature.

Conclusion

Thunderbolt brings more on the table taking the game up from Thunderbolt 4 like up to 240W PD compared to 100W PD on Thunderbolt 4, very high refresh rates of up to 540Hz for the gamers, 80Gbps bandwidth compared to 40 Gbps on the Thunderbolt 4, multiple 8K monitors compared to two 4K monitors on the Thunderbolt 4, Three 4K limited to 144Hz to two 4K limited to 60Hz on Thunderbolt 4 etc.

We have got our hands on the Thunderbolt 5 setup, enabling us to start testing Thunderbolt 5 and USB 4.0 V2-based devices, starting with one external/portable enclosure from Orico. It is an X50 Pro Thunderbolt 80Gbps enclosure capable of delivering sequential read speeds of up to 6000MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 5800MB/s (theoretically). This range of speeds falls under the PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSDs, and this is exactly what is possible with Thunderbolt 5, which was not possible before.

This enclosure supports M.2 NVMe SSDs in the 2280 form factor in M-Key and M/B-Key types. This means you can’t use NGFF and SATA M.2 interface drives in this enclosure. This enclosure is made of a single piece of aluminum material and has a dimension of 110x60x18.7mm. It is not a compact form.

The salient highlight is the silent operations since this enclosure does not have a built-in fan for active cooling; instead, it relies on what Orico has mentioned as a Hydro Film on the top side. This pad is attached to the upper side of the top aluminum layer. The inner side of the aluminum layer has a 2mm thick small size thermal pad contacting the controller on the black PCB. The lower side of the enclosure has a fin-style design offering more surface area for heat dissipation. This lower cover contacts the M.2 drive via a bundled thermal pad.

Speaking of the controller, this enclosure is powered by the Intel JHL9480 controller that supports a PCIe Gen4 x4 interface. It is capable of 80Gbps bandwidth and 120Gbps high-resolution displays. Orico has bundled an 80G-certified cable with a 0.5m length.

Now, coming to the performance of this enclosure, we have got mixed results. I started with the PCIe Gen4x4 drive from Biwin, which is NV7400 with good read and write speeds, but the write speeds were merely in the 2700MB/s range. I changed the drive to the XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade drive and repeated the tests. This time, the sequential speeds were within an acceptable margin. The difference between these two drives is that the Biwin SSD does not have a DRAM chip, whereas the XPG SSD has a dedicated DRAM chip.

To verify this, I installed the Netac NI7000-Q SSD in the enclosure and repeated the tests. The sequential write speeds were again in the 2700MB/s range, confirming that this enclosure somehow does not bode well with DRAM-Less drives. I settled on the Biwin Black Opal X570 Pro Gen5 drive for testing purposes. The rated sequential speeds of 6000MB/s and 5800MB/s are only possible with Gen5 drives. The Gen4 drives were below the rated speeds, though nothing significant.

The synthetic test results show a good performance, but our focus is on the real-world use scenario, and this is where this enclosure struggles. The 4K speeds are even way below the 4K random read/write speeds that you would get from the SSD installed on a motherboard. In our test of copying different-sized files and folders, this enclosure was operating below the 10Gbps mark and took more time to complete the testing.

Another key observation is the thermal performance of the enclosure. The PCIe Gen5 drive reached 84°C, and we all know that so far, we need active cooling for the Gen5 drives even on the motherboard. It did 74°C on the PCIe Gen4x4 drive, and it throttled crazy on the Gen4 drive when it comes to the write department.

This enclosure is a good way to bring a high-speed storage solution, but, in my opinion, Orico needs to come out with an active cooling solution for this enclosure.

Pros:

• 80Gbps Transfer Rate
• Thunderbolt 5 Interface
• Stylish Design
• Aluminum Alloy all around
• Passive Cooling, hence Silent Operations
• Easy handling
• 80G certified cable bundled
• No tweaking needed
• Works on Windows, Linux, and Mac
• Decent Performance
• Uses Host’s power

Cons:

• It actually needs active cooling
• Write speeds struggle on DRAMless SSDs
• Slow 4K Random Read/Write speeds
• Price

Thermal Grizzly has launched new CPU water blocks named Mycro Pro RGB. These are based on the Direct-Die version of Mycro water blocks but with a key difference: using standard mounting without needing to delid your CPU. These water blocks are available in two configurations: AM5 and LGA1851. The trend of releasing socket-specific water blocks is booming, as it allows manufacturers to tailor their solution specific to the hot spots on the die of CPUs from both camps, effectively taming the thermals accordingly.

I have got my hands on Mycro Pro RGB for AM5, which is also backward compatible with the AM4 socket. The salient features include:

• High-performance CPU water block for AMD AM5 socket
• Fine-Mesh Filter at the Inlet Port
• Nickel-plated copper cold plate with ultra-high-performance microfins (0.2 mm)
• Metal housing with RGB-illuminated viewing window and internal layout
• Inlet and outlet ports with standard G1/4″ threads

The key highlight is the slot width and the fin width measuring the same at 0.2mm. The AM5 variant packs 68 micro-fins, whereas the Intel variant packs 70 micro-fins. The silicone-made jet plate uses a custom design to effectively spray the inlet coolant over the fins. The inner chamber made of tempered glass acrylic material sits between the anodized aluminum main housing and the jet plate/Cold plate.

This block has a relatively low profile compared to other blocks; as a result, it has more length than the width. To make it even more effective, Thermal Grizzly has installed a fine filter at the inlet port to stop contaminants from plaguing the cold plate that could reduce the thermal dissipation due to clogging.

Last but not least, the block features an A-RGB backlighting which is visible through the acrylic housing around the ports.

This block has an MSRP of USD $163.68. It can currently be found on Amazon for $149.99.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The shipping box is made of cardboard material. The overlapping cover is made of paperboard. Thermal Grizzly has kept it minimalistic and basic, which I appreciate. Opening the box, you will be greeted by documentation and a hand-filled paper showing you the results of the internal test by the Thermal Grizzly team. The result is a pressure test for 600 mbar.

The mounting kit comprises:

• 1x Allen Key 2 mm
• 1x Allen Key 2.5 mm
• 4x Thumb Nuts
• 4x Standoff #6-32 Screws
• 4x Steel Springs
• 4x Polyamide M4 Washers

Closer Look

Let’s start taking a look at the block.

The Mycro Pro AM5 RGB block has a dimension of 102x66x15mm (WxLxH). Comparing it with the Alphacool Apex 1 block, which stands at 100x86x32.30mm, you can see the low-profile design of the Mycro Pro RGB. The overall height after its installation is 29.5mm. Its weight is 201gm compare to over 500 g for the Apex 1 block.

The main housing is made of anodized aluminum material, and it has a black painted finish. It is a matte finish with a smooth surface. The mounting holes are integrated into the main housing, which is what you would also get on the Direct Die versions of Mycro/Mycro Pro blocks.

Looking at the top or main view of the block, you can see a large section made of tempered glass acrylic material, which is translucent. Thermal Grizzly has mentioned that the acrylic glass undergoes an annealing process. This is done after the milling process. This annealing process relieves the internal build-up pressure, which is a well-known fact for tempered glass. This reduces the risk of stress cracks over long periods of use. A common complaint about using the regular acrylic-made blocks is their crack-prone nature, which may come from over-tightening the fittings over the ports. Thermal Grizzly has effectively resolved this issue while providing the visible window for the ARGB backlighting.

You can see two standard female G1/4” threaded ports. The one on the left is the dedicated outlet port and the one on the right is a dedicated inlet port. When facing front, the outlet port will be on the top, whereas the inlet port will be at the base or lower side. These ports have a 6 mm maximum depth.

You can also see a fine mesh filter under the inlet port. Thermal Grizzly has placed it there to prevent the particles from flowing into the cold plate of the engine. These particles could come from the radiator or pump/reservoir and can clog the cold plate fins, disturbing the thermal performance of the cooler by obstructing the flow of coolant.

You can see Thermal Grizzly branding on one side of the block and the Mycro Pro branding on the opposite end. When installing this block, make sure that the Thermal Grizzly side faces the DIMM slots.

The side view of the block presents a slim profile, which is a hallmark of this design. We don’t have a bulky product. You can see that the housing encapsulates the inner chamber, jet plate, and top of the cold plate. The base or exposed portion of the cold plate is secured to the main housing using 8x screws.

I am showing the base of the block. You can see that the actual nickel-plated copper base has an offset layout compared to the total area of the block. This base and its internal layout favor the AM5 CPUs by covering the hot spot areas under the die. The base does not come with any protective cover over it.

You can also see a flat cable coming out from the top side of the base. This is an ARGB cable that has a standard connector.

Thermal Grizzly has provided a standard 3-pin ARGB connector to power/regulate the LED backlighting on this block. You can see that the base has a chrome mirror finish.

Inside View

I open the water blocks after doing the thermal testing to ensure that the block is tested on factory settings. You need to undo the 8x screws on the nickel-plated copper plate. After that, simply pull the base, and it will come off along with the Jet Plate.

You can see an inner chamber or structure that is made of tempered glass acrylic material. You can also see two different thicknesses of O-rings. These are made of highly elastic EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), which is resistant to ozone and UV radiation. The main O-Ring sits between the inner chamber and the nickel plate base, whereas the small O-Ring sits between the Inlet port and the jet plate so that hot and cold coolants don’t mix up.

I am showing the backside of the inner chamber. This is the side that faces the cold plate.

This side of the inner chamber faces the top of the block. I mentioned earlier that the inner O-Ring barriers between the cold and hot coolant.

Removing the inner chamber will showcase the complete housing that is made of anodized aluminum. You can see an ARGB LED strip comprising 12 ARGB LEDs installed on the inner frame. The screw holes are on the main frame. The long screws pass through the base to the inner chamber at these holes for a secure fit of the complete unit.

I am showing the Jet Plate from both sides. This jet plate resembles the design of the inner chamber. The cutout or slit on this jet plate sits right on top of the slit between the micro-fins on the cold plate. This is where the cold or normal coolant enters the block and is evenly spread over the fin area. Notice the cutouts on the upper portion of the jet plate providing a flow for the coolant as well.

The overall design creates high water pressure using a same width slit on the bottom of the jet plate that sprays water over the cold plate. Intake is high on the inlet of the jet plate, and pressured outlet is provided towards the cold plate.

The above picture shows a nickel-plated copper cold plate with the jet plate placed over it. This comes right after opening the block. You can see water drops all around because the block was opened after the testing.

You can see a cold plate integrated into the base. The overall thickness seems to be 4mm or less. This block packs 68 fins in two columns with a slit in between these columns. The sides of the fin stack have insets. The fins are extended towards the edges. Each fin has a thickness of 0.2mm and gap between the fins is also 02.mm. The overall design of the block favors high coolant flow while reducing the resistance to flow, which will come in handy for effective thermal dissipation.

The hot water/coolant comes out from the sides of the cold plate in this block and is moved out from the top hole.

Installation

The overall installation of the block is simplified and convenient. You need to install the 4x Standoff #6-32 screws or bolts. Then place the block over the socket by passing the threaded portion of the screws through holes in the housing. Then place the 4x steel springs on the threaded portion of the screws and use 4x thumb nuts to secure the block using the 2.5mm Allen key. Don’t forget to place the 4x Polyamide M4 washers between the springs and nuts.

Test Loop Setup

The following components are used to set up a custom loop for thermal performance measurement:

• ALPHACOOL NexXxos HPE-45 Full Copper 360 Radiator
• ALPHACOOL CORE 100 AURORA RESERVOIR ACETAL/ACRYL WITH APEX VPP PUMP
• ALPHACOOL tubing AlphaTube HF 16/10 (3/8″ID) – clear 3m (9,8ft) Retailbox
• ALPHACOOL Eiszapfen 16/10mm compression fitting 90° rotatable G1/4 – 4pcs Set Chrome
• ALPHACOOL Eiszapfen 16/10mm compression fitting G1/4 – chrome six pack
• ALPHACOOL 16/10 compression fitting 45° revolvable G1/4 – chrome
• Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Paste
• Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM 120mm Fans

The following CPU water blocks are included in the testing:

• Alphacool Apex 1 AM5 Water Block
• EK-Quantum Velocity³ Plexi CPU Water Block
• ALPHACOOL Core 1 AURORA Silver
• Corsair iCUE Link XC7 RGB Elite
• Raijintek Forkis Scylla Elite

ARGB Lighting

The ARGB lighting on this block is ok. It is subtle.

Thermal Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [243W fixed]
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• ASRock Radeon RX7600 Phantom Gaming 8G OC for Display
• Biwin X570 Pro 4TB Gen5 NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+ 2P 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	243W
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
Fan Speed	100% PWM
Pump Speed	60% PWM
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting absolute temperature in the graph because room temperature was at 24°C throughout the day. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

I don’t think I need to say anything about the result. Mycro Pro AM5 ARGB is killing it with superb performance.

Conclusion

Thermal Grizzly has released a new CPU water block named Mycro Pro RGB. You can take this as a standard version of the Direct-Die version but with modifications. In line with the requirement and trend of platform/socket specific cooler, these blocks are available for AM5/AM4 and LGA 1851 sockets separately. This is due to the different die design and hot spot coverage on those dies.

Unlike the Alphacool flagship Apex 1 block, which has roughly 995 g, this block weighs only around 201 g, which says a lot about the differences. The Mycro Pro AM5 RGB block has a dimension of 102x66x15mm (WxLxH). The height or thickness of 15mm on this block compared to 32.30mm on the Apex 1 indicates a slim profile.

The main housing is made of anodized aluminum material, and it is finished in black with a plain and smooth surface. The cooling engine sits inside this housing, leaving only the nickel-plated copper base on the outer side. The sides of the housing feature the brand’s branding.

The main chamber is made of tempered glass acrylic material, which goes through the annealing or tempering process, as the name indicates, to relieve the internal pressure. This reduces the risks of cracks that are common on standard acrylic designs.

Two standard female G1/4” ports are provided on the main area. The inlet port is on the base, and it features a fine mesh filter to stop particles from going inside the cold plate and clogging the area. The top port is a dedicated outlet port.

The complete middle area features ARGB backlighting provided by integrated 12 ARGB LEDs that are regulated using a standard ARGB connector. The main or core area is the cold plate that features 0.2mm micro-fins and a slot width. This version of the water block packs 68 fins, whereas the Intel variant has 70 fins.

The center of the fins has a slit on which a jet plate is placed. This plate has a wider area on the inlet with a slit on the base providing high water pressure. The opposite area has insets providing further channels for the coolant flow. This jet plate sits between the inner chamber and the cold plate. Two EPDM material O-Rings provide a barrier between the hot and cold channels in addition to the main housing and the nickel plate base.

Installation of this block is also simplified, and all tools are provided with the mounting kit. You can’t use a Phillips screwdriver. Allen keys are provided for this purpose. I did not observe any issue during the installation process.

This water block has an MSRP of US $163.68, which is a tad below the price of the Apex 1 from Alphacool. However, the slim profile and excellent performance of the Mycro Pro RGB make it a better candidate for your bucks, although it is not as stylish as the Apex 1!

Pros:

• Excellent Thermal Performance
• Slim Profile
• Fine Mesh Filter on inlet
• Subtle A-RGB lighting
• Tempered Glass Acrylic Material
• Well-designed Inner Chamber and Jet Plate
• 0.2mm micro-fins
• 68 fins
• Excellent Coverage of AM5 Dies
• Simplified Installation

Cons:

• Price
• No Backup/Spare washer, screw, and spring

Thermal paste plays a crucial role in the effective cooling of the main components such as the CPU and GPU etc. There are multiple factors contributing to the optimal performance of the given thermal paste over the period of time like its thermal conductance, viscosity, operating temperature range, make-up, electrical conductivity, cure time etc.

ID-Cooling X45 got praise from all around for its high-performance, durability, and other characteristics. This time, ID-Cooling has come out with a new generation of thermal paste named Frost X55, but with a twist. They have released thermal pastes with scents. Yes, you read that correctly. They have released a total of 5 variants of this thermal paste, which are:

• Luna [Where ocean meets the moon]
• Poma [Apple Flavor]
• Bella [Strawberry Flavor]
• Viola [Violet, in full bloom]
• Core [Scent-free]

Another key parameter is that these pastes are only available in a 4 g pack. A 2 g pack is also expected soon. No more, no less. The Core variant is listed at USD 7.99, whereas the other scents are available in USD 8.99.

A latest trend in the market is the thermal pastes being released with high thermal conductivity ratings, and part of it comes from high viscosity (coming from filler content), which is an effort to rule out the pump-out effect, though it is not that effective in achieving this goal. Anyhow, high thermal conductivity makes these pastes perform much better, which is the ultimate goal.

Another issue with high viscosity is application of these pastes on the CPU. Regardless of what the marketing of these pastes says, you will face a challenge applying the paste. My solution is simple. Put the tube in a hot cup of water for some time and then quickly apply the paste on the CPU and even spread it if you want to opt for an even spread; otherwise, dot methods will also cover you well.

This thermal paste is available in 2 g, 4 g, and 8 g packs with a shelf life of 5 years.

Closer Look

We will take a look at the packaging and tube before moving on to the testing section.

The paste is shipped inside a paperboard packing box with one key change. These boxes come with a picture of figures, which reminds me of ADATA/XPG, as they commonly use figures on the packaging boxes and products.

Our sample (Somehow, ID-Cooling only sent one pack!) has a Luna scent, which ID-Cooling resembles with the calmness of the ocean. Two salient highlights are a 16.2 W/mK thermal conductivity rating and 4 g packing.

The salient specifications of the paste are printed in multiple languages on the backside. The paste is made in China.

ID-Cooling has provided the following:

• 1x Tube of thermal paste
• 2x Grease Cleaners
• 1x Spatula

ID-Cooling has switched to a better-looking container tube with Frost X55, as it is not circular like the old design. The color coating on the neck of the tube indicates the scent of the paste. FROST in chrome is printed over the tube.

Grab the tip of the cap and pull it to remove the cap. It is a simple function. The narrow nozzle becomes visible from where the paste emits.

Specifications

Color	Grey
Net Weight	2gm/4gm
Density	2.9 g/cm³
Viscosity	120 Pas
Thermal Conductivity	16.2 W/mK
Thermal Resistance	0.02°C-cm2/W
Operating Temperature	-50°C to 250°C

This thermal paste is silicone-based, using aluminum in concentration with other compounds. I did not get the datasheet; otherwise, I would have provided the composition. The MX-7 from ARCTIC uses aluminum with polydimethylsiloxane and melanin concentration. If I remember correctly, the HY-P17 from Halnziye that I recently tested uses Aluminum and zinc oxide in combination along with dimethylsiloxane.

Unlike what the manufacturer says, this paste is liquid. Since it has high viscosity, it is a bit dry, which makes its handling challenging. You can think of this as a trade-off for high performance over easy application. It is gray color, odorless paste, and it is not electrically conductive. It is also non-corrosive, meaning it will not damage the components over time.

You will get the same smudgy, sludge sort of dry paste that I have seen from the likes of Thermal Grizzly Duronaut, ID-Cooling Frost X45, and Halnziye HY-P17. All these pastes have high viscosity. It is quite difficult to even spread this thermal paste. This paste seems to have high cohesion, which makes it last long without cracking or drying out, resulting in a stable composition.

A better alternative is using 9 small dots on the IHS or 5 medium dots depending on the SKU, and the rest of the job will be done by the cooler’s weight and mounting pressure. The other way around is using an X-shape application.

