Alpenföhn K2 Dual Tower CPU Cooler Review

Alpenföhn’s K2 may not break any CPU cooling barriers but that doesn’t mean its performance is a disappointment. With the higher thermal loads that overclocks bring being put into question, the K2 actually manages to narrowly outperform Noctua’s mighty NH-D14, a cooler which has long been a fan favourite at a slightly higher price point. It can’t quite manage the performance levels of Thermalright’s Silver Arrow and Phanteks’ PH-TC14PE. Not to be overlooked is the fact that this dual tower beast manages to offer good performance at our extreme 4.7GHz overclock setting, completing the test with a delta temperature of 56°C.

Acoustic performance is relatively user-friendly with mid-table noise-output results. Given its combination of a 120mm and 140mm fan, the mid-table finish is fairly commendable. Acoustic levels match Phanteks’ PH-TC14PE, are slightly lower than Noctua’s NH-D14 and are higher than Thermalright’s Silver Arrow. This puts it directly in the centre of acoustic performance for the main dual tower coolers that we have compared it to. The 4-pin PWM connection for each fan can conveniently control fan speed when cooling performance isn’t too important.

Installing the K2 was straightforward and relatively problem-free. 4 rubber buckles which reduce vibrations but also keep the backplate secured while attaching the mounting kit are very convenient. The instruction manual’s drawings could have been slightly larger to make them more clear and easier to follow. Attaching the fans to the heatsink was slightly awkward due to the highly flexible fan clips. Nevertheless, the fans were securely held in position when attached.

Aesthetics are a strong point of the K2. The black-bladed fans contrast the white of the inside of their frame to create an elegant appearance. The heatsink itself has an appealing look with closed sides on each of the towers and the Alpenföhn logo embossed onto the summit of each fin array. It may not be quite as trendy as the Phanteks CPU coolers with their coloured designs, but Alpenföhn’s K2 is still an aesthetically pleasing option, especially when compared to Noctua’s and Thermalright’s dual tower options.

Priced at around £59.99/€64,90 the Alpenföhn K2 doesn’t offer the best value for dual tower CPU coolers. Phanteks’ similarly priced PH-TC14PE offers performance which is noticeably greater than the K2. The cheaper Silver Arrow also outperforms Alpenföhn’s dual tower cooler. The performance of Noctua’s similarly priced NH-D14 is surpassed by the K2 but this doesn’t make up for the fact that cheaper options such as Prolimatech’s Megahalems outperform the K2 in all but the 4.7GHz overclock test.

Performance wise the K2 may not be the best choice but that doesn’t make it worthy of consideration when looking for a high performance CPU cooler. It offers good performance with lower thermal loads and manages competitive performance at increased thermal loads. While it can’t match the performance of Phanteks’ and Thermalright’s dual tower kings, it does manage to outperform the Noctua NH-D14 which is an achievement not to be overlooked. Alpenföhn’s first attempt at a class-leading dual tower CPU cooler has been a relatively successful one which will hopefully lead to future designs which challenge the very best.