A slim tower cooler built in the same vein as the Noctua NH-U14S, the bequiet! Shadow Rock Slim is lighter, more affordable, and surprisingly proficient.
March 10, 2014 by Lawrence Lee
Product | be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim CPU Cooler |
Manufacturer | be quiet! |
Street Price | £35 (~US$45) |
The Shadow Rock Slim is, as the name indicates, a slim CPU cooler, but as it
uses a traditional tower design and a large fan, it’s in no way petite. It’s
essentially be quiet!‘s take on the Noctua
NH-U14S, a sleek tower designed not to interfere with memory slots and
board components close to the CPU socket, without compromising performance.
It doesn’t utilize a 140 mm fan, however — the stock fan falls 3 mm short
of that diameter. Surprisingly, the size isn’t even the most interesting thing
about it; its oddly placed mounting holes and heavily ridged blades stand out
even more.
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The heatsink itself uses fewer materials, forgoing the heavy top-to-bottom
nickel-plating adopted by Noctua and other high-end heatsink manufacturers.
The resulting product is lighter and more affordable but that doesn’t necessarily
mean it’s an inferior cooler. The Thermalright
HR-02 Macho and Scythe Mugen
4 proved that a more traditional unplated composition can be just as
effective. be quiet! claims the Shadow Rock Slim can adequately cool
a CPU with a TDP of 160W which isn’t too far-fetched assuming there are no base
or mounting problems.
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Inside the box is the heatsink and fan, a brief assembly guide, a tube of thermal
compound, a backplate and necessary mounting hardware, and a second set of fan
clips. Interestingly, the two sets of fan clips are not identical — the
pair pre-installed are of course, designed to be used with the unusual placement
of the stock fan’s mounting holes. The additional set of clips are actually
bigger, made to accommodate a standard 120 x 25 mm fan. This presents a dilemma
for users who wish to run a dual fan configuration.
Our last experience with a be quiet! heatsink, the Dark
Rock 2, was plagued with problems. We went through several samples that
gave us poor results each and every time. After extensive testing we eventually
concluded an inconsistent, non-flat base was the issue. Undeterred, the manufacturer
has sent us another cooler to review, a newer, smaller model, the Shadow Rock
Slim. We can only hope it doesn’t suffer from the same issue.
be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim: General Specifications (from the product web page) | |
Overall dimensions without mounting material (L x W x H), (mm) | 74 x 137 x 161 |
Total weight (kg) | 0.73 |
TDP (W) | 160 |
Socket compatibility | Intel: LGA 775 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 AMD: 754 / 939 / 940 / AM2(+) / AM3 (+) / FM1 / FM2 (+) |
Warranty (Years) | 3 |
Heatsink Specifications | |
Dimensions (L x W x D), (mm) | 52 x 130 x 161 |
Number of fins | 52 |
Fin material | Aluminum |
Base material | Copper |
CPU contact surface | CNC machined |
Heatpipe number, Diameter (mm) | 4, 6 |
Fan Specifications | |
Dimensions (mm) | 135 x 135 x 22 |
Speed @ 100% PWM (rpm) | 1400 |
Air flow @ 12V (cfm, m3/h) | 67.8, 113.8 |
Air pressure @ 12V (mm H2O) | 2.1/1,23 |
Overall noise level (dB(A)) @ 50/75/100% (rpm) | 11.5 / 18.7 / 23.7 |
Bearing type | Rifle |
Rated voltage (V) | 12 |
Input current (A) | 0.11 |
Input power (W) | 1.32 |
Connector | 4-pin PWM |
Cable length (mm) | 220 |
Lifespan (h / 25°C) | 80.000 |
PHYSICAL DETAILS
The Shadow Rock Slim is composed of a nickel-plated copper base
soldered to four 6 mm thick copper heatpipes and 52 friction-fit aluminum fins.
By our measurements, the heatsink’s dimensions are 13.0 x 5.2 x 16.0 cm (L x
W x H) and its weight is 580 grams (720 grams including the stock fan).
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INSTALLATION
The most critical aspect of installation is that the heatsink
be securely mounted. A firm mounting results in good contact between the cooler’s
base and the CPU heatspreader and more efficient heat conduction. Ideally it
should also be a simple procedure with the user having to handle as few pieces
of hardware as possible.