Here is a quick tip from me: Put the tube in a hot cup of water for a few minutes and then apply in X shape for easy application. Be quick before it changes its state!

Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [243W]
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• Lian Li GA-II Lite 360 Performance
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin Black Opal X570 Pro 4TB NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+ 2P 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W]
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste Application	5 dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting delta temperature in the graph since throughout the testing, ambient temperature varies from 16°C to over 17°C. Yup, winter is here. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

I complete multiple thermal cycles before actually testing thermal paste. In my testing experience, every paste has some cure time regardless of what marketing says otherwise. Every run uses an R23.2 run for 30 minutes stress test followed by letting the CP cool down and then powering it off. All pastes are tested using the same method hence, results are comparable. I retest thermal paste whenever testing a new paste.

Result

Let’s take a look at the results.

The result speaks for itself. Although Frost X55, MX7, and Duronaut are in close margin, the Frost X55, with some margin, has a lead.

Editor’s Note: Hey ID-Cooling, where is the scent on this?

Conclusion

I have tested ID-Cooling Frost X55, which is a new-generation high-performance thermal paste from the manufacturer taking over the famous X45. This paste is listed to be available in 2 g and 4 g packs, but right now only 4 g is available.

This thermal paste comes in 4 scents and 1 non-scented edition. This is a new thing for the users, but only if it smells. I could not smell anything; plus, what is the point of scent if the PC Case is to remain closed with proper ventilation coming from optimal airflow. Anyhow, I digress.

Coming back to the main topic, the new thermal paste seems to be a combination of mainly aluminum with other compositions of other metals, which I could not get data on. This thermal paste also comes with high viscosity, which is contributed by the filler content.

This means it would be difficult to spread even in application because it is less liquid. This paste has low adhesion and high cohesion, and it is designed to reduce the pump-out effect. I can’t say it would totally eliminate the pump-out effect, though. This thermal paste has a thermal conductivity rating of 16.2 W/mK.

This thermal paste is electrically non-conductive and non-corrosive, which is good, as the paste is likely not to damage any component. In case you find it difficult even to spread this paste, you can put the tube in a cup of hot water for some time and then quickly apply it on the surface. Alternatively, the 5-dots method or a single line/cross line would also do the job for you.

The 4 g pack of scented tube is listed at USD 8.99 with a per-gram price tag of USD 2.25. The non-scented pack has a price of USD 7.99 for a 4 g pack with a per-gram price of USD 1.99. This price and that of the competition make the Halnzyie thermal pastes a better value, given their low prices and similar performance characteristics [Just saying].

ID-Cooling is back with yet another solid proposition in the thermal paste category, providing a sucker punch to the competition, and guess what? This performance is scented as well! It is recommended by us.

In my last take, I tested a new cooler from be quiet! Which is the Dark Rock 6. This time I am taking a look at the flagship new-generation cooler named Dark Rock 6 Pro. One salient highlight in both coolers is the new concealed design for tidiness, masking the surface and heat pipe tips while remaining within the be quiet! design language.

The design team has done a good job in this department, though dare I say that the design language on Dark Rock Pro 6 is not new for me (at least) since I have seen such a design on many other coolers from the competition. But it is good to see be quiet! adapting to the situation and remaining up-to-date with the competition.

The Dark Rock 6 aims at mainstream gamers who want silent cooling without a compromise and utmost clearance/compatibility, whereas the Dark Rock Pro 6 aims at the heavily overclocked systems and workstation users, keeping the temperature of the CPU in check while allowing heavy workloads. I praised Dark Rock 6 for its silent performance, and to my surprise, Dark Rock Pro 6 offers a similar noise profile, though a tad more when compared to Noctua NH-D15 G2.

Dark Rock Pro 6 is a dual tower configuration, and it is equipped with two customized Silent Wings PWM fans with different sizes (135mm and 120mm). Using two different-sized fans operating at different speeds reduces humming noise coming from frequencies and contributes to reducing the overall noise level.

Another salient feature is a rail-mount design on the front fan, which is retained from the Dark Rock Elite design concept. It is similar to Corsair A115. The middle fan, which is 135mm, is integrated into the top cover housing, and the complete housing is removable. Be quiet! has retained the design element of Dark Rock Elite. It is also similar to Sudokoo SK620V and ARCTIC Freezer 50. The fan’s handling is convenient, as you can slide it out and put it back in whereas the rail-mount design on the front makes the adjustment of the fan’s height a breeze.

Be quiet! has introduced P and Q fan curves as well, which are hardware-based. Q mode triggers semi-passive cooling in which fans will not spin under 40% PWM range whereas the P mode activates the performance mode, providing the full PWM range.

The salient features include:

• Semi-passive quiet mode with full fan stop feature
• Hardware switch to toggle between P and Q modes
• 7 optimized high-performance heat pipes
• 2 custom-designed Silent Wings PWM fans
• Optimized heat sink for more cooling power
• Height-adjustable front fan with rail system
• Heat sink cut-outs for high RAM and VRM cooler compatibility
• Top cover with brushed finish aluminum branding
• Integrated middle fan with the top cover for convenient installation
• Simple mounting systems for fans and heat sink
• Special ceramic-particle black coating and side cover create the signature elegant
• Compatible with liquid metal thermal grease
• 3-Years Warranty

The be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 6 has an MSRP of €109.90 and US $129.90. It comes with a 3-year warranty

Specifications

Packing and Unboxing

The product is shipped inside a cardboard box in black color theme. Be quiet! has retained its theme for the packing boxes. Inside, you can see a screwdriver on the top of the packing cover. You need to lift this cover entirely to expose the cooler and accessory box which are placed side by side.

The following are provided:

• 2x AMD Mounting Brackets
• 4x AMD Spacers
• 4x AMD Screws
• 1x Intel Backplate
• 4x Intel Screws for backplate
• 4x Intel Rubber washers for backplate
• 2x Intel Mounting Brackets
• 4x Standoff Screws
• 1x Thermal Paste
• 1x Long Neck Screwdriver
• 1x User Guide
• 1x Warranty Paper

Editor’s Note: The AMD offset mounting brackets provided with the Dark Rock 6 are not compatible with Dark Rock Pro 6 due to different sizes and mounting orientation.

Closer Look

Let’s take a look at the cooler and see its design and layout.

The dimension of the cooler is 147x140x169mm. The dimensions of Dark Rock Elite is 145x136x168. You can see that Dark Rock Pro 6 has more size, resulting in more surface area as well. This is why this cooler is rated at 300W TDP, whereas the Dark Rock Elite is rated at 280W TDP. The Dark Rock Pro 6 has a weight of 1336g, whereas the Dark Rock Elite has 1340g weight.

The new cooler is compatible with Intel LGA1150/1151/1155/1200/1700 sockets. It is compatible with AMD AM4 and AM5 sockets. There is no support for Intel LGA20xx so keep that in mind. The complete assembly is black ceramic color spray-painted. The special black coating with ceramic particles makes a perfect transfer of heat possible.

The overall closed design speaks for itself and creates a bold yet stylish outlook that will bode well in themed builds, particularly the neutral one.

Heatsink Design

The top of the heatsink has a non-magnetic cover which is made of plastic and has an aluminum plate in the center with be quiet! branding. You can see that the front fan is recessed compared to the top cover. This is because be quiet! has inserted packing material between the top cover and heatsink which needs to be removed during installation. Otherwise, the top cover and front fan housing sit at the same level, subject to the height adjustment of the front fan.

I have removed the top cover along with its attached fan. You can see the placement of heat pipes in each heatsink. The far ends have a group of two heat pipes side-by-side, whereas the 3 heat pipes are placed at the same interval in a straight line, providing maximum contact with the fin stack.

Also, check the 4x tabs (2 on each heatsink at far ends). These catch the top cover for a secure fit. Also check the labeling of L and R on the front side rail mount top pads. This is important as it provides visual aid to the user for proper fan mounting. The rail mounts are removable as well.

I am showing the top cover. You can see that the middle fan is attached to this cover. The four mounting holes are where this cover sits and contacts the tabs on the heatsink for fitting. You can remove the fan assembly from the top cover, for which screws are used.

You can see that both coolers have a similar outlook on the front side with the fan assembly. Dark Rock Pro 6 features a Silent Wings 120mm fan on the front. The fan is enclosed inside the housing, providing a closed look that looks brilliant. You can slide the fan upwards to release it from the heatsink. Be quiet! has provided a proper rail mount on the front, allowing you to adjust the height of the fan as per the requirement. This is not possible in Dark Rock 6.

I am showing the heatsink on the front side after removing the fan. You can see latches on the side rails on which the fan is slid. This cooler has 45 fins in total per tower. They are in a straight-line pattern on the front, which reduces the air drag and reduces the noise and vibration.

Also take note of the double-step design wherein 6x fins are offset compared to the top fins stack. They have full length but reduced width. The last 3x fins are further stepped. They have the same width as the 6x above fins but reduced length. The step design provides clearance for the motherboard near the socket/VRM area. Be quiet! has provided maximum clearance for the DIMM slots and motherboard areas from the heatsink perspective.

I am showing the rear of the heatsink. Here we have an alternate arrangement of the fin plates in groups of 8 and 7. The 7 groups are in an inset layout compared to the full width of the 8 groups. Each group has 3 fins forming a fin array design. This is similar to the Dark Rock Elite.

The top cover has a slider button with P and Q labels on the rear. The P stands for performance mode, and it runs the fan at full speed. However, you can achieve a semi-passive mode using the Q (silent) mode. Two important points are:

• You need to shut the PC off before switching the mode.
• For Q mode, you need to set the fan header setting to either Silent or Normal depending on the motherboard’s UEFI. Silent should work on the majority of the motherboards.

Under Q-mode, the fans would come to a stop under 40% PWM load, providing excellent sound output. Please note that your motherboard should support the Fan stop function as well.

Since the toggle button is implemented at the hardware level and is integrated into the top cover, you can see a cable going from the dedicated hardware under the cover towards the middle fan.

Editor’s Note: I appreciate the provision of two modes for the fan performance but it is not convenient to shut down PC every time to make a change and then open the PC case to access the slider button. A software-based control would rather be better. The location of the toggle button is not convenient as well. This button is on the rear of the cooler meaning you need to access this button by placing your hand between the rear fan of your PC and this cooler

Both sides are identical hence, I have shown one. Looking at the side of the heatsink, we can notice three things:

1. The interlocking mechanism of the fins is located on the sides.
2. The front tower has step-design fins providing clearance for the DIMM slots and motherboard area.
3. The housing is extended on the sides as well, providing a closed look (almost). Be quiet! has left some areas exposed, which is understandable, as air vent is needed.

The cooler comes with an aluminum heatsink over the base that has a cross-bar pre-installed. The crossbar has two screws (non-spring) to install the cooler over the mounting brackets. This heatsink has 16×7 array layout, providing some surface area for heat dissipation as well.

This cooler comes equipped with 7x copper heat pipes which are also black spray coated. Each heat pipe has a thickness of 6mm. 4x pipes are grouped into two, whereas 3x pipes are placed on a straight line. Hence providing maximum contact with the fin stack for even heat spread.

The cooler has a nickel-plated copper base on this cooler. It has a protective cover to protect it from scratching during shipping/handling. Don’t forget to peel it off before installing the cooler.

Fan Design

Be quiet! has provided a customized Silent Wings 120mm fan on the front of this cooler that has dimensions of 120x120x25mm. It is encapsulated in a frame providing a unified look to the cooler. This fan has 9x blades with the same striped design that we have seen on other be quiet! fans. The center has be quiet! branding over it.

Be quiet! has mentioned that they have reduced the tip clearance of this fan to improve the airflow and increase air pressure. They have used advanced fluid dynamic bearings and a 3-phase, 6-pole motor for the fan.

Its maximum speed is 2000 RPM, generating 89.95 CFM at 12VDC at an air pressure of 2.5mmH₂O. The input current is rated at 0.2A. The input power is 2.4W.

Looking at the back side of the front fan assembly. The slide bars are secured using screws. A 4-arm assembly is in the spiral design. Each arm has a curvature providing a directional airflow. One arm has a wider body as wires are routed from the center to the frame over it.

Be quiet! has used a proprietary 7-pin connector on the front fan. I would have preferred a standard 4-pin PWM connector.

The middle fan is a Silent Wings 135mm, having a dimension of 135x135x25mm. it has 7x blades with a striped design. The center has be quiet! branding. It is rated for 1900 RPM speed generating 76.59 CFM airflow and an air pressure of 2.25mmH₂O. It can be detached from the top cover.

The backside of the fan shows same spiral shaped 4-arms assembly, with one arm having wires routed towards the frame of the fan.

The middle fan has a 7-pin proprietary socket to which the front fan’s connector is attached, forming a daisy-chain connection. It also has a 4-pin PWM connector which is then connected to the motherboard fan header.

Editor’s Note: The limitation of this design is that you can’t control the speed of both fans individually since the toggle button is attached to the middle fan only. This is why be quiet! did not provide a standard connector on the front fan (probably).

Installation

We don’t cover the installation steps. You can use the user guide for that purpose. But we mention the observations noted during the installation/removal of the cooler. Be quiet! has used different mounting brackets for AM5 mounting. They have provided an offset of -8mm. Each bracket has two mounting holes on each end. One is labeled 0, and the other is labeled 8. Using 0 will provide maximum clearance for the motherboard. The 8 will provide maximum coverage of the hotspot area on the CPU die, providing good thermal exchange for maximum performance.

This is nothing new. Noctua was the first brand to come out with this idea, and they released dedicated mounting kits for their coolers, followed by integrating this design as a part and parcel of every new release. I have installed this cooler on the AMD AM5 platform and did not observe any issues. The overall installation was quick and simple.

Be quiet! Still uses the same Intel mounting kit that is on their other coolers, and it involves 19 items to set up the backplate and secure it with the motherboard so that the cooler can be installed on it.

Clearance

This cooler has excellent clearance for the RAM. The G.Skill kit has 44mm height, and there is still some space left under the fan, which gives the impression that you can use 48 or 49mm tall profiles with this cooler without needing to adjust the fan’s height.

There is no obstruction for the PCIe slot.

The cooler provides good clearance for the motherboard areas.

The height of this cooler is 169mm. You would need a 172mm clearance in your PC Case. Leaving some margin is fruitful.

Testing

I have used the below-mentioned configuration: –

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• G.Skill TridentZ Neo RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVME SSD
• CPS YN1000 PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
PBO	Advanced 243W
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	5 Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

Dark Rock Pro 6 offers excellent performance as it closes the gap between the Noctua’s NH-D15 G2 with only 0.1°C, which is negligible. The sound profile is also good, though not at the level of Noctua’s cooler. I am impressed with this cooler. The Dark Rock Elite got my praise when I tested it, and this time the Dark Rock Pro 6 has my praise as well.

Conclusion

After testing the Dark Rock 6, I have tested the Dark Rock Pro 6 this time. This is a flagship air cooling solution from be quiet! aimed towards the overclocked systems and workstation workloads where thermals need to be kept in check for heavy workloads. This cooler is rated for 300W TDP.

Be quiet! has provided the same concealed, unified outlook on this cooler as on the Dark Rock 6, providing a visually pleasing cooler that packs a solid performance punch with better acoustics. This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA1150/1151/1155/1200/1700 and AMD AM5 and AM4 sockets. No surprise there, as this cooler does not support the legacy LGA20xx socket.

This is a dual-tower configuration that comes with custom Silent Wings 120mm and 135mm fans. The cooler has a dimension of 147x140x169mm (LxWxH). It uses a ceramic black color spray coating on the assembly for better heat transfer. The complete assembly is black in color, including the heat pipes.

The foremost aspect of the new cooler is the overall look and feel of it. The cooler uses a unified closed design using a plastic frame or housing surrounding the heatsink. Even the front fan is enclosed inside a housing that bodes well with overall design symmetry.

The front tower has 45 fins in total with a stepped layout of 36+6+3 fins. This is a double-stepped layout on the front tower only, providing good clearance for the DIMM slots and motherboard areas from the front. The rear tower has 45 fins without stepping. The interlocking mechanism is provided on both sides of the heatsink. This cooler packs 7x 6mm thick copper heat pipes. The nickel-plated copper base can safely be used with liquid metal. This was also a feature of Dark Rock Elite.

Be quiet! has provided a customized 120mm fan on the front tower with a rail-mount design that allows easy height adjustment. Say bye to the clips. This fan is rated for 2000 RPM speed, generating 89.95 CFM airflow and 2.50 mmH₂O air pressure.

The middle fan is attached to the top cover. The top cover is non-magnetic and can be pulled easily, removing the middle 135mm fan. This fan is rated for 1900 RPM speed, generating 76.59 CFM airflow and air pressure of 2.25mmH2O. Both fans use 7-pin proprietary connectors for daisy-chain, and then a standard 4-pin PWM connector on the middle fan is attached to the motherboard’s fan header. The only reason for the non-standard connector is the implementation of a toggle button for P and Q modes. This button is wired to the middle fan only.

The P and Q modes are implemented on a hardware level, which is something I would want on a software level since I am not comfortable opening the PC Case just to switch the mode. Plus, you need to shut down the PC before changing the mode. Also, don’t forget to change the fan settings in UEFI to silent for Q mode. The motherboard should support the fan stop feature. The placement of the toggle button on the rear is not helpful.

Be quiet! has provided offset mounting brackets for the AMD with -8mm. You can install the brackets in regular mounting using 0 labeled holes or use 8 labeled holes. The latter provides maximum coverage of the hot spot area on the Die for maximum performance.

Installing this cooler on AMD AM5 platform requires 10x items. The bundled long-neck screwdriver is needed for the installation since the rear screw on the mounting plate is under the heatsink. Overall installation is a walk in the park, and I did not observe any issues.

The be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 6 has an MSRP of €109.90 and US $129.90. It comes with a 3-year warranty. This cooler has performed at the level of Noctua NH-D15 G2, handling the 243W all-core load on Ryzen 9 9900X. The sound profile is good as well.

Pros:

• Excellent Thermal Performance
• Excellent unified, closed outlook
• AMD AM5 and Intel LGA1700 Socket Support
• Rail Mount for front fan
• Customized Silent Wings 120mm Front Fan
• Customized Silent Wings 135mm Middle Fan
• Removable Top Cover
• Middle Fan integrated into the top cover
• P and Q Modes via a slider button
• AMD Offset Mounting Brackets
• Better RAM and VRM Clearance
• Special ceramic-particle black coating
• Noise
• Price

Cons:

• Warranty Period
• Location of toggle button

In my opinion, the tough competition in the air coolers is saturating the market, and it is now becoming evident that marginal performance gains are substantiated with augmentations like overall outlook of the cooler, RGB effects, mainstream installation kits, and customized fans. Nevertheless, brands are continuously coming out with new models offering better performance over the predecessors.

Be quiet! has released two new coolers:

• Dark Rock 6
• Dark Rock Pro 6

I will be covering Dark Rock 6 in this article, followed by its Pro version in the next article. The Dark Rock 6 is a single tower configuration with a customized 135mm Silent Wings fan and a rail-mount (almost) design. The black housing around the heatsink gives one unified and stylish profile to the cooler.

This is a mainstream cooler particularly aimed at gamers who would want silent cooling, with outstanding universal clearance and compatibility with convenient installation. Be quiet! has introduced P and Q fan curves as well, which are hardware-based. Q mode triggers semi-passive cooling in which fans will not spin under 40% PWM range.

