Dark Rock Pro 4 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 05 Feb 2020 09:07:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Dark Rock Pro 4 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Corsair A500 CPU Cooler Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/corsair-a500-cpu-cooler-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/corsair-a500-cpu-cooler-review/#respond Wed, 22 Jan 2020 13:29:28 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=447053 Corsair has returned to the CPU air cooling market with the A500 dual tower cooler

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For about the last decade, all-in-one coolers have been the preferred choice for cooling high-performance mainstream desktop processors, especially with PC enthusiasts and gamers who want to extract the maximum performance from the CPU through overlocking. Air cooling the CPU has mostly been limited to low power, budget systems, however over the last couple of years, we have seen a resurgence in air cooling of high-performance processors with large tower coolers such as the Noctua NH-D15, the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro series and more recently the Deepcool Assassin III.

During this downturn in the use of high-end air coolers, some manufacturers completely stopped producing CPU tower coolers to focus their R&D on all-in-one liquid coolers exclusively. One of those companies that halted air cooler manufacturing was Corsair, but now they are back and aiming at the big boys with the new A500 dual tower cooler.

One of the key features that Corsair has been pushing while marketing the A500 tower cooler is the unique fan mounting method it has deployed. Unlike many of the large tower coolers currently on the market that use a spring clip mechanism to mount the fans, Corsair has opted for a more substantial method that includes rigid plastic frames with a Slide-and-Lock height adjustment mechanism for improved RAM clearance. It will be interesting to see how well this works later during the installation process.

Another interesting design choice Corsair has taken with the A500 is the decision to use two different heat pipe dimensions. All the heat pipes are manufactured from copper and are direct touch design, meaning they all have direct contact with the CPU IHS. However, the two central pipes are 8mm diameter while the outer two are 6mm diameter. Corsair claims this will improve cooling at high TDP compared with coolers that have heat pipes of all the same diameter.

To ensure adequate airflow is always passing over the cooler, Corsair has equipped the A500 with two PWM controlled 120mm ML120 high static pressure fans. The ML120 fans that come with the A500 are the regular non-RGB type since Corsair wanted to retain an understated appearance in the A500, as the company expects it to be used more commonly in workstation type systems, where function is more important than aesthetics.

Corsair has introduced an optimised retention method to make installation of the A500 as quick and straightforward as possible. For AMD installations, the A500 utilises the stock backplate while Intel systems require replacing the backplate with a Corsair supplied solution with specific standoffs for the socket type. On AMD sockets, the Corsair A500 uses a simple screw and spacer retention method. However, we will go over the Intel installation method in detail later.

According to Corsair, the A500 has been designed to provide pure performance with understated looks. To achieve maximum cooling performance, it is recommended to run the fans at 100% RPM. However, since the ML120 fans can run at a speed up to 2,400RPM, PWM control would be much more suited to everyday use. In its own internal synthetic testing, Corsair found the A500 has an average thermal resistance lower than similar style coolers from rival manufacturers, so we expect to see good thermal performance results when we come to test the cooler ourselves later.

In terms of how the Corsair A500 performance measures up to the competition is something we will find out during this review. To purchase the A500 at the moment will set you back around £89.99 in the UK – this places it right in the line of other high-end dual tower coolers such as the Noctua NH-D15, be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 and the Deepcool Assassin III, but can it match their performance levels? Let's dive in and see.

Key features

  • Dual heatsink design
  • Four heat pipes
  • Two 120mm fans
  • Adjustable fan height for RAM clearance
  • Understated aesthetics
  • Simple installation method

Specification

Heatsink Dimensions 137mm x 169mm x 103mm
Heatsink Dimensions w/Fan 144mm x 169mm x 171mm
Cold Plate Type Direct-Contact Heatpipe
Fan Dimensions 120mm x 120mm x 25mm
Fan Speed 2400 RPM
Number of Fans 2
Fan Model ML Series
Fan Airflow 75 CFM
Fan Static Pressure 4.2 mm-H2O
Noise Level 36 dBA
Heatpipe Material Copper
Heatsink Material Aluminium
Maximum RAM Height (Stock Fan Position) 45mm
Cooling Socket Support Intel 1150/1151/1155/1156
Intel 2011/2011-3/2066
AMD AM4
AMD AM3/AM2

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It’s likely most will assume that an AIO liquid cooler is the definitive option when looking to build a quiet high-performance system, with the only space for improvement being a full custom loop. This inherently brings a number of issues including higher costs, and an increased number of points of potential failure.

