be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX Air CPU Cooler Review

How Much Does it Cost?

The Pure Rock 2 FX is now available to purchase from retailers now with be quiet! saying that consumers should expect a price in the region of $52.90/€52.90. While this clearly doesn’t make this a super-affordable CPU cooler, you do have to consider the quality you’re getting here. This isn’t a cheap cooler, it’s a bloody good one, and one that’s surprisingly potent given its overall relatively small size.

When you consider that this costs around half as much as many 240mm AIOs, and performs in many respects nearly as well (if not better with a little tweaking of the fan settings), it clearly reflects just what a comparative bargain the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX is!

Overview

Purely as a CPU cooler, the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX offers amazing levels of performance. While we would suggest that a better balance can be found with a little tweaking of the PWM settings in the BIOS, even in ‘standard’ settings, it still provides exceptionally strong levels of CPU temperature control while also being one of the quietest CPU coolers we’ve ever tested.

In terms of aesthetics, the cooler looks fantastic even without the ARGB being turned on. The lighting effects are, however, some of the most vibrant and potent we’ve ever seen. – Yes, be quiet! may have been late to the ARGB party, but at the moment, we honestly think they have some of the best options around!

Should I Buy One?

The biggest issue the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX has is that it comes to the market at arguably one of the most competitive price points. – Put simply, for this kind of money, consumers are not limited in their choice. – With its new ARGB lighting effects, however, even this doesn’t really, on the surface, make it stand out from the pack. I mean, let’s be honest, most CPU coolers have ARGB these days than don’t!

Put simply, for many consumers not willing to do the research, the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX could easily fall between the cracks. – Presuming you’re reading this though, you clearly must be interested in it. And based on its amazing level of temperature control and whisper-quiet performance (and not to mention its truly stunning aesthetics), the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX clearly represents an excellent choice and one that’s well worth the money!

Pros

• Exceptionally strong temperature control for such a relatively small design
• Whisper-quiet! – The be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX is barely audible
• Amazingly strong aesthetics are taken to a whole other level with its bright and vibrant ARGB lighting effects
• Exceptionally good value for money – Performs as well, if not better, than many far more expensive cooling (including AIO) solutions

Cons

• No manual RBG controller is provided. So to get the best out of the lighting effects, you will ideally need an ARGB-compatible motherboard

Neutral

• Installation methodology, once again for be quiet! is not the easiest for inexperienced users
• Standard BIOS PWM fan settings may not provide the best results for this. A small tweak will undoubtedly provide a hugely more beneficial balance!