With the Dark Rock Pro 2, BeQuiet! has an impressive cooler in its portfolio. With the fans included in delivery the cooler weighs 1250 Gramms, which really is something. Something else you wont find with many other coolers is the fact that BeQuiet! equipped this one with seven heatpipes whereas each has a diameter of six millimeter. We're really curious to see what this monster is capable of. 
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On the following pages we will show you what the BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 twin tower cooler is capable of.
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Preview
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Specifications and included in delivery
Specifications
| Model | BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 |
| Material | Aluminium / copper / nickel |
| Dimension (D x W x H) | 147 mm x 138 mm x 166 mm |
| Weight | 1250 g with fans |
| Fan | 1 x 135 mm x 135 mm x 25 mm PWM 1 x 120 mm x 120 mm x 25 mm PWM |
| On the manufacturer's website | BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 |
Included in delivery
- Cooling block
- 1 x 135mm Fan
- 1 x 120mm Fan
- Mounting kit for Socket LGA 775 / LGA 1155 / LGA 1156 / LGA 1366 / LGA 2011 AMD: FM1, AM2 (+) / AM3 (+) / 754/ 939 / 940
- BeQuiet! Thermal compound
- Mounting components
- Manual
The Dark Rock Pro 2 comes well protected from outer influeces, that none of the parts included will be damaged during transportation. BeQuiet! includes not only an Intel but also an AMD mounting kit. Therefore the cooler is compatible to both worlds right out of the box. BeQuiet! also ships this cooler with two of their own fans in the delivery. The fan which is inbetween the two towers measures 135 millimeter in diameter and the one on the outside measures 120 millimeter.
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Construction and design
Construction
If we had to define the type of cooler the Dark Rock Pro 2 is, then we would say it is a twin tower cooler. This type of cooler comes with the advantage that manufacturers can realise a huge cooling area. The disadvantage over down-draft coolers is that no air is directed towards the motherboard directly, therefore non of the onboard components receive direct cooling. BeQuiet! manufacturs their Dark Rock Pro 2 from aluminium and copper. You can find a copper base plate which leads the dissipation power to seven heatpipes which all have a diameter of six millimeters. Altogether there are 45 fins soldered to the heatpipes for perfect heat transfer. To provide this cooler with a very special look the entire surface area has been black nickel plated.
Design
We did not see any manufacturing mistakes on our sample, and it seems that it has been very well made which means that manufacturing quality is on an excellent level. The heatpipes do have different bending radius, which results additional less vortex. Furhtermore this cooler comes with a total of 45 fins. BeQuiet! chose a saw tooth design on one side of the fins and other side they are straight. Towards the center this cooler gets thinner a little bit thinner. On top of the cooler there is a thick aluminium plate to cover the heatpipes.
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Mounting
BeQuiet! ships their Dark Rock Pro 2 with mounting kits that are compatible to the most common Intel and AMD sockets. Basically mounting the cooler is simple but still we'd recommend to consult the manual since there are quite a few pieces which need to be put together before the cooler can actually be mounted. In fact mounting this cooler is a bit unusual since you don't really mount the cooler the board it's more like you mount the board on the cooler. This sounds weird but in fact, the screws which tighten the cooler to the board are on the backside of the motherboard.
On these pictures you can clearly see that the Dark Rock Pro 2 is a montser. Nevertheless if you choose to equip the cooler with two fans it is easily possible to install memory with big heatspreaders in the first DIMM slot.
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Testsystem and testroutine
Testsystem
| Mainboard | ASUS P6T Deluxe |
| Processor | Intel Core i7 920 2.66 GHz 4C / 8T |
| Memory | Kingston HyperX 3 x 1 GByte |
| Graphics card | Gigabyte GTX 285 |
| Hard disk | Samsung Spinpoint F1 640 GByte |
| Power supply | Enermax Revolution 85+ 1050 Watt |
| Thermal grease | CoolerMaster |
Testroutine
The CPU is being evaluated using Real Temp and with Prime95 we reach nearly 100% load on the CPU. For measuring the noise level we use a Voltcraft SL-200 decibel meter, which is positioned one meter from the CPU cooler with the fan mounted.