It is about time, be quiet! has switched to fin-array structure fin placement. This is something that DeepCool has been doing for quite some time, and it has proven its effectiveness. The salient features include:

• Semi-passive quiet mode with full fan stop function
• Hardware switch to toggle between P and Q modes
• 6x heat pipes
• Revamped heat sink for better cooling performance
• Silent Wings 135mm PWM fan
• Achieves only 31.1dB(A) at maximum fan speed
• Universal RAM compatibility with better clearance for VRM cooler/heat sinks
• Easy mounting system for fan and heat sink
• Special ceramic-particle black coating
• Magnetic top cover
• Compatible with liquid metal thermal grease
• 3-year manufacturer’s warranty

The be quiet! Dark Rock 6 has an MSRP of €89.90 and US $109.90. It comes with a 3-year warranty

Specifications

Packing and Unboxing

The product is shipped inside a cardboard box in a black color theme. Be quiet! has retained its theme for the packing boxes. Inside, you can see a screwdriver on one side. The accessory box is tucked on the left, and the cooler is placed in the middle.

The following are provided:

• 2x AMD Mounting Brackets
• 4x AMD Spacers
• 4x AMD Screws
• 1x Intel Backplate
• 4x Intel Screws for backplate
• 4x Intel Rubber washers for backplate
• 2x Intel Mounting Brackets
• 4x Standoff Screws
• 1x Thermal Paste
• 1x Long Neck Screwdriver
• 1x User Guide
• 1x Warranty Paper

Closer Look

Let’s take a look at the cooler and see its design and layout.

The dimension of the cooler is 102.4x139x162mm. The overall dimension is a tad more than the Dark Rock 5, which has 101x136x161mm dimensions. Here, 162mm is the height of this unit. The Dark Rock 6 has a weight of 1.05Kg whereas the Dark Rock 5 has 1.03Kg weight.

The new cooler is compatible with Intel LGA1150/1151/1155/1200/1700 sockets. It is compatible with AMD AM4 and AM5 sockets. There is no support for Intel LGA20xx, so keep that in mind. The complete assembly is black ceramic color spray-painted. The special black coating with ceramic particles makes a perfect transfer of heat possible.

The overall closed design speaks for itself and creates a bold yet stylish outlook that will bode well in themed builds, particularly the neutral one.

Heatsink Design

The top of the heatsink has a magnetic cover which is made of plastic and has a silver accent center with be quiet! branding. The contours sit perfectly on the cover and the fan assembly. The fan also comes encapsulated in a housing.

The fan frame has a slider button with P and Q labels. The P stands for performance mode, and it runs the fan at full speed. However, you can achieve a semi-passive mode using the Q (silent) mode. Two important points are:

• You need to shut the PC off before switching the mode.
• For Q mode, you need to set the fan header setting to either Silent or Normal depending on the motherboard’s UEFI. Silent should work on the majority of the motherboards.

Under Q-mode, the fans would come to a stop under 40% PWM load, providing excellent sound output. Please note that your motherboard should support the Fan stop function as well.

Editor’s Note: I appreciate the provision of two modes for the fan performance but it is not convenient to shut down PC every time to make a change and that to open the PC case to access the slider button. A software-based control would rather be better.

I have removed the top cover. You can see a large magnet in the center. The heat pipe placement resembles the ones on Dark Rock 5. Terminating tips are visible on the top.

The top cover has a magnet in the center.

You can see a fan assembly on the front of the cooler. The fan is enclosed inside the housing, providing a closed look that looks brilliant. You can slide the fan upwards to release it from the heatsink. However, you can’t adjust the height of the fan; hence, it is not a fully rail-mount design.

I am showing the heatsink on the front side after removing the fan. You can see latches on the side frame where the fan assembly slides on and latches to secure fit it. This cooler has 51 fins in total. They are in a straight-line pattern on the front, which reduces the air drag and reduces the noise and vibration. Also note that the last fins are offset from the rest of the fin stack. The step design provides clearance for the motherboard near the socket/VRM area.

I am showing the rear of the heatsink. Here we have an alternate arrangement of the fin plates in groups of 8 and 9. The 8 groups are in an inset layout compared to the full width of the 9 groups. Each group has 3 fins forming a fin array design. This is similar to the Dark Rock 5 except that the number of fins is increased.

Looking at the side of the heatsink, we can notice three things:

1. The interlocking mechanism of the fins is located on the side.
2. The heatsink has an offset design to provide universal clearance for the DIMM slots.
3. The housing is extended on the sides as well, providing a closed look (almost). Be quiet! has left some areas exposed, which is understandable, as an air vent is needed.

The cooler comes with an aluminum heatsink over the base that has a cross-bar pre-installed. The cross-bar has two screws (non-spring) to install the cooler over the mounting brackets.

This cooler comes equipped with 6x copper heat pipes which are also black spray coated. Each heat pipe has a thickness of 6mm. These pipes are arranged in an alternate manner, providing maximum contact with the fin stack for even heat spread.

The cooler has a nickel-plated copper base on this cooler. It has a protective cover to protect it from scratching during shipping/handling. Don’t forget to peel it off before installing the cooler.

Fan Design

Be quiet! has provided a customized Silent Wings 135mm fan with this cooler that has dimensions of 135x135x25mm. It is encapsulated in a frame providing a unified look to the cooler. This fan has 7x blades with the same striped design that we have seen on other be quiet! fans. The center has be quiet! branding over it.

Be quiet! has mentioned that they have reduced the tip clearance of this fan to improve the airflow and increase air pressure. They have used advanced fluid dynamic bearings and a 3-phase, 6-pole motor for the fan.

Its maximum speed is 2000 RPM, generating 74.98 CFM at 12VDC at an air pressure of 2.48mmH₂O. The input current is rated at 0.4A. The input power is 4.8W. 31.3dB(A) is the sound level rating at full speed. Its semi-passive range is 0-40% PWM under Q mode.

Looking at the back side, you can see that the ring is attached to the fan assembly housing. A 4-arm assembly is in the spiral design. Each arm has a curvature providing a directional airflow. One arm has a wider body as wires are routed from the center to the frame over it.

The hardware-level speed control (P and Q modes) is integrated into the main frame.

The fan uses PWM regulation using a 4-pin PWM connector.

Installation

We don’t cover the installation steps. You can use the user guide for that purpose. But we mention the observations noted during the installation/removal of the cooler. Be quiet! has used different mounting brackets for AM5 mounting. They have provided an offset of -8mm. Each bracket has two mounting holes on each end. One is labeled 0, and the other is labeled 8. Using 0 will provide maximum clearance for the motherboard. The 8 will provide maximum coverage of the hotspot area on the CPU die, providing good thermal exchange for maximum performance.

This is nothing new. Noctua was the first brand to come out with this idea, and they released dedicated mounting kits for their coolers, followed by integrating this design as part and parcel of every new release. I have installed this cooler on the AMD AM5 platform and did not observe any issues. The overall installation was quick and simple.

Clearance

This cooler has universal clearance for the RAM.

There is no obstruction for the PCIe slot.

The cooler provides good clearance for the motherboard areas.

The height of this cooler is 162mm. You would need a 165mm clearance in your PC Case. Leaving some margin is fruitful.

Testing

I have used the below-mentioned configuration: –

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• G.Skill TridentZ Neo RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVME SSD
• CPS YN1000 PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
PBO	Advanced 200W
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	5 Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

be quiet! has rated the Dark Rock 5 to handle the 220W thermal load. This cooler offers fantastic performance, handling 200W all cores load on the 9900X. The noise profile is good, as this cooler is not loud even at full speed in P mode.

Conclusion

I remember the Dark Rock 5 and Dark Rock Elite, with Elite being my favorite cooler at that time. The Dark Rock 5 was rated for a 210W thermal load. The new Dark Rock 6 is rated for 220W thermal power dissipation. I really don’t care about these TDP ratings since AMD and Intel use different methods to determine or set these values. Anyhow, the newly released Dark Rock 6 takes the game further from Dark Rock 5 and offers good performance with excellent outlook/form.

This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA1150/1151/1155/1200/1700 and AMD AM5 and AM4 sockets. No surprise there, as this cooler does not support the legacy LGA20xx socket. This is still a single tower configuration. The cooler has dimensions of 102.4x139x162mm (LxWxH). It uses a ceramic black color spray coating on the assembly for better heat transfer. The complete assembly is black in color, including the heat pipes.

The foremost aspect of the new cooler is the overall look and feel of it. The cooler uses a unified closed design using a plastic frame or housing surrounding the heatsink. Even the fan is enclosed inside a housing that bodes well with overall design symmetry.

The heatsink uses an asymmetric design offering universal clearance for RAM. The stepped fins design on the heatsink provides extra clearance/compatibility for the motherboard areas. All in all, this cooler is all about maximum clearance without compromising performance.

Speaking of fins, each tower houses 51 fins in a 48+3 layout, where 3 fins are in step design. The interlocking mechanism is provided on both sides of the heatsink. This cooler packs 6x 6mm thick copper heat pipes that are placed in an interleaving pattern. The nickel-plated copper base can safely be used with liquid metal. This was also a feature of Dark Rock 5.

be quiet! uses a customized Silent Wings  135mm PWM fan with this cooler. This fan has dimensions of 135x135x25mm and is rated for a maximum of 2000 RPM. The airflow rating is at 74.98 CFM with an air pressure of 2.48mmH₂O. 31.3dB(A) is the sound level rating at full speed. Its semi-passive range is 0-40% PWM under Q mode.

The P and Q modes are implemented on the hardware level, which is something I would want on the software level since I am not comfortable opening the PC Case just to switch the mode. Plus, you need to shut down the PC before changing the mode. Also, don’t forget to change the fan settings in UEFI to silent for Q mode. The motherboard should support the fan stop feature.

be quiet! has provided offset mounting brackets for the AMD with -8mm. You can install the brackets in regular mounting using 0 labeled holes or use 8 labeled holes. The latter provides maximum coverage of the hot spot area on the Die for maximum performance.

Installing this cooler on AMD AM5 platform requires 10x items. The bundled long-neck screwdriver is needed for the installation since the rear screw on the mounting plate is under the heatsink. Overall installation is a walk in the park, and I did not observe any issues.

The be quiet! Dark Rock 6 has an MSRP of €89.90 and US $109.90. It comes with a 3-year warranty. This cooler could not handle the 243W all-cores load on Ryzen 9 9900X, but it performs quite well on a 200W all-cores load. The sound profile is good as well.

Pros:

• Thermal Performance
• Excellent unified, closed outlook
• AMD AM5 and Intel LGA1700 Socket Support
• Customized Silent Wings 135mm fan
• P and Q Modes via a slider button
• Magnetic Top Cover
• AMD Offset Mounting Brackets
• Asymmetrical Design for RAM and VRM Clearance
• Noise
• Screwdriver
• Price
• Standard PWM Connector
• Special ceramic-particle black coating
• Convenient Fan Mounting

Cons:

• Warranty Period

Orico K20 Mini is a perfect companion for on-the-go content creators. This portable ultra-fast SSD is primarily designed for Apple iPhones (15 and above for ProRes Video recording), but it can also be employed on Android for added storage backup. The salient features include:

• This SSD has a thickness of just 7.5 mm and a weight of 45g.
• The ultra-slim SSD is MagSafe-enabled.
• It attaches using N52 magnets and 18N magnetic force.
• It is crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum alloy featuring a sleek, minimalist design that perfectly complements your Apple devices.
• It comes equipped with 4K Video-Ready Storage with capacity up to 2TB.
• The SSD has impressive read/write speeds of up to 2050MB/s for ultra-fast editing and backup.
• This versatile portable SSD is compatible with iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android.

I am taking a look at the 512GB variant that has a retail price of USD 99.99.

Specifications

The salient specifications include:

Model	K20 Mini
Color	Silver/Gold
Material	Aluminum Alloy
Dimension	78x60x7.5mm (LxWxH)
Capacity	512GB/1TB/2TB
User Interface	Type-C
Transfer Rate	20 Gbps
Cable Length	0.13 M

Packaging and Unboxing

The enclosure is shipped inside a paperboard packing material. The box has a blue and white color theme. The drive is placed inside a plastic container with accessories placed on the backside of the container.

The following are provided in the box:

• 1x Drive
• 1x User Guide
• 1x MagSafe Ring
• 1x USB Type-C Cable

Closer Look

The drive housing is made of space-grade aluminum alloy, and our sample has a silver color that suits the related iPhone color well. The drive has Orico branding on the front side. The model of the drive is also listed on the bottom. Yes, it is indeed ultra-thin, as it has a thickness of 7.5mm making it a perfect candidate for your Apple device, adding storage without even feeling a bulk on the backside of the device.

The drive has a USB Type-C port. You can see a USB-20 logo confirming that this drive is rated for 20 Gbps data transfer rates, meaning it is USB 3.2 Gen2x2. I got asked about the type of SSD used inside this drive. Since the drive attains 2106 MB/s sequential read speed, my guess is that Orico has employed a PCIe Gen 3 NVMe SSD in this product. Although PCIe Gen2 NVMe drives are also listed at 20 Gbps speed, they tend to operate somewhere between 1600 to 1900MB/s due to protocol overhead. A blue LED indicator is also visible. It lights up, showing the data read/write activity on the drive.

The backside of the drive has a ring-style portion confirming the MagSafe magnetic mechanism. It uses N52 magnets with 18N magnetic force for a perfect fit on your MagSafe mobile phones. The product is made in China. I could not get the power rating of the drive. It will use the power from your mobile phone to remain active while connected to the phone.

Orico has provided a MagSafe Ring as well. One side of this ring has a self-adhesive tape, whereas the other side has a magnetic mount. This would make your non-MagSafe devices fully compatible with this drive.

The picture is only for illustration on how to use the ring mount. The self-adhesive side will face the mobile device, whereas the magnetic side will face the K20 Mini.

Orico has supplied a premium ribbon style USB Type-C to Type-C cable. It also has USB-20 If logo confirming its rated speed of 20 Gbps.

Attaching the device to your latest Android/Apple is as simple as connecting the cable to the device and drive and attaching the drive on the backside of the device. You are good to go. However, the older models may need an OTG cable or adapter.

Test Setup

I have tested the drive on Samsung Galaxy S24 as well as on the PC.

I did not need to do anything on S24 to read this drive. It pops up as soon as it is connected to the phone.

However, the major limitation of Android is that it does not let you write directly to the external storage. A workaround is to use third-party software like MCPro24FPS. Keep in mind these apps are not free, but they allow you to write directly on the external storage.

The following configuration is used to test the performance of the enclosure:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Stealth ICE
• Biwin DW100 RGB @ 8000MHz CL38 32GB DDR5 Kit
• Maxsun i-Craft Arc B580 for Display
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD
• Be quiet! Straight Power 11 1000W Platinum PSU
• MSI MAG PANO 100L PZ

I have used the USB 4.0 port on the motherboard for this testing. Microsoft Windows 11 24H2 is used for the testing.

The drive pops up without any settings required in the Windows environment. Crystal Disk Info shows the firmware version Y0210A. The drive uses the UASP interface for power. The drive supports S.M.A.R.T, NCQ, Trim, and GPL features.

Test Results

Let’s start with CrystalDiskMark.

The drive did 2106 MB/s in sequential read and 1806 MB/s in sequential write, confirming the rated speeds of 2050 MB/s. The random 4K stats are quite good as well for this portable drive. The drive did 1.97GB/s in read and 1.68GB/s in read department using ATTO disk benchmark. The most important test is Blackmagic Disk Benchmark as it shows the drive’s capability to work with different formats on different video compression standards including ProRes. Orico K20 Mini passed the test with flying colors.

Thermals

I put the drive in a continuous 18-minute sequential read and write mode using Crystal Disk Benchmark. The drive reached 60°C at an ambient temperature of 31.7°C. While this means nothing on the PC, when using this drive on a mobile phone with direct operations on it, the temperature is high.

Conclusion

Orico K20 Mini is a fantastic drive that features an ultra-slim outlook. It is designed for Apple iPhone devices, hence it comes supporting the MagSafe attachment. Ultra-Slim refers to a 7.5mm thickness of the drive with 68x60mm (LxW), making it an ideal fit for the supported mobile device. Android users need not worry, as Orico has provided a MagSafe ring in the box as well. It has self-adhesive on one side and the magnetic mount on the other end.

Speaking of the core functionality, the K20 Mini comes in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities operating at a whopping 2050MB/s speed. In our testing, this drive reaches 2106MB/s speed, which makes me think that this drive hosts a PCIe Gen 3 NVMe SSD instead of a PCIe Gen 2 NVMe. However, the rest of the tests showed this drive operating at 20Gbps speed.

It uses USAP interface, meaning it will take power from the source using a USB Type-C cable. Orico has provided a USB-20 IF-rated cable having 0.13M length. Blue LED indicator provides visual clues about the operation status on the drive. The cable is in ribbon style, making it a comfortable fit between the mobile device and the drive.

The drive supports 4K ProRes recording. Due to limitations on Android, this drive can act as added storage for backup on Android without direct writing support. However, you can use third-party software to write videos directly to the drive.

This drive in 512GB capacity, has an MSRP of USD 99.99, which is sort of a steep price, but the given speed rating and compatibility along with form factor easily overcome this factor. This drive is a Must Have for mobile content creators who are mobile.

Pros:

• 20Gbps Transfer Rate
• USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
• Compact Form Factor
• 7.5mm thickness
• N52 magnets with 18N magnetic force
• No tweaking needed on latest Mobile Devices
• Ideal for Apple Users
• Excellent Performance

Cons:

• No USB Type-A Cable for more compatibility
• Uses Host’s power
• Price

DeepCool has recently launched AG620 G2. This is a second generation of AG620 series coolers. The new cooler is now available in multiple configurations:

• AG620 G2
• AG620 G2 ARGB
• AG620 G2 WH
• AG620 G2 WH ARGB
• AG620 G2 WH ARGB V2
• AG620 G2 BK ARGB V2

DeepCool has retained the matrix fin array design on dual towers in these coolers and has bundled two fine-tuned 120mm fans with different speeds as well. This series is a tad below the premium AK620 G2 series. The top of the towers has stylish plastic covers that are removable.

The cooler is compatible with the Intel LGA1851/1700 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. I am taking a look at the base model, which is AG620 G2. It has an MSRP of USD 39.99 and has a 1-year warranty.

Specifications

Packaging

The packing box has a white color finish, and it differs from the high-end coolers from DeepCool. The cooler itself is nicely tucked between Styrofoam pads. The fans come pre-installed.

The following come inside the accessory box:

• 1x Warranty Guide
• 1x Installation Manual
• 1x Intel Backplate
• 2x AMD Mounting Brackets
• 2x Intel Mounting Brackets
• 4x AMD Spacers
• 4x Intel Spacers
• 4x AMD Screws
• 4x Intel Screws
• 1x Thermal Paste Tube

Design

Let’s take a look at the cooler.

The overall dimension of the assembled cooler is 129x136x159mm (LxWxH). This is definitely a small footprint. The dimension of the heat sink is only 127x110x156mm (LxWxH). The net weight of the cooler is 1036 gm.

The top of both towers has a plastic cover with a stylish square box design. These are removable. One of the top covers has a DeepCool branding vertically on the side. This cooler has a silver finish, which is standard. You can get a white and black coated version as well, which could cost a bit more over the base model.

The outer sides of both towers have the same design and layout. DeepCool uses the same matrix fin array design as we have been seeing on their other coolers. The heatsink is an offset design with 45 aluminum fins on the main area and 5x fins with an inset. This provides better clearance from the heatsink itself for the RAM. The inner side of both towers has a straight line pattern.

