The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Elite CPU Cooler Review: Where Quiet Meets Quality
by E. Fylladitakis on December 4, 2023 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- be quiet!
- CPU cooler
- ARGB
- Air Cooling
Conclusion
Be Quiet! designed the Dark Rock Elite to compete in the top-tier market segment, positioning it alongside the most advanced offerings from some of the most reputable manufacturers globally. The cooler is engineered to excel in both performance and quiet operation, although it is not positioned as a budget-friendly option, with its retail price reflecting its premium status.
The Dark Rock Elite from Be Quiet! stands out with its superior build quality and visually appealing design. The meticulous attention to detail and high standards of craftsmanship are immediately apparent, contributing to its durability and longevity. The cooler's unique and robust construction ensures it can withstand the test of time, setting a high benchmark in this aspect.
In terms of design, the Dark Rock Elite is thoughtfully conceived to cater to its target audience. Regardless, its complexity must be considered, as it will not fit all cases and motherboards. Be Quiet! took measures to maximize the compatibility of the cooler. Still, there are numerous factors to consider, such as the additional height the cooler will require if the front fan needs to be raised to increase the RAM's clearance.
Regarding cooling performance, the Dark Rock Elite delivers exceptional results, rivaling the top-end coolers. Under typical operating conditions, the standout feature is its acoustic performance; due to its massive thermal resistance, the cooler will operate quietly, even under significant load, offering users a serene computing environment. This makes it an ideal choice for those who value a quiet operation in their computing experience and do not want to resort to more complex solutions, such as AIO coolers.
In conclusion, the Dark Rock Elite CPU cooler from Be Quiet! is a representative choice for those searching for a reliable, high-quality cooling solution with the best possible performance one can get out of an air cooler today. While the overall performance and quality of the Dark Rock Elite are undoubtedly exceptional, the $115 retail price of the cooler is relatively high - users seeking a top-of-the-line CPU cooler could justify the investment. Still, the retail price significantly reduces the target audience of the cooler. It is an excellent fit for users seeking the highest performance and quality, wanting the best they can get from an air cooler, and willing to pay the premium price.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
10 Comments
View All Comments
ObamaWasRight2003 - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
Looks nice and great performance but cant say I want to spend 3x the price of a thermalright phantom spirit 120 on itSamus - Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - link
They are also competing directly with Noctua at this price, which is a tough sell even if it performs better, because Noctua has unrivaled support.emn13 - Sunday, December 17, 2023 - link
It's not really any better than the D15. The noise vs cooling perf in these graphs is very slightly better at high fan speeds; and very slightly worse at low fan speeds.If anything, I think the latter matters more (most of the time, my CPU isn't running flat out), but given the size of the margin it's all moot anyhow.
The pricing vs. support trade off is what matter here.
TEAMSWITCHER - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
I just upgraded my Media Room PC (no Xbox or Playstation for me) and I went with the Shadow Rock 3 cooler. BeQuiet has a great Motherboard Compatibility app on their website that will help you pick the right cooler. This is very important as motherboards today have some very tall VRM cooling solutions.The ATX motherboard specification is crazy old now. I can't help to think that the industry could benefit from a new spec that moves the RAM above or below the CPU socket location.
Threska - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
It already is.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09GP7V2W5?th=1
Flunk - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
Not having Be Quiet's last top-end aircooler the Dark Rock Pro 4 in this review is a serious omission.E.Fyll - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
The Dark Rock Pro 5 is the latest - and I am on it.XacTactX - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
It would be great if you could review the Thermalright PS120, it's always available for less than $40 and I have a feeling that the performance will be a few degrees worse than the best heatsinks that you have reviewed. Thank you so much for putting up this content!Sunrise089 - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
Thank you. I know coolers aren’t the sexiest product but I appreciate the review quality and simply having the content here on the site :)craznazn - Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - link
Price to performance is a pretty big L that you guys seem to skip on. For this price, you can buy an arctic freezer II. For 1/3 the money, you can get a PA120/PA120SE. In fact, not having price/performance comparison is pretty lacking.