Valkyrie Surge SL125 CPU Air Cooler Review

Conclusion

A strong competitor for the budget cooling market

Honestly, I am a little shocked at the performance of Valkyrie’s new SL125 CPU cooler. It has bested the two other 120mm single tower air coolers that we tested by significant margins, and both of them come from long-established manufacturers.

With a price tag of €32.90, this cooler is very cost-effective. That said, this is a small budget heatsink, so it will be overwhelmed by high-end/high-power CPUs when placed under high loads. That said, his cooler is not intended to be used with such CPUs.

As of now, we have only one complaint about the SL125 series: the black model doesn’t feature a black-painted fin stack. If this model is going to cost the same as the white version (which does have a painted fin stack), then the black model should too. That said, these details may be hard to notice when the cooler is installed inside the case. Even so, a painted fin stack would have taken the black version of this heatsink to the next level.

Solid performance from Valkyrie

If you are looking for a low-cost heatsink, the Valkyrie Surge SL125 is a great option. Just don’t pair it with ultra-power-hungry hardware. This cooler is an excellent performer in its category, but it isn’t a miracle worker. That said, Valkyrie has new high-end heatsinks coming to cater to the needs of high-end users.

Today is the Valkyrie Surge SL125’s launch day, and it is currently unavailable for purchase. That means that we cannot confirm this cooler’s real-world pricing at a retailer or direct you to where you can order it. Based on the prices we have been given, this cooler should be a bargain. Sadly, we have no idea where or when this cooler will be available, or its UK price. This is a great product that is being let down by a poor launch.

Update – Valkyrie’s Surge SL125 CPU Cooler is now available from the company’s website.

You can join the discussion on the Valkyrie Surge SL125 on the OC3D Forums.