- 2.66 GHz 12 volts load
- 2.66 GHz 7 volts load
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Results 2.66 GHz 12 volts
| Cooler / fan | Temp. diff. load | Absolute temp. | RPM | Noise | Price | Review link |
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE - Triple Fan | 28 K | 57 °C | 1250 rpm | 41.3 dBA | CHF 124.- (EUR 103.-) | Phanteks PH-TC14PE |
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE - Dual Fan | 29 K | 58 °C | 1250 rpm | 41.1 dBA | CHF 99.- (EUR 83.-) | Phanteks PH-TC14PE |
| Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E - Dual Fan | 30 K | 56 °C | 1100/1300 rpm | 41.8 dBA | CHF 70.- (EUR 58.-) | Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E |
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE - Single Fan | 30 K | 59 °C | 1250 rpm | 40.7 dBA | CHF 99.- (EUR 83.-) | Phanteks PH-TC14PE |
| Prolimatech Megahalems Super Mega - Dual Fan | 30 K | 57 °C | 1400 rpm | 40.8 dBA | CHF 126.- (EUR 105.-) | Prolimatech Megahalems Super Mega Dual Fan |
| Noctua NH-D14 - Single Fan | 31 K | 56 °C | 1300/1200 rpm | 40.9 dBA | CHF 114.- (EUR 95.-) | Noctua NH-D14 |
| Cooler Master TPC 800 - Dual Fan | 32 K | 61 °C | 1400 rpm | 41.2 dBA | CHF 113.- (EUR 94.-) | Cooler Master TPC 800 |
| BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 | 33 K | 61 °C | 1400/1400 rpm | 42.0 dBA | CHF 96.- (EUR 80.-) | BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 |
| Alpenföhn Nordwand - Dual Fan | 33 K | 57 °C | 1500 rpm | 43.0 dBA | CHF 103.- (EUR 86.-) | Alpenföhn Nordwand |
| Gelid GX-7 - Dual-Fan | 33 K | 53 °C | 1800 rpm | 45.5 dBA | CHF 45.- (EUR 38.-) | Gelid GX-7 |
| Prolimatech Megahalems Megashadow - Dual Fan | 34 K | 58 °C | 1400 rpm | 40.5 dBA | CHF 79.- (EUR 66.-) | Prolimatech Megahalems Megashadow |
| Enermax ETS-T40-VD - Single Fan | 34 K | 57 °C | 1900 rpm | 42.4 dBA | CHF 43.- (EUR 36.-) | Enermax ETS-T40-VD |
| Noctua NH-C14 - Dual Fan | 35 K | 57 °C | 1250 rpm | 41.0 dBA | CHF 91.- (EUR 76.-) | Noctua NH-C14 |
| Alpenföhn Nordwand - Single Fan | 35 K | 59 °C | 1500 rpm | 42.4 dBA | CHF 79.- (EUR 66.-) | Alpenföhn Nordwand |
| Gelid GX-7 - Single Fan | 35 K | 55 °C | 1800 rpm | 45.0 dBA | CHF 45.- (EUR 38.-) | Gelid GX-7 |
| Coolink Corator DS - Single Fan | 35 K | 57 °C | 1900 rpm | 47.9 dBA | ||
| Prolimatech Megahalems Megashadow - Single Fan | 36 K | 59 °C | 1400 rpm | 37.0 dBA | CHF 79.- (EUR 65.-) | Prolimatech Megahalems Megashadow |
| Corsair H5O - Dual Fan | 37 K | 59 °C | 1600 rpm | 44.4 dBA | CHF 133.- (EUR 111.-) | Corsair H5O |
| Noctua NH-C14 - Single Fan | 38 K | 60 °C | 1250 rpm | 39.4 dBA | CHF 91.- (EUR 76.-) | Noctua NH-C14 |
| Noctua NH-U12P - Dual Fan | 38 K | 62 °C | 1400 rpm | 41.6 dBA | CHF 125.- (EUR 104.-) | Noctua NH-U12P |
| Corsair H5O - Single Fan | 38 K | 60 °C | 1600 rpm | 44.0 dBA | CHF 113.- (EUR 94.-) | Corsair H5O |