The left and right sides of the towers are identical in layout. The fins have an interlocking mechanism on the sides. The middle section has an inset, and the sides have a raised surface. This is where the heads of the fan clips are rested on.

The DeepCool AG620 G2 has 6x copper heat pipes. Each pipe has a 6mm thickness. These are nickel-plated. The assembly is not soldered. They are making an evenly spread-out contact with the fins.

Now, I am showing the cross-bar or mounting plate installed over the base. You can see a heatspreader layout in this area. It has a spring-loaded screw on each end.

The base has a protective cover over it. The precision-machined copper base is nickel-coated. It is almost a mirror finish. The base is in a convex layout.

FANS

DeepCool has bundled two 120mm non-RGB, black edition fans with this cooler, with one particular change. Both fans have different operating speeds.

The peculiar design element of these fans is the all-black color scheme and square frame of these fans. Each fan has 7x blades. These blades are attached to an inner ring, which also rotates. The center has a DeepCool branding. Each mounting corner has a slim anti-vibration pad which runs the entire height of the fan.

A look at the backside of the fan shows a sloped design on the border. Each fan draws 0.15A at 12VDC. They are made in China and use Hydro bearings. A single fan has a 1.8W power draw.

Dotted design arrow markers show the direction in which blades spin. Striped design on the side frame is visible as well.

The fan is PWM regulated using a 4-pin PWM connector. The front fan also comes with a 3-pin socket so that both fans can be daisy-chained and connected to a single source for speed regulation.

A few pictures of the assembled cooler.

Installation

We are not covering the installation steps. You can use the user guide for that purpose. I only report my observations during the installation and removal of the cooler. Installation of this cooler on AM5 is a straightforward process, and I have no observations.

Clearance

We need to look at the clearance from multiple angles. Let’s start with the RAM.

The heatsink provides a universal clearance for the RAM. The fan will sit on top of a 44mm tall kit without disturbing the overall height of the cooler. However, any taller kit would require the front fan to be slid upward, increasing the overall height of the cooler.

There is no issue with respect to the first PCIe x16 slot on the ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi motherboard.

The cooler has no clearance issue with respect to the rear and top of the motherboard.

The height of the cooler is 159mm. Keep this in mind while planning your build with respect to the PC Chassis.

Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [243W, 167W]
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin X570 Pro 4TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+2 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W] 200W for this cooler
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting absolute temperature in the graph because the room temperature was at 22°C throughout the day. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

The AG620 G2 might not handle the extreme load of 243W on the 9900X, but it easily handled the 200W load on the same CPU. You can use this cooler for i5, i7, Ryzen 5, and Ryzen 7 series SKUs.

Conclusion

AG620 G2 is a second generation of budget air cooling from DeepCool. This series has improved the thermal performance over the previous generation and is available in multiple models, starting from the base model of simple AG620 G2 (No black/white color coating and no lighting). This is a dual-tower, dual-fan configuration. The socket support is Intel LGA1851/1700 and AMD AM4/AM5.

This cooler has a dimension of 129x136x159mm (LxWxH) with fans. The heatsink itself has a dimension of 127x110x156 mm (LxWxH). This shows a relatively small footprint. Its weight is 1036 gm.

The heatsink comprises 50 fins per tower, with the front tower having a 45+5 fin design. The 5 fins have an inset to provide universal RAM clearance. DeepCool has used nickel-plated 6×6 mm thick heat pipes, and the assembly is not soldered. The precision-machined copper base is nickel coated uses Core Touch Technology (CTT 2.0). The heat pipes make a hidden contact with the base.

Unlike the AK620 G2 NYX Digital that has a quad-segmented display on the top covers, the AG620 G2 comes with simple yet stylish removable plastic covers on top, with one having a DeepCool branding. The outer sides of the towers have a matrix fin array design, whereas the inner sides have a simple straight-line design.

Two non-RGB 120mm fans are provided with the cooler. Both have different rated speeds. One is rated for 500 to 2000 RPM ±10%, whereas the other is rated for 500 to 2200 RPM ±10%. The airflow rating is 63.56 and 70.09 CFM on both fans, respectively. The air pressure rating is 1.98 and 2.49 mmHg, respectively. They use a hydro bearing. The noise level is rated at ≤23.08 and ≤29.22 dB(A), respectively.

The overall installation of this cooler on AMD AM5 is simple and requires 10 items for the mounting kit. There is no clearance issue either on this cooler. The height is 159mm, which is also compatible with the majority of PC Cases.

This cooler has an MSRP of USD 39.99. It has a warranty period of 1 year. This cooler can handle Intel Core i5, i7, and AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 SKUs, depending on the thermal load. It has handled a 200W load on Ryzen 9 9900X quite well, but struggled on a 243W load.

Pros

• Decent Thermal Performance
• Refined Design
• PWM Regulation
• Matrix Fins Array Layout
• RAM Clearance
• 159mm Height
• AMD AM5 Support
• Intel LGA1851 Support
• Noise
• Price

Cons:

• Very short warranty

NF-A12x25 PWM G2 got our praise when we tested those fans for providing even better noise-to-performance efficiency over the NF-A12x25 PWM fans. Noctua is good at gaining from the learning curve, as it has released the chromax.black version of the NF-A12x25 PWM G2 fans.

As we mentioned in the review of NF-A12x25 PWM G2, Noctua aims at the mid-section of the P/Q chart, i.e., trying to achieve the best optimal combination of air flow and air pressure. The NF-F12 fans favor the air pressure applications in particular, and not all scenarios require such applications. The fan sitting in the mid-section provides a good all-round performance for your particular PC related cooling requirement. This was made possible with NF-A12x25 PWM fans and now with the further refined and well-tuned G2 version.

These fans are available in 2 options:

• NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black Single Fan Pack costing Euro/USD 34.90
• NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP chromax.black Two Fans Pack costing Euro/USD 64.90

The S-2xPP fans come with two NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fans operating at an offset speed to reduce harmonic phenomena like intermittent vibration or humming coming from interference. This offset is ±50 RPM.

Specifications

Packaging and Contents

The fans are shipped inside cardboard packing boxes. The black color scheme tells you that these are chromax.black variants, otherwise it would be a tan and brown color scheme. The Sx2-PP chromax.black fans come in a large-sized packing box. These fans are placed parallel to each other in this box, and there is an accessory box between the fans. The single fan pack comes with an NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fan and an accessory box. All editions have standard accessories.

The NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP chromax.black box comes with

• 2x NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fans
• 2x NA-RC7 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.)
• 1x NA-YC1 4-pin PWM splitter cable
• 2x NA-EC1 30cm extension cable
• 1x NA-AVG1 anti-vibration gasket
• 4x NA-AV2 anti-vibration Mounts
• 8x Fan screws

Closer Look

The new generation NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fans are designed on the building block of NF-A12x25 PWM, hence they carry the same technologies and design as the NF-A12x25 but with further enhancements. They are the black versions of the regular NF-A12x25 G2 PWM fans, hence nothing is changed except the color. Expect similar performance characteristics on these fans as on the regular fans.

There are plenty of key notes when it comes to the design of NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fans, which is obvious given they follow the design of NF-A12x25 PWM in that sense. Each fan has 9x impellers. They are progressive bend impellers featuring flow acceleration channels and winglets.

These blades are swept backwards close to the hub and progressively bent forward further out. These work in tandem with the centrifugal Turbulator hub to improve the lift and uniform loading across the blade surface.

The winglets are introduced in an attempt to reduce the tip vortices. The NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black’s winglets are fine-tuned to work with other features of the frame for consistent efficiency.

Noctua has used LCP (Liquid Polymer Crystal) material for the impellers, as we saw on the NF-A12x25 PWM fans. Noctua was the first brand to start using LCP and ultra-low tip clearance, with others following in the same design footprint.

Noctua is using the same AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) frames that are on the NF-A12x25 PWM fans. These frames use integrated anti-vibration pads, Noctua’s proprietary Stepped Inlet Design, and Inner Surface Microstructures. All these work together to provide the best possible performance and reduce noise output.

These fans come with 4x load-relief anti-vibration pads pre-installed on the front side of the fan. The rear of the fan also comes equipped with these pads, unlike the NF-A12x25 G2, which has a NA-AVG1 silicone gasket installed on the rear of the fan out of the box. However, Noctua has provided this gasket in the accessory box, should you want to use it. This gasket is useful for radiator and surface mounting, providing a tight seal with the fan.

Since gasket covers the entire border of the fan’s frame, it helps to damp vibrations and to reduce air loss between the fan and the radiator for optimal cooling performance. The Anti-vibration pads serve a similar purpose.

Noctua branding is visible on one side of the main frame.

The two arrow markers on the other side of the main frame provide a visual guide to the user. These show the direction of airflow through the fan and the direction in which the blades spin.

The backside of the fan has an inward slope on the four sides. There is a 4-arm assembly connecting the motor hub with the frame. The fan draws 0.14A at 12VDC using 1.68W of power. The arms are angular, providing directional airflow.

The NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fans use optimized SSO2 bearings in which the rear magnet is placed closer to the axis for stabilization. Noctua has employed a CNC-milled bearing shell made of brass material, providing long-term stability with minimum tolerance.

Noctua has used the NE-FD6 motor drive system in these fans, which is combined with the SupraTorque technology. This motor provides better energy efficiency. This motor has a Hall Effect sensor for precise commutation performance. Speaking of commutation, these fans have Noctua’s Smooth Commutation Drive 2 technology. The aim here is to reduce the motor noise to the extent possible.

The SuporaTorque technology allows these fans to maintain the same RPM even when employed on the surface with high back pressure.

You can use the NA-IS1-12 inlet side spacer with the NF-A12x25 G2 to reduce influx turbulences in “pull” type applications where the fan draws air through a grill, mesh filter, or perforated panel.

Noctua has managed 0.5mm tip clearance between the blades and the frame. This design helps in reducing leak flows through the gap between the blades and frame. This would improve the performance efficiency even with high resistant surface.

The functionality of coming to a stop at 0% PWM gives these fans a huge lift for the semi-passive cooling application. In addition, the wider PWM range goes from 360 RPM to 1800 RPM.

Safety Data

These fans come with safety features/protections that include:

• Reverse Polarity Protection
• Over Voltage Protection
• Over Current Protection

These protections make these fans suitable even in challenging electrical environments. You can have peace of mind.

Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• DeepCool LT360 Vision ARGB Liquid Cooler
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin Black Opal X570 Pro 4TB NVMe SSD
• Be quiet! Straight Power 11 850W Platinum PSU
• Praxis Wetbench

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W]
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting absolute temperature in the graph because the room temperature was at 25°C throughout the day. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

As you can see, the Stock fans on the DeepCool LT360 and Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fans offer similar thermal performance, but the main difference comes from the overall noise output. The DeepCool fans did 40 dB(A), which is too good, but Noctua achieves the same performance while operating at 37.9 dB(A), which is excellent. I did not feel the need to do noise-normalized testing given the noise-to-performance efficiency out of the box on these fans.

Conclusion

Noctua has released the chromax.black version of its next-gen high-performance fans NF-A12x25 G2 PWM. The new fans are available in two editions. The two-fan edition named Sx2-PP comes with two NF-A12x25 G2 PWM fans set to operate at an offset speed of ±50 RPM to overcome the humming and turbulence that may come with both fans operating at the same speed. A single fan edition of regular NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fan is also available on the market.

The building block of NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fans is from NF-A12x25 PWM fans, but with further enhancements in the design and technologies. These fans still use the same Liquid Polymer Crystal (LPC) material for blades as are on NF-A12x25 PWM fans.

There is nothing much to write about the chromax.black edition since it is a black version of already covered NF-A12x25 G2 PWM fans; everything else is the same. Hence, I am not going into the details of the technology and design of these new fans. I am going to list them below. You can read the content for more details, and can even find more details on the Noctua website:

• AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimization) Frame
• Stepped Inlet Frame
• Inner Micro Structure
• Sterrox material derived from LCP (Liquid-Crystal Polymer) used on the impeller
• Gap of only 0.5mm between the impeller and the frame
• An additional brass structure to reinforce the axle mount
• CNC milled bearing shell
• Flow Acceleration Channels and Winglets on the blades
• Further improved SSO2 bearing
• etaPERF Motor with NE-FD6 Motor IC
• Commutation Drive 2 System
• SupraTorque
• PWM Regulation with auto stop function on 0% PWM
• Safety Protections for Challenging Electrical Environments
• 6-Year Warranty
• Low Noise Adapter and Extensive Cabling Options
• Integrated anti-vibration pads and gasket
• Progressive-Bend Impeller
• Centrifugal Turbulator Hub

Now, jumping to the thermal and acoustic testing, I have tested these fans on the DeepCool LT360 Vision ARGB cooler. I have already praised the overall performance of the fans on this cooler. It is not a surprise to me that the DeepCool fans and the new Noctua fans offer similar thermal performance, but the main difference comes from the overall noise output, where Noctua is unrivaled. The 40 dB(A) on the DeepCool vs the 37.9 dB(A) on Noctua fans is self-explanatory. My conclusion remains the same. If you have NF-A12x25 PWM or its chromax.black version, you are still covered well, and there is no need to upgrade to the G2 version, but if you are in the market looking for new high-performance fans with an excellent noise-to-performance ratio, Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black fans are the prime candidates, if you can pay the steep price.

Pros

• Thermal Performance
• Noise
• LCP Material
• 0.5mm Tip Clearance
• An additional brass structure to reinforce the axle mount
• CNC milled bearing shell
• Flow Acceleration Channels and Winglets on the blades
• Further improved SSO2 bearing
• etaPERF Motor with NE-FD6 Motor IC
• Commutation Drive 2 System
• 6-Year Warranty
• Black Edition

Cons

• Price

DeepCool has released a new cooler in the liquid cooling category. It is named LT360 Vision ARGB. The most striking feature is a large display screen measuring 4.5”. Clearly, DeepCool is following the industry trend where many manufacturers have released not one but multiple liquid coolers with a large display screen. Even some have released curved screens, but DeepCool has got you covered on that by providing a 90° rotation of the screen so that you always get to see what is on the screen.

This cooler also features DeepCool’s sixth-generation pump, which uses a 3-phase, 6-slot, 4-pole motor with FOC control, delivering smoother and more efficient operation across a PWM-adjustable range of 2,500 to 3,400 RPM. DeepCool has also addressed the cold plate design with fine-tuned micro-fin geometry to maximize the heat transfer.

Another key feature is the introduction of new fans with follows closed-wheel design for 360° ARGB lighting, which looks good in person. These fans are rated for up to 2500 RPM speed, generating 75.33 CFM airflow at an air pressure of 2.41 mmAq with an impressive noise level of ≤33.66 dB(A).

This cooler requires DeepCreative software (latest version), providing a user-friendly interface and control options, including the ARGB lighting. This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. It has an MSRP of USD 139.99. It comes with a 5-year warranty.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The cooler is shipped inside a cardboard box with a leaflet or cover around the box. This is the standard DeepCool design or theme. The cooler and accessories are placed inside the main container.

The following are provided:

• 1x Cooler
• 1x Intel Backplate
• 2x Intel Mounting Brackets
• 2xAMD Mounting Brackets
• 4x AMD Standoff Screws
• 4x Nut Screws
• 8x Intel Spacers
• 4x Screws for Mounting Brackets
• 12x Radiator Screws
• 1x Fan Extension Cable
• 1x User Guide
• 1x Information and Support Guide

Closer Look

It is time to take a closer look at each component of the main unit, starting with the radiator.

3x high-performance 120mm fans come pre-installed over the radiator. Each fan has a short length power cable that runs on one side of the housing. The connection comes daisy-chained from the factory.

The cooler has an aluminum radiator measuring 402x120x27mm (LxWxH). The cooler has a total height of 52mm with the fans. The fin stack has a 20 FPI count and comprises 12 channels for the coolant flow. There is a 105mm standard gap between any two opposite end mounting holes. I did not see any bent or broken fin.

The tube connection on the radiator housing is well concealed using black, rounded clamps. There is a considerable gap between the two tube connections. Warranty and Serial number stickers are on the opposite end of the radiator.

The cooler also features Anti-Leak technology. I have been covering the Anti-Leak technology since its inception. The idea is to provide a mechanism that could effectively release the increased vacuum pressure inside the loop if the case be. Otherwise this increased pressure is likely to result in breakage and leakage.

The radiator housing has no branding on the side frame. The rubber tubes are covered under the nylon braided sleeves. These tubes run to approximate to 410mm in length. The tubes come equipped with clips for a clean look.

Block/Pump Head

The display screen is not removable, hence it sits over the top of the pump housing. It is a 4.5” IPS LCD type with 854×480 resolution. I was kinda expecting higher resolution. DeepCool has not mentioned the polling rate of the screen. It has a crisp display. The overall dimension of the pump top is 131x89x58mm (LxWxH).

The screen is attached to the pump top, and it is a swivel design, meaning the screen can be opened and tilted or rotated to one side (hinge side).

Here, I am showing the screen in full 90° tilt.

The top of the pump housing has a magnet to which the screen firmly attaches when fully closed. LT Vision text can be seen here. The line pattern is also visible over the pump housing.

The pump housing is made of ABS material, and you can see a diffuser inside the main housing. This diffuser is on three sides except the one with the hinge design. It is ARGB backlit.

The backside of the pump top has tube connections at 90° and can be rotated sideways. The cables come out from the side of the frame.

The pump is PWM regulated, which is a wise move. DeepCool has provided standard ARGB connectors (5V, 3-pin) for the ARGB lighting. You can also see a 9-pin USB 2.0 connector. This is required for the display screen control via DeepCreative software.

Speaking of the pump, this cooler features a 6th-generation pump from DeepCool that uses ceramic bearings and is powered by a 3-phase, 6-slot, 4-pole motor with FPC control that rotates up to 3400 RPM.

The unit base comes with pre-applied thermal paste. DeepCool has enlarged the cold plate and contact area for improved thermal efficiency.

This is how the block will look with the display screen installed.

FANS

DeepCool has provided 3x high-performance RGB fans with this cooler. Each fan has 9x blades attached to the outer ring. This ring is a part of the impeller assembly and rotates along. However, there is a considerable gap between the ring and the main frame. The center has DeepCool branding. The mounting corners have DeepCool’s standard design.

The backside of the frame has no slope design as I have seen on the Spartacus series coolers’ fans. A 4-armed assembly is visible in an angular manner, providing focused flow. These fans are made in China. They use Hydro Bearings. The fan is rated for 0.28A, taking 3.36W of power.

Each side of the fan has an open design showing a diffuser in what DeepCool referred to as Closed-Whel design. The frame is quite sturdy.

Each fan has a proprietary 8-pin connector and socket. The bundled extension cable has a standard 4-pin PWM connector, which is connected to your motherboard.

Installation

We don’t cover the installation steps. Please use the installation guide for that. We only mention observations recorded during installation.

I did not observe any issues in the installation of this cooler on the AM5 platform. It has the same mounting mechanism for AM5, which I have seen on DeepCool’s latest coolers.

Clearance

Make sure your PC Case has clearance for a 360mm AIO measuring 402x120x52mm.

Software

DeepCreative is a software that you need to download from the DeepCool website. You need to restart the PC in order for the software to pick the connected components correctly. On my first run without a restart, the software did not pick the Linker Controller.