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TESTING
Before thermal testing, we took some basic physical measurements.
Approximate Physical Measurements | |
Weight | 580 g (+140 g with stock fan) |
Height | 160 mm |
Fin count | 52 |
Fin thickness | 0.42 mm |
Fin spacing | 1.73 mm |
Vertical Clearance* | 48 mm |
* measured from motherboard PCB to bottom fin of heatsink |
Large Heatsink Comparison: Average Fin Thickness & Spacing | ||
Heatsink | Fin Thickness | Fin Spacing |
SilverStone Heligon HE02 | 0.52 mm | 3.30 mm |
Thermalright HR-01 Plus | 0.45 mm | 3.15 mm |
Thermalright HR-02 Macho | 0.34 mm | 3.12 mm |
Thermalright HR-22 | 0.53 mm | 2.74 mm |
Scythe Ninja 3 | 0.39 mm | 2.64 mm |
Noctua NH-U12P | 0.44 mm | 2.63 mm |
Noctua NH-C12P | 0.47 mm | 2.54 mm |
Noctua NH-D14 | 0.43 mm | 2.33 mm |
Thermalright Archon SB-E | 0.49 mm | 2.33 mm |
GELID Tranquillo Rev.2 | 0.40 mm | 2.30 mm |
Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 0.39 mm | 2.30 mm |
GELID GX-7 Rev.2 | 0.31 mm | 2.25 mm |
Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 0.40 mm | 2.21 mm |
be quiet! Dark Rock 2 | 0.38 mm | 2.22 mm |
Prolimatech Armageddon | 0.51 mm | 2.08 mm |
Prolimatech Megahalems | 0.50 mm | 2.00 mm |
Zalman CNPS10X Quiet | 0.40 mm | 2.00 mm |
Scythe Ashura | 0.43 mm | 1.97 mm |
Scythe Kabuto & Zipang 2 | 0.34 mm | 1.94 mm |
NZXT Havik 140 | 0.41 mm | 1.91 mm |
Scythe Mugen-2 | 0.31 mm | 1.89 mm |
SilverStone Tundra TD03 (radiator) | 0.43 mm | 1.86 mm |
Swiftech Polaris 120 | 0.43 mm | 1.85 mm |
SilverStone Argon AR01 | 0.30 mm | 1.85 mm |
Thermalright Venomous X | 0.53 mm | 1.84 mm |
Scythe Mugen 4 | 0.30 mm | 1.82 mm |
Noctua NH-C14 | 0.38 mm | 1.79 mm |
Enermax ETS-T40 | 0.40 mm | 1.79 mm |
Scythe Yasya | 0.32 mm | 1.78 mm |
be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim | 0.42 mm | 1.73 mm |
SilverStone Argon AR03 | 0.42 mm | 1.72 mm |
Noctua NH-U14S | 0.42 mm | 1.72 mm |
Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366 | 0.40 mm | 1.70 mm |
Arctic Cooling Freezer Xtreme Rev.2 | 0.30 mm | 1.70 mm |
Scythe Grand Kama Cross | 0.38 mm | 1.66 mm |
Reeven Kelveros | 0.47 mm | 1.61 mm |
Zalman CNPS9900 MAX | 0.16 mm | 1.59 mm |
Thermalright Silver Arrow | 0.32 mm | 1.57 mm |
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | 0.43 mm | 1.54 mm |
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev.C | 0.56 mm | 1.52 mm |
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme | 0.42 mm | 1.50 mm |
Testing on larger heatsinks like this one is done on our
LGA1366 heatsink testing platform, while smaller coolers are tested
on our LGA1155
heatsink testing platform. A summary of the test system and procedure
follows.
