be quiet! Dark Rock Slim

[crazyeyesreaper]

Haha, no, you're right! I wasn't looking closely enough at the benchmarks. Looking closely, it's definitely hold its own, even compared against some larger coolers.

That said, I will agree be quiet could use a faster fan here. the Silent Wings 3 fans are pretty damn solid in terms of performance offered vs noise. That said they could likely eek out 200-300 MHz more while staying below the 40 dBA range which should improve performance another 1-2C in the FPU worst case work load. Considering I test at 1 ft / 30 cm away on an open test bench 40 dBA or lower is basically whisper quiet in a case. (average PC case with no other fans will drop CPU cooler noise by about 2 dBA) meaning in a proper chassis your looking at the be quiet cooler being 36 dBA as it is now and 38 dBA with slightly faster fans making it a direct competitor vs the NH-U12S.

 

[Joss]

making it a direct competitor vs the NH-U12S

I really wish you'd test the Macho 120 Rev.B
Its dimensions are out of the ordinary @L120 mm x W102 mm x H150 mm and 5 heatpipes, a totally different proposition from both Noctua and BeQuiet in terms of size and shape.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

I really wish you'd test the Macho 120 Rev.B
Its dimensions are out of the ordinary @L120 mm x W102 mm x H150 mm and 5 heatpipes, a totally different proposition from both Noctua and BeQuiet in terms of size and shape.

View attachment 123063

You mean this cooler 4 years ago or so https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermalright/Macho_RevB/

Wait never mind 120 version.

 

[notb]

It's obviously held back by the low-powered fan. At least it doesn't look fugly like Noctuas that requires you to pay more for dumb Chromax accessories.

The whole point of be quiet! lineup is low noise. They don't offer loud, high-speed fans.

If you're looking for a different product, buy from a company that makes them. Basically, you're criticizing a pastry store for not offering beef.

If you don't care about noise, buy a big heatsink and a 140mm high-performance fan (like a Delta FFB). It'll beat any consumer product out there - including the most expensive 360mm AiOs.

How about actual quiet fans, no more than 30Db at it's current speed.

Yeah, I'm 99% sure you don't know how decibels and noise measuring work. Why not learn this? What's the point of years of reading cooling reviews if you don't understand the results? :/

 

[Caring1]

Yeah, I'm 99% sure you don't know how decibels and noise measuring work. Why not learn this? What's the point of years of reading cooling reviews if you don't understand the results? :/

Since you quoted me, I shall reply.
The fan used in the test has a very low max speed of no more than 1500RPM, as Decibels increases exponentially 30Db is very achievable at that range.
Therein lays the issue, Bequiet chose to include low speed fans to keep noise to a minimum, but at the cost of cooling efficiency.
I would rather they sold a bare tower at reduced cost, or gave a selection of fans to be selected from and allowed the consumer a choice.

 

[efikkan]

Don't forget the fact that noise characteristics and performance of fans changes quite a bit once they are placed in a closed case. If these tests were conducted in a proper case the differences between "cheap" and premium coolers would probably be much larger.

 

[W1zzard]

performance of fans [i assume you mean "coolers"] changes quite a bit once they are placed in a closed case. If these tests were conducted in a proper case the differences between "cheap" and premium coolers would probably be much larger.

Is this even factually correct? Given identical heat output, what's the physics explanation for this?

 

[efikkan]

Is this even factually correct? Given identical heat output, what's the physics explanation for this?

It certainly is, assuming you have a case with intake fans and higher pressure than the outside, the characteristics of the fans on coolers and exhaust fans will change as you have a channel of air through the case. E.g. Noctua has talked about this.

 

[VSG]

It certainly is, assuming you have a case with intake fans and higher pressure than the outside, the characteristics of the fans on coolers and exhaust fans will change as you have a channel of air through the case. E.g. Noctua has talked about this.

Mind sharing more about the Noctua reference? I find this hard to digest, since at most you are affecting cooler fan intake temperature and motor efficiency, not fan impeller performance.

 

[W1zzard]

the characteristics of the fans on coolers and exhaust fans will change as you have a channel of air through the case

why would they change? higher pressure = denser air = more air resistance?

 

[notb]

Mind sharing more about the Noctua reference? I find this hard to digest, since at most you are affecting cooler fan intake temperature and motor efficiency, not fan impeller performance.

Turbulent blocked airflow, in-case circulation. There's always a case factor. Air isn't magic. It has to travel somehow. It chooses the easiest path.
Low airflow fans are always less susceptible.

The impact may not be huge, but it's certainly big enough to change order in a list where many fans are within 2*C or 2dB.