Introduction

Formed in 2002, Scythe has been around for a while. Since then, they have quickly expanded, becoming a well-known manufacturer of PC-cooling products. With unique coolers, fans, and accessories in their product portfolio, it is not surprising that they have garnered a dedicated following. Their firm commitment to quality likely has something to do with that too. If you were into water cooling before it was cool, you likely remember their beloved Gentle Typhoon fans that were an enthusiast favorite and helped push Scythe into the minds of PC gamers the world over. Add to that their push to constantly update their current designs and you have a company that, while not flashy, has created a niche market for themselves.


In today's review, I look at Scythe's Shuriken 3. This latest low-profile offering backs a lot of performance in a small space. At just 69 mm tall, it should fit in even the tightest of cases. To manage that they paired the heatsink with a Kaze Flex 120 mm slim PWM fan. To improve memory compatibility, the Shuriken 3 has a cut out for memory along with an offset, which should keep it clear of other components. So without further delay, let's see what Scythe has to offer with their latest release.

Packaging

Scythe uses a relatively small black box that does feature a bit of color with the top of the box showing off the cooler's base and heat pipes. Turning it over to look at the front, you will find a color image of the entire cooler, supported sockets, and the fact that it uses a Kaze Flex 120 mm slim PWM fan. Flip it around again, this time to the left side, and you will find the warranty information with Scythe stating that the cooler is be covered for two years.


Turning the box again, this time to the back, takes us to the specifications of the cooler with all the typical information you would expect, such as weight, dimensions, fan RPM, supported sockets, etc. To go with those specifications are mechanical drawing with the listed dimensions of the heatsink and its fan. Finally, the right side has a paragraph talking about the cooler's compatibility with Mini-ITX and other SFF systems. It also mentions a few of the Kaze Flex 120 mm fan's specifications, such as the 100,000-hour lifespan and rubber shock absorbing pads.

Contents

After opening the box, I was greeted by cardboard packaging and the mounting hardware placed on top, with the cooler itself sitting just below.


Everything needed for pretty much every modern socket is included, and thanks to a fairly universal design, the number of parts is quite low, making things a bit simpler.

Common parts supplied for mounting include:

• 4x AMD backplate screws
• 4x Plastic spacers
• 4x Bolt nuts
• 4x Fan screws
• 4x LGA2011/2066 stud nuts
• 2x AMD mounting arms
• 2x Intel mounting arms
• 1x 120 mm x 17 mm fan
• 1x Intel backplate
• 1x Tube of thermal paste
• 1x LGA775 rubber spacer
• 1x Install manual