The first page shows the sensor data from PC components. The second page lists the components. You can change the temperature unit under the settings. Firmware update is also provided in this section. Under the Devices, all the compatible or enabled devices will be shown. Click on the device you want to customize.

Please note that you can’t regulate the speed of the fans and pump from the software since this cooler does not fall under the AI Cooling category from DeepCool.

The display-related options are provided under the LT360 VISION Listing. You can customize the display screen there. You can display pictures or run videos, animations, GIFs, and can customize the sensor display.

Software provides the main categories:

• D-Cast: Extends your desktop view on the screen [I never got it to work anyway]
• Monitoring: Shows key sensor data on the screen.
• Media: Displays videos, animations, pictures, etc

Video

I recorded a simple video showing the animation on the screen.

RGB Lighting

DeepCool uses a standard connector that would work with the RGB sync technology of motherboard manufacturers. Pictures are from ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi.

AMD Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin Black Opal X570 Pro 4TB NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+ 2P 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W]
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting absolute temperature in the graph because the room temperature was at 22°C throughout the day. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

The LT360 Vision ARGB offers a top-notch cooling performance, and its noise level is also good, making it quite an efficient noise-to-thermal cooler on the market.

Conclusion

DeepCool has released a new cooler named LT360 Vision aRGB. The word Vision indicates a display screen. This cooler has a 4.5” IPS screen with 854×480 resolution. I am not sure about the polling rate of the screen. This move is clearly strategically aligned with the current trend in the industry, where many manufacturers carry large screen-enabled liquid coolers. Some even have curved display screens. The salient feature of this screen, besides its crisp display, is a 90° tilt allowing the user to rotate the screen so that they can see the visuals in full regardless of the placement orientation of the PC Case on the desk.

This cooler is available in black and white in a 360mm size. It is compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. Three 120mm ARGB fans come pre-installed and pre-wired over the radiator.  The radiator has an overall dimension of 402x120x52mm with fans. It has 12 channels for coolant flow with a fin density of 20 FPI. Manufacturer uses rubber-tubing which runs to 410mm in length and has a black color nylon braided sleeve mesh. Needless to say, this cooler also features Anti-Leak technology.

The display screen is integrated into the pump housing. The pump itself is a sixth-generation design that has a 3-phase, 6-slot, and 4-pole motor with FOC control. It is rated for up to 3400 RPM. It is PWM regulated. In addition, DeepCool has provided a 3-sided ARGB lighting on the pump housing for which standard ARGB connectors are provided. A USB 2.0 connector is also provided for the software-based screen display. DeepCreative software is provided for customization.

Each fan is rated for 500 to 2500 RPM ± 10%. Airflow rating is 75.33 CFM, and air pressure rating is 2.41 mmAq. The noise level is rated at ≤ 33.66 dB(A). These fans use Hydro Bearings. The fan’s power draw is 3.36W. Pump’s power draw is 3.48W.

DeepCool has provided its standard mounting kit with this cooler. It is clear that the offset Intel mounting kit is only offered with the flagship Spartacus coolers. The installation of this cooler on the AMD AM5 socket is the same as on DeepCool’s recent coolers. It is a straightforward task but requires 14 items.

This cooler has an MSRP of USD 139.99, and it comes with a 5-year warranty. This cooler packs a good performance with excellent noise-to-thermal efficiency. The large display screen with ARGB fans provides excellent augmentation.

Pros:

• Thermal Performance
• 4.5” Large Display Screen
• A-RGB lighting
• New 6th Gen Pump
• 120mm ARGB Fans
• Simplified Cable Management
• Compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 sockets
• Compatible with AMD AM4/AM5 sockets
• Noise
• Warranty
• Price

Cons:

• None

Earlier, I tested Spartacus 360 from DeepCool, and the cooler got my praise for excellent cooling performance and brilliant looks. Now, DeepCool has released its 420mm version using the same pump and 30mm thick 140mm size fans.

This cooler features DeepCool’s sixth-generation pump, which uses a 3-phase, 6-slot, 4-pole motor with FOC control, delivering smoother and more efficient operation across a PWM-adjustable range of 2,500 to 3,400 RPM. DeepCool has also addressed the cold plate design with fine-tuned micro-fin geometry to maximize the heat transfer.

This cooler also features the same 3.4” IPS LCD screen with 480×480 resolution to display your media, along with key statistics of the PC. Not only that, but DeepCool has been creative as they have used tubes and tube clips to route a single cable from the pump top towards the radiator and out, hence providing a neat and clean outlook. They have also included a Linker controller device, which sits between the AIO and the motherboard.

DeepCool seems to be focused more on Intel, as they have included a regular as well as offset mounting bracket for Intel LGA1851, with back mounting for which a specialized backplate is provided. AMD mounting is similar to what I have seen on its recent coolers.

DeepCreative software provided a simplified and user-friendly interface with customization and control options, including the ARGB lighting. This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. It has an MSRP of USD 214.99. It comes with a 5-year warranty.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The cooler is shipped inside a cardboard box with a leaflet or cover around the box. This is the standard DeepCool design or theme. The cooler and accessories are placed inside the main container.

The following are provided:

• 1x Cooler
• 1x Intel Backplate
• 2x Intel Mounting Brackets
• 2xAMD Mounting Brackets
• 4x AMD Standoff Screws
• 4x Nuts
• 1x Nut Locker
• 4x Intel Washers/Spacers
• 4x Screws for Mounting Brackets
• 12x Radiator Screws
• 1x Tube Clip
• 1x PWM Extension Cable
• 1x Linker to Motherboard Connecting Cable
• 1x User Guide
• 1x Information and Support Guide

Closer Look

It is time to take a closer look at each component of the main unit, starting with the radiator.

3x high-performance 140mm fans come pre-installed over the radiator. These are not RGB fans. Each fan has a short length power cable that runs on one side of the housing to set up a daisy-chain connection using a proprietary connector.

The cooler has an aluminum radiator measuring 462x140x27mm (LxWxH). The cooler has a total height of 57mm with the fans. The fin stack has a 20 FPI count and comprises 12 channels for the coolant flow. I did not see any bent or broken fin.

The tube connection on the radiator housing is well concealed using gunmetal gray rounded clamps. There is a considerable gap between the two tube connections. The opposite end of the radiator has a serial number and part number stickers.

The cooler also features Anti-Leak technology. I have been covering the Anti-Leak technology since its inception. The idea is to provide a mechanism that could effectively release the increased vacuum pressure inside the loop if the case be. Otherwise, this increased pressure is likely to result in breakage and leakage.

The radiator housing has no branding on the side frame. The rubber tubes are covered under the nylon braided sleeves. These tubes run to approximate to 465mm in length. The tubes come equipped with clips for a clean look.

DeepCool has been creative. They have provided 3x tube clips. Each clip has a center fold where the cable from the block is routed through. This way, these clips or catchers not only hold the tubes in place but also route the cable along the tube. This design cleverly hides the cable and provides a neat and clean outlook.

However, the length of the cable coming from the pump top is not sufficient to be routed along the tube length and reach the linker hub. An extension cable should have been provided, or the length of the cable should have been made as such.

Display Screen

The display screen is provided separately and uses a magnetic attachment. It makes contact with the pump top using a 6-pin connection. A pad is provided on the pump top.

The screen size is 3.4”. Its brightness is 750 nits with a resolution of 480 × 480x and has a color depth of 16.7M colors. Its refresh rate is 30Hz. I would have preferred more resolution, but still, this screen is adequate for a crisp display.

The housing is made of aluminum material and an overall dotted design bodes quite well with the aluminum shell, providing a stylish display screen. What is hidden is the ARGB LED strip and diffuser under the two sides of the top cover.

Editor’s Note: I am still not sure what these hidden ARGB LED strips would do on the pump housing!

Block/Pump Head

I must say that the pump top of this cooler, even without a display screen, looks quite vibrant despite the fact that it is a simple design. It has a dimension of 99x91x65mm (LxWxH). You can see a textured pattern on the top of the pump. 6-pin contact pad/pins are on the lower side of the frame.

The main housing seems to be made of aluminum, but it is ABS, and it has a fantastic, rounded finish. It has no stenciling or design pattern anywhere on the surface.

Looking at the rear of the unit, you can see 90° adapters on which the tubes are installed. They can be rotated for necessary adjustment during installation. A single flat cable can be seen coming out from the upper section of the base.

The pump and ARGB LEDs are controlled via a proprietary 10-pin connector for which a long-sleeved cable is provided. This connector goes to the Linker controller. This is the only caveat in the pump top side. This cooler does not have a dedicated connector for the pump.

Speaking of the pump, this cooler features a 6th-generation pump from DeepCool that uses ceramic bearings and is powered by a 3-phase, 6-slot, 4-pole motor with FPC control that rotates up to 3400 RPM.

The unit base comes with pre-applied thermal paste. DeepCool has enlarged the cold plate with 22% more surface area and contact area compared to the last generation for improved thermal efficiency.

This is how the block will look with the display screen installed.

Linker Controller

DeepCool has provided a controller with the cooler. It comes with a self-adhesive tape that has a magnet on the other side so that a magnetic attachment can be provided for the controller. 4x screws are also there in case you want to install this controller in the PC Case using screws.

This controller has 4x ports on one side labeled EXFAN and EXARGB 1 and 2. These ports are there in case you want to add PC Case fans to the controller for a single control.

The other side of the controller has a P/D labeled port to which the cable from the pump top is connected. The Sync labeled port uses a cable that connects the controller to the motherboard using a 4-pin fan connector and a 3-pin ARGB connector. The AIO Fan labeled header is for the AIO fans’ connector.

The pre-installed cables on the controller have a SATA connector and a 9-pin USB 2.0 header.

This picture illustrates the cable connection.

DeepCool has provided a Sync cable for the controller and motherboard, as well as the PWM extension cable for the AIO fans.

Fans

DeepCool has provided 3x high-performance non-RGB fans with this cooler. Each fan has 9x blades. The center has DeepCool branding. The mounting corners have DeepCool’s standard design. Each fan measures 140x140x30mm. These are rated for airflow of up to 112.5 CFM and 4.15 mmAq air pressure. The extra 5mm thickness is contributing to the high performance.

The backside of the frame shows a slope design on the border and 4-arms in an X shape providing focused flow. These fans are made in China. They use Hydro Bearings. The fan is rated for 0.35A, taking 4.2W of power.

Editor’s Note: Don’t daisy-chain connect all three fans to a motherboard fan header that is rated for 12W power in total.

The side frame shows a stripe design. The fans use a proprietary connector and socket.

Installation

We don’t cover the installation steps. Please use the installation guide for that. We only mention observations recorded during installation.

DeepCool has provided two mounting brackets for Intel. One bracket has an offset label. It provides a better coverage of hot spots on the die, hence providing better heat transfer. Installation of these brackets is convenient, and overall installation is even more convenient. I appreciate DeepCool for coming up with a unique but excellent mounting for Intel.

I did not observe any issues in the installation of this cooler on the AM5 platform. It has the same mounting mechanism for AM5, which I have seen on DeepCool’s latest coolers.

Clearance

Make sure your PC Case has clearance for a 420mm AIO measuring 462x140x57mm. The majority of the PC Chassis don’t have support for a 420mm radiator or liquid cooler.

Software

DeepCreative is a software that you need to download from the DeepCool website. You need to restart the PC in order for the software to pick the connected components correctly. On my first run without a restart, the software did not pick the Linker Controller.

The first page shows the sensor data from PC components. The second page lists the components. You can change the temperature unit under the settings. Firmware update is also provided in this section. Under the Devices, all the compatible or enabled devices will be shown. Click on the device you want to customize.

The display-related options are provided under SPARTACUS LCD Liquid Cooler Listing. You can customize the display screen there. You can display pictures or run videos, animations, GIFs, and can customize the sensor display.

You can tinker with the speed of fans, pump, and ARGB lighting from the SPARTACUS Linker listing. DeepCool has provided Digital Mode and Multimedia Mode to categorize the types of displays on the screen. In addition, there is a Zen control that will control and adjust various elements like brightness automatically. AI-based regulation is provided using DeepCreative’s proprietary AI-driven algorithm that tracks CPU load in real time and coordinates both fan and pump speeds to match the optimal fan speed curve. Please note that the fans will instantly shift to full speed when the CPU hits above 80 °C, and they automatically revert to preset mode once the CPU temp drops below 80 °C.

I recorded a simple video showing the animation on the screen.

The above pictures show the display in action.

RGB Lighting

I mentioned this in the review of Spartacus 360 that hidden ARGB lighting would not serve any purpose, and I am still putting it here.

Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin Black Opal X570 Pro 4TB NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+ 2P 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W]
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting absolute temperature in the graph because the room temperature was at 22°C throughout the day. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

I must say this is the first 420mm liquid cooler in my testing experience that actually delivered an excellent performance. The fans’ noise is a bit loud, but using AI Silence or Performance mode, you can easily make these fans ramp up only under load, or you can use a custom fan curve in BIOS for that and enable sync to the motherboard in the software.

Conclusion

After testing Spartacus 360, I have taken a spin on Spartacus 420mm. It is compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. The basic footprint of 420mm is identical to that of 360mm, but the major difference comes from the fans and, obviously, the radiator size.

The overall outlook is stealth, neutral, with a beautiful accented LCD screen. It comes with pre-installed non-RGB 30mm thick 140mm high-performance fans. The radiator has an overall dimension of 462x150x57mm with fans. It has 12 channels for coolant flow with a fin density of 20 FPI.

DeepCool uses rubber-tubing, which runs to 465mm in length and has a black nylon braided sleeve mesh. DeepCool has also provided three clips or catchers that not only bind the tubes but also provide a channel through which the single cable from the pump top is routed. Needless to say, this cooler also features Anti-Leak technology.

The pump top or pump head is a quite stylish and elegant design with a minimalistic approach. It has a 6-pin contact point on top to establish a connection with the magnetically mounted display screen. The pump itself is a sixth-generation design that has a 3-phase, 6-slot, and 4-pole motor with FOC control. It is rated for up to 3400 RPM and uses a ceramic shaft and bearing for durability. The other change comes in the cold plate and the contact surface, which are increased by 16% and 22%, respectively.

The screen module is an elegant design that bodes well with the overall theme of the cooler. It has a 3.4” screen with a resolution of 480×480 px using a 30Hz refresh rate. In my opinion, the refresh rate should be 60Hz for better polling.

DeepCool has provided a linker controller to which the cable connection from the pump top is required. Controller is SATA powered, and it is connected to the motherboard using a standard 4-pin PWM connector and a 3-pin, 5V, ARGB connector. DeepCreative software is provided for customization.

Fans are not RGB. Each fan is rated for 500 to 2000 RPM ± 10%, and they feature an auto stop function under 5% load. Airflow rating is 112.5 CFM, which is quite high compared to 79.89 CFM on Spartacus 360, and air pressure rating is 4.15 mmAq, which is higher than 3.30 mmAq on Spartacus 360. The noise level is rated at ≤ 32.89 dB(A). These fans use Hydro Bearings. The fan’s power draw is 4.2W. Pump’s power draw is 3.48W.

DeepCool has provided an offset mounting bracket in addition to the regular one for the Intel LGA1851 socket that provides better coverage of hot spots on the die, and it worked like a charm. Also, the installation is made super easy from the backside of the motherboard, for which a customized backplate is provided. I like this design.

The installation of this cooler on the AMD AM5 socket is the same as on DeepCool’s recent coolers. It is a straightforward task but requires 14 items. The installation on Intel requires only 10 items.

This cooler has an MSRP of USD 214.99, and it comes with a 5-year warranty. Dare me to say that this is the first 420mm cooler in my testing experience that has actually delivered an excellent thermal performance with almost 2.5°C compared to the Spartacus 360mm and taking a solid lead in our graphs.

Combine this thermal performance with the stealth design and brilliant LCD display, and you have got yourself a super good liquid cooling solution, provided your case supports this size liquid cooler, and don’t forget a 5-year warranty. No wonder if this cooler has won our top award, Must Have, which is equal to Editor’s Choice.

Pros:

• Thermal Performance
• 3.4” Display Screen
• Very Subtle A-RGB lighting
• New 6th Gen Pump
• Magnetic Display Mount
• High-Performance 140mm non-RGB Fans
• Simplified Cable Management
• Compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 sockets
• Compatible with AMD AM4/AM5 sockets
• Noise
• Warranty
• Excellent Mount for Intel
• Convenient Installation

Cons:

• Pricey
• Almost Hidden ARGB Lighting
• The length of the cable from the pump should be longer

It has been a while since I tested or used a full tower PC Case from any brand. Noctua seems to be changing this, as I have got a legendary Antec Flux Pro with Noctua customization and branding. This is truly a case that supports up to 2x-thick 420mm radiators despite not being a super tower. This is one case that fits perfectly into the analogy of “it has more to it than meets the eye”.

Antec x Noctua gives you something special. The Flux Pro carries all its bells and whistles, while Noctua has perfected the game by improving the performance-to-noise ratio efficiency and lowered the overall decibels by 8dB (coming from their internal testing). In my testing, this case with 6x case fans and 2x cooler fans was found to be giving 44.2 dB(A), including the 3x fans on the graphics card under load. Mind you, this is with all case and air cooler fans running at 100% PWM speed. I am blown away by this level of noise to performance efficiency.

This case comes in Noctua’s tan and brown colors, and Noctua has included its high-performance flagship fans, NF-A12x25 PWM G2 and NF-A14x25 PWM G2 fans, taking the game to the next level. The overall layout of the case and symmetry provide the best possible airflow in this case, making it a perfect candidate for the reviewers/testers in case they want to use a case for cooler testing. I usually test coolers in an open test bench where there is little to no airflow.

This case is versatile not only in the cooling department and storage department but also in the PSU placement, which I recently saw in the Lian Li LANCOOL 217 INF. PSU can either be mounted in a standard position or rotated so that cables face the right side of the case, which Antec and Noctua termed as iShift. Similarly, the DeepCool CL6600 WH that we tested earlier also supported the 90° rotated PSU mount, which makes cable handling convenient and also makes it possible to change cables easily even after the build is done.

Noctua is taking pride in this design as Noctua branding is visible on three prominent places. This case supports a motherboard up to the E-ATX form factor with a maximum width of 285mm. Too bad, this case does not support the backplug motherboards, which are increasingly becoming a new standard. The storage provision is up to 4x 2.5”/3.5” and up to 2x 2.5” drives or a combination thereof. The brackets are removable.

This case has an MSRP of USD 399.90 /which is quite a premium price tag but can be justified since we know that the included 6x flagship fans, NA-EC1, NA-EC3, and NA-FH1 fan hub all contribute towards the price tag. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty on PC cases, Fans, and fan hubs. You can also purchase it on Amazon UK for £348 at the time of writing this review.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The case is shipped inside a standard cardboard box finished in brown. The features and specifications are also listed on the box. Two thick white styrofoam pads sandwiched the case for safe shipping. I like the idea of reinforced pads for added strength.

Accessories

Noctua has provided two boxes in the main shipping box. One case has:

• 2x NF-A14x25 G2 PWM PPA
• 2x NF-A14x25 G2 PWM PPB
• 1x NF-A12x25 G2 PWM PPA
• 1x NF-A12x25 G2 PWM PPB
• 36x NA-AV4 anti-vibration mounts
• 36x NM-SFS1 fan screws

In case you are wondering about the PPA and PPB. These fans run at slightly different speeds, creating an offset for acoustic optimization. The slight speed offset between adjacent fans helps to avoid periodic humming or vibrations due to beat frequencies.