For those looking for simplicity an air cooler is still a good option, and be quiet! have become well known as a manufacturer of high-quality top performing air coolers. The new Dark Rock Pro 4 states cooling performance of 250W TDP but an equally high-end price point of £79.99. Does the performance live up to the price?

Watch via our VIMEO Channel (below) or over on YouTube HERE

Specification:

  • Model: Dark Rock Pro 4
  • Heat Sink Material: Aluminum
  • Included Fans : 1x Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM, 1x Silent Wings 135mm PWM
  • Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25mm, 135 x 135 x 22mm
  • Fan Speed: 1,500 , 1,200 RPM @100% PWM
  • Fan Noise Level: 24.3 dBa @100%
  • Fan Connector: 4-Pin (PWM)
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Intel socket compatibility: Intel LGA 2066, 2011-v3, 2011, 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 1366
  • AMD socket compatibility: AMD AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1
  • Heat Sink Weight:  1.3kg
  • Heat Sink Dimensions (LxWxH) : 145.7 x 136 x 162.8 mm

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Win one of five be quiet! Dark Rock 4 series coolers (closed) https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/win-one-of-five-be-quiet-dark-rock-4-series-coolers/ Mon, 16 Apr 2018 10:34:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=370171 To celebrate the launch of the Dark Rock 4 series, we are teaming up with be quiet! to give away FIVE CPU coolers! We have three Dark Rock Pro 4s and two Dark Rock 4s up for grabs, so get your entry in fast!

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Update: This competition is now CLOSED. Thanks to everyone who entered. Now without further ado, here are our five winners:

  • Nicholas Rennie
  • Chee Yong Hsia
  • Linus Kramer
  • Chris Wheeler
  • Alex Martin

Thanks to everyone who entered! We'll be back with more soon.

We like to give things away here at KitGuru, which is why today we are announcing our latest collaborative competition with be quiet!. This month, to help celebrate the launch of the be quiet! Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4, we have teamed up to give KitGuru readers the chance to win one of FIVE CPU coolers.

be quiet! make some of the best air coolers around, and that is still true today with the arrival of the Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4. We've already had the chance to review the Dark Rock 4, with Dominic giving it our ‘Worth Buying' award- you can read the full review, HERE.

For this competition, we'll be giving away THREE Dark Rock Pro 4 coolers and TWO Dark Rock 4 coolers. The winners will also receive a couple of extra surprise goodies!

So how do you go about winning one of these excellent coolers? That part is simple, all you need to do is answer the following question: “How many high performance heat pipes do the Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 have?” If you need a hint, you can check out our launch article on the Dark Rock 4 series, HERE.

Once you have the answer, pop it in an email and send it over to ‘competitions2018@kitguru.net', with the subject line ‘I want a cooling upgrade!'. If you have an email client installed on your OS- click the following link for autofill Email KitGuru by clicking here.

In the email, please include a link to an active Facebook or Twitter account. Sorry to those readers without a social media account, we do this to try and reduce the amount of people abusing the system and sending entries from multiple email accounts. If you do not send a Facebook or Twitter link to a live account page, your entry will be ignored.

This competition is open to our readers in Europe. All entries must reach us by 11:59 PM (UK time) on the 7th of May 2018. Winners will be announced within 30 days of the closing date (although likely much sooner). All decisions made by KitGuru staff are final. There can only be one entry per reader.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to everyone entering! We'll be back to announce the winners in a few weeks. 

