Be Quiet Shadow Rock 2 CPU Cooler Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The Be Quiet! Shadow Rock 24. Installing the Be Quiet! Shadow Rock 25. Testing Methodology6. Thermal Performance7. Acoustic Performance8. Closing Thoughts9. View All Pages

From a stylistic point of view, the BeQuiet! Shadow Rock 2 is superb. The brushed aluminium fascia on the top of the cooler gives it a svelte appearance that is sure to look great inside a windowed system build. The black and silver colour scheme is neutral and should compliment most component choices well.

This model is designed specifically for those users who demand class leading acoustic performance above everything else.

In our tests, the thermal performance wasn't ground breaking however the Shadow Rock 2 could be classed as silent, even when the fan is running at full speed. This is quite an impressive feat considering the fan can spin at 1,600 rpm. Unfortunately the installation process is quite fiddly and will not be ideal if you are installing the cooler onto the motherboard which is already fitted into a case.

The Be Quiet! DC1 thermal paste performed well too. In terms of performance it fell slightly behind our reference Arctic Cooling MX-2 paste, however it is less viscous and more easily spreadable across the processor lid.

At a price of £45 inc. VAT from Ebuyer, the Shadow Rock 2 can certainly be classed as an expensive cooler and there are better options if you just want to push your processor to the limits and have little concern about noise levels. Considering the incredibly low noise emissions however many people should consider the Shadow Rock 2, especially when trying to reduce the overall noise emissions of a noisy, distracting system.

Pros

• Sleek aluminium fascia.
• Very quiet.

Cons

• Tricky installation procedure.
• Not the greatest thermal performance.

Kitguru says: An excellent choice for those looking to maintain low noise levels in a new system build.

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