Key Components in LGA1366 Heatsink Test Platform:
- Intel Core i7-965 Extreme
Nehalem core, LGA1366, 3.2GHz, 45nm, 130W TDP. - Asus
P6X58D Premium ATX motherboard. X58 chipset. - Asus
EAH3450 Silent graphics card. - Intel
X25-M 80GB 2.5″ solid-state drive. Chosen for silence. - 3GB QiMonda
DDR3 memory. 3 x 1GB DDR3-1066 in triple channel. - Seasonic X-650 SS-650KM
650W ATX power supply. This PSU is semi-passively cooled. At the power levels
of our test platform, its fan does not spin. - Arctic Silver
Lumière: Special fast-curing thermal interface material, designed
specifically for test labs. - Noctua 140 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 140x25mm
fans) - Nexus 120 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 120x25mm
fans) - Nexus 92 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 92x25mm
fans)
Key Components in LGA1155 Heatsink Test Platform:
- Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge core, LGA1155, 3.1 GHz, 45nm, 95W TDP, overclocked/volted to 3.6 GHz and 1.300V.
- Intel DP67BG ATX motherboard.
P67 chipset. - Asus
EAH3450 Silent graphics card. - Kingston
SSDNow V 30GB 2.5″ solid-state drive. Chosen for silence. - OCZ Platinum Extreme Low Voltage DDR3 memory. 2 x 2 GB, DDR3-1333 in dual channel.
- Seasonic X-400 SS-400FL
400W ATX power supply. Passively cooled - Arctic Silver
Lumière: Special fast-curing thermal interface material, designed
specifically for test labs.
The systems are silent under the test conditions, except for the CPU cooling
fan(s).
Normally, our reference fans are used whenever possible, the measured details
of which are shown below.
Reference Noctua 140mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
12V | 1250 RPM | 28~29 dBA |
9V | 990 RPM | 21 dBA |
8V | 880 RPM | 18 dBA |
7V | 770 RPM | 15~16 dBA |
6V | 660 RPM | 13 dBA |
Reference Nexus 120 mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
12V | 1080 RPM | 16 dBA |
9V | 880 RPM | 13 dBA |
7V | 720 RPM | 12 dBA |
Reference Nexus 92 mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
12V | 1470 RPM | 17 dBA |
9V | 1280 RPM | 14 dBA |
7V | 1010 RPM | 12 dBA |
Measurement and Analysis Tools
- Extech 380803 AC power analyzer / data logger for measuring AC system
power. - Custom-built, four-channel variable DC power supply, used to regulate
the fan speed during the test. - PC-based spectrum analyzer:
SpectraPlus with ACO Pacific mic and M-Audio digital
audio interfaces. - Anechoic chamber
with ambient level of 11 dBA or lower - Various other tools for testing fans, as documented in our
standard fan testing methodology. - SpeedFan,
used to monitor the on-chip thermal sensors. The sensors are not calibrated,
so results are not universally applicable. The hottest core reading is used. - Prime95,
used to stress the CPU heavily, generating more heat than most real applications.
All instances are used to ensure full stress. - CPU-Z,used to monitor the CPU speed to determine when overheating occurs.
- Thermometers to measure the air temperature around the test platform
and near the intake of the heatsink fan.
Noise measurements are made with the fans powered from the lab’s variable DC
power supply while the rest of the system is off to ensure that system noise
do not skew the measurements.
Load testing was accomplished using Prime95 to stress the processor, and the
graph function in SpeedFan was used to ensure that the load temperature is stable
for at least ten minutes. The temperature recorded is the highest single core
reading. The stock fans were tested at various voltages to represent a good
cross-section of airflow and noise performance.
The ambient conditions during testing were 10~11 dBA and 21~23°C.
STOCK FAN MEASUREMENTS
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Specifications: be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim Stock Fan | |||
Manufacturer | be quiet! | Power Rating | 4.8 W |
Model Number | BQ SIW3-13525-MR-PWM | Airflow Rating | 67.8 CFM |
Bearing Type | Rifle | Speed Rating | 1400 RPM |
Frame Size | 137 x 137 x 22 mm (120 mm holes) | Noise Rating | 23.7 dBA |
Hub Size | 46 mm | Header Type | 4-pin PWM |
Blade Diameter | 129 mm | Starting Voltage | 4.0 ~ 4.5 V |
Cable Length | 20 cm | Weight | 140 g |
Corner Type | Open | Retail Availability | No |
Additional notes: |
The Shadow Rock Slim stock fan is characterized by a large hub, blades ridged on both sides, and a wide angle between the slightly curved struts and the blades’ trailing edges. On the exhaust side, the round frame has a soft/rubberized surface that presumably gives it some anti-vibration properties. The mounting holes are located on a second frame protruding outward at the center in an octagonal fashion.