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be quiet! launches Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 CPU coolers https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/matthew-wilson/be-quiet-launches-dark-rock-4-and-dark-rock-pro-4-cpu-coolers/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/matthew-wilson/be-quiet-launches-dark-rock-4-and-dark-rock-pro-4-cpu-coolers/#respond Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:30:48 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=369828 Be quiet! has built itself a great reputation in the air cooler market over the years. The Dark Rock series in particular has consistently been a top performer. We had the chance to check out early models of the Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 at CES earlier this year, and now, both …

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Be quiet! has built itself a great reputation in the air cooler market over the years. The Dark Rock series in particular has consistently been a top performer. We had the chance to check out early models of the Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 at CES earlier this year, and now, both coolers have officially launched.

We already have our review of the Dark Rock 4 up on the site, with our very own Dominic Moass giving it our ‘Worth Buying' award. The single-fan Dark Rock 4 comes with one 135mm SilentWings PWM fan in the box, six copper heat pipes for swift heat transfer and is rated to cool up to 200W TDP processors.

The Dark Rock Pro 4 is the larger of the two, with a beefier heatsink and a second fan. The pro version a 135mm SilentWings fan in the middle, and a second 120mm funnel shaped SilentWings fan at the front, with airflow-optimised blades and a six-pole fan motor. The heatsink carries an extra heatpipe and improves on past generations by including a cutout at the bottom of the heatsink to support taller RAM modules. In all, it can cool up to 250W TDP processors.

Both the Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 also come with a new mounting mechanism, making it much easier to fix them into place. You can read all about that in our review, HERE.

The Dark Rock 4 is available starting from today for £64.99. The Pro version will cost £80.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I've been a longtime user of Dark Rock air coolers myself, I particularly like that the mounting method has changed this time around. Are any of you currently shopping around for an air cooler? Have any of you used a Dark Rock in the past?

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KitGuru visits be quiet! HQ to see new Dark Rock Pro 4 air cooler and testing labs https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/damien-cox/kitguru-visits-be-quiet-hq-to-see-new-dark-rock-pro-4-air-cooler-and-testing-labs/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/damien-cox/kitguru-visits-be-quiet-hq-to-see-new-dark-rock-pro-4-air-cooler-and-testing-labs/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2018 18:33:55 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=361851 Back at CES, we saw a glimpse of the new Dark Rock Pro 4 and Dark Rock 4 air coolers by be quiet!. Ahead of their April launch, KitGuru was invited to the main design centre based in Hamburg to get a first look at what’s to come and the testing process behind it. While …

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Back at CES, we saw a glimpse of the new Dark Rock Pro 4 and Dark Rock 4 air coolers by be quiet!. Ahead of their April launch, KitGuru was invited to the main design centre based in Hamburg to get a first look at what’s to come and the testing process behind it.

While be quiet! is primarily based in Germany, the company has labs dotted all around the world. A small production team is located in the mainland of China and a whopping 11 throughout Taipei. Hamburg houses the design centre, in which brand new products are created from scratch and rigorously tested.

The testing rig itself is the same one that the company uses in Taipei, with a single dummy heater for AMD and another for Intel. The cooler is mounted using the same mechanism as home PC builds, however the room is specially regulated to maintain a steady 22℃, whereas the inside of the chamber is raised to 35℃.

“The actual Testing takes around 10 minutes,” explains be quiet! guru, Martin Wechterowicz. “Five minutes to hit the right temperature and the next five minutes to confirm effectiveness.” Of course, this is for each individual test conducted. The full test usually takes around 4 hours including the set up and break down times.

In fact, this is a contributing factor to be quiet! continuing to ensure the mounting of its coolers is a smooth and efficient process. The engineers have boiled the mount times of older Dark stock coolers to under 5 minutes, however, the new mechanism on the Dark Rock Pro 4 and Dark Rock 4 are supposedly much quicker as fans are no longer pre-installed.

