Introduction

Scythe is a company that's been in the CPU cooler market for nearly two decades, having entered the market back in 2002. Since then, they have rapidly grown, becoming a well-known and respected manufacturer of CPU coolers and fans with a dedicated following. Their diverse portfolio of products along with a firm commitment to quality has resulted in a company that, while not quite on the same level as Noctua or Corsair in terms of brand recognition, still ranks among the top-tier manufacturers all the same.


In today's review, I take Scythe's latest offering, the Shuriken 2, and put it through a torture test that is likely unfair considering how tiny this heatsink truly is. However, considering Scythe's ability to punch above their weight class, the Shuriken 2 might have a better chance to withstand the heat compared to other ultra-small Mini-ITX focused coolers.

Packaging

The front of the box includes a good look at the Shuriken 2 and informs you of the Kaze Flex 92 mm slim fan it includes, as well as the cooler's maximum height of 58 mm. Turning to the left side, you will find the warranty information. It is a fairly average three years long, which is still more than adequate considering air coolers seldom fail (just the fans). Another turn, this time to the back, and you will find the cooler's various specifications, such as its exact dimensions, socket support, etc.


A look at the right side and we find the feature list and a close-up of the cooler from the top down. Those features include Scythe's H.P.M.S. III mounting system, slim design for maximum compatibility, and of course the slim Kaze Flex fan. Meanwhile, the top just has the product name and a look at the base with a near mirror finish.

Contents

The packaging is cardboard, with the mounting hardware encased in a smaller cardboard box that sits on top of the cooler. Adequate space around the cooler means even if your local delivery guy decides to use it like a soccer ball, it should be fine.


Everything you need for pretty much every modern socket is included. Even the ancient LGA775 gets support because of the fairly universal design, and the number of parts is minimal. This should make the install easy, especially when considering the cooler's smaller size. That said, Scythe also made sure to include an extra set of screws for a standard 92 mm x 25 mm fan, which they also included. As such, I will take a look at any improvements in performance a thicker fan may bring.

Common parts supplied for mounting include:

• 4x Spacers
• 4x Bolt nuts
• 2x Fan clips (25 mm)
• 2x Fan clips (15 mm)
• 4x Nuts
• 4x Screws for AMD
• 2x Mounting plates
• 1x 92 mm slim fan
• 1x Backplate
• 1x LGA775 spacer
• 1x Packet of thermal paste
• 1x Heatsink
• 1x Installation manual