be quiet! Pure Rock Slim CPU Cooler Review

Final Thoughts

Price

be quiet! is taking no chances with the Pure Rock Slim, giving it a fantastic MSRP of just €28 / $24.90 / ‎£23.99. That makes it cheaper than all its main competitors, such as the 212X, AR09, and NH-D9L. The Pure Rock Slim is a bargain for those who have a non-overclocking CPU, or only using mild-OC.

Overview

be quiet! are the creators of many of the best-performing CPU air coolers on the market today, not only do they deliver high-end cooling performance that makes them suitable for overclocking, but also some of the quietest performance you’ll find. Now it looks like they’ve cornered the market for budget-friendly coolers too.

The Pure Rock Slim is one of the best coolers on the market today, offering fantastic cooling performance for non-overclocked CPUs, beating out many long-standing market favourites such as the 212X, and doing it for a lower price, a much quieter fan, and better aesthetics; that’s something no system builder could ignore.

When it comes to overclocking, the cooler was running a bit hot for full-time use, but dial back those volts and you’ll find the Pure Rock Slim has enough grunt to handle overclocks on high-end CPUs, or even just overclocks on CPUs with a lower TDP than what we tested today. What did surprise us is that even when the fan was pushed past its 2000RPM rating (we got it to 2100RPM), it was still noticeably quieter than what we’ve heard from similar sized coolers in the past; very impressive indeed.

Pros

• Sleek top panel and heat pipe caps
• Easy to install
• AMD bracket included
• Pre-applied thermal paste for quick installation
• Very competitive price
• Great build quality
• Super quiet fan
• Exceptional cooling performance at stock clocks

Cons

• No tube of thermal paste in box, only pre-applied

“If you’re on the market for a compact, stylish, affordable, silent and great performing CPU cooler for your next build, the Pure Rock Slim from be quiet! needs to be the first thing on your list. Highly recommended!”