This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:24:46
The video evaluates and ranks various air coolers for CPUs, categorizing them based on performance, value, design, and intended use scenarios, excluding liquid coolers. Among the notable models, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin stands out as the best overall cooler for balancing affordability, thermal performance, and build quality. The ID Cooling SE 214 XT ARGB is praised for its impressive value, offering good cooling at low costs. The Noctua NH-P1 is highlighted for its silent, fanless design, making it ideal for noise-sensitive environments despite its large size and limitations with high-demand CPUs. The Deepcool Assassin 4 is recognized for its exceptional mechanical design and usability features.
Different coolers are recommended for varying heat loads and noise levels, with models like the Peerless Assassin and Fuma 2 performing well under different wattage scenarios. The video also covers ultra-budget options, awarding the Jonesb CR1200 for its functionality despite its inexpensive build. Emphasis is placed on the evolving cooler market, advising viewers to conduct additional research. Additionally, the video discusses transitioning to a new testing platform and encourages support through subscriptions and store or Patreon contributions for more comprehensive future reviews.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the host discusses a roundup of high-performing air coolers tested over the past few years, highlighting options across different price ranges. Key models mentioned include the Deepcool Assassin 4, Thermalright Peerless Assassin, ID Cooling Solution, and the Noctua NH-P1 passive cooler. This segment also marks the end of using their current testing platform, as they plan to transition to new ones for future reviews. The video categorizes the best coolers by value, overall performance, mechanical design, and thermal design while excluding liquid coolers. Additionally, sponsorship by Thermal Grizzly is noted, emphasizing their Cryo Sheet Graphing Pads. The host advises viewers to consider additional research as the cooler market continues to evolve.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the best overall cooler, which is awarded based on a balance of affordability, thermal performance, pressure compliance, IHS flatness, and build quality. The award goes to the Thermalright Peerless Assassin, noted for its impressive thermal performance and nearly perfect pressure map. It’s praised for its cold plate flatness and minor design details, such as heat pipe biasing for better component clearance. The Peerless Assassin is cost-effective, usually priced around $30 to $40, making it suitable for moderate heat load devices, though it may struggle with high-end CPUs under extreme loads. The main criticism is its mounting pressure, which could be improved. For a cooler with better aesthetics, the Deepcool AK620 is suggested as an alternative.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, various CPU coolers are discussed and awarded based on different criteria. The best overall award is attributed to a cooler that balances performance, build quality, features, and noise. The best value award focuses primarily on price-to-performance ratios, considering single tower coolers with one fan and one fin stack. The ID Cooling SE 214 XT ARGB, priced at around $17 on Amazon, wins for its excellent performance at low costs. It’s highlighted for being compact, having straightforward mounting, and delivering good cooling for moderate heat loads despite its affordability. The discussion also mentions other coolers like the Peerless Assassin, AK400, and Assassin Spirit, comparing their performance in noise-normalized thermal tests at different wattages. Overall, the ID Cooling SE 214 XT ARGB is praised for its impressive value, ease of installation, and performance relative to its price.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on the Noctua NH-P1 passive CPU cooler, highlighting its design and thermal performance. The cooler is distinguished for its silent operation, making it ideal for environments where noise must be minimized, such as recording studios or noise-sensitive setups. The NH-P1 features fewer, thicker fins spaced to enhance passive heat dissipation, and its design allows air to escape naturally, effectively managing heat without the need for fans.
The passive cooler’s engineering includes thicker cooling plates with additional airflow paths, improving heat escape, as demonstrated in their 2021 review using advanced imaging techniques. The pressure distribution and flatness tests reveal efficient surface contact with minimal imperfections, thanks to a six-pipe design maximizing coverage. The NH-P1 takes around 20-25 minutes to reach peak steady state temperatures at a 68-watt heat load, performing well under lower heat loads, though it’s not suitable for high-demand CPUs like the i9.
Overall, the Noctua NH-P1 is celebrated for its excellent cooling performance in specific low-noise, low-heat scenarios, with its only significant drawback being its large size, necessitating careful planning for fitment in computer builds.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on evaluating the performance of various CPU coolers, particularly for those seeking passive cooling solutions for quiet environments like home studios or voiceover setups. The P1 cooler is highly recommended for CPUs with manageable heat loads and offers the flexibility to add a fan if needed. The video then moves on to rank coolers based on their thermal performance out of the box, normalized to a 35 DBA noise level at a 20-inch distance. Key coolers discussed include the Assassin 4, Peerless Assassin, Assassin Spirit, and Freezer 34 Esports Duo, among others. For a 200-watt heat load, the Peerless Assassin and Assassin 4 perform similarly, with other coolers like the AK 620 and Ninja also mentioned. For 123-watt and 68-watt heat loads, various new coolers are introduced, with the Peerless Assassin and Fuma 2 emerging as top performers. The discussion highlights the importance of balancing thermal performance with noise efficiency.
00:15:00
In this segment, the video compares various CPU coolers, highlighting their performance in different scenarios. Notably, the NH4S leads the pack, followed by the ThermalR Assassin Spirit. The AK400, ID Cooling SE 214, and Pure Rock 2FX perform similarly, while the NZXT T120 and its RGB variant lag behind, with the RGB variant performing worse due to reduced fan flow. The Assassin Spirit, Esports Duo, AK400, and ID Cooling SE 214 XD ARGB are comparable in value performance, with the latter standing out for its cost-effectiveness. The stock AMD coolers and the special case NH-P1 with no fan also get a mention. The segment awards the ultra budget cooler prize to the Jonesb CR1200 for being a low-cost but technically proficient option, despite its cheap construction and limited compatibility. This cooler surprisingly manages to avoid thermal throttling, making it a minimal upgrade over stock coolers, especially in instances where no cooler is available.
00:18:00
In this segment, the video discusses the Deepcool Assassin 4, awarded for best mechanical design. It highlights the cooler’s physical qualities, usability, and aesthetic details. The Assassin 4 is noted for its high-quality build and usability features, even though it’s considered expensive at around $100. The design includes a dual tower with dual fans (one 120mm and one 140mm) and special attention to detail like a hidden cable channel and a concave back for better airflow. However, it has limited compatibility with 140mm fans. Despite this, the cooler’s mechanical design allows for easy adjustments and additional fan mounting. The aesthetics, such as the checkerboard pattern and removable mesh cover plates, are also appreciated. The cooler includes a hardware switch for quiet and performance modes, adding to its functionality.
00:21:00
In this part of the video, the discussion focuses on using a simple resistor to reduce power delivery to fans, hence slowing them down. Although this adjustment can be done in BIOS, some users find it easier to handle with hardware. The testing revealed that the quiet variant of the fans operated at 37.5 DBA at full speed with a result of 55 degrees at 200 watts, while the performance variant operated at 43.5 DBA with a 53-degree result. A notable issue was the fan whine, which might be overlooked in noisier builds but would be conspicuous in quieter setups. The video also touches on the shift to testing both AMD and Intel CPUs, highlighting the importance of evaluating different IHS designs and hotspot locations. Mention is made of transitioning to a new testing platform that allows for more efficient testing and includes the use of an acoustic chamber for better accuracy in future cooler reviews.
00:24:00
In this part of the video, the presenter summarizes testing results and recommendations for air coolers. They mention looking at baseline numbers and highlight some of the best air cooling options based on their tests. They note that liquid cooler reviews are available separately. The speaker encourages viewers to look out for more content on coolers, expresses enjoyment in creating these reviews, and directs viewers to support the channel through the store or Patreon. Finally, they remind viewers to subscribe for more content.