With the Intel Core i9-9900K CPU in our test bench set at its base frequency of 3.6 GHz, we were expecting the thermal performance of the Pure Rock 2 to be around a similar level to other four heat pipe coolers of a similar size, such as the Arctic Freezer 33 and the Cooler Master Hyper 212. However, the Pure Rock 2 was even outperformed by the smaller, two heat pipe Arctic Freezer 7 X which is a little disappointing.
It is much of the same with the Core i9-9900K set at 4.7 GHz, thermal performance drops to almost uncomfortable levels. Delta temperature remains below 60°C which means the actual CPU core temperate readings are heading into the 80s.
During our overclocked test with the Core i9-9900K CPU configured to an all-core frequency of 4.9 GHz, we exceeded the thermal performance limit of the Pure Rock 2, as the actual CPU core temperature exceed 95°C and we saw up to 16% thermal throttling occur.
The main focus of all be quiet! CPU coolers is to achieve low noise levels, and this is one area that the Pure Rock 2 excels. As you can see from our charts, all three top spots are taken up by be quiet! coolers and this in part, explains why the thermal performance is a little disappointing.