The other box has the following:

• 1x Standard PSU Bracket
• 2x PSU Shroud Covers
• 1x Authentication on the Walnut wood used on the front frame
• Various Screws
• Standoffs
• Standoff Socket
• Zip Ties
• Detailed User Manual
• Power Supply Installation Brochure
• 1x NP-KC1 key chain

Closer Look

The Antec Flux Pro Noctua edition is a full tower with dimensions of 245x545x530mm (WxHxL). Its height without feet is 523mm. The 22mm lift from the feet is good enough to provide breathing space for the floor-mounted fans (optional) and to easily lift the case. Its weight with fans is 13.75Kg and 12.46Kg without fans. It is made of:

• 1mm Steel
• 4mm Tempered Glass
• 1mm Mesh
• FSC Certified Walnut Wood on Front Panel
• Steel Mesh
• Plastic
• Silicone for Grommets

I cover the case from an external aspect, followed by the internals. Let’s start.

Exterior View – Front of the case

Let’s start with an exterior view of the chassis, starting from the front.

The front of the case has a stylish mesh on the front which depicts a wave pattern. The stylish Walnut wood paneling on the side frame is exquisite. The Antec x Noctua branding is visible on the right lower side of the wooden frame. The brown-colored wood blends well with the Noctua’s tan and brown color scheme.

The mesh panel has a magnetic attachment, making its handling convenient. Removing it shows the pre-installed fan bracket. This bracket is secured using 6x Philips screws. In terms of cooling gear, the following is supported:

• Up to 3x 120mm Fans
• Up to 3x 140mm Fans
• Up to 1x 360mm or 420mm Radiator

The total space available for fan and radiator assembly on the front is 90mm, which is amazingly ginormous.

The right side of the main frame has cutouts to route the fans’ cables. It is a strategic design, making it a perfect fit to route the cables and, at the same time, hiding them. Noctua has specified that the fans are so that cables are on the right side.

Removing the bracket shows the completely exposed front. This now becomes interesting.

A careful observer would notice a set of 5 mounting holes. These are provided so that you can adjust the height of the bracket to make room for a top-mounted fan/radiator assembly, depending on the size and thickness. Here is a detail:

• Use position number 3 from top for standard size (27mm) 360mm radiator and 25mm fans on top.
• Use position number 4 from top for standard size (27mm) 420mm radiator and 25mm fans on top.
• Use position number 5 from top for 45mm thick 420mm radiator and 25mm fans on top.
• Use position number 5 from top for 45mm thick 420mm radiator and 30mm thick fans on top.

Let me iterate that the above clearance on the front is for the top-mounted fans/radiator size/thickness.

I have placed the bracket in position number 5, thus making the bracket almost sit on the floor, leaving a good enough room on top for the top-mounted 45mm thick radiator and 30mm fans.

You can adjust the height of the bracket as per the requirement to make room for the cooling gear on the top.

Since the bracket is removable, it makes the fans and radiator installation convenient.

Rear View of the Case

A total vented area is provided on the rear of the case. Looking closely, you can identify a pattern of opposing triangle design on the vents. The top area is vented. This area faces the top of the motherboard (from inside the case).

The main cutout provides room for the IO plate of the motherboard. Rail mounts are provided for the 120mm and 140mm fans. You can also install a 140mm radiator on the rear as per the requirement. I like the flexibility to adjust the height of the fans on the rear.

8x PCIe slots are placed inside the case, and these have vented/reusable covers. Both side panels use latching to close on the main frame; no thumb screws are needed. You can see two insets on the top of opposite ends behind the panels. This is where you place your hand to open the panels.

The bottom has a standard ATX PSU area. The bracket seems different as it has a 3-pin socket on the base.

There you see the bracket and the pre-installed internal power cable or cord. This case supports the PSU in a 90° rotation for which this bracket and cable would be required. You can check the provided paper for the orientation of the bracket, subject to the placement of the PSU. Noctua has also provided a standard bracket in the accessories, which allows you to install the PSU in a standard layout.

I am showing the PSU bay from the rear after removing the bracket. Look closely, one rubber foot is missing in the PSU area.

Bottom View of the Case

You can see a full-length dust filter on the bottom, which is handled from the front side of the case. The complete area is vented, which is a wise move. The area next to the PSU bay has dial mounts indicating that you can install fans and a radiator here. The details are:

• Up to 2x 120mm or 140mm fans
• Up to 1x 240mm radiator

Also, you can see 4x screws securing a bracket on the floor. This bracket holds the drive cage. Both are removable, but do take the bracket out initially if you plan to install cooling gear on the floor. Did you notice the brown/tan-colored rubber feet? Noctua has been paying attention to the minute details.

Top View of the Case

The top panel has a Noctua color on it, and man, I must say, this color combination looks dope in person. I wish Noctua had done this color on the right side panel as well! The top panel has a mesh design, and it covers the top-mounted IO panel. You can see protective covers on the IO ports.

It is surprising to see no dust filter under the mesh on the top panel. The same is the case on the front. Anyhow, the panel is tool-less so you can remove it with just one hand by pulling it from the rear. Under this panel, you will find a fan bracket, which is also removable. It has rail mounts. The detail is:

• Up to 3x 120mm or 140mm fans
• Up to 1x 360mm or 420mm radiator

A maximum thickness of 75mm is allowed on top for a combination of fans and a radiator.

To remove the top fan bracket, you need to remove the side glass panel and undo the two screws on the opposite sides. It reminds me of the Fractal Design Meshify 2 case that has a similar design.

You have got a spacious layout and area to work on.

The top and front fan brackets are not the same, hence can’t be swapped.

The IO panel has the following ports:

• 1x USB-C 3.1 (10 Gbps)
• 2x USB-A 3.0 (5 Gbps)
• 1x 3.5 mm headphone/mic combo jack
• 1x Power button
• 1x Reset button
• 1x Temperature & display switch

Noctua branding is visible on the top frame along the line of IO ports. I would have preferred a USB 3.2 Gen2 minimum!

Interior View

Let’s take a look at the sides and internals of the case.

This case comes equipped with a tinted tempered glass panel having a 4mm thickness. It uses a snap-on design using latches and bolts, making it convenient to handle. The brown color mesh panel on the bottom serves as a full air intake for proper ventilation. It will come in handy for the radiator/fans mounted inside this area.

Removing the glass panels shows a spacious layout. The grommets are brown, and so is the PSU shroud bracket, which I will cover shortly. The area on the right of the motherboard tray does not have any function on the front side, except on the backside, where they provide a cutout on which the drive brackets are rested. In my opinion, there should be a provision to mount a radiator/pump combo on the side.

The motherboard tray does not have flex in it. This case supports motherboards up to the E-ATX form factor with a maximum allowed width of 280mm. The rubber grommets feel flimsy during handling. I hope they will last. They have Antec branding. The standoffs are pre-installed, which is a nice touch. The CPU cutout is not as large as I have seen, even in mid-towers. I have tested the case with the AM5 motherboard, so I am not sure if there is any obstruction to installing the cooler’s back plate/bracket on the Intel platform.

I appreciate the side and bottom cutouts with proper grommets. The top cutouts have a distinctive style with a flat inset on top, hence I am giving it a pass.

You easily get 70mm of space above the motherboard tray, which is too good. You would get a good clearance for the high-profile RAM in this case. You can see a 4-pin PWM connector coming out from the back side. This cable comes from the fan hub NA-FH1 and allows you to regulate the speed of connected fans using the motherboard; otherwise, fans will run at full speed since the NA-FH1 is SATA powered. I have also observed that in the absence of a SATA connection, NA-FH1 will still run the fans if this connector is attached to the motherboard. This is an oversight in my opinion, and should not have been allowed in the first place due to the power consumption/drawn ratings of the fans and the power rating of the fan header. Anyhow, NA-FH1 has good safety features. I would urge the users to connect the SATA connector before connecting the hub to the motherboard.

The front of the case shows a fan bracket that is inset into the case. The gap on the front between the PSU shroud and the fan bracket is approximately 60 mm, giving you a total of 90mm space from the front to the shroud for the cooling gear.

You can mount a 120mm or 140mm fan on the rear. 8x PCIe slots are implemented inside the case, for which the side has a groove or recessed frame providing direct approach towards the screws. I have observed that removing the PCIe cover screw will not release that cover; instead, you have to loosen the next screw to remove the cover.

Now, I am showing another beauty of this case. A 360mm PSU shroud with three covers. One cover comes pre-installed as it sits right over the PSU bay. The other two are provided in the accessory box. The complete shroud is secured using two Philips screws and can easily be removed.

The cooling gear possibility is:

• Up to 3x 120mm fans
• Up to a 360mm radiator in a 120mm size

I have removed the PSU shroud. You can see the base area completely. I really wish that Noctua had provided a removable cover for the front gap between the fan bracket and PSU shroud for better aesthetics.

The bundled two NF-A12x25 PWM G2 fans can either be installed over the PSU shroud or under it, which is subject to the PSU’s orientation. I have installed both fans under the cover for a clean look. It is up to you. It would hardly make any difference in overall thermals.

Now, I have removed the bottom mesh cover. You just need to pull upward, and it will come off. Again, I am not seeing a dust filter on this mesh. The cutout on the top right faces the display screen that is integrated into the main frame of the case.

You can see a side view of the bottom chamber. The leftmost side hosts the PSU in either of two directions. The middle portion provides an unobstructed area for air intake. The storage drive bracket can be seen.

The front has a solid cover on which the display screen is installed. It is controlled via a 9-pin USB 2.0 header for which the cable is pre-routed. The screen displays the CPU and GPU temperature using the iUnity software from Antec.

You can install the PSU in either a 90° orientation by default or in a standard layout for which a bracket is provided in the accessory box. iShift here refers to the 90° degree orientation, which provides the flexibility for convenient cable connection on the PSU since the PSU’s connectors side faces the right side.

Clearance

Since we are at it, let’s see the clearance restrictions of components in this chassis:

• 190mm CPU Air Cooler
• PSU maximum length is 300mm in standard layout with HDD cage
• PSU maximum length is 470mm in standard layout without HDD cage
• PSU maximum length is 180mm in 90° layout
• Graphics Card’s maximum length is 455mm
• Cable Management space is 32mm.

It is now time to look at the backside of the case.

The side steel panel is made of steel, and it has the same fitment as the glass panel on the left side. You can also see a similar mesh cover on the base that is on the left side, except that this complete side is in black.

One look and you may become overwhelmed by the complexity of what is on the back, but fear not. You don’t need to do much here anyway, since Noctua has covered it for good already. I will be covering this side in detail ahead.

This case comes pre-equipped with a drive cage on the floor. It can house 2.5” and 3.5” drives at the same time. Two 2.5” drive brackets come pre-installed on the back of the motherboard tray. Two 3.5” drive brackets or bays come pre-installed on the side frame.

You can see the drive brackets and cage above.

I have removed the drive cage and am showing the platform or bracket on which it was installed. You can adjust the position of this cage on the left or right, or even remove it altogether. If moving it left or right, don’t forget the front cooling and PSU clearance.

I have removed two 3.5” drive brackets from the side, showing you the available space. Take note of two NA-EC1 30cm extension cables tucked on the left side of these brackets, effectively hiding them. These cables are placed in such a way that the cables of the bottom two fans on the front fan bracket will come out towards the connectors of NA-EC1. Job well done, Noctua or Antec or both!

Noctua has provided a premium NA-FH1 fan hub pre-installed and configured in this case. It is an 8-port 4-pin PWM fan hub, which is SATA powered. The headers marked as 1 and 3 have two NA-EC1 cables connected to them. You can connect the bottom two fans on the front fan bracket to these two cables. You need to connect the top-most front-mounted fan directly to the fan header labeled 5. The headers on 2,4,6, and 8 have two NA-EC1 and two NA-EC3 cables connected. The EC3 cables are provided for the PSU shroud or bottom-mounted fans. This hub has a magnetic attachment, which is super cool. However, Noctua did not provide a SATA extension cable. A pre-connected and routed cable would have been a welcome addition. You need to route a SATA cable from the PSU to the fan hub. This will check your cable management skills!

The center area has a two-way cable management tray with Velcro hook and loop strips. I love this approach from Antec and Noctua, making our job easy. The straps have Antec branding. You will find similar catchers in other areas on the backside as well. There are plenty of cable tie positions for cable management needs.

We have a spacious layout on the base for PSU and cables management, or a combination of cooling gear and PSU as per your need.

The following cables/connectors are provided for the top IO panel and display screen:

• USB 3.0 Connector
• USB Type-C Connector
• HD-Audio Connector
• Front Panel Single Connector
• USB 2.0 Connector for Display Screen
• 4-pin PWM connector coming from NA-FH1
• NA-EC1 and NA-EC3 cables pre-routed with 4-pin sockets

Installation

I have used air cooling and liquid cooling using AIO to test both configurations. These are:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [Stock, Auto]
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• Zotac GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity OC
• Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC
• ID-Cooling DX360 GDL
• Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Paste
• G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO RGB 2x16GB @ 6400MHz CL30 DDR5
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD
• CPS YN1000 PSU
• 3x Noctua NF-A14x25 PWM G2 on Front as intake
• 1x Noctua NF-A14x25 PWM G2 on Rear as exhaust
• 2x Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM G2 on PSU shroud as intake

I always start my builds with the motherboard, and I did the same this time as well. I encountered an issue where one screw got stuck on the standoff, and I had to remove the motherboard and use pliers with a screwdriver to take the screw out. I ended up changing that standoff with extra from the accessory box. CPU, air cooler, and RAM were installed outside the case. Then the PSU was installed in a standard layout, which enabled me to install the second 120mm fan under the PSU shroud.

Next, the cables were routed and connected. A SATA connection was made to the NA-FH1 hub. Then I installed a graphics card in a horizontal layout with an air cooler and connected its cables. Then I did the backside cables with minimum cable management, and it still came out clean.

The liquid cooler was installed after completing testing the build with an air cooler. It was also a comfortable fit with no issues. For liquid cooling, I installed the graphics card in a vertical layout. The overall installation is buttery smooth, and I faced no glaring issues to report here.

Thermal Testing

The following testing methodology is used for the thermal behavior of this case:

• First Test is done without any fan installed in the case using an air cooler.
• The second test is done with 3x 140mm fans on the front, 1x 140mm fan on the rear, and 2x 120mm fans on the PU Shroud. All fans at 50% PWM.
• The third test is done with all fans at 100% PWM.
• The fourth test is done with a liquid cooler with all three fans at 100% PWM.
• During all the first three tests, fans on NH-D15 G2 were at 100% PWM.
• The graphics card was at stock settings with auto fan curve.
• 5 dots of NT-H2 were applied on CPU IHS, which is my standard way of testing coolers.
• PC was left idling for 10 minutes before recording the idle temperature.
• After completion of a test, the PC ran on idle for 15 minutes.
• A 45-minute interval was given between each test during which the PC was off.
• A sound meter was used to record the overall sound level during each test.

Throughout the testing session, the ambient temperature varied from 24.2°C to 25.5°C; hence, I will show a graph with the delta temperature for accurate comparison. The first graph shows absolute temperature.

In all honesty, this graph is self-explanatory. Noctua has given us the best possible performance in terms of noise and thermal performance using an air cooler. The case with a liquid cooler is different. We are paying high sound for a 2.4°C overall drop between the air cooler and the liquid cooler.

44.2 dB(A) with 6x case fans, 2x cooler fans, 3x graphics card fans, and 1x PSU fan is too good. It is a brilliant performance, giving you the best efficiency possible out there. The Antec Flux Pro is just made awesome with Noctua cooling.

Conclusion

Ok, so I am done testing, evaluating, and writing about the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition PC Case. First things first, this is a full tower PC case, not a mid-tower, so this might not be your cup of tea if you are into lower volume cases in compact form. Having said that, this case has amazed me, and I am forced to praise this cross of Antec and Noctua, which has brought the best possible solution for a case and cooling. Obviously, caveats are also there, but the total positives are way more than the negatives. The brown and tan color scheme is speaking out loud and needs no advocacy.

This case has a dimension of 245x545x530mm (WxHxL). The 22mm lift is provided using the large feet. By the way, the rubber on the feet is also brown! The main material used for this case is steel, tempered glass, steel mesh, plastic, and Walnut wood. I love the original wood texture on the front panel, augmenting the case’s look and feel. The Noctua branding all over the case shows you its pride and brand association/identity. I can tell why, Noctua! Well done!

The case comes equipped with 4x NF-A14x25 PWM G2 and 2x NF-A12x25 PWM G2 and NA-FH1 fan hub with 4x NA-EC1 and 2x NA-EC3 extension cables. Now, you can guess where the high price tag comes from!

The fan support is as follows:

• 3x 120mm or 3x 140mm fans on the front
• 3x 120mm or 3x 140mm fans on top
• 1x 120mm or 1x 140mm fan on rear
• 2x 120mm or 2x 140mm fans on the bottom
• 3x 120mm fans on the PSU shroud

The radiator support is as follows:

• Up to 420mm on the front
• Up to 420mm on top
• Up to 360mm on the PSU Shroud
• Up to 240mm on the bottom
• 1x 140mm on Rear

Clearance is:

• 190mm CPU Air Cooler
• PSU maximum length is 300mm in the standard layout with the HDD cage
• PSU maximum length is 470mm in the standard layout without the HDD cage
• PSU maximum length is 180mm in a 90° layout
• The graphics card’s maximum length is 455mm
• Cable Management space is 32mm.

Storage provision is:

• 4x Combined 2.5”/ 3.5” Drive Bays
• Dedicated 2x 2.5” Drive Bays

Dust Filtration:

• Non-Magnetic bottom filters

The dust filtration department surprises me. The front, top, and side mesh panels are simply mesh with no additional filters. This case supports a motherboard up to the E-ATX form factor with a maximum width of 280mm. The cooling department, as can be seen, is lavish. Not only that, but the front panel has 5 positions on which the removable fan bracket can be adjusted to make room for a thicker radiator and fan assembly on the top.

Noctua has installed a magnetic NA-FH1 fan hub and pre-configured and routed the extension and other cables. The IO panel cables also come pre-routed. You don’t need to worry about it. Just install the fans and connect the cables to the extension cables, and call it a day. I wish Noctua had provided an extension SATA cable routed as well!

The PSU shroud is also brown and can house additional fans for fresh air intake towards the graphics card, or it can be removed for the addition of a radiator and fan on the bottom. Noctua has provided two covers for the shroud in the accessories. Hint: you can also mount 120mm fans under the shroud 😉.

The gap between the front bracket and PSU shroud is 60mm, and it is not covered, which it should have been for proper aesthetics. The top displacement is near 70mm, which is excellent clearance. This case has 8x PCIe slot covers. The case out of the box does not provide any support for the graphics card’s vertical mount. You would need to buy a bracket and riser cable for that.

Another salient feature is the iShift PSU mount, in which you can install a PSU in a 90° layout by default. In this layout, the connector side of the PSU faces the right side of the case, providing easy access to the connector side for cable addition/removal. You can also install PSU in the standard layout for which a bracket is provided in the accessory box.

The cable management provision is top-notch with hook and lock Velcro styles and dedicated channels for cable routing. The drive brackets are removable as well. The top of the case has a removable fan bracket as well, for which the 4mm glass panel needs to be removed.

This case also packs a display screen that shows the CPU and GPU temperature using iUnity software from Antec. A 9-pin USB 2.0 connector cable is provided for this purpose. I wish Noctua had installed the IO panel on the side bottom for convenient access!

