SilverStone Argon Series AR01 CPU Cooler Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. Installation4. Testing Methodology5. Thermal Dynamics6. Acoustics Performance7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

We are documenting the installation of the SilverStone Argon AR01 on an Asus P8Z77-V LX2 motherboard. To complete the installation we are following the instructions provided and work from the point of view of someone who has never installed an aftermarket cooler before.

Silverstone include a manual with the AR01. However, we found the manual rather difficult to read due to its font size and the illustrations were not very clear. Luckily, SilverStone has provided excellent instructions which can be found here.

 

We started off by installing the included backplate.

Flipping the motherboard over, we then installed the screw nuts to secure the backplate. The holes did not line up precisely and, despite our best efforts, we had to settle for the above installation. Turning the backplate 180 degrees didn't make a difference. Luckily the backplate does feel sturdy enough and ultimately we decided it was not a major concern.

As it is, it sits slightly slanted (in relation to the motherboard) but still holds the cooler firmly in place.

As the illustrations were not clear, the screw nuts used in the image above were too short to facilitate the installation.

We removed the shorter screw nuts and carried on with the installation.

Installing the mounting plates is a straightforward process. Again, because the illustrations are not very clear, users might end up using a variety of screws provided. Luckily, all screws provide a tight fit.

The mounting plates can be installed horizontally and vertically, depending on the direction in which you want to install the cooler. We went with a standard vertical installation.

Moving on with the installation we proceeded to install the cooler and tightened the middle bar. SilverStone includes a little wrench to complete this part of the installation but a screwdriver works just as well.

Here we can see the clearance between the memory and the fan. We can also clearly see the rubber fan mounts which snap into place easily.

 

Finally, we removed the fan one last time and installed two more sticks of G.Skill ARES memory. Users with low profile memory will have no problem fitting the AR01.

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