be quiet! Introduces Improved Shadow Rock Slim 2 CPU Cooler

[btarunr]

be quiet!, the German manufacturer for premium PC components, is announcing its latest addition to the cooling portfolio with Shadow Rock Slim 2, an upgraded version of its predecessor Shadow Rock Slim with an optimized mounting kit for easy installation on all current Intel and AMD consumer sockets. Shadow Rock Slim 2 is the ideal cooling solution for compact systems where the balance between cooling performance and quietness is key. Its four high-performance heat pipes give Shadow Rock Slim 2 an impressive cooling capacity of up to 160 W TDP.

The compact single-tower Shadow Rock Slim 2 has four 6 mm high-performance copper heat pipes with direct touch (HDT) to absorb the CPU heat directly. The heatsink is coupled with a silence-optimized 135 mm be quiet! PWM fan with nine airflow-optimized blades and durable rifle-bearing technology, boasting a low overall noise of 23.7 dB(A) at 100% fan speed. This results in an impressive cooling performance for processors with up to 160 watts TDP, making the Shadow Rock Slim 2 a premium solution for users who need powerful yet silent cooling for their compact systems or systems with tall RAM modules.



Elegant design and easy mounting
A brushed aluminium top cover and aluminium heat pipe caps add a touch of elegance to this premium cooler. Compared to its predecessor, Shadow Rock Slim 2 features an optimized mounting kit which makes for an easier installation and offers compatibility with all current Intel and AMD consumer sockets. It also allows the user to easily access their memory modules after installation in the PC case, making memory upgrades a breeze. Shadow Rock Slim 2 supports installing a second fan at the rear with the included fan clips. be quiet! offers a three-year manufacturer's warranty on Shadow Rock Slim 2.

Shadow Rock Slim 2 is available from July 27 at a recommended retail price (MSRP) of $45.90 / €45.90 / £43.99.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Look! They included the TDP with a PR!

Like how the tubes are equally spaced, but those caps on the fin stack just look out of place, to me.

 

[ixi]

Gelid Phantom > shadow rock slim 2. Anytime, anywhere.

Phantom - cheaper, better.

 

[NRANM]

Gelid Phantom > shadow rock slim 2. Anytime, anywhere.

Phantom - cheaper, better.

While I assume that the Gelid Phantom is indeed the superior cooler based on simply looking at both of them, do you have any actual data? There aren't many reviews of the Gelid Phantom, and no actual reviewer/website that has reviews of both so that comparisons are more appropriate.

The "anywhere" part is what I kind of have a problem with since Gelid is a less popular brand and its availability is nowhere near as good as be quiet!'s.
Also, the Gelid Phantom is significantly larger, so compatibility with memory and cases is more limited, thus it won't really fit "anywhere".

 

[DeeJay1001]

Gelid Phantom > shadow rock slim 2. Anytime, anywhere.

Phantom - cheaper, better.

With a cooler like the phantom you can't move your computer without be extremely careful, you can also forget shipping a system with that cooler. If you are only on a 65w cpu the bigger cooler is completely pointless.

 

[n-ster]

Love the sound signature from their 135mm SW3. It's hard to compare this to the Gelid Phantom, dual fin stack dual fan is very different, the acoustics will be very different, and quality/reliability of the fan will be miles better for be quiet!

 

[ixi]

While I assume that the Gelid Phantom is indeed the superior cooler based on simply looking at both of them, do you have any actual data? There aren't many reviews of the Gelid Phantom, and no actual reviewer/website that has reviews of both so that comparisons are more appropriate.

The "anywhere" part is what I kind of have a problem with since Gelid is a less popular brand and its availability is nowhere near as good as be quiet!'s.
Also, the Gelid Phantom is significantly larger, so compatibility with memory and cases is more limited, thus it won't really fit "anywhere".

My actual data is from my own using. Using it on 4650G. Playing games it sits around 40C. Yeah, using iGPU, but still. Compatibility will not be a problem if you don't buy ram with huge and useless heatsink. About case. Be quit is 161 tall while gelid is 160 . About width, yeah, two tower versus single tower...

Love the sound signature from their 135mm SW3. It's hard to compare this to the Gelid Phantom, dual fin stack dual fan is very different, the acoustics will be very different, and quality/reliability of the fan will be miles better for be quiet!

