Tuesday, April 30th 2019
Be Quiet! Announces Dark Rock Slim CPU Cooler
Be quiet!, the market leader in PC power supplies in Germany since 2007, announces Dark Rock Slim, a compact high-end CPU cooler that offers high physical clearance for any memory module. With a supported TDP of up to 180 watts, Dark Rock Slim offers enough headroom for silently cooling any mainstream processor while keeping the space above occupied RAM slots clear.
Dark Rock Slim is part of the Dark Rock 4 cooler family and works with all current Intel and mainstream AMD sockets. Cooling characteristics, performance and appearance are inspired by the Dark Rock 4 series, with the new compact heat sink providing high clearance for better RAM compatibility. Its high 180 watt cooling performance is achieved with a maximum noise level of just 23.6 dB(A), which is a result of a perfect synergy between cooling fan, heat sink and heat pipe design.
Impeccable cooling performance and virtually inaudible operation
Dark Rock Slim's cooling fins and heat pipes use a specially enhanced ceramic black coating that not only gives the heat sink an appealing all-black design, but also improves the cooler's heat conduction. The heat transfers efficiently from base to heat sink through four high-performance copper heat pipes. Small dots on the fin surface increase the total cooling area, while a wave-contoured shape contributes to perfect air flow. The intake fan is be quiet!'s own Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM, using airflow-optimized blades, a reliable six-pole motor, funnel-shaped air intake and fluid-dynamic bearing (FDB). The fan mounting uses a decoupled design to minimize vibration, thus reducing noise, and a second optional fan that can be mounted on the other side of the heat sink using the included clips.
Smart design and craftsmanship
With its high memory compatibility, Dark Rock Slim expands be quiet!'s top-of-the-line air cooler portfolio. The cooler offers a perfect balance between performance, build quality, utility, and appearance, while installation is simplified thanks to an easy-to-use top-mount design. The cooler's brushed aluminum top cover features a high-grade diamond-cut finish with specially manufactured caps masking its heat pipe ends. The slim heat sink layout guarantees high compatibility with expanded LED RAM modules and high-profile memory heat spreader designs.
Available on May 14th, 2019, Dark Rock Slim will hit retail and online stores at an MSRP of €57.90 / £54.99 / $59.90.
Dark Rock Slim is part of the Dark Rock 4 cooler family and works with all current Intel and mainstream AMD sockets. Cooling characteristics, performance and appearance are inspired by the Dark Rock 4 series, with the new compact heat sink providing high clearance for better RAM compatibility. Its high 180 watt cooling performance is achieved with a maximum noise level of just 23.6 dB(A), which is a result of a perfect synergy between cooling fan, heat sink and heat pipe design.
Dark Rock Slim's cooling fins and heat pipes use a specially enhanced ceramic black coating that not only gives the heat sink an appealing all-black design, but also improves the cooler's heat conduction. The heat transfers efficiently from base to heat sink through four high-performance copper heat pipes. Small dots on the fin surface increase the total cooling area, while a wave-contoured shape contributes to perfect air flow. The intake fan is be quiet!'s own Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM, using airflow-optimized blades, a reliable six-pole motor, funnel-shaped air intake and fluid-dynamic bearing (FDB). The fan mounting uses a decoupled design to minimize vibration, thus reducing noise, and a second optional fan that can be mounted on the other side of the heat sink using the included clips.
Smart design and craftsmanship
With its high memory compatibility, Dark Rock Slim expands be quiet!'s top-of-the-line air cooler portfolio. The cooler offers a perfect balance between performance, build quality, utility, and appearance, while installation is simplified thanks to an easy-to-use top-mount design. The cooler's brushed aluminum top cover features a high-grade diamond-cut finish with specially manufactured caps masking its heat pipe ends. The slim heat sink layout guarantees high compatibility with expanded LED RAM modules and high-profile memory heat spreader designs.
Available on May 14th, 2019, Dark Rock Slim will hit retail and online stores at an MSRP of €57.90 / £54.99 / $59.90.
23 Comments on Be Quiet! Announces Dark Rock Slim CPU Cooler
Although I like the fit & finish, since I switched to AIO liquid cooling a few years ago, I just can't imagine going back to having to look at that huge hunker of fins & fans hangin off me mobo :eek:
But I think you really gotta want that distinctive look to justify this. If all you want is a little black cooler there's a 212 that'tll serve that role.
I have a Dark Rock 4 myself with no regrets. The finish on these things is so nice and the fins are solid. You wont find a sturdier cooler. Mounting it on AM4 was super easy, too. The fans they come with are great. It cools exceptionally well, and quietly.
So I like their stuff. Super nice coolers. But again the little guy gets harder to justify. It just seems odd to run a small cooler like that in a fancy build, which these are clearly geared for. Not overclocking high end cpus on this thing...
Which... it comes down to budget relativism. If you're already spending $1500+ on a build its not a big tack on. But at that point you'll spend more on the 4 or pro 4 and be way happier... Whereas in a budget build where smaller coolers shine this one is probably too expensive relative to everything else. But I feel like nobody is buying this to put on their midrange stock-clocked CPU. If your budget allows you do do that, you're probably getting a better CPU with stock heatsink instead.
I dunno, maybe I'm underselling the performance. We'll see how it tests. It has all of the makings of a solid performer, I suppose. I really like the look of it. I just have a hard time seeing a good place for it. For my sensibilities and the builds I do, I would never pick one of these.
I was talking more in general. ;)
I'm not an AIO fan, prefer custom water but on a few systems I run air cooling having a decent but cheap air cooler is a wonderful thing. The systems I use air with run only at stock so it doesn't matter providing they can cool down the CPU to 60 to 70C depending on the ambient temps :) That's just my opinion mind :)
But if you want the best cooling at low noise levels, then you have options like the bigger Noctua coolers or Be Quiet Dark Rock, etc., which costs about twice as much but does perform better.
I want a cooler just a notch more efficient than the stock one and silent.
I want something not too large both for compatibility and aesthetics.
I want sober colours that'll match whatever hardware.
I want quality.
I'm willing to pay.
This is it, the Dark Rock Slim.
In general, you want a cooler that is designed for at least a good step in TDP above your CPU, especially newer CPU that can boost a bit beyond their "TDP" rating. Some coolers are more calibrated for high performance, but others, including the ones from Noctua and Be Quiet scales very well in low RPM, so having a cooler like this will give you low noise, even at load.
But don't forget that any CPU cooler, regardless how good it is, is just a part of the cooling system. You need decent airflow from intake to exhaust, and the fans here are essential for noise levels.
Cooling the motherboard VRMs is about having enough airflow past the CPU cooler, and a common "rookie mistake" with AIOs is to blast hot air on the VRMs.
But I agree with you VRMS are so hot that any airflow is good... A hairdryer on medium setting could probably cool them them.