be quiet! Dark Rock Slim CPU Cooler Review

A Closer Look

The first component that will grab your attention is the radiator. This has a unique design in which the vents to the radiator have a ‘latticed’ effect. This has likely been done to provide the maximum amount possible while not compromising on the size and (by proxy) the RAM compatibility.

As you can see, there are lots of vents to this radiator and they are exceptionally tightly packed. While there is more than enough room to promote good air flow, this also ensures that the radiator has the maximum opportunity to dissipate the heat away from the CPU.

There is, of course, some be quiet! branding on there. Even then, however, it is nice and bold, but also somewhat understated. Set against the entirely black design, it stands out but doesn’t demand your attention either.

In terms of size, this is certainly a lot smaller than your average ‘performance’ air cooler. At 52mm wide (not including the fan) this is clearly a thin profile design. From what we have seen so far, however, the Dark Rock Slim has been well made to ensure that the small stature will not compromise it in it’s task.

Contact Plate

The contact plate is nice and large, but also free of any screws which is commonly seen in this area on air coolers. This should ensure a good firm and solid contact with the CPU. In addition, the 8 heat pipes (4 on each side) give plenty of opportunity for the heat to move away quickly and efficiently.

Silent Wings 3 Fan

The Dark Rock Slim is provided with a single Silent Wings 3 fan. This is a fairly recent design which is, of course, created by be quiet!

We have seen this fan used in various coolers and even some not under the be quiet! umbrella of products. As such, this is a clear indication that in terms of performance it’s one of the best fans currently on the market.

Overall

Combining the fan with the radiator, the be quiet! Dark Rock Slim has a fantastically bold aesthetic. With it’s dark black colouring it carried a very strong emphasis on design and performance.

With just a single 4-pin PWM cable to power the fan, it is also in terms of design exceptionally straight forward. This hasn’t been over-complicated but at the same time, I daresay a lot of work and attention went into making this (at least in appearance) one of the most solid air cooler designs currently on the market.

So, in terms of design and appearance, the be quiet! Dark Rock Slim seems to tick all of the right boxes. So, at this point, it’s time to fit it to our test bench to firstly see how easy that is, and secondly to find out if this performs as well as it looks!