Xigmatek LOKI SD963 CPU Cooler Review

Final ThoughtsThe main aim of Xigmatek’s SD963 Loki CPU cooler is as a cheap and effective upgrade from the bundled stock CPU cooler.

At just 134mm tall, the Loki is perfect for anybody with a small ATX or even mATX case. With all modern Intel and AMD sockets supported and it’s non-interference and light-weight design, compatibility is vast meaning that anybody can enjoy a cheap upgrade and superior performance compared to the stock heatsink.

Performance wise, the Loki is far better than it’s Intel contender. Handling the 4.0GHz overclock with relative ease and even managing to complete the high 4.4GHz test shows that this ‘little’ CPU cooler isn’t as tame as it may seem.

Noise may not be the strongest property that this cooler has to offer mainly due to the use of a 92mm high speed fan. The acoustic levels weren’t annoying however and 100% fan speed wasn’t too irritating for 24/7 usage. Setting up a custom PWM profile or allowing your motherboard to dynamically control the fan speed would undoubtedly yield far better acoustics results.

The aesthetics of this cooler ensure that most people will be relatively pleased and nobody will be completely disappointed by the design. It isn’t the most attractive CPU cooler on the market, but it is by no means the ugliest.

Installation was straightforward making it perfect for the target audience, some of whom may be novices wanting a cheap and easy upgrade. The instruction manual was well-documented, clear and easy to follow. It is always pleasing to see a clear and informative instruction manual.

Priced at under £15 from many online retailers, the Xigmatek Loki offers good value. £15 isn’t too much to ask for a cooler of this calibre, but it does put it awkwardly close to what we consider the price vs performance king, the CoolerMaster Hyper 212+.

Overall, the Xigmatek Loki SD963 is a good CPU cooler taking the aims and targets into account. It was never going to be or meant to be the best cooler ever but it does offer an effective and low cost upgrade. For anybody currently using their CPU’s stock heatsink or a very low end after-market cooler, the Xigmatek SD963 Loki has the potential to be the perfect upgrade but similarly priced competitors could be a massive hindrance.

Pros:

• Fairly cheap
• Good design
• Decent performance
• Dual fan compatibility
• Small and non-intrusive
• Easy to install
• Wide range of compatibility

Cons:

• Stiff competition in a similar price range
• Only intended for low to medium overclocks
• Sachet of thermal paste is awkward to use on multiple occasions