Thermalright has done an exceptional job with the Le Grand Macho RT. It offers cooling performance that just barely nudges out the Noctua NH-D15. That is no small feat, but to accomplish that while being quieter is pretty much insane. The only way to get a cooler quieter than that is to remove the fan and the Le Grand Macho RT can in fact be used passively on CPUs with a TDP of 95W or lower. It doesn't hurt that Thermalright has a solid mounting kit that works and like the cooler itself, it is of top-notch quality. Users can also opt to install a second fan for further improved performance if they so wish. Finally, clearance, while not perfect, is still exceptional with memory and motherboard slots in the open. Overall, the Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT is certainly a winner in many regards.

It is not all rainbows and buttercups, though, as the Le Grand Macho RT does have a few drawbacks. Namely, the heatsink, which sits awfully close to the primary expansion slot. While it does clear on the test system's MSI Z170 motherboard, it may be an even closer fit on mini-ITX systems. The one year warranty is also a bit of a let-down. With Thermalright's quality being quite high, the one year warranty seems out of place. Finally, there are no extra fan clips. The heatsink can take a second fan, but no fan clips are included.

Thermalright's Le Grand Macho RT is certainly an interesting proposition. It is available with a fan or without and has the option to be used with dual fans. The fact that it is nearly inaudible while performing on par with the Noctua NH-D15 is just amazing. If you want uncompromising performance and low noise levels, Thermalright takes the top spot without question. The ability to be used passively is nice, but I doubt anyone will considering how quiet it is.

With exceptional build quality, ultra low noise levels, and best in class performance, the Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT takes the top spot for air coolers.