Antec Flux Pro is not a new platform, but Noctua has perfected this aged platform, providing a breath of fresh air with Noctua style and powerful cooling. This case has an MSRP of 399.90, which is quite a steep price for the case but makes sense when you account for the fans and other provisions. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for this case, including fans, fan hub, etc.

Speaking of installation, it is a walk in the park, thanks to the spacious layout provided by the design of this case and its form factor. I tried to do a complete Noctua-themed build in this case, but could not manage the PSU and graphics card. For once, Noctua ought to do the blade color of NF-A12/14×25 PWM G2 fans on the frame as well! This will bode well with this case’s tan color scheme! My two cents!

What about the thermals? Using Noctua air cooling with powerful NH-D15 G2 and Noctua fans, the 9900X did 74.1°C for a 165W load, and Zotac GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity OC did 73.2°C. The 6x case fans and NH-D15 G2 fans were set to run at 100% PWM, and the combined sound output was roughly 44 dB(A). This is too good for the best possible noise to thermal performance efficiency, winning our three awards.

Pros:

• Premium Full Tower
• Noctua Edition in Tan and Brown Scheme
• Walnut wood on the front
• Up to 420mm radiator support on the front and top
• Up to 360mm radiator support on PSU shroud
• Up to 240mm radiator support on the bottom
• Adequate Storage Provision
• NA-FH1 Fan Hub
• 4mm Tinted TG Panel
• Tool-less side panels
• Excellent Cable Management Provision
• Removable Fan Brackets on top and front
• USB Type-C Port
• 4x NF-A14x25 PWM G2 Fans
• 2x NF-A12x25 PWM G2 Fans
• Thermal Performance
• Noise Performance
• Excellent Warranty
• iShift PSU Mount
• Integrated Temperature Display Screen

Cons:

• Price
• I was expecting a minimum USB 3.2 Gen2 on the IO Panel
• No Backplug motherboard support
• Bracket to cover the gap on the front
• A SATA Extension Cable would be nice
• Side Frame could provide mounting for a pump/reservoir combo

Integrated fan assembly is not a new concept. Back in time, Cooler Master (as per my limited information) released integrated fan assemblies in 240mm and 360mm sizes. While the concept is brilliant, providing a seamless daisy-chained fan system with hidden internal cables and a single fan/set to control all connected fans in the assembly, the loss or malfunction of one fan would mean the complete set needs to be replaced.

This concept is still in play, though not all manufacturers are doing it. Sigma F36 ARGB is an Ocypus solution based on this idea. Their description of Sigma F36 is “360mm Integrated ARGB Suspended Illuminated Fan Hub”. These are high-performance fans suitable for radiator and case ventilation. The airflow rating is at 82.5 CFM with a static pressure rating of 3.1 mmH₂O.

Another salient feature is the ARGB lighting system featuring a radiant floating fan hub and a full-perimeter frame light bar. The overall lighting effect on these fans is quite impressive based on my user experience.

The pricing of these fans is not yet known, and we will update the price once confirmed by the manufacturer. These are available in black and white colors and carry a three-year warranty. For now, they are available in a regular blade design. I am hoping Ocypus may release the reverse blade design in the near future!

Specifications

Packaging

It is time to take a look at the fans.

The fan set is shipped inside a cardboard box in Ocypus standard packaging. Ocypus has given due consideration to the presentation of these fans. An inner top cover shows the possible use scenario along with an illustration for installation.

The following is provided in a box:

• A 360mm integrated fan assembly
• 1x Cable for ARGB and PWM Control
• 1x Low Noise Adapter Cable
• 5x Self-Tapping Screws for Case Mount
• 5x Long Screws for Radiator Mount

Design

Let’s take a look at the fans.

The dimension of the integrated fan assembly is 365x125x28mm (LxWxH), where the overall height of the assembly is 28mm. The width is 125mm, which is 5mm above the standard 120mm width of the fans. This is due to the housing of the frame. The complete assembly uses four mounting holes on the corners for the mounting, which is a wise decision. Ring-shaped anti-vibration pads are visible on these mounts. The air intake side of each fan as an inset design. The gap between the tip of the blades and the inner frame is quite visible.

Each fan has 9x blades. The center has a silver finish with a copper ring in the middle. Ocypus has defined this with metallic CD-brushed hub nomenclature. It is paired with a distinctive secondary anodized O-logo. This is all symbolic as it represents brand identity and craftsmanship.

Take a closer look at the side of the center area. This is a radiant floating fan hub design coming from an innovative ARGB ring on the fan hub, which appears to float independently.

All sides of the frame have a silver-colored line frame with Ocypus branding in the middle. Both sides have Ocypus text inverted to each other so that it remains upright regardless of which direction you install the fans in.

Looking at the backside of the assembly, you can see an X-shaped arm design on each fan. Looking closer, you can also spot the wires going under these arms. Since the connection of these fans is interlocked and it is all hidden under the housing or frame. The mounting holes also have anti-vibration pads here.

A label on the center of each fan shows a serial number along with the power rating of the fan. The fans are made in China. These fans use Fluid Dynamic Bearing. The power consumption of the fans with less ARGB is 10.956W. This means you can connect a single fan assembly to one fan header of your motherboard. However, connecting two F36 to a single fan header needs to be checked beforehand by the user. If the fan header is rated for 12W in total, don’t connect more than one F36 to that header. But if that header is rated for 24W, then you can connect two sets combined. Combined power draw of ARGB elements is 12W. You need to check the power rating of a single 3-pin, 5V ARGB header on your motherboard as well.

One side of the assembly has a 6-pin proprietary header to which the bundled power cable is attached. Since each set has a single header, this means that you can’t inter-connect two F36 for a single fan control.

The power cable has a standard 4-pin PWM and 3-pin ARGB connectors. A 6-pin proprietary connector is to be connected to the fan assembly.

Ocypus has also provided a low-noise adapter cable. This reduces the speed resulting in a reduction of the overall airflow, static pressure, and, more importantly, the overall noise. I will come back to it in the test section.

Setting up a unit is as simple as connecting a single cable and calling it a day.

I am showing the low-noise adapter cable connection. This is optional.

A-RGB Lighting

Since these fans use a standard 3-pin, 5V aRGB connector, they are compatible with the RGB Sync technology of motherboard manufacturers. I have used these on the GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Stealth ICE motherboard using the RGB Fusion 2 app. The fans were responding flawlessly to the changes in the lighting effects via the app.

Performance Testing

I have used two different systems for tests:

• Thermal Performance Evaluation on Liquid Cooler
• Thermal Performance as a Case Fan

The fans were operating at a rated fan speed of 2200 RPM without a low noise adapter cable, and they were operating above 1900RPM with the low noise adapter cable.

Noise

These fans are quite loud at their full speed. I recorded 46.9 dB(A) at their full speed, which is quite high. Using the low noise adapter cable, the noise level was near 43.1 dB(A). I would suggest using a custom fan curve or Auto PWM function so that they only ramp up under defined load to provide better acoustic.

Testing on Liquid Cooler

The following configuration is used for CPU Cooler thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [243W]
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• Be Quiet! Silent Loop 3 360
• Be Quiet! Silent Loop 3 420 for P14 Pro Reverse ARGB White
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin X570 Pro 4TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+2 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W]
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting delta temperature in the graph because room temperature varies from 23.9°C to 25.2°C during the testing. The testing is done on an open air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

As you can see, there is not much of a difference between the OCYPUS Sigma F36 and the be quiet! Silent Wings 4 120mm PWM High-Speed fans, except for the noise, which favors the be quiet! fans out of the box. However, Sigma F36 fans have a very marginal gain in thermals.

Case Fan Testing

I have also tested these fans as air intake using the following configuration:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• Gigabyte X870 AORUS Stealth Ice
• Gamemax Glacier 360 White
• BiWin DW100 2x24GB 8000MHz CL38 White DDR5 kit
• Maxsun Arc B580 White Graphics Card
• Sabrent 1TB Rocket 4 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
• DeepCool PN1000M White PSU
• MSI MAG PANO 100L PZ

This case comes with no fan. My configuration is:

• CPU Liquid Cooler installed on top with fans throwing air out
• 1x Sigma F36 ARGB WH on side as intake
• 1x Sigma F36 ARGB WH on the bottom as intake
• 1x be quiet! non-RGB fan on the rear

I have tested the case without intake fans first and then repeated the tests with Sigma F36 ARGB WH fans installed.

It is apparent that with the given airflow schematic using Sigma F36 ARGB WH fans, it favors the graphics card thermals only. We hardly saw any improvement in the CPU temps.

Conclusion

I have tested Sigma F36 ARGB WH fans from Ocypus. These are new fans set to be released soon in the market, which is why we don’t have the pricing data. The idea behind these fans is to provide a seamless integrated fan in a single assembly in 240mm and 360mm sizes and in white and black colors.

The Sigma F36 ARGB WH has a dimension of 365x125x28mm (LxWxH). These have more width compared to the standard 120mm width on the majority of 120mm fans. The height of the assembly is 28mm as well. These fans are suitable for radiator use and case ventilation.

They feature an All-in-one fan design for a cleaner look and easier installation. Speaking of installation, each assembly requires only four screws for the installation. Ocypus has provided radiator and fan screws. The radiator screws are adjusted to 28mm height of the fan assembly.

Another key feature is a brilliant ARGB lighting effect on the assembly, which comes from a radiator floating fan hub and full-perimeter frame light bar. The looks on these fans are quite spectacular and one of a kind.

The three fans have a combined power draw of 10.956W, less the ARGB LEDs. These LEDs are rated at 12W. You may want to check the power rating of your motherboard’s fan and 3-pin, 5V ARGB headers. These fans are rated for up to 2200±10% RPM speed, generating 82.5 CFM airflow at 3.1 mmH₂O static pressure. The sound level is rated at ≤36 dB(A). Using the low noise adapter, the speed is up to 1900±10% RPM, generating airflow of 70 CFM with a static pressure of 2.4 mmH₂O and noise level of ≤32 dB(A).

Each fan features 9x blades or impellers. These fans use an FDB bearing, ensuring quiet operation and extended lifespan. I have tested these fans on a liquid cooler (be quiet! Silent Loop 3 360) and made a direct comparison with the be quiet! Silent Wings 4 120/140mm High-Speed PWM fans. The Sigma F36 ARGB WH performs similarly to Silent Wings 4 120mm HS PWM fans, but at the cost of high noise output. Using the low-noise adapter cable helps reduce the overall noise level but without compromising the performance level as such.

Then these fans were put to the test in the case ventilation inside the MSI MAG PANO 100L PZ WH, where they were installed on the side and base of the case as air intake. They were also used on the liquid cooler. They resulted in a good temperature drop for the graphics card.

These fans carry a 3-year warranty and offer form and function at a time, albeit a high noise output, which may kill the purpose of these fans, but luckily, the low noise adapter cable comes to the aid and provides adequate noise output without affecting the overall thermal performance.

Pros

• Thermal Performance
• Seamless Integrated Design
• Inter-locked fans under the main frame
• Fluid Dynamic Bearings
• 3-Year Warranty
• ARGB Lighting
• Standard Connectors
• Low Noise Adapter
• Radiator Cooling
• Case Ventilation

Cons

• Fans are loud at full speed

When you get to have two of the best brands collaborate, you would get the best possible experience out of the box. Say hello to Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition, boasting feature rich experience with best of best air cooling integrated into the PC Case. Taiwanese PC case specialist Antec and Austrian quiet cooling expert Noctua have teamed up to create a custom, further refined Noctua Edition of Antec’s award-winning Flux Pro chassis. Upgrading the Flux Pro with Noctua’s latest NF-A14x25 G2 and NF-A12x25 G2 flagship fans for even better low-noise cooling performance, the new Noctua Edition forms an ideal basis for ultra-quiet, high-end builds.

“Antec has been at the forefront of PC case design for more than two decades, and we’re excited to collaborate with such a renowned, iconic manufacturer to introduce the very first Noctua Edition chassis,” says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). “The Flux Pro has been rightfully praised for its exceptional quiet cooling potential, so it was an obvious candidate for the project. Once we integrated our latest flagship fans and saw how much further we could reduce noise levels while maintaining similar component temperatures, it quickly became clear that this is a worthy Noctua Edition.”

“Being chosen for Noctua’s first edition chassis is a genuine privilege for all of us at Antec. The Flux Pro was built to be a best-in-class foundation for quiet, high performance systems, and working with Noctua lets us take that experience even further”, says Frank Lee (Antec CEO). “This collaboration reflects the engineering standards both brands stand for, and we are proud to bring the Flux Pro Noctua Edition to builders who want top tier cooling with remarkably low noise.”

Antec’s Flux Pro chassis is renowned for its excellent ventilation capabilities, yet the Noctua Edition further improves its outstanding performance-to-noise efficiency by reducing noise levels up to 8dB(A), all while keeping internal components at similar temperatures. This is made possible by Noctua’s state-of-the-art NF-A14x25 G2 and NF-A12x25 G2 fans, which run significantly quieter when operating at the same flow rates.

Adjacent fans are offset in speed to avoid undesirable harmonics phenomena such as vibrations or periodic humming, and for further acoustic optimisation, customers can install the fans using the included NA-AV4 anti-vibration mounts. Alternatively, the fans can also be installed using screws for maximum safety during shipping or transport.

In addition to Noctua’s latest G2 series fans, the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition also integrates the premium-grade NA-FH1 fan hub, which allows all fans to be speed-controlled through a single motherboard fan header. The NA-FH1 comes pre-installed, and all the required fan extension cables are pre-routed for maximum convenience.

On top of its best-in-class cooling performance, the Flux Pro has received critical acclaim for its build quality, well-thought-out layout, comprehensive feature-set and adaptability, making it a fantastic basis for both air- and water-cooled builds. Whether it’s a hardcore gaming rig or a high-end workstation – building within the Flux Pro will be a pleasure.

Reflecting its inner virtues on the outside, the Flux Pro Noctua Edition comes with dark brown accents on the side and top panel as well as brown silicone grommets and subtly placed Noctua logos on the top, side and front. Wearing its colours with pride, the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition is the perfect choice for everyone who wants to build a high-performance system that runs as quiet as possible.

Pricing and availability
The Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition is available through Noctua’s official Amazon stores at a recommended selling price of EUR 399.90 / USD 399.90. EU customers can also purchase the case directly from Noctua through this order form. Other sales partners will receive stock shortly.

About Antec
Antec, Inc. is a global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognised as a pioneer in the industry and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of quiet, efficient and innovative products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators.

About Noctua
Noctua’s award-winning, premium quality quiet cooling components are internationally renowned for their superb acoustics, industry-leading performance-to-noise efficiency and remarkable longevity. Since its foundation in 2005, the Austrian manufacturer’s engineering-first mindset, history of innovations and relentless pursuit of continuous optimisation have become just as iconic as its long-term product support and excellence in customer service. Today, PC enthusiasts and industry clients alike swear by the signature blend of cutting-edge performance, outstanding quietness and ultimate reliability that makes Noctua’s products unique.

We have been testing coolers and fans from Noctua. This time, we are taking a look at something different from the manufacturer. This category is called HOME. Noctua has leveraged its best fan to provide a ventilation product for your home, office, and multi-purpose ventilation purposes. This got my attention as one of these series products, NV-FS1 is suited for focused air flow towards my open test bench setup, providing some sort of airflow which otherwise is not there.

I am testing NV-FS1 and NV-FS2. What Noctua has done here is take their off-the-shelf products like NF-A12x25 PWM, NA-FC1, and NA-FG1 and incorporated these into NV series accessories to provide HOME series products.

These products have a variety of applications that include:

• Cool Down Electronic Devices
• Quiet Ventilation for DIY Home Projects
• Adding a quiet breeze to your Desk
• Radiator Boosting Fans for better energy efficiency

The NV-FS1 has an MSRP of $109.95, whereas the NV-FS2 has an MSRP of $89.95. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for both products. NV-FS1 provides a focused airflow and comes with an airflow amplifier and a metallic stand. The NV-FS2 comes with a thick gasket, allowing you to place it directly over the devices for direct ventilation.

Specifications

Above is a specification table for the NV-FS1.

Above is a specification table for the NV-FS2.

Packing Box and Unboxing

The NV-FS2 comes inside a Noctua chromax-themed packing box. Opening the box, you can see that Noctua is again on the spot when it comes to the presentation. The fan assembly is tucked on one side, the power adapter is placed on its side, and the fan controller is placed along with hidden accessories.

The NV-FS1 also features a chromax-themed box. It has a large-sized shipping box due to the funnel, which is placed on top of the accessory container. The accessories are placed over a compartmental container. I would have preferred a box instead of an open layout container.

What’s in the box?

The following are provided in the NV-FS1 box:

• NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan
• NA-AA1-12 airflow amplifier
• NV-FM1 multi-purpose fan mount
• NA-FG1-12 120mm fan grill
• NA-FC1 fan controller
• Cables & Adaptors
• NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adaptor cable
• NV-EC4-1m extension cable
• NV-PS1 power supply
• US socket adaptor (Type A)
• EU socket adaptor (Type C)
• UK socket adaptor (Type G)
• Mounting Parts
• 4x fan screws
• 4x zip ties
• 4x wall plugs
• 4x mounting screws

The following are provided in the NV-FS2 box:

• NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan
• NV-MPG1-12.black multi-purpose gasket
• 4x NV-MPP1.black multi-purpose pads
• NA-FG1-12 120mm fan grill
• NA-FC1 fan controller
• Cables & Adaptors
• NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adaptor cable
• NV-EC4-1m extension cable
• NV-PS1 power supply
• US socket adaptor (Type A)
• EU socket adaptor (Type C)
• UK socket adaptor (Type G)

Closer Look

Let’s start with the NV-FS2.

The idea is simple; use a single 120mm premium fan and provide a tight seal with the level surface using NV-MPG1 multi-purpose gasket. You can use this fan for the ventilation of:

• A/V Receivers
• DVRs
• Consoles
• Stereo Equipment

As long as the device has ventilation holes, you can mount the NV-FS2 below or on top of the device for effective ventilation. This is not all, if you have a level surface, you can use this product in vertical layout for a side-wall blow fan, which otherwise comes in the scope of NV-FS1.

Looking at the front, you can see the fan that has an NA-FG1 grill over the blades. This is for protection in case your hand accidentally touches the fan. Noctua has been paying attention to the details. The multi-purpose pads and gasket are at the core of this product, providing vibration dampening while providing a tight seal and enough lift so that the fan can breathe.

Looking at the backside of the fan, you can see the NA-MPG1-12 multi-purpose gasket providing a sufficient gap between the actual fan above the level surface.

I am showing the NA-MPG1 multi-purpose gasket after disassembling the product. I would caution the user who is disassembling the product for any reason to record the steps in which the disassembling is done so that they can reverse track the steps when assembling the product; otherwise, it could be challenging. This gasket sits on one side of the fan using tabs on the mounting corners, and it wraps around the fan frame. This gasket provides a 10mm offset to the fan from the level surface, hence effectively reducing the influx of turbulence. The gasket is made from thick, soft silicone rubber and features thin ribs on the device side, which create a smaller contact area and therefore further reduce the transmission of vibrations. This gasket has a dimension of 135 x 135 x 16 mm and weighs 80 g.

