be quiet! Dark Rock Elite and Dark Rock Pro 5 Review
Introduction – Two new high-end heatsinks from be quiet!
Presenting the newest Dark Rock coolers from be quiet!
be quiet has been a major player within the PC market for quite some time, and their Dark Rock series of coolers have always proved popular amongst PC enthusiasts who value both silence and strong cooling performance. Today, we are testing the two newest Dark Rock series coolers, the Dark Rock Pro 5, and the Dark Rock Elite. Both of these heatsinks succeed be quiet’s Dark Rock Pro 4, acting as the company’s newest air-cooling flagships.
Both the Dark Rock Elite and the Dark Rock Pro 5 are available at retailers starting today. We have been given the opportunity to test these two new heatsinks ahead of launch. This has allowed us to see how these new coolers compare with other high-end CPU coolers.
Specifications and Pricing
be quiet’s new Dark Rock Elite and Dark Rock Pro 5 heatsinks are designed to handle up to 280W and 270W thermal loads respectively. Both heatsinks are compatible with the newest consumer CPU sockets from AMD and Intel, including AM5 and LGA1700. Older sockets like LGA 1200, LGA 115x, and AM4 are also supports. Both heatsinks feature seven 6mm heatpipes and are similar in weight. The Dark Rock Elite weighs in at 1332 grams, while the Dark Rock Pro 5 weighs in at 1292 grams. Both heatsinks are very similar in design and specification.
be quiet’s Dark Rock Elite and Dark Rock Pro 5 are now available at retailers. At the time of writing, these coolers ship with recommended retail prices of $114.90 / €114.90 / £109.99 for the Dark Rock Elite and $99.90 / €99.90 / £99.99 for the Dark Rock Pro 5.
be quiet Dark Rock Elite
The Dark Rock Elite is be quiet’s new air cooling flagship. This cooler has two 135mm fans, and both performance and quiet cooling options. In performance mode, be quiet pushes their cooler’s fan speeds to 2,000 RPM. In quiet mode, be quiet tones things down, setting fan speeds to a super-quiet 1500 RPM mode. These modes can be selected using a built-in speed switch.
The Dark Rock Elite also features integrated ARGB lightings on the heatsink’s top cover. The entire heatsink also features a black covering to give the heatsink an eye-catching appearance. With its nickel-plated base plate, this CPU cooler is also compatible with liquid metal thermal interface materials.
be quiet Dark Rock Pro 5
With the Dark Rock Pro 5, be quiet offers users an upgraded 7-heatpipe cooling design and new Silent Wings series fans. In this cooler’s quiet mode, be quiet has designed this heatsink to be virtually inaudible under load, with its 135mm fan running at 1300 RPM while its 120mm fan runs at 1500 RPM. In performance mode, these fans can be cranked up to 2000 RPM and 1500 RPM respectively.
Like the Dark Rock Elite, the Dark Rock Pro 5 features an all-black design and a liquid metal compatible nickel plated cold plate. Like the Dark Rock Elite, this cooler is also backed by a 3-year warranty.
(be quiet’s Dark Rock Elite and Dark Rock Pro 5 presentation video)