They will still ship with the company’s renown Silent Wings 3 fans, so customers won’t miss out on “lower noise and better performance,” which you can tell by its name is what it’s all about. The Dark Rock Pro 4 and Dark Rock 4 are built with that in mind, designed with improved heat pipes so as to compliment the effectiveness of the Silent Wings 3. Wechterowicz also assures us that the Pro 4 in particular allows for high profile memory with the cut outs to its design.

be quiet! has narrowed its release date from Q2 2018 to sometime in April this year, although the exact date is yet to be confirmed. The Dark Rock Pro 4 is expected to retail close to £59 in the UK, which seems like a great price for what’s offered.

KitGuru Says: Despite not believing in brand loyalty, be quiet! has proven itself time and time again to me. I’m currently representing its Dark Base 900 with a custom window, alongside its super quiet Silent Wings 3 fans and couldn’t be happier with the cooling and noise levels. Do you think you’ll invest in the company’s new Dark Rock Pro 4 or Dark Rock 4?

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CES: be quiet! revamps its flagship air coolers with Dark Rock Pro 4 and Dark Rock 4 https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/matthew-wilson/ces-be-quiet-revamps-its-flagship-air-coolers-with-dark-rock-pro-4-and-dark-rock-4/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/matthew-wilson/ces-be-quiet-revamps-its-flagship-air-coolers-with-dark-rock-pro-4-and-dark-rock-4/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2018 09:44:21 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=360365 Be quiet! make some of the best CPU coolers around, the Dark Rock series in particular has been a consistently top performer. This year at CES, we had the chance to catch up with be quiet! and to our surprise, we were greeted with the Dark Rock Pro 4 and Dark Rock 4 CPU coolers, …

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Be quiet! make some of the best CPU coolers around, the Dark Rock series in particular has been a consistently top performer. This year at CES, we had the chance to catch up with be quiet! and to our surprise, we were greeted with the Dark Rock Pro 4 and Dark Rock 4 CPU coolers, which make several improvements over previous models, particularly when it comes to the mounting system.

Starting off with the Pro model, as usual, this is a dual-fan air cooler. It is massive, with more than enough capacity to cool up to 250W TDP processors. On the front you'll find a 120mm PWM funnel shaped SilentWings 3 120mm fan with airflow-optimized blades, a six-pole fan motor and FDB. The inner fan carries the same feature set, but it is a larger 135mm Silent Wings 3 instead, which will help dissipate heat by blowing it out the back of your case.

Compared to the Dark Rock Pro 3, the new model gives us the ability to lower fan speed and therefor noise levels, without losing any performance. One big change is that the bottom fins now have a cut out to support taller RAM modules, which was a concern for many when buying the Dark Rock Pro 3. The cooler also has a special black coating with ceramic particles, which is said to improve heat transfer.

The Dark Rock 4 is the single fan/heatsink version. It comes with one 135mm SilentWings PWM fan, decoupled fan mounting, six copper heat pipes for swift heat transfer and the ability to cool up to 200W TDP processors. Leo was at the be quiet! booth earlier today and noticed that the mounting mechanism has now changed, which will hopefully remove much of the complicated fiddling that was previously required.

While the Dark Rock 4 coolers were the stars of the show, be quiet! also had a new power supply to show off. Above you will find images for the Straight Power 11, which has a wire-free design on the DC side. Removing the wires results in better cooling because there is nothing obstructing airflow. The connections between individual components are also shorter, which means fewer signal disturbances. The lack of induction from cables should also boost signal quality.

All of the capacitors are 105°C rated straight from Japan. It is certified with an 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating, with options for 450W, 550W, 650W, 750W, 850W and 1,000W.

The Straight Power 11 PSU launches on the 16th of January. Meanwhile, the Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 CPU coolers are slated for a Q2 2018 launch.

KitGuru Says: I have extensively used the Dark Rock 2 and Dark Rock Pro 3 in my own personal builds over the years. Mounting these coolers was a bit complicated, so I'm looking forward to seeing the changes that have been made for these newer models. Are any of you currently looking to upgrade your CPU cooler? What do you think of this new pair from be quiet?

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