The SilverStone Permafrost PF120, PF240, and PF360 ARGB AIO Coolers Review

Conclusion

SilverStone released the Permafrost series as competitively priced, quality AIO coolers that also feature RGB lighting. It is apparent that the company’s engineers did not try to make the coolers extravagant in any given way, but to design products that mix solid aesthetics, reliability, and performance, all while remaining reasonably priced.

Overall, the thermal performance of the new Permafrost series is good, although unsurprising for coolers of their size. This was to be expected, as they are using virtually the same tried-and-true radiators that many other manufacturers have been using for many years now, with the design team focusing their efforts on the main block. There is little to be gained by fiddling with the mini pump when limited by the small available power, but SilverStone’s engineers managed to maintain good flow performance while considerably reducing the pump’s noise output.

Each of the three Permafrost coolers seems to have a different performance profile and, thus, targets a different group of users. The PF240 seems to be the most balanced of the three coolers, being reasonably sized and capable of closing near the performance of the PF360 if it has to. The larger PF360 does not really stand out in terms of raw thermal performance but is capable of maintaining that performance even if the airflow drops greatly. Finally, the small PF120 offers acceptable thermal performance and relatively low noise levels in a small, easily handleable package that should fit inside even the smallest of PC cases.  

While SilverStone could not make substantial improvements regarding the thermal performance of their AIO coolers, they did manage to get ahead in terms of acoustics. Most of that improvement seems to be coming from the better pump engine and the high quality fan engines. No matter the reason, the Permafrost PF240 and PF360 tend to offer better thermal performance at lower noise levels than many similarly sized, older AIO coolers, which will definitely entice users who enjoy low noise levels.

As for the RGB lighting, its application on the Permafrost coolers is simplistic but effective. The LED lighting is bright enough and the fans glow brilliantly into a dark environment. It is compatible with nearly all current RGB motherboards and can be controlled via the motherboard’s software. For users that do not have a compatible motherboard, the RGB lighting can be effectively programmed via the included controller that includes several fancy and static lighting effects, but the user will have to access the inside of the system for each program/brightness change.

In conclusion, with the release of the Permafrost series, SilverStone brought three very well balanced AIO coolers with RGB support into the market. The three coolers are sensibly priced, with the 240mm model running for $99 and even the largest 360mm model and can be frequently found for $129 – and they're often on sale for less, making them a serious threat to the competition.