The front of the box lists out the key features and the main one SilverStone are really pushing is the Heat-pipe Direct Contact (HDC) technology. Even though this isn’t necessarily a new technology as a lot of manufacturers use it, SilverStone’s implementation seems to be pretty strong. You may think “a heat pipe is just a heat pipe right?” and that wouldn’t be such a stupid statement to make, however there are multiple different types of heat pipes that manufacturers use (FrostyTech details them brilliantly here) and from my results SilverStone clearly picked a good implementation as these Argon series CPU coolers perform very well indeed.
The side of the box gives a closer look at all the key features of the SilverStone AR02.
The rear has some key specifications that we already detailed on the first page.
Included, in addition to the heatsink/fan, is all the mounting hardware. You have a universal backplate, AMD brackets, Intel brackets, a pressure mount bracket, LGA 2011 stand offs, AMD/Other Intel socket stand offs, locking nuts for the brackets, spacers for the stand offs, an installation wrench, locking nuts for the pressure mount bracket, 8 anti-vibration fan mounts and a sachet of thermal paste.
SilverStone include an Argon Series manual too which has everything to get you going and is very easy to follow.
Another descent entry level cooler.
And, good review, ryan.
Although when compared o the price & performance with CM hyper 212 EVO, well, it doesn’t look as good as it really is.
Hyper 212 EVO is a 120mm based cooler, this is 92mm. Big difference.
Yeah that is, but don’t you think that these designs – are mostly inspired from good old hyper 212+?
Not at all. By that logic anything with a tower heatsink and a fan would constitute Hyper 212 imitation. Other companies released similar CPU coolers before cooler master. If anything this is closer to the Hyper TX3 which is Cooler Master’s triple heat pipe 92mm fan cpu cooler
Like the way he fan is attached. Seems very elegant as compared to the wire type. I just wonder how durable it is.