| Cooler Master Hyper 412S - Single-Fan | 39 K | 62 °C | 1200 rpm | 41.6 dBA | CHF 57.- (EUR 48.-) | Cooler Master Hyper 412S |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212Evo - Single-Fan | 39 K | 62 °C | 1500 rpm | 42.9 dBA | CHF 50.- (EUR 40.-) | Cooler Master Hyper 212S |
| Noctua NH-U12P - Single Fan | 40 K | 64 °C | 1400 rpm | 40.5 dBA | CHF 85.- (EUR 71.-) | Noctua NH-U12P |
| Prolimatech Samuel 17 - Single Fan | 56 K | 85 °C | 1400 rpm | 40.1 dBA | CHF 49.- (EUR 41.-) | Prolimatech Samuel 17 |
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Results 2.66 GHz 7 Volts
| Cooler / fan | Temp. diff. load | Absolute temp. | RPM | Price | Review link | |
| Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E - Dual Fan | 34 K | 60 °C | 500/900 rpm | 35.0 dBA | CHF 70.- (EUR 58.-) | Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E |
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE - Triple Fan | 34 K | 63 °C | 750 rpm | 35.1 dBA | CHF 124.- (EUR 103.-) | Phanteks PH-TC14PE |
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE - Dual Fan | 35 K | 64 °C | 750 rpm | 34.9 dBA | CHF 99.- (EUR 83.-) | Phanteks PH-TC14PE |
| Prolimatech Megahalems Super Mega - Dual Fan | 35 K | 62 °C | 800 rpm | 40.8 dBA | CHF 126.- (EUR 105.-) | Prolimatech Megahalems Super Mega Dual Fan |
| Noctua NH-D14 - Single Fan | 36 K | 61 °C | 1000/900 rpm | 37.2 dBA | CHF 114.- (EUR 95.-) | Noctua NH-D14 |
| Noctua NH-C14 - Dual Fan | 37 K | 59 °C | 800 rpm | 34.1 dBA | CHF 91.- (EUR 76.-) | Noctua NH-C14 |
| Cooler Master TPC 800 - Dual Fan | 37 K | 66 °C | 800 rpm | 34.2 dBA | CHF 113.- (EUR 94.-) | Cooler Master TPC 800 |
| Prolimatech Megahalems Megashadow - Dual Fan | 37 K | 61 °C | 1000 rpm | 38.9 dBA | CHF 79.- (EUR 66.-) | Prolimatech Megahalems Megashadow |
| Phanteks PH-TC14PE - Single Fan | 38 K | 67 °C | 750 rpm | 34.6 dBA | CHF 99.- (EUR 83.-) | Phanteks PH-TC14PE |
| Prolimatech Megahalems Megashadow - Single Fan | 39 K | 63 °C | 1000 rpm | 36.2 dBA | CHF 79.- (EUR 66.-) | Prolimatech Megahalems Megashadow |
| BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 | 40 K | 67 °C | 500/500 rpm | 33.3 dBA | CHF 96.- (EUR 80.-) | BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 |
| Gelid GX-7 - Dual Fan | 42 K | 62 °C | 700 rpm | 34 dBA | CHF 45.- (EUR 38.-) | Gelid GX-7 |
| Noctua NH-C14 - Single Fan | 42 K | 64 °C | 800 rpm | 33.5 dBA | CHF 91.- (EUR 76.-) | Noctua NH-C14 |
| Corsair H5O - Dual Fan | 42 K | 64 °C | 900 rpm | 37.5 dBA | CHF 133.- (EUR 111.-) | Corsair H5O |
| Cooler Master Hyper 412S - Single Fan | 43 K | 69 °C | 800 rpm | 35.8 dBA | CHF 57.- (EUR 48.-) | Cooler Master Hyper 412S |
| Alpenföhn Nordwand - Dual Fan | 43 K | 67 °C | 700 rpm | 37.0 dBA | CHF 103.- (EUR 86.-) | Alpenföhn Nordwand |
| Noctua NH-U12P - Dual Fan | 44 K | 68 °C | 1000 rpm | 38.0 dBA | CHF 125.- (EUR 104.-) | Noctua NH-U12P |
