Posted by Sebastian Peak | Oct 10, 2023 | Cases and Cooling | 1
be quiet! is officially announcing their latest high-end air coolers, as the new Dark Rock Pro 5 and a new product called the Dark Rock Elite are coming by the end of this month. And, while recent Intel flagships live in the 320W (and up) world, for a more rational CPU load these air coolers should be all you need. The Dark Rock Elite is rated for up to 280 watts of thermal dissipation, making it the most powerful air cooler in the lineup, with the Dark Rock Pro 5 rated for up to a 270W TDP. Remote Control Desk Fan
Here is more information about both coolers via be quiet!:
Dark Rock Elite: peak performance, legendary design
Dark Rock Elite offers unprecedented performance and cooling power through cutting edge fan technology and combines it with an iconic design. The 7 high-performance heat pipes are accompanied by two Silent Wings 135mm PWM fans for maximum air pressure and perfect airflow. These turn up to 2,000 rpm in Performance Mode, unleashing the full power of the cooler, or use Quiet Mode to run virtually inaudibly at an efficient 1500 rpm in super-quiet PC builds. Users can easily choose between the two cooling modes with the integrated Speed Switch.
Dark Rock Elite comes with several exclusive high-end features, such as an innovative front fan mounting rail with adjustable height settings, up to a maximum clearance of 69mm over the second RAM slot. The maximum clearance of the heatsink over the first RAM slot measures a comfortable 63.3mm, while optimal VRM compatibility is accomplished with cut-outs on the edges of the heatsink. Its unique and iconic design with ARGB LEDs on the top cover for endless visual effects and its black coating with ceramic particles for ideal heat transfer make Dark Rock Elite a true eyecatcher in any system.
Additionally, Dark Rock Elite comes with a detachable top cover for easy installation, is compatible with liquid metal thermal paste thanks to its nickel-plated base, and is supported by a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Dark Rock Pro 5: seriously cool and refreshingly silent
To improve upon the award-winning cooling performance of Dark Rock Pro 4, be quiet! has improved on its 7 high-performance heat pipes and two Silent Wings PWM fans for Dark Rock Pro 5. This has resulted in an immense cooling capacity and virtually inaudible operation, ideal for heavily overclocked systems and demanding workstations. The 120mm front fan has a funnel-shaped outlet for optimal air distribution and is height-adjustable to accommodate for high RAM modules. The 135mm middle fan is attached to the top cover for top installation. Thanks to a fixed mounting bridge on the cooler’s base and detachable top cover, installation of Dark Rock Pro 5 is smoother than ever. Both fans feature advanced fluid-dynamic bearings, smooth 6-pole motors, and airflow-optimized fan blades.
Dark Rock Pro 5 offers the same integrated Speed Switch as the Elite, which allows users to choose between a Quiet Mode at 1500 rpm (120mm front fan) and 1300 rpm (135mm middle fan), respectively, for normal applications – and a Performance Mode that unleashes the full power of the cooler and brings the front fan’s rpm up to 2000 rpm, while the middle fan runs at 1700 rpm.
The Pro 5 doesn’t just offer outstanding performance: a high-grade top cover with mesh design and a special black coating with ceramic particles to increase heat transfer give this air cooler an elegant look that will feel at home in any system. Dark Rock Pro 5 also sports the aforementioned cut-outs on the edges for maximum VRM compatibility, is compatible with liquid metal thermal paste, and is supported by a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.
As to pricing, be quiet! has set the MSRP at $114.90 USD for the Dark Rock Elite, and $99.90 USD for the Dark Rock Pro 5. Both will be available to buy at retail as of October 24.
Editor-in-Chief at PC Perspective. Writer of computer stuff, vintage PC nerd, and full-time dad. Still in search of the perfect smartphone. In his nonexistent spare time Sebastian's hobbies include hi-fi audio, guitars, and road bikes. Currently investigating time travel.
I wish air cooler makers would work on faster fans to provide some additional brute force cooling, since with fans, it is possible to have mostly the best of both worlds.
For example, a cooling curve that keeps things under 1500RPM when temperatures are below 85C, while also having the ability to push things to 3000+ or even 4000 RPM when temperatures start to reach the upper 90C range. Something like that could help handle the heat from a higher wattage CPU, where a user may want quiet operation most of the time, but won’t mind the PC getting loud when they doing a short term AVX workload or other demanding task.
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