A Closer Look

The Scythe Kabuto 3 is comprised of fifty-four aluminum fins which are fed heat from the base via five heatpipes.


The design is typical for a top-flow cooler; however, it is a bit more compact than the likes of the Noctua NH-C14S or Dark Rock TF from be quiet!.


The top-plate has a near-mirror finish which looks nice but seems a bit wasted in that you will seldom see it. Still, it is a nice improvement over plastic top plates. That said, it still has the same issue as every other aluminum fin ever devised for a cooler since it is a fingerprint magnet. Meanwhile, the heatpipes used are an odd arrangement in that Scythe decided to use two Ø6 mm heatpipes and three Ø8 mm heatpipes. The two smaller heatpipes only extend one way through the heatsink while the larger ones extend up both ways, not only transferring heat but also providing additional support to the aluminum fin array. Finally, there is the base. Much like the top-plate, it has a near-mirror finish which is in part due to the nickel-plating.


The 120 mm GlideStream fan included by Scythe is a sleeve bearing fan. While quieter than ball-bearing designs, it does have a lower life span. It has a 300-1400 PWM RPM range and is rated at 79 CFM at 28 dBA when running at full speed. Its model number is SY1225HB12M-CIP.