Stock Fan Measurements | ||
Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
12V | 1380 RPM | 26 dBA |
9V | 1070 RPM | 19 dBA |
8V | 960 RPM | 16 dBA |
7V | 850 RPM | 13~14 dBA |
6V | 730 RPM | 12~13 dBA |
Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of the heatsink. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. |
As the stock fan has PWM capability, a low starting voltage, and a top speed
of just 1400 RPM, the fan speed range available is quite good. At top speed
we recorded a noise level of 26 dBA@1m which is low compared to most stock CPU
fans. Dialing the speed back to 9V/1070 RPM was enough to make it quiet by our
standards and it became almost inaudible at 6V/730 RPM. It can get even quieter
as the starting voltage is well under 5V and we coaxed it down to a low of 380
RPM on PWM control.
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The fan had interesting acoustics, producing mostly turbulent noise (the sound
of rushing air) at top speed. At 9V, much of the turbulence dissipated, leaving
behind a mildly annoying low frequency drone. At 8V, the droning suddenly vanished,
as evinced by the disappearance of a ~320 Hz tonal spike in our acoustic analysis
above. The resulting noise was much smoother, with a mostly broadband profile,
and its prevalence continued at both 7V and 6V. Under 8V (about 1000 RPM), its
acoustics were top-notch.
TEST RESULTS
Test Results: be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim | ||||
Fan Voltage | Stock Fan | Reference Fan | ||
SPL@1m | Thermal Rise | SPL@1m | ||
12V | 26 dBA | 37°C | 38°C | 29 dBA |
9V | 19 dBA | 40°C | 39°C | 22 dBA |
8V | 16 dBA | 41°C | 41°C | 19 dBA |
7V | 13~14 dBA | 42°C | 42°C | 15 dBA |
6V | 12~13 dBA | 44°C | 44°C | 13 dBA |
Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of the heatsink. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. |
The Shadow Rock Slim was an excellent cooler, generating a thermal rise above ambient of 44°C at 6V and 37°C at 12V. The stock fan performed almost identically to the Noctua NF-P14, producing the same results at 6V, 7V, and 8V, while only 1°C separated the two fans at 9V and 12V. However, the stock fan was quieter at every level, giving it the overall edge.
HEATSINK COMPARISON TABLES
°C Rise Comparison: CPU Coolers with Single Stock Fan | ||||||||||
SPL (dBA@1m) | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Thermalright Archon SB-E | 39 | 40 | 43 | |||||||
Thermalright HR-02 Macho | 39 | 40 | 41 | 43 | ||||||
Scythe Mugen 4 | 40 | 42 | 45 | |||||||
Noctua NH-U14S | 38 | 40 | 43 | |||||||
be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim | 40 | 41 | 42 | |||||||
Scythe Yasya | 40 | 43 | ||||||||
Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366 | 41 | 43 | 46 | |||||||
Zalman CNPS10X Quiet | 40 | 42 | 47 | |||||||
Scythe Ashura | 42 | 44 | ||||||||
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | 41 | 44 | 54 | |||||||
Silverstone Argon AR03 | 43 | 48 | ||||||||
Scythe Ninja 3 | 44 | 46 | ||||||||
SilverStone Argon AR01 | 44 | 50 |
Compared to other coolers that ship with a single stock fan, the Shadow Rock Slim put up a tough fight, landing in fifth place, one spot behind the Noctua NH-U14S.
