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  • DanNeely - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    An impressive result for the price. Assuming sufficient room in the case and sustained availability; I think this might replace the 212 as my default recommendation for anyone looking for an affordable replacement for an Intel stock cooler either for performance or because the pushpins on the latter are throwing the installer for a loop.
  • ImSpartacus - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    Yeah, I LOVE when I see reviews of the real products that people actually buy.

    A >$100 CLC review is neat, but most people are better served by funneling that extra money into their components and getting a cheaper cooler.
  • FreckledTrout - Saturday, June 10, 2017 - link

    FYI: The Cryorig H7 already is the replacement for the good ole standby Cooler Master EVO 212. The H7 is quieter, cools better, and mounts easier than the EVO 212. The H7 is my default recommendation. The AR07 could be right in there although but I would need to see the H7 pitted against it.
  • Hurr Durr - Sunday, June 11, 2017 - link

    >Hive Fin™
    >Jet Fin Acceleration™
    >Jet Fin Acceleration System™

    Cooler made by lawyers. Literally.
  • alchemist83 - Sunday, June 18, 2017 - link

    You read that in a review right? ''EVO 212 replacement''. So did I. Cryorig do sell some great kit, dont have the cleareance or cooling power of my Macho Rev.B at the same price.
  • Arbie - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    I'd look at the Scythe Mugen 5 instead. It is $12 more than the AR07 but is shorter and cools much better - nearly as well as the Noctua tested here. I just got one and am very pleased with the quality, fit, and performance.
  • djayjp - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    Very useful these cooler reviews. Keep it up!
  • Rocket321 - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    My case specs list 165mm maximum cooler size. Not sure if I trust this with only 2mm of clearance! Still, seems like a great competitor to the Evo.
  • Rocket321 - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    It looks like the highest point of the fan extends slightly above the tip of the heatpipes. Can anyone confirm the 163mm height includes the fan?
  • tonyou - Sunday, June 11, 2017 - link

    According to SilverStone, 163mm includes the fan:
    http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=621
  • Rocket321 - Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - link

    @tonyou - thanks!
  • Drumsticks - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    Great performance from Silverstone! Size permitting, it looks like this should displace the Hyper 212 as many default recommendations. Thanks for the review, as well.
  • alin - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    I would review the Arctic Freezer 13.
    Outstanding cheap cooler. I personaly use it to passive cool a i7 4790. Great. No throttling at all. Checked using intel own XTU.
  • marc1000 - Sunday, June 11, 2017 - link

    nice review and cooler. though I enjoy scythe products a lot, and for smaller case I can only think of Ninja Mini, being only 112mm tall it's the shortest tower cooler I have found.

    I got one used from ebay some 5 years ago and it's still rocking fine a OC i5 2500k to 4.0ghz. not the fastest overclock, neither the coolest temps ever, but on a small case where no other towers would fit, it is cool and silent enough. way better than any compact or standard cooler.

    based on other comments however, I got really interested in Arctive Freezer 13, with only 130mm size and what looks like a way better design. thanks Alin!
  • alchemist83 - Sunday, June 18, 2017 - link

    lol for real? is ugly, has clips and gets nosiy at temp.
  • Samus - Friday, June 9, 2017 - link

    Wow $35? This effectively knocks the EVO212 from the top of the budget list, then.
  • DominionSeraph - Thursday, June 15, 2017 - link

    EVO and the new and improved 212X can be found for $20-25. (X is $20 right now) Their greatness is that it provides all the performance the majority of people need (silent operation at stock or a mild overclock) for the least amount of money. There are several coolers that beat the 212's at the $35 level, but they never fall under $35 and it's not such a big difference that there's any reason for most people to pony up the extra cash.
    Stock fans are loud. The 212 isn't, which is so worth the $20. Above that is only for pushing overclocks.
  • Oxford Guy - Sunday, July 2, 2017 - link

    If someone can build a computer they can afford $10-15 more for a better cooler.
  • yannigr2 - Saturday, June 10, 2017 - link

    I wouldn't call it "budget" or "inexpensive" solution. The last few years, because of AIO watercooling solutions and their relatively high prices, manufacturers found an excuse to increase prices on their air cooling solutions. This cooler wouldn't cost more than 20-25$ a few years back. Coolers that you could buy for $15 a few years ago, now cost over $20.
  • alchemist83 - Sunday, June 18, 2017 - link

    $20? doubt it a bit. Infact I know thats ballz as its been my job to know prices for 15 years now.
  • Outlander_04 - Saturday, June 10, 2017 - link

    I hope they have other colors
  • jardows2 - Monday, June 12, 2017 - link

    This is a nice review, and a nice product. Without overclocking, there is a limited level of heat dissipation that is needed before diminishing returns sets in. Spending $75-$100 that will provide no better practical results is a waste. The noise levels are starting to get close on these "budget" products compared to the premium products.

    To see a product like this that performs competitively with premium products, at a price level competitive with what is considered the "budget" champion, is exciting to me!
  • mschira - Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - link

    Shouldn't a cooler with a 120mm fan be plenty efficient?
    I guess if a 140 fan fit's in why not, the bigger the merrier, but 120 fan is pretty big already.
    I remember the days when CPU coolers had 80mm fans, and they did the job pretty fine.
    And they did so with CPUs that consumed quite a lot of power.
    Coolers were a little noise at times back in those days, so I get you want a bigger fan.

    M.
  • Outlander_04 - Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - link

    All else being equal a 140 mm fan can move more air at lower speed with less noise
  • mschira - Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - link

    No doubt that is true. If a 140 cooler fits, that is good. But it often won't.
    M.
  • alchemist83 - Sunday, June 18, 2017 - link

    140mm, that extra 20mm makes all the differrence in terms of noise output.
  • vext - Thursday, June 15, 2017 - link

    Great article, the Argon 7 looks like a good inexpensive alternative. But I have to point out that the best cooler in the article is the Thermalright 140 True Spirit Direct by almost all of the criteria. Just look at the performance graphs. I wish there was just a little discussion about the top performing cooler and what you lose to save $15. The Thermalright is $46 at Newegg right now. That nominal difference gets you a much better fan, full nickel finish, better thermals, and just a better overall , more attractive design. If you think about it, CPU coolers are perhaps the one thing that you can keep using over many computer builds. IMHO it's worth paying just a little more for the best. Thermalright is effectively the Rolls Royce of air cooling. They are also far more reasonably priced than Nexus.
  • Leyawiin - Saturday, June 17, 2017 - link

    The other Argon coolers have neat little silicon barrel type fan mounts that easily slide into the cooler and isolate vibration at the same time. Shame to see Silverstone backtrack and start using those damned wire fan mounts again.
  • alchemist83 - Sunday, June 18, 2017 - link

    Totally agree, my AR01 had silicone mounts, very easy to use and helps to eliminate vibration.
  • alchemist83 - Sunday, June 18, 2017 - link

    Had me an AR01 - was pretty good, lasted a few years till i got bored and upgraded to a Thermalright Macho Rev.B. Way better cooling perf & its totally silent at times. Has full cleareance for high DDR. QUite cheap at 35 pounds, I cant fault it.
  • Lieutenant Tofu - Tuesday, June 20, 2017 - link

    "Even though these will be in contact with the CPU, the aluminum part of the base exists only for the mechanical cohesion of the construct and should play virtually no part on the transfer of thermal energy away from the CPU core."

    Is this because heat will follow the path of least resistance to a cooler area, like current does? I'm not sure about that detail of how conduction cooling will behave. I imagine, though, that the aluminum will be performing heat transfer, just not as much as the copper heatpipes.
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