ID-Cooling SE 914 XT Basic & SE 914 XT ARGB

[crazyeyesreaper]

ID-Cooling continues its push to offer exceptional entry-level coolers with the release of the SE 914 XT ARGB and SE 914 XT Basic. These compact 92 mm tower coolers deliver performance that belies their small size while allowing them to fit where larger air coolers simply cannot.

Show full review

 

[Beertintedgoggles]

I have quite the obsession with cooler reviews even though it's been a long while since there's been a revolution in their technology / design. Microchannels in water blocks and heatpipes in air coolers are pretty much at a point where there's little difference between most of the contenders. I know there's a 10 degree diff between Noctua and this example but anymore it seems the included fan and quality of construction are the biggest factors in a cooler's ability. "Back in my days", I remember most coolers being machined from a solid block of material and the review would use the same fan so as to really compare the design type. I guess I'm just rambling, good review and pretty good performance for the price (it kept the OC'd i7 below throttling where even the fabled Hyper 212X could not).

 

[P4-630]

Wow , no throttling on AIDA64 FPU (OC)...

 

[Beertintedgoggles]

Wow , no throttling on AIDA64 FPU (OC)...

Yep, it's been pointed out. Can't fart into the case or blow any of your hot air into it but for the size it did very well.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Wow , no throttling on AIDA64 FPU (OC)...

View attachment 172022

Yep, it's been pointed out. Can't fart into the case or blow any of your hot air into it but for the size it did very well.

Yeah in a warmer ambient environment these coolers would have failed but. Its still pretty amazing how much performance they managed to deliver considering the small 92 mm form factor.

 

[Rowsol]

I'm currently using it's bigger brother, the 224.
It's impressive how close this is to that considering the smaller fan.
Excellent price/performance and a perfect choice for a height restricted setup.

 

[Chrispy_]

I can certainly appreciate a compact, affordable cooler - Especially at 92mm which is a less popular size with fewer decent-quality options.

What really matters is a well-made heatsink at a decent price without any proprietary fan mounts - Another reason the CM Hyper 212EVO is such a ridiculously popular cooler. Just like the 212EVO It's cheap, it's good enough for any of the popular mid-range builds, and it comes with the flexibility of using just about any fan you want.

 

[dirtyferret]

nice to see the return of some $30 and under coolers

 

[wheresmycar]

For $10 more does the "be quiet! Pure Rock 2" make any meaningful difference? https://pcpartpicker.com/product/BVXYcf/be-quiet-pure-rock-2-cpu-cooler-bk006

Looking at the charts:

Performance: +5%

Temps: Stock 5c cooler, OC Prime 3c cooler

Noise: 5dBa quieter (100% PWM)

More importantly, in real world gaming, lets say a Ryzen 3600 / 10400 or a 10600K at stock, how much of a difference would the Pure Rock 2 make in terms of noise levels? Or does 5dBa go unnoticed?

 

[P4-630]

"be quiet! Pure Rock 2"

Which is a 120mm tower cooler.

These are compact 92 mm tower coolers.

 

[wheresmycar]

Which is a 120mm tower cooler.

These are compact 92 mm tower coolers.

I'm aware.

Hence was wandering whether going down this route and saving $10 is worth the compromise? TBH, the 3-5c difference doesn't bother me at all but wanted to know how much of a difference does 5dBa make?

 

[Chrispy_]

Hence was wandering whether going down this route and saving $10 is worth the compromise?

Not sure why you'd be looking at 92mm towers at all if you have the room for a 120mm one...

The infamous 120mm "Snowman" tower can be had for $15 and is a better cheap option than most, if not all, 92mm towers.

Now that I think about it, the Snowman tower may be the same OEM as ID-Cooling - I recognise that unusual mounting system and the plastic ring for Intel sockets is pretty distinctive. Given that ID-Cooling also make a $25 120mm tower in the same product family (get the SE214 instead of the SE914) there is zero incentive to get the smaller 92mm version reviewed here if you don't need that specific size.

Decent 120mm towers are easy to find. Decent 92mm towers are definitely less common, which is why it's nice to see a review of an affordable one that doesn't suck.

 

[Caring1]

Hence was wandering whether going down this route and saving $10 is worth the compromise? TBH, the 3-5c difference doesn't bother me at all but wanted to know how much of a difference does 5dBa make?

Depends on which end of the scale you are at, 20Db compared to 15Db isn't really audible from a metre away, but try 105Db compared to 100Db, and lets see if your hearing works after.

 

[wheresmycar]

Not sure why you'd be looking at 92mm towers at all if you have the room for a 120mm one...

The infamous 120mm "Snowman" tower can be had for $15 and is a better cheap option than most, if not all, 92mm towers.

Now that I think about it, the Snowman tower may be the same OEM as ID-Cooling - I recognise that unusual mounting system and the plastic ring for Intel sockets is pretty distinctive. Given that ID-Cooling also make a $25 120mm tower in the same product family (get the SE214 instead of the SE914) there is zero incentive to get the smaller 92mm version reviewed here if you don't need that specific size.

