[Test] be quiet! Dark Rock Slim – Concurrent direct du Noctua NH-U12S
| Specs | Price –
Hi all !
be quiet! is not new to the world of cooling ?. It has been operating for many years now and its products are recognized for their quiet operation and their quality of manufacture. The series of Dark Rock coolers represents the most upscale, until then occupied by the two different models. The Dark Rock 4 is a 14 cm tower model, while the Dark Rock Pro 4 is a step above with two radiators, both models rather imposing. A version equipped with a 12 cm radiator was missing, allowing greater compatibility with memory modules and the first PCI-E port. It is therefore done today with the Dark Rock Slim, offered at 58 €, or 2 € less than its direct competitor, the Noctua NH-U12S.
Let’s see if the latest comer can encroach on one of the best!
Technical characteristics
| Noctua NH-U12S | be quiet! Dark Rock Slim | |
|---|---|---|
| Sockets | Intel LGA 115X / 2011 / 2066 AMD AMX / FMX | Intel LGA 115X / 2011 / 2066 AMD AMX / FMX |
| Weight | 580 g (without fan) 755 g (with fan) | 620 g (with fan) |
| Dimensions (With fan) | 15,8 (H) x 12.5 (L) x 7.1 (P) cm | 15,94 (H) x 12.7 (L) x 7.2 (P) cm |
| Number of heat pipes | 5 | 4 |
| Fan supplied | 1 | 1 |
| Maximum number of fans | 2 | 2 |
| Price | ~ 60€ | 58 € |
| Guarantee | 6 years | 3 years |
Fan | ||
| Model | NF-F12 PWM | be quiet! Silent Wings 3 |
| Type of bearing | SSO2 | FDB |
| MTBF | > 150,000 hours | 300,000 hours |
| Fan dimensions | 120 x 120 x 25 mm | 120 x 120 x 23 mm |
| Connectivity | 4-pin PWM | 4-pin PWM |
| Rotation speed | 300 (±20 %) -> 1500 RPM (±10 %) | 1500 RPM |
| Sound level | 22,4 dBA max | 23.6 dBA max |
As we can see, the technical characteristics of be quiet! Dark rock slim are really very close to the Noctua NH-U12S, at all levels. Compatibility is of course ensured for all recent sockets on the market, including Intel 115X to 2066 and AMD FM + to AM4, no worries if you set up a new configuration (maximum TDP of 180 Watts). It would be difficult with the naked eye to differentiate in size the two competitors as well, with at 15.94 cm high by 12.7 cm wide and 7.2 cm for our test model. Only 40 grams differentiate the two animals, the Dark Rock Slim being heavier with its 620 grams at weighing.
The 120mm radiator is cooled by a single fan as standard, but additional brackets are included to install a second one. The chosen model is not unknown, it is a be quiet! Silent Wings 3 of 120 mm, rotating at a maximum speed of 1500 RPM. This model is no longer presented, it is the most upscale of the manufacturer and it shines with a particularly appreciable operating silence, devoid of any unpleasant noise thanks to an FDB bearing.
Offered at a price of 58 €, we are at the top of the basket of 120 mm coolers. It is therefore reserved for those who want a little more than the subsistence minimum, either because of the look that pleases or another of its qualities, but for the best performance / price ratio. Note, however, that it is a shame to see a three-year warranty, while its direct competitor offers six. Let’s take a closer look.
Related posts:
7-nanometer Nvidia GPU, TSMC will handle most of the production 
ASRock X299, a new BIOS allows you to install 2 TB of memory 
MSI Prestige X570 Creation Review: Test | Specs | Hashrate 
Radeon RX 5500 XT, PCI Express 3.0 castrates performance? 
An overclocker ran 1TB of RAM on an X299 motherboard limited to 256GB 
Best Review 2021: MSI MPG X570 Gaming Edge WiFi Under $250 ($200)