True about that, be quit fans are better.

With a cooler like the phantom you can't move your computer without be extremely careful, you can also forget shipping a system with that cooler. If you are only on a 65w cpu the bigger cooler is completely pointless.

Don't know why you mentioned moving part, but I have moved plenty around my pc with noctua d-14. You need to be careful, but possible.

 

[eidairaman1]

I would love to see Scythe usa have the Ashura on current platforms.

It kept my 8350 at 5.0 cool and we all know thats a hot chip

 

[Mussels]

Having (not) heard their weirdly sized 135mm fans before, these make one hell of a 'budget' slim cooler

(This was a joke about how quiet they are, you could say i am a.... fan)

 

[n-ster]

Having (not) heard their weirdly sized 135mm fans before, these make one hell of a 'budget' slim cooler

Most of their PSUs and higher end air coolers have had them for a while, it's basically a SW3 but optimized a bit for static pressure I believe. The Silent Wings 3 actually came out after them including this 135mm in their products

 

[NRANM]

My actual data is from my own using. Using it on 4650G. Playing games it sits around 40C. Yeah, using iGPU, but still. Compatibility will not be a problem if you don't buy ram with huge and useless heatsink. About case. Be quit is 161 tall while gelid is 160 . About width, yeah, two tower versus single tower...

Hm, I thought the Shadow Rock Slim 2 wasn't as tall. What dimensions was I looking at?
Anyway, you still have provided no actual data. What games are you playing? What is the CPU utilization? This is the temperature with which cooler? What is the temperature with the other cooler? What is the ambient temperature?

 

[plastiscɧ]

Having (not) heard their weirdly sized 135mm fans before, these make one hell of a 'budget' slim cooler

(This was a joke about how quiet they are, you could say i am a.... fan)

I have also installed 4 of the wings from beQuiet in my case, of course, is clear.
to your assumptions that it would have something to do with pressure - may be - but it is according to the company simply an intermediate size.
the 12s and 14s are intended for case interior walls, depending on where they are installed. and of course the types: pure - shadow - silent in different variations.
the 13.5s are usually mounted across the fans or on edge.
the 14s are also too large for heatsinks in terms of the overall dimensions of the case, because the heatsink stands on edge on "stilts".
the larger the rotor, the louder it can get. however, even the large ones are not audible when they run under load. Noctua is much louder. I have two 3000 turbines on the heat sink of my water cooling and when they start it is over with the silence.
All in all, the dimensions and types are dedicated to individual design and the wallet.

 

[ixi]

Hm, I thought the Shadow Rock Slim 2 wasn't as tall. What dimensions was I looking at?
Anyway, you still have provided no actual data. What games are you playing? What is the CPU utilization? This is the temperature with which cooler? What is the temperature with the other cooler? What is the ambient temperature?

Ryzen 4650G with cooler Gelid Phantom. Currently room ambient temperature is around 26/27 on day, this summer is hot, hot, hot. Playing Apex Legends, WoW. But I can add that my case have 4 additional fans. Have not used other coolers on this cpu nor do I other aftermarket. This iGPU can't stress out CPU :[.

 

[NRANM]

Have not used other coolers on this cpu nor do I other aftermarket.

Then you cannot simply claim that the Gelid Phantom is superior, without any actual data to back it up.

You are just randomly shilling for a product you own and like.
And just to be clear: I'm saying this, even though I believe Gelid as a brand offer great value (similarly to Thermalright) and be quiet! as a brand is actually somewhat overhyped and overpriced.

 

[ixi]

Then you cannot simply claim that the Gelid Phantom is superior, without any actual data to back it up.

You are just randomly shilling for a product you own and like.
And just to be clear: I'm saying this, even though I believe Gelid as a brand offer great value (similarly to Thermalright) and be quiet! as a brand is actually somewhat overhyped and overpriced.

GELID Phantom 幻影 CPU 風冷散熱器 評測 - 悠二硬件Yujihw

最近GELID推出了一款風冷雙塔散熱器, 名為PHANTOM幻影, 擁有7條導熱管, 標稱TDP為200W, 更支援RYZEN的AM4平台, 是次散熱評測將會加入多5款風冷散熱器作比較, 且看GELID PHANTOM能否稱霸三百多港元的居中級別。

yujihw.com

Translate this site to English. Compared with other good coolers. You'll see review and graphs.

 

[NRANM]

I don't see the Shadow Rock Slim (2) in the comparison tables.

I guess I do need to point it out: you can't take a review of the Phantom from one website, then take a review of the Shadow Rock Slim (2) from a completely different website, and compare their results. You need the same website/reviewer to have tested the two coolers on the same or as similar test bench/system as possible.

 

[ixi]

I don't see the Shadow Rock Slim (2) in the comparison tables.

I guess I do need to point it out: you can't take a review of the Phantom from one website, then take a review of the Shadow Rock Slim (2) from a completely different website, and compare their results. You need the same website/reviewer to have tested the two coolers on the same or as similar test bench/system as possible.

Are you saying that shadow rock slim 2 is equal to d-15? Because it looks like that.

In comparison you don't see shadow rock slim 2(which on that time didn't even exist and noctua d-15 will eat that single tower like a baby). If second version is so good, why do be quit! make two tower coolers, because it makes no sense if single tower can do the same job as two tower.

 

[NRANM]

Are you saying that shadow rock slim 2 is equal to d-15? Because it looks like that.

Are you being intentionally dense?
Where have I said or even implied that the Shadow Rock Slim 2 is equal to the NH-D15? Literally nowhere have I suggested that the Shadow Rock Slim 2 is equal to any large/expensive cooler.

In comparison you don't see shadow rock slim 2(which on that time didn't even exist and noctua d-15 will eat that single tower like a baby). If second version is so good, why do be quit! make two tower coolers, because it makes no sense if single tower can do the same job as two tower.

I'm aware that the Shadow Rock Slim 2 could not have been compared to the Phantom at the time, as it didn't exist. That doesn't change the fact that is simply wrong to compare different coolers based on results from completely different websites.

Do I really need to explain the concept of market segmentation?
There are different products for different levels of the market. Dual-tower coolers are intended for higher-end processors, as they generally offer higher cooling capacity, or for enthusiasts who do not have a high-end CPU but are adamant about cooling, and are prepared to pay the premium. Single-tower coolers are intended for more mainstream usage as they suffice for most scenarios and are usually cheaper, thus offering better value.
The difference in cooling performance between coolers starts to show as the heat generation increases. Any cooler would be sufficient for a 2-core processor. Sure, the expensive and high-end coolers will keep temperatures a bit lower, but even a cheap single-tower cooler would be able to keep temperatures completely in check. As heat generation is increased (by having a higher-end processor and/or overclocking), then the higher cooling capacity of expensive coolers starts to matter, and the differences in cooling performance start becoming more apparent.
If you have a low-end CPU that generates little heat, it would make no sense to purchase an expensive cooler when a cheaper one would be within a few degrees or maybe even just as good.

In the review of the Phantom you provided, it is 3 degrees behind the NH-D15, however, the Ryzen 7 1700 isn't that much of a challenge to cool. What about a 12-core or 16-core CPU? What about an overclocked 12-core or 16-core CPU? Would the Phantom be able to provide similar cooling to the NH-D15 then?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
About to pull the trigger on a Dark Rock Tf, BK020 sweet cooler

 

[mtcn77]

TL;DR: they better be updating the shadow rock series because it never overshadowed the good old pure rock.

Gelid Black is really good in comparison.

 

[Hargema]

Black edition?
Also, too expensive.

 

[n-ster]

Black edition would be nice on the Shadow series, Pure Rock has a Black edition and Dark Rock are all black

Be Quiet's pricing makes sense considering they are a more premium, well known brand. The Pure Rock 2 has only a 120mm fan and weaker performance-wise, MSRP is $40. I think the most compelling and true competitor for this would be Noctua's NH-U12S REDUX

 

[mtcn77]

The Pure Rock 2 has only a 120mm fan and weaker performance-wise, MSRP is $40. I think the most compelling and true competitor for this would be Noctua's NH-U12S REDUX

Haha, it will be fun to put it to the test. Pure Rock 2 is actually worse off than the original 'Pure Rock'.
Gelid Phantom is also better than U12S by 1.1°C.