Alpenföhn Civetta CPU Cooler Review

The Alpenföhn Civetta targets users looking for a cheap and efficient upgrade from their stock CPU cooler but limited by clearance in their case.

Performance wise, the Civetta is nothing spectacular. It gets beaten comprehensively by the cheaper, €16.90 Xigmatek Loki SD963 in terms of cooling performance and acoustic output. It does manage to offer better cooling performance than Intel’s bundled offering, but does so while performing louder at maximum fan speed and being €17.90 more expensive.

Installation was very quick and easy. Unlike the Xigmatek Loki, the Civetta doesn’t require the use of an additional backplate. This may be a big enough selling point for some users who want nothing more than ease of use and a cheap upgrade.

The cooler’s aesthetics aren’t bad. They aren’t the best we have ever seen, but they by no means destroy the looks of a stylish system provided you can hide that ugly multi-coloured fan cable.

Considering the target audience, Alpenföhn designed their Civetta very intelligently. They made sure it was small enough to fit in a wide variety of cases without causing any interference. They didn’t use an additional backplate which would usually force users to remove their motherboard for installation. A 4-pin PWM fan ensures noise will be kept to a minimum when cooling performance isn’t required.

The Alpenföhn Civetta isn’t a great cooler. It performs worse than Xigmatek’s Loki SD963 while also being louder and more expensive. The only positive it has in comparison to the Xigmatek Loki is that it is far quicker to install. It does manage to give a decent cooling performance boost over the supplied LGA 1155 stock cooler, but does so while operating louder at maximum fan speed and burning a €17.90 hole in your wallet. Anybody planning on buying the Alpenföhn Civetta should just save the extra €1 by purchasing the better performing and quieter Xigmatek Loki SD963.