Cooler Master V4 Alpha 3DHP CPU Cooler Review
Conclusion
Cooler Master’s 3DHP tech is impressive, but the V4 Alpha 3DHP Black has left us wanting more
I have mixed feelings about the Cooler Master V4 Alpha 3DHP Black. As a lover of hardware innovation, Cooler Master’s 3D heatpipe tech excites me. Delivering more with less is always a good thing, and solving longstanding technical problems with new designs is always appealing. That said, while Cooler Master has successfully delivered four-heatpipe performance levels with its two-3DHP V4 Alpha Black CPU cooler, it isn’t the best-performing heatsink in this category of CPU coolers.
Honestly, pricing lets Cooler Master down here. With an asking price of £39.99/€39/$39.99, it feels like UK and European customers aren’t getting the best deal here, considering current exchange rates. It also shows that Cooler Master’s move to 3DHP heatpipes has not enabled lower prices.
Performance-wise, the V4 Alpha 3DHP delivered much better thermals than its older Hyper 212 Halo CPU cooler, and bested the Arctic Freezer 36 series. In this regard, Cooler Master has delivered four heatpipe cooling performance with two 3D heatpipes. However, the Valkyrie Surge SL125 exist, and it makes us question the value proposition of Cooler Master’s new V4 cooler. This cooler is available for under £25, and gets close to the V4 Alpha 3DHP. Add on a second Valkyrie B12 fan for £13.96, and you get a cooler that beats the V4 Alpha 3DHP in our toughest thermal tests for less money.
Cooler Master’s 3DHP tech is impressive, but the V4 Alpha is let down by its pricing
When manufacturers are able to do more with less, that typically means that they can do something at a lower cost. Cooler Master’s 3DHP tech allows them to achieve the performance levels of four heatpipe heatsinks with two of their new 3D heatpipes. Even if these heatsinks are more expensive, using half as many would typically mean that there is some cost saving to be had.
The Cooler Master V4 Alpha is let down by its pricing. Yes, this cooler is a solid performer, but the Valkyrie Surge SL125 throws a spanner in the works. It delivers a much stronger value proposition, and with two fans, it offers higher levels of cooling performance. Honestly, given how new Valkyrie is to the CPU cooling market, I think it’s possible that Cooler Master didn’t consider this cooler when pricing its V4 Alpha 3DHP. As it stands, we feel that this CPU cooler should have either been less expensive or used three 3D heatpipes to become the best-performing cooler in this pricing category.
Don’t get us wrong, Cooler Master’s 3DHP tech has impressed us. However, the V4 Alpha 3DHP is not the best showcase of this technology. This is an area of the CPU market where value is king. This cooler looks great and features some exciting tech, but when it comes to price/performance ratios, there are better options.
Honestly, I’m excited to see what Cooler Master does next with its 3DHP tech. The V4 Alpha 3DHP Black is a solid CPU cooler, but not the best. One has to wonder what a hypothetical V6 or V8 3DHP CPU cooler could do.
You can join the discussion on Cooler Master’s V4 Alpha 3DHP CPU cooler on the OC3D Forums.