Decent 120mm towers are easy to find. Decent 92mm towers are definitely less common, which is why it's nice to see a review of an affordable one that doesn't suck.

I suppose that makes sense.

For $30, any recommendation for a similar or better performing 120mm cooler with a black clean top side (a little aesthetic pleasure ). I've currently got my eyes set on this one: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/TyBhP6/be-quiet-pure-rock-2-black-cpu-cooler-bk007 I don't mind paying £40 but if better value is possible wouldn't mind saving a little too.

Depends on which end of the scale you are at, 20Db compared to 15Db isn't really audible from a metre away, but try 105Db compared to 100Db, and lets see if your hearing works after.

Let's say i've got my build sitting on the table, about an arms length away. Mid tower case with mesh front. What would you class as being quiet or barely audible with dBa measurements. Sorry i'm not so familiar with this sort of thing, just learning. I know i have the option of lowering the fan curves but I want something quiet enough not to compromise on temps/performance.

 

[Chrispy_]

For $30, any recommendation for a similar or better performing 120mm cooler with a black clean top side?

Well, Amazon have a 120mm ID-Cooling one for £26 with a black top plate:

ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic CPU Cooler AM4 CPU Cooler 4 Heatpipes CPU Air Cooler 120mm PWM Fan Air Cooling for Intel/AMD : Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Buy ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic CPU Cooler AM4 CPU Cooler 4 Heatpipes CPU Air Cooler 120mm PWM Fan Air Cooling for Intel/AMD at Amazon UK. Free delivery and return on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Arctic Freezer 34 is easy to find in the UK and about £30 after tax. CM 212 black edition also similar price and a very clean aesthetic.

Nothing wrong with the Pure Rock 2 Black either but at that price you're paying for looks not performance, and getting into the territory of better coolers and better support. Only 50% more money gets you the Noctua NH-U12S Chromax Black and that's a higher-quality, higher performance product that will get you infinite free socket upgrades. I've been using my NH-U12 for 15 years now on my fourth (free) socket kit and it's still a better cooler than anything under £40. At £40-50 you should be able to find options with larger heatinks, or more heatpipes, and proper machined baseplates rather than cheap direct-contact cooling...

Let's say i've got my build sitting on the table, about an arms length away. Mid tower case with mesh front. What would you class as being quiet or barely audible with dBa measurements. Sorry i'm not so familiar with this sort of thing, just learning. I know i have the option of lowering the fan curves but I want something quiet enough not to compromise on temps/performance.

It's really hard to guage as dBa measurements aren't standardised so one manufacturer's 38dBA is not necessarily as loud as another manufacturer's 38dBA. The quality of the noise matters almost as much since some fans produce noise across a wide spectrum of frequencies that makes them hiss unobtrusively whilst others have an peak at a particular frequency that stands out clearly from other background noise. Additionally, your hearing is very good at ignoring sounds below the ambient noise floor so the amount of background noise in your room has a big impact on how noisy your perception of something is.

TL;DR is that you really can't use dBA measurements from manufacturers. Better to find a single review site with standardised testing of the models you're interested in and use their tests (which will be fair and use identical measuring methods across all coolers) to give you a better idea of which ones are quietest.

 

[WeeRab]

Looking down the list, i'm surprised there's no Arctic Cooling kit represented. They're popular in Europe and usually good performance/value.

 

[wheresmycar]

Well, Amazon have a 120mm ID-Cooling one for £26 with a black top plate:

ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic CPU Cooler AM4 CPU Cooler 4 Heatpipes CPU Air Cooler 120mm PWM Fan Air Cooling for Intel/AMD : Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Buy ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic CPU Cooler AM4 CPU Cooler 4 Heatpipes CPU Air Cooler 120mm PWM Fan Air Cooling for Intel/AMD at Amazon UK. Free delivery and return on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Arctic Freezer 34 is easy to find in the UK and about £30 after tax. CM 212 black edition also similar price and a very clean aesthetic.

Nothing wrong with the Pure Rock 2 Black either but at that price you're paying for looks not performance, and getting into the territory of better coolers and better support. Only 50% more money gets you the Noctua NH-U12S Chromax Black and that's a higher-quality, higher performance product that will get you infinite free socket upgrades. I've been using my NH-U12 for 15 years now on my fourth (free) socket kit and it's still a better cooler than anything under £40. At £40-50 you should be able to find options with larger heatinks, or more heatpipes, and proper machined baseplates rather than cheap direct-contact cooling...


It's really hard to guage as dBa measurements aren't standardised so one manufacturer's 38dBA is not necessarily as loud as another manufacturer's 38dBA. The quality of the noise matters almost as much since some fans produce noise across a wide spectrum of frequencies that makes them hiss unobtrusively whilst others have an peak at a particular frequency that stands out clearly from other background noise. Additionally, your hearing is very good at ignoring sounds below the ambient noise floor so the amount of background noise in your room has a big impact on how noisy your perception of something is.