The NV-MPP1 multiple-purpose pads are also used in this product. They sit on top of the fan. Their thickness provides a sufficient gap to the top side of the fan. The gap on both sides of the fan is necessary to provide sufficient breathing space and ventilation area at the same time. These pads also provide a 10mm offset to the fan from the level surface. The pads are made from thick, soft silicone rubber and feature thin ribs on the device side, which create a smaller contact area and therefore further reduce the transmission of vibrations.

I have removed the fan from the assembly and shown the prime and might of Noctua fans. This is NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. I am not going into the details of this fan, as we have given extensive coverage of these fans and are still using them as standard fans to be used for custom loop setup testing, including their performance in individual fan testing.

The fan is PWM regulated. This now raises a question on how to power this fan if it is to be used outside of the PC? Let’s address this.

Noctua has provided an NA-AC10 barrel to a 4-pin adapter cable. This cable is a must-have so that you can power the fan using the NV-PS1 power supply adapter that is also provided with the product. In case you want to use this fan with a PC, an NV-EC4 extension cable having a length of 1m is also provided.

Noctua has provided its NA-FC1 fan controller. We have done a dedicated review of this controller in the past. You can regulate the speed of the fan in steps using this controller. This controller can control up to 3 fans at a time.

Noctua has provided an NV-PS1 power supply, which enables you to power the fan from the wall socket.  The NV-PS1 is a compact, premium-grade 24W AC/DC power supply that supports both 230V and 115V input. Its idle power consumption is listed at 0.075W, providing maximum efficiency. You can see a modular design whereby you can swap the socket connectors.

Ncotua has provided modular connectors for EU, US, and UK type socketss meaning you can use this product anywhere in the world with peace of mind.

I am showing the prepared NV-PS1 using the NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adapter cable. Connect the fan to this assembly and install the plug to the wall socket using the required socket connector, and you are good to go.

The beauty of this design is its modularity and expandability. The NV-FS2 set can be easily expanded. You can use additional fans and fan mounts that can be powered from the same power supply and controlled using the same NA-FC1 controller using splitter cables (NA-SYC1) or fan hubs (NA-FH1/NV-FH2). It’s also possible to add additional NA-SEC3 extension cables.

 A look at the NV-FS1

Now, let’s shift our focus to the NV-FS1. NV-FS1 is a real deal. It is a multi-purpose fan set that you can use for various ventilation tasks, including but not limited to desk fan, device cooling, in our case, for airflow towards the open test bench setup, room fan applications, etc.

This set comprises three main components: NF-A12x25 PWM chromax. black fan, NA-FM1 multi-purpose fan mount, and NV-AA1, which is an airflow amplifier or funnel through which the focused airflow is provided. The fan assembly is installed on the NA-FM1, and NV-AA1 is installed on the rest of the assembly, providing a flexible solution providing flexibility to adjust the angle of the amplifier as per the need. The only thing lacking is the height adjustment of the stand, in my opinion.

You can see that the NV-AA1 amplifier is attached to the fan using fan mounting holes and standard Philips screws.

The above picture illustrates the three-way airflow amplification concept of NV-FS1.

Looking at the rear of the fan set, you can see that fan intake air from this end, hencethe blades (non-reversed) front side is on this end. Noctua has again focused on protection and installed the NA-FG1 grill using push pins. If you look carefully, these push pins are attached to the fan’s mounting holes.

I am showing a close-up of the NF-AA1 amplifier. As you can see, it has a hollow in the center, and the ducts on the sides are the only passage through which air comes out, hence you will get a directed or focused airflow. Noctua Home can be seen printed in the center.

The amplifier is made of ABS material. I am showing the side that attaches to the fan. It has standard 105mm mounting hole spacing.

NV-FM1 is at the core of this fan set. This part is made of steel. It supports 120mm and 140mm fans. You can not only place it over a surface, but can also install it on the wall, for which the necessary hardware is provided in the box.

Two anti-slip pads can be seen on the base. This base also has 4x magnets for magnetic attachment, making it quite a versatile bracket frame, catering to almost all possible installation requirements. Zip tie mounts are also provided. It has quite some weight to it, which makes sense since it has to hold the fan and the amplifier, and also supports the angle adjustment.

The complete bracket is secured to the rest of the assembly using side thumb screws. The side arms can also be removed by undoing the 4x screws shown in the above picture.

I have removed the NF-AA1 and NV-FM1 and am showing the NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black, which provides excellent airflow at an adequate noise level. The fan is PWM regulated.

Power option

NV-FS1 comes equipped with the same NV-FS1 power supply adapter and NA-FC1, along with other cables that is mentioned above in the NV-FS2, making NV-FS1 a comprehensive solution for your ventilation needs.

I am using NV-FS1 to provide airflow towards the motherboard area on my open test bench setup. This is better than having no airflow.

Conclusion

Noctua Home is a new category of products from Noctua catering to your customized ventilation requirements, including desk-based cooling, room cooling, and device cooling. The two main products in this category are NV-FS1 and NV-FS2. Both products use Noctua’s high-performance NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. By setting a fan set, you get a powerful product for various ventilation needs.

The NV-FS2 uses multi-purpose gaskets and pads surrounding the 120mm fan, providing a 10mm offset on both sides, providing a breathing space for the fan and ventilation space at a time. Any device that has ventilation holes in the housing can be cooled using NV-FS2. The gasket provides a tight seal and effectively reduces the influx of turbulence, providing a consistent, noise-free operation. This fan set can be placed under or over an electronic device, and it can even be placed vertically on a level surface, in which it will act as a side-blowing fan.

The NV-FS1 is a killer deal. It uses the NV-FM1 multi-purpose metallic bracket and the NF-AA1 amplifier cover over the NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. The bracket with a stand provides a resting platform on which the fan and amplifier are installed. This mechanism also provides an angle of amplifier adjustment. The funnel effect provides a focused airflow towards the target area. You can place NV-FS1 over a surface, install it on a wall, or use a magnetic attachment as well. Zip tie mounts are also provided.

The NV-FS1 and NV-FS2 come with extensive power hardware. Noctua has used an NV-FS1 power supply, which is a compact, premium-grade 24W AC/DC power supply that supports both 230V and 115V input. Its salient feature is 0.075W idling power. Noctua has provided EU, US, and UK socket type connectors, providing you with peace of mind, allowing you to use these products anywhere in the world, conforming to these formats.

NV-PS1 power supply is protected against overvoltage, overcurrent, and short-circuit,s and both the power supply and the fan carry safety certification from UL and TÜV. Unlike many cheap fans and power supplies, they are fully CE/UKCA compliant and meet all applicable standards for EMC and safety.

Noctua has no chill as they have also bundled their premium fan controller, NA-FC1, in each of these products. Noctua NA-FC1 is a handy PWM fan controller designed to control up to 3x 4-pin PWM fans. The controller has a slim outlook, standing at 21x25x48mm in a black color housing. A speed dial knob is used to change the PWM duty cycle. The maximum rated current is 3A and can handle Noctua 12V and 5V fans as well as third-party fans.

Many motherboards provide insufficient options to customize automatic fan control, or simply don’t go below certain duty cycles and speed levels. Using the NA-FC1, the user can lower the motherboard’s PWM control curve in order to achieve silent operation.

In addition to the 135cm cable of the NV-PS1 power supply, the 30cm long NA-AC10 adaptor for fan connection, and the fan’s 20cm primary cable, the NV-FS1 set includes an NV-EC4 1m extension cable that increases the total reach to 2.85m. The NA-FC1 controller can be placed before or after the extension cable for maximum flexibility.

The NV-FS1 in particular suits my requirement of providing some sort of airflow to my open test bench setup. NV-FS2 can also be used as a side-blown fan, but its height can’t be adjusted. NV-FS1 is flexible in terms of angle adjustment, but its height is also not adjustable.

The NV-FS1 has an MSRP of $109.95, whereas the NV-FS2 has an MSRP of $89.95. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for both products. Yes, this is a steep price, but you are getting a rich experience from these products, and Noctua has gone all out providing everything that one would need for the operations of these products. Noctua has provided an expandable and modular design on these features, enabling you to add more products like fans and control them using a single controller. Both products are recommended by us.

If I recall correctly, Nvidia introduced a 12VHPWR 16-pin or technically 12+4 pin power connector on its GeForce RTX 3090Ti graphics card. That was a hint that they would be using a new form factor connector on the next generation of graphics cards. We saw exactly that on the GeForce RTX 40xx series of graphics cards, with the exception of entry-level SKUs.

While the idea is lucrative, as instead of using up to 3 or in some cases 4 8-pin PEG connectors giving us a cable management challenge, let a single connector handle it all for us, with a capacity of delivering up to 600W power. However, this connector or its idea met a serious issue where many users reported instability issues or melting (overheating at its core), triggering another related issue of warranty claims. I am not delving into its details; we all know about it!

The same continues with the GeForce RTX 50xx series graphics cards, with users reporting the same issues with RTX 5090 and RTX 5080s. Regardless of whether it is a loss of connection or some other underlying issue, this unique situation presented an unequivocal yet complex challenge to the community – to come up with a genuine solution without violating the warranty!

Many modders and vendors have ventured into this business, and we are taking a look at one of these solutions from Thermal Grizzly. It is WireView Pro, an adapter that technically sits between your graphics card and the PSU. It monitors the power parameters and reports them on the small screen. It also comes equipped with a speaker that sounds off if an abnormality is detected.

However, this is only a monitoring tool at its core, and it lacks the logging of sensors and software capability, which is why its second-generation WireView Pro II is out already. If you are not aware, this product is a collaboration between Elmor Labs and Thermal Grizzly. This is possibly the best combination that one could have on the market in my opinion. I have been using Elmor Labs monitoring tools, and they are a must-have for enthusiasts, modders, and reviewers alike.\

The WireView Pro has an MSRP of $89.97. Thermal Grizzly offers a 5-year warranty for its product.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The product is shipped inside a pouch, which is clearly not sufficient for the actual cardboard box inside. I encourage Thermal Grizzly to review its packaging for more user-friendly packaging while remaining eco-friendly.

The product itself comes inside a small cardboard box.

Thermal Grizzly has provided a basic user guide. You’d better check the detailed documents on their website.

Closer Look

The main housing is made of aluminum and ABS materials. You can see two connectors on the adapter. One goes into your graphics card, and the PSU’s 12VHPWR or 12V-2×6 cable is connected to the second connector/header. Its dimensions are 52x43x33mm.

Here is what Thermal Grizzly says about it, “The WireView Pro GPU is an advanced version of the device for measuring and monitoring the power consumption of graphics cards. Developed in collaboration with Jon “elmor” Sandström, the WireView Pro GPU connects to the 12VHPWR power connector of the graphics card and is linked to the power supply through the power cable. Power consumption data is displayed on an OLED screen. The Pro version has been enhanced with connector detection and temperature sensors. An added buzzer provides an audible warning if the adjustable temperature or current limit is exceeded or if the cable is not correctly connected or if an incorrectly specified cable is used.”

Salient properties of the adapter include:

• OLED display
• Power consumption measurement
• Power consumption recording
• Internal temperature sensors at the power connectors
• External temperature sensors
• Pin detection for sensor-pin connectors
• Alarm function
• Optimized cable management

The main housing has an aluminum construction, making it robust. You can see an OLED display screen on the front. WireView PRO is printed in white as well. You can see line stenciling, which is for style only. One connected the display screen will remain upright on the front.

One end of the adapter has a standard 12VHPWR connector to which your PSU’s 12VHPWR or 12V-2×6 cable is attached. You must hear a click sound confirming that the cable is properly attached to the connector.

One end of the adapter has a 12VHPWR connector. This connector goes into your graphics card. When installing the adapter, you will not hear a clicking sound. This sound confirms that the adapter sits correctly into the card.

In case you are wondering why that is so. It has a simple reason. There is not enough space around the 12VHPWR connector on the adapter and the graphics card’s PCB for you to conveniently press the locking tab or latch to unlock it and pull the adapter. On this account, I must appreciate the design team for covering this aspect as well.

You can see two thick metallic legs with heavy soldering/anchoring on the base. This is done to ensure that a high amount of current can flow through these without causing electrical disturbances like VDroop or heat buildup.

They have used two shunt resistances of 50 milliohms. In case you are not aware, a shunt is a device that provides a low-impedance path for current in a circuit. This is done to divert the current from the main component to prevent overcurrent. It uses Ohm’s law and the principle of voltage sensing. In operations, when current flows through a shunt resistor, a small voltage drop is introduced, which is proportional to the amount of current flowing through the resistor. This is where Ohm’s law comes into the equation, as we can measure the voltage drop in relation to actual current flow using V=IR. This allows the designers to measure the actual current without affecting the overall current flow.

Once we have the current reading and voltage reading, we can simply calculate the actual power being consumed or pulled during the operation. This makes the WireView Pro robust as it displays the minimum and maximum values in addition to the current power, and also provides energy measurement in KW/h which you can use to calculate the electricity cost.

Two logos confirm the joint venture of Elmor Labs and Thermal Grizzly in designing and manufacturing this product. Even if there was no Elmor Labs logo over it, the very design, layout, and screen display when navigating would give out.

You can see some additional headers on the PCB. Two are labeled TA and TB. These are two-pin sense headers. You can connect two thermal probes to these headers and get to measure the temperature reading of the surface on which the probes are attached. A 4-pin header is there as well. I think it is reserved for ROM programming of the embedded controller, but I am not sure.

Thermal Grizzly has provided two thermal probes as well. One has a small length compared to the other one. You can use these to monitor the PCB or connector temperature of the graphics card.

A small, rounded black button is provided on the backside of the OLED screen. It has a toggle function. Pressing it once will show the next sensor data on the screen. Also, you can long-press it for other functions.

The above picture illustrates the menu system of the display. You should read this document carefully to fully understand the menu settings and operations.

Connector Types

Thermal Grizzly offers WireView Pro in two basic configurations:

• Normal Connector
• Reverser Connector

The above picture gives an idea of which type of connector to select based on the alignment of the 12VHPWR connector on your graphics card. In addition, Thermal Grizzly offers 90° and 180° implemented connectors to which your PSU cable is connected.

Installation

Installation of WireView Pro is actually a simple step. I connected the PSU cable before installing the adapter on the card. Just align the connector on the adapter to the one on the graphics card and plug it in. Though you would not get a click sound, you should get a feeling for firm seating. An alarm is there in case the connection is lost, so here is your peace of mind. I have used it on the Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16G OC White edition.

Display Screen

The above pictures show you the sensor readouts, including temperature, electrical current, voltage, power, TA, and TB sensor values. Sense will show 600W all the time. I am not going into the details as it is self-explanatory. This is a monitoring-only tool, so don’t expect more.

Testing

I have used the configuration below for testing:

• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [Stock, Auto]
• G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 kit
• Western Digital SN850 500GB NVMe Drive [OS]
• Teamgroup Vulkan 2TB SSD [Game Drive]
• Ocypus Delta L36 ARGB V2 White
• CPS YN1000 1000W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open-frame layout

I don’t have dedicated equipment to measure the actual power being drawn by the graphics card. I will be setting up Elmor Labs PMD2 along with ADT-Link R33G PCIe 5.0 soon, for that matter. These days, it is not that straightforward to measure the actual power draw of the component since some portion of this power comes from the 24-pin ATX connector and PCIe connector as well.

Anyhow, I will keep it to the basics. I will use TPU GPU-Z Sensor Log’s Board Power Draw and 16-pin Power sensors and compare it to the values reported by the WireView Pro. For this, I ran the 3DMARK Time Spy Extreme stress benchmark. This test runs for some 20 minutes. Here is the comparison:

Source	Power Reading
Board Power Draw	342.7 W
16-pin Power	332.6 W
WireView Pro	468 W

The reported values are the maximum from each source. Average power value on WireView Pro during the test remains around 338W, which actually sits closer to the GPU-Z sensor data, but the maximum power the graphics card took during this session was reported to be 468W with a current value of up to 28A on the WireView Pro.

Thermal Imaging

I wanted to monitor the WireView Pro housing temperature as well, given the high amount of electrical current flowing through it. During this, I observed the heat pattern on the 12VHPWR connector onthe PSU cable.

You can see that electrical current is not flowing evenly when the PSU cable is connected directly to the graphics card, as evidenced by the heat source (shown in white). However, when this cable is connected to the adapter, it shows a balanced and evenly spread of current on all wires (visible top 6 wires).

During idling, the housing temperature was 31°C at an ambient temperature of 24°C. Under load, the housing temperature reached 41.3°C. Please keep in mind that I have tested the adapter on stock settings without unlocking the power limits on RTX 5080. On RTX 5090, this housing can reach much higher temperatures given the higher power draw. In that case, active cooling is definitely a consideration.

Conclusion

We are seeing options in the market in the wake of issues with the 12VHPWR connector. WireView Pro is a monitoring tool/adapter from Thermal Grizzly that sits between your graphics card and the PSU. What it does is continuously monitor the power parameters along with the thermals on the source. It comes equipped with a buzzer that sounds off in case of any power instability or if the cable connection is not proper/adequate.

This product and its upgrade are a collaboration between Elmor Labs and Thermal Grizzly. In case you are not familiar with Elmor Labs (John), I encourage you to visit his website, and you will find a range of monitoring tools and other related items that are handy for overclockers, enthusiasts, and product testers.

WireView Pro has an OLED display screen – although a small size – that shows values like current power, Energy, Min and Max values, Sensor probe readouts, Voltage readout, current value, Temperature on Input and Output, HPWR Sense, etc. It has a toggle button that can be used to toggle between the sensors, and long pressing it would give you access to the menu. You should check the technical documentation on the Thermal Grizzly website.

This adapter uses two 50-milliohms shunt resistors to accurately monitor input current and voltage, providing accurate power readings without affecting the overall electrical current. The housing of this adapter is made of aluminum material and has a size of 52x43x33mm.

Thermal Grizzly has provided two probes/sensor cables to record the surface temperature and provided two headers so that you can monitor the thermals on the OLED screen. This is a handy tool; in fact, it is a must-have tool to protect your investment in a graphics solution.

While this tool does not provide any logging function nor it provides any software based monitoring nor it regulates the power unlike the Aqua Computer’s AMPINEL which is a real deal but lacks in the warranty department, the WireView Pro provides a peace of mind that your graphics card and its power connection is being monitored and alarm would sound in case of any issue giving you a time to respond before damage happens. While I did not observe high housing temperatures on RTX 5080 but same can’t be said when this adapter will be used on RTX 5090 due to higher power draw and electrical current. For that, active cooling would be needed. It is advised not to touch the adapter during operation.

On a side note, this adapter is not compatible with Nvidia’s Founder Edition cards due to their 45° layout. Do check the compatibility on the Thermal Grizzly website. Also, make sure to check the configuration to avoid clearance issues with the CPU cooler.

This tool has an MSRP of $89.97. Thermal Grizzly offers a 5-year warranty, which is excellent, and this is where it outshines the competition. Based on my experience and testing, I am recommending this product to RTX 40xx and 50xx users and even AMD 9070/XT cards that use the same connectors.

Pros

• Safeguard for your pricey graphics card
• Accurate measurements
• Real Time Monitoring
• OELD Screen
• Two thermal probes
• Two Headers for probes
• Buzzer
• Temperature Monitoring
• Current Monitoring
• Voltage Monitoring
• Warranty
• Available in Normal and Reverse Connector Config

Cons

• Price
• No automatic shutdown protection
• Can’t monitor individual wires of the PSU Cable
• No logging of sensor data
• OLED Screen size
• Single-button control is not user-friendly
• Lacks Software
• Compatibility
• No active Cooling