Introduction

From the Phanteks website:

Phanteks was founded by a group of engineers with a total of 20 years of international experience in thermal solutions. They paired up with a Dutch design team and established Phanteks in 2007. Phanteks ventured into the CPU-cooling industry with two goals in mind: high-end quality and innovative products in thermal solutions.

Compared to some of their more established competitors, Phanteks is a relative newcomer to the CPU-cooling market, but that hasn't stopped them from pushing their way into the top echelon of CPU cooler manufacturers. With products at various price segments, they are becoming a company PC enthusiasts look to for high-end air coolers. Add to that their exceptional warranty and unique color choices and you end up with a company that has a cooler that will fit your needs.

The Netherlands-based company's big claim to fame came with the PH-TC14PE. It immediately became a challenger of Noctua's famous NH-D14 after its release, and Phanteks didn't dawdle after that initial success. They continued to introduce more cooling products at various price points, which has allowed them to meet the needs of many PC enthusiasts looking for good cooling through a quality product that is backed by a great warranty. Then there are, of course, the downdraft-style PH-TC14CS and more traditional PH-TC12DX that round out their product stack. Phanteks might be relatively new when it comes to CPU coolers, but they have shown that they know how to create top-tier cooling products.

The Cooler I will review today is their top performer, the PH-TC14PE. I will review the black version with model number PH-TC14PE_BK. This cooler is simply massive, but whether its size will translate into class-leading performance or not still remains to be seen. With that said, it is time to test their top product to see just what it offers enthusiasts scrutinizing today's crowded cooler market.