TL;DR is that you really can't use dBA measurements from manufacturers. Better to find a single review site with standardised testing of the models you're interested in and use their tests (which will be fair and use identical measuring methods across all coolers) to give you a better idea of which ones are quietest.

Amazon.co.uk

Spent around 30 mins looking into various reviews and user feedback and only £27.... very impressed. Purely from an aesthetics point of view, looks amazing with the black and fan black/grey contrast. £15 saved... purchased 10 mins ago

I guess i'm overlooking into intricate details a little too much... needless but it's been a solid learning curve. The coolers intended for a mid-ranged spare gaming build (i5-4670K) for family members and not looking to OC. Just wanted something significantly quieter than the crap stock cooler which has over lived it's stay. In all these years of PC/laptop gaming I haven't really bothered with CPU coolers, boost limitations, noise levels, OC etc until a couple of years back I paired up a Scythe Mugen 5 with a 7700K on my personal gaming rig and was simply blown away with the possibilities of super calm acoustics and performance in general. Now I'm just looking for all sorts of builds to upgrade lol

BTW, in ref to dBa, fully appreciate the detailed response. Very helpful.

I've been using my NH-U12 for 15 years now on my fourth (free) socket kit

Adding to the learning curve: Is the socket support kit plan available for all Noctua products? Sounds great. From all the reviews i've seen for my personal build upgrade (Ryzen 5000/intel 11th gen) if I didn't have the SC5 i would have gone for the Noctua D15. At the moment the preferred Mini ITX NR200P is first choice but the D15 isn't compatible so got a little lucky there. Have to admit though it's not only a stunning cooler (aesthetically speaking) but seems to tick all the boxes for performance, quality, noise levels, etc etc. Maybe one day!

 

[Chrispy_]

Adding to the learning curve: Is the socket support kit plan available for all Noctua products? Sounds great.

Noctua

We provide mounting upgrades for Noctua CPU coolers free of charge, so if you would like to continue using your Noctua cooler on a new socket, we will send you a new mounting kit at no additional cost. For ordering our mounting kits, a proof of purchase (photo, scan or screenshot of the invoice)...

noctua.at

It's not unique to Noctua, I know Corsair, Phanteks, and Thermalright have offered free upgrade kits in the past - but I believe that was only for specific models - likely those that had been released not long before a new socket arrived on the market. Plenty of manufacturers sell new upgrade kits for new platforms too but availability in the UK is definitely flaky on those.

IMO Noctua coolers are too expensive when considered as 'disposable' coolers for one socket. You can usually find something comparable for 20-30% cheaper but that price difference becomes a non-issue if you then get to reuse the cooler for free even once.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Amazon.co.uk

Spent around 30 mins looking into various reviews and user feedback and only £27.... very impressed. Purely from an aesthetics point of view, looks amazing with the black and fan black/grey contrast. £15 saved... purchased 10 mins ago

I guess i'm overlooking into intricate details a little too much... needless but it's been a solid learning curve. The coolers intended for a mid-ranged spare gaming build (i5-4670K) for family members and not looking to OC. Just wanted something significantly quieter than the crap stock cooler which has over lived it's stay. In all these years of PC/laptop gaming I haven't really bothered with CPU coolers, boost limitations, noise levels, OC etc until a couple of years back I paired up a Scythe Mugen 5 with a 7700K on my personal gaming rig and was simply blown away with the possibilities of super calm acoustics and performance in general. Now I'm just looking for all sorts of builds to upgrade lol

BTW, in ref to dBa, fully appreciate the detailed response. Very helpful.



Adding to the learning curve: Is the socket support kit plan available for all Noctua products? Sounds great. From all the reviews i've seen for my personal build upgrade (Ryzen 5000/intel 11th gen) if I didn't have the SC5 i would have gone for the Noctua D15. At the moment the preferred Mini ITX NR200P is first choice but the D15 isn't compatible so got a little lucky there. Have to admit though it's not only a stunning cooler (aesthetically speaking) but seems to tick all the boxes for performance, quality, noise levels, etc etc. Maybe one day!

The thing to keep in mind when looking at my dBA charts is that anything under 45 on the charts may be audible but unobtrusive. I test on an open bench and I can tell you even with the bench open a side panel typically drops noise levels 1-2 dBA for the cheap lexan and 2-4 for the tempered glass. So if a cooler is 50 dBA in my tests, with a proper chassis and a TG panel of good quality with the only variable Being the CPU cooler it would drop to around 46-48 dBA. So a cooler at the 45 dBA cut off point I consider acceptable it would be in the 42-43 range. Every site tests differently but thats the easiest way to break it down for my reviews.

45+ can be annoying on an open bench. 50+ is terrible. As such any cooler that performs well at 45-47 dBA will likely meet 99% of users needs in a fully configured rig at least in regards to noise. Unless your super into complete silence focused builds.

 

[owen10578]

Wow that's impressive performance for a 92mm fan based cooler. Beating the 212X! Which I've always told people isn't all that great anyways.