be quiet! announced two new air coolers, the Dark Rock Elite and Dark Rock Pro 5. The former is a new product, as opposed to Dark Rock Pro 5, which is the successor to the award-winning Dark Rock Pro 4. The Dark Rock Elite is designed for customers that want a high-end air cooler, featuring ARGB lighting and an innovative rail system for increased RAM clearance. Meanwhile, the Dark Rock Pro 5 provides remarkable cooling performance with very low noise levels on all major consumer sockets.

The Dark Rock Elite packs two 135mm Silent Wings fans with up to 2000RPM speeds, seven heat pipes for swiftly moving heat away from the processor, and a Speed Switch that allows users to quickly switch between Performance and Quiet modes.

Various high-end features on the Dark Rock Elite make it stand out from the crowd, including a top cover with ARGB lighting and a front fan mounting rail with adjustable height settings, offering up to 69mm above the second RAM slot. Above the first RAM slot, RAM clearance is 63.3mm, while cut-outs on the heatsink edges provide good VRM compatibility. The Dark Rock Elite also has a removable top cover for simple installation, a nickel-plated base that is compatible with liquid metal thermal paste, and a 3-year warranty.

Moving on to the Dark Rock Pro 5, it has 7 heat pipes and comes with two Silent Wings PWM fans. The 120mm front fan features a funnel-shaped output for efficient air circulation and can be adjusted in height to suit tall RAM modules. Additionally, there's a 135mm middle fan attached to the meshed top cover. Installation of the Dark Rock Pro 5 is easier than ever thanks to a permanent mounting bridge on the cooler's base and a removable top cover. Both fans include fluid-dynamic bearings, 6-pole motors, and airflow-optimised blades.

The Dark Rock Pro 5 has the same integrated Speed Switch as the Elite, allowing users to choose between a Quiet Mode and a Performance Mode that raises the front fan's speed to 2000RPM and the middle fan to 1700RPM. Like the Dark Rock Elite, the Dark Rock Pro 5 is compatible with liquid metal thermal paste and features similar cut-outs for increased VRM compatibility and a 3-year warranty.

The Dark Rock Elite and Dark Rock Pro 5 are compatible with Intel LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, and AMD AM5 and AM4 sockets. both coolers will be available on October 24th, with the Dark Rock Elite going for $114.90/€114.90/£109.99 and the Dark Rock Pro 5 for $99.90/€99.90/£99.99.

KitGuru says: Of the two new be quiet! CPU air coolers, which one would you prefer?

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