Monday, January 6th 2025
Intel's Entry-Level RS1 Laminar CPU Cooler Quietly Exits Production Line
Intel has ceased production of its basic RS1 Laminar CPU cooler, marking the end of its most affordable cooling solution. The RS1, which debuted alongside Intel's 12th-generation processors in 2021, represented a modest upgrade from earlier stock coolers. Its aluminium construction and 47 mm profile, coupled with a redesigned five-blade fan, delivered adequate cooling for 65-watt processors despite its lightweight 260-gram build. The decision to discontinue the RS1 appears largely driven by its limited application scope. The cooler shipped exclusively with two dual-core processors: the Pentium Gold G7400 and Celeron G6900. With both chips operating at a modest 46 W TPD, the basic cooling capacity of the RS1 proved sufficient but ultimately too specialized for broader market demands.
Moving forward, Intel will rely on its RM1 cooler as the primary replacement. The RM1 shares similar dimensions with the RS1 but incorporates a copper base plate for enhanced thermal transfer and features an LED accent light. Intel recently launched the Intel Processor 300, essentially a rebranded Pentium G7400, shipped with the RM1 cooler, suggesting the company had already begun phasing out the RS1. The RM1 now serves as Intel's standard cooling solution across most of its locked CPU lineup, from Core i3 through Core i7 processors in the 12th through 14th generations. This standardization will help the company cut costs, focusing on products with broader compatibility and market appeal. For users and system builders, the change should have minimal impact, as the RM1 offers superior cooling capabilities compared to its discontinued predecessor.
Source:
via Tom's Hardware
Moving forward, Intel will rely on its RM1 cooler as the primary replacement. The RM1 shares similar dimensions with the RS1 but incorporates a copper base plate for enhanced thermal transfer and features an LED accent light. Intel recently launched the Intel Processor 300, essentially a rebranded Pentium G7400, shipped with the RM1 cooler, suggesting the company had already begun phasing out the RS1. The RM1 now serves as Intel's standard cooling solution across most of its locked CPU lineup, from Core i3 through Core i7 processors in the 12th through 14th generations. This standardization will help the company cut costs, focusing on products with broader compatibility and market appeal. For users and system builders, the change should have minimal impact, as the RM1 offers superior cooling capabilities compared to its discontinued predecessor.
25 Comments on Intel's Entry-Level RS1 Laminar CPU Cooler Quietly Exits Production Line
Probably the only reliable kit that doesn't use stupid push-pin style mounts that snap and break off after first use.
Meanwhile my only low profile spare is for AM4 and it's going to continue to rot in a retail box until I rack my 3600.
Glad Intel also thinks of the future with similar results. Better late than never.
But that outer fin design did suddenly make the 'stock cooler' experience seem a bit less lame.
If only it cooled as good as it looked (by comparison)...
And yes, push pin has been making me wince since mid-2000s... convenient yes but breakable and in the early days of LGA 775 some boards had a lack of reinforcement under / around the socket and would bend quite a bit (something that Intel must have recognised as I can't remember seeing any LGA 11xx or 1366 or newer board without some form of metal backing plate under the socket area). AM2/3 wasn't hugely better but the frame and underside metal/plastic support distributed the load better even on cheapo boards, and the stock heatsink/fan units with mechanical level lock/release were a lot easier to deal with.
But for the safety, yes, metal screws, and backplate, has proven to be reliable, since early 2000 with cheap GlacialTech coolers, that ended up better, than both intel, and even some AMD boxed ones. Though, again, it's PITA and time consuming for mass market SI.
Position 2 metal hoops on 2 lugs and push a lever and job done.
Easily removable and remountable.
But if you insist
But as I've mentioned, for SI (System Integrators), which buy CPUs, not in boxed versions, but by thousands of bulk, trayed ones, they have to get some coolers. And they could only get the coolers, that are appliable to their existing motherboard solutions. Some had AMD dual hoops lever mechanism, some intel. But some models, were universal, particularly the ones with screws, that could be applied to both intel and AMD platforms. But again, they take more time to assemble.
Eventually they cheaped out and started using the plastic push pin mechanism on low end stuff, but most of the 'workstation' kit still used screw retention even up to the LGA 1366 days - LGA 2011 onward kind of needs screw mounting.
But yeah, the smaller SIs... well we already know the industry doesn't really care about them...
Only the T-series of CPUs are even remotely "65W TDPs" since they turbo to just 106W for most 12th/13th/14th gen models. The models nominally given 65W labels often turbo at >200W which a basic cooler like this had no hope in hell of ever managing.
I'd say good riddance, but it was a decent sub-100W option that was definitely prettier and quieter than its predecessors, so RIP old friend.
P.S. it's a suggestion for my cousin in Athens and I don't think the e-shop is going to undervolt. At least Arctic has some coolers with excellent VFM.
Also sorry but can't people read? Now the few SKUs that used this cooler come with the better RM1. This is a cost cutting measure that benefits the people that would buy these cheap CPUs.