Scythe Mugen 5 Black Edition in the test – disappointing paintwork of the CPU cooler

At the moment it is in vogue to dip your cooler in black or, alternatively, to re-release older models as “Blackout” or “Stealth” editions. And so Scythe is now introducing the seventh variant of the popular Mugen 5, this time completely darkened. You can find out how the Black Edition fares in the test in the following article:

Packaging and scope of delivery

Even the box has been adjusted in color and kept completely in black and white. In order to provide a little variety, the classic product image is not placed in the middle of the front, but slightly offset so that it arches around the corner. And the specs are also being pushed aside, how exciting!

To protect the cooler, Scythe does without foam and relies on separate boxes for fans, accessories and of course the heat sink itself. In most cases, this is completely sufficient and at the same time protects the environment.

In addition to the mounting material, the accessories include an additional pair of fan clips, a magnetic screwdriver and a barely filled tube of thermal paste.

The Intel backplate that can be seen in the middle has already installed the screws and rubber pads at the factory, very accommodating. Except for the last screw, everything is painted in a slightly shiny black.

Assembly and installation

The assembly is identical to the other coolers from Scythe and uses the existing backplate of the mainboard for the AM4 socket. The two matching brackets are mounted with four rubberized spacers and screws. After the two spring-loaded screws next to the coldplate have been fixed in the brackets with the supplied screwdriver, the fan is fastened with the clamps.

Again, it is advisable to install the cooler lying on the table with the mainboard removed or to fix the backplate with adhesive tape.

Specifications

The European website of Scythe was revised just in time for the release, here the product page of the cooler. The following is a brief overview: