A Closer Look

ID-Cooling's SE-224-XTS Black and Basic both use a simple tower cooler design that is comprised of 53 aluminium fins. Said fins do have sections folded over to maintain spacing where the cut-out is for the fan clips to hook into. Both coolers can be equipped with dual fans, but typically speaking, the added cost of fans can likely get you a higher-performing cooler. Even so, the option is available all the same. The design also features a slight offset to enable perfect memory clearance, which is a nice touch.


The fit and finish on the SE-224-XTS Black is quite good. I didn't notice any real problems. Meanwhile, the SE-S224-XTS Basic was a bit more of a fingerprint magnet due to its bare aluminium fins.



To give the cooler a cleaner aesthetic, it features a black top plate that's reminiscent of brushed aluminium. It is, in fact, just plastic, though even so, it does the job it is supposed to. As for the heat pipes, they make direct contact with the processor's IHS, and while they are separated slightly in the base, the gaps are minimal. A bit more polish would be nice, but considering the $29.99 MSRP, I certainly won't complain as the machining marks, while visible, are not noticeable to the touch. More surprising is the fact the base is flat on both of my samples. While the razor blade method isn't exactly scientific, it did show that the SE-224-XTS Black and SE-224-XTS Basic both feature a flat base compared to many competitors, which have a slightly convex base.


The fan used is ID-Cooling's TF-12025-PRO, exact model number: ID12025M12S. It has a PWM RPM range of 600–1500 with a CFM of 70. As for the design itself, it uses a square frame with rubber inserts to limit vibration. The fan design uses 9 blades, making it a bit of a hybrid between static pressure and airflow. It also has a hydraulic bearing.