°C Rise Comparison: CPU Coolers with Single 140 mm Reference Fan | |||
Heatsink | Fan voltage / SPL @1m* | ||
9V (~21 dBA) | 7V (~15 dBA) | 6V (~12 dBA) | |
Thermalright Archon SB-E | 37 | 40 | 42 |
Noctua NH-U14S | 38 | 41 | 44 |
be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim | 39 | 42 | 44 |
Thermalright HR-22 | 39 | 42 | 44 |
Prolimatech Armageddon | 39 | 42 | 45 |
Scythe Mugen 4 | 39 | 42 | 45 |
Thermalright HR-02 Macho | 39 | 43 | 45 |
NZXT Havik 140 | 40 | 43 | 47 |
Scythe Ashura | 41 | 44 | 46 |
Noctua NH-C14 (top mounted) | 40 | 44 | 48 |
Noctua NH-C14 | 40 | 44 | 49 |
Thermalright Silver Arrow | 39 | 45 | 49 |
Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 42 | 45 | 48 |
SilverStone Heligon HE02 | 45 | 48 | 50 |
be quiet! Dark Rock 2 | 49 | 51 | 53 |
*Note: there are minor differences in measured SPL due to the variety of fan orientations and mounting methods offered by the compared coolers. |
Paired with our reference 140 mm fan, the Shadow Rock Slim jumped ahead to third place, once again, behind the NH-U14S.
MP3 SOUND RECORDINGS
These recordings were made with a high
resolution, lab quality, digital recording system inside SPCR’s
own 11 dBA ambient anechoic chamber, then converted to LAME 128kbps
encoded MP3s. We’ve listened long and hard to ensure there is no audible degradation
from the original WAV files to these MP3s. They represent a quick snapshot of
what we heard during the review.
These recordings are intended to give you an idea of how the product sounds
in actual use — one meter is a reasonable typical distance between a computer
or computer component and your ear. The recording contains stretches of ambient
noise that you can use to judge the relative loudness of the subject. Be aware
that very quiet subjects may not be audible — if we couldn’t hear it from
one meter, chances are we couldn’t record it either!
The recording starts with 5 second segments of room ambiance, then the fan
at various levels. For the most realistic results, set the volume so that
the starting ambient level is just barely audible, then don’t change the volume
setting again.
- be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim with stock fan at 1m
— 7V (13~14 dBA@1m)
— 8V (16 dBA@1m)
— 9V (19 dBA@1m)
— 12V (26 dBA@1m)
- Reference 140mm fan at 1m (mounted to Scythe Ashura)
— 6V (12~13 dBA@1m)
— 7V (14~15 dBA@1m)
— 8V (18 dBA@1m)
— 9V (21~22 dBA@1m)
— 12V (29 dBA@1m)
FINAL THOUGHTS
The be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim delivers superb performance, in spite
of its slightly smaller size and simpler construction compared to most high-end
coolers. Our sample didn’t suffer from any of the issues that plagued our testing
of the Dark
Rock 2. Furthermore, the newer fan model is an improvement, producing
more pleasant acoustics below the 1000 RPM level, and the heatsink’s slimmer
body makes memory interference a non-issue.
While an excellent cooler, the Shadow Rock Slim has some irksome design issues.
Compared to the Dark Rock 2, the mounting system has become more complicated,
with two extra pieces that force users to flip the motherboard on its side to
tighten the assembly properly. You have to work a screwdriver on one side and
a wrench/pliers on the other. The mounting clips are also too thin, bending
away from the base when secured. Using thicker clips or moving them above the
base would ensure all the pressure they apply is put to good use. Finally, be
quiet!‘s use of a nonstandard fan frame might be infuriating to some. A
second set of clips for standard 120 mm fans is included, but only one. If you
want to use dual fans, you have to pair the stock fan with a different model,
undoubtedly resulting in intermodulation effects.
The Shadow Rock Slim is currently selling overseas for approximately £35,
which should work out to about US$45~50 based on relative CPU cooler
price differences between North America and Europe. That would undercut its
closest competition, the Noctua
NH-U14S, by around US$20~25. It lacks Noctua’s fit and finish
but near-identical cooling proficiency and lower price makes it a far better
value.
Our thanks to be quiet!
for the Shadow Rock Slim CPU cooler sample.
be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim
receives the SPCR Editor’s Choice Award
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SPCR Articles of Related Interest:
Thermalright HR-22 CPU Heatsink
Noctua NH-U14S Slim 140mm Tower Cooler
Scythe Ashura CPU Cooler
SilverStone Tundra TD03 Liquid CPU Cooler
Scythe Mugen 4 CPU Cooler: Scythe Strikes Back
NoFan CR-95C Copper Fanless CPU Cooler
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