| Enermax ETS-T40-VD - Single Fan | 45 K | 66 °C | 650 rpm | 32.7 dBA | CHF 43.- (EUR 36.-) | Enermax ETS-T40-VD |
| Gelid GX-7 - Single-Fan | 45 K | 65 °C | 700 rpm | 33.5 dBA | CHF 45.- (EUR 38.-) | Gelid GX-7 |
| Noctua NH-U12P - Single Fan | 45 K | 69 °C | 1000 rpm | 37.4 dBA | CHF 85.- (EUR 71.-) | Noctua NH-U12P |
| Coolink Corator DS - Single Fan | 46 K | 68 °C | 800 rpm | 35.0 dBA | Coolink Corator DS | |
| Corsair H5O - Single Fan | 46 K | 68 °C | 900 rpm | 35.4 dBA | CHF 113.- (EUR 94.-) | Corsair H5O |
| Alpenföhn Nordwand - Single Fan | 48 K | 72 °C | 700 rpm | 36.4 dBA | CHF 79.- (EUR 66.-) | Alpenföhn Nordwand |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212Evo - Single-Fan | 52 K | 75 °C | 750 rpm | 35.3 dBA | CHF 50.- (EUR 40.-) | Cooler Master Hyper 212S |
| Prolimatech Samuel 17 -Single Fan | 67 K | 96 °C | 800 rpm | 36.2 dBA | CHF 49.- (EUR 41.-) | Prolimatech Samuel 17 |
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Conclusion
| General | + | - | |
| With the Dark Rock Pro 2, BeQuiet! really shows a good cooler. In terms of cooling capacity the Dark Rock Pro 2 has been able reach the center span of our comparison tables. In this regard we have to say that the competition is very hard concerning our test field. There are almost no cheap coolers at all and therefore the Dark Rock Pro 2 has to compete with the absolute best. It's not only the performance that is on a good level with this cooler, we also like the build quality, which is excellent. | -
Performance - Black nickel plated |
||
| Installation | + | - | |
| The installation process is easy and you can mount the cooler quickly. Nevertheless we didn't want to install it without consulting the manual. Another thing which is important to us is the fact that this cooler is compatible with all recent sockets from Intel and AMD. | - Easy and robust - Compatible with Intel and AMD sockets | ||
| Performance | + | - | |
|
During our tests we used the fans, which were included in delivery. What you get is a 135 millimeter and a 120 millimeter fan. If you drive both fans at 7 Volt you can't hear them anymore and at 12 Volt they can be described as audible. In the end performance at higher rotation speed was better then a lower rotation speed, when compared to the competition. We think this is because the fins are quite densely packed and heatpipes are arranged in a way that they cause more vortex. Therefore a higher airflow is needed to reach good cooling results. |
- Good cooling capacity | ||
| Recommendation | + | - | |
| If you're looking for a well performing CPU cooler, then you'll make a good choice if you go for the Dark Rock Pro 2 from BeQuiet!. |
- Enthusiast - Gamer - Overclocker |
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Author: Marc Büchel m.buechel@ocaholic.ch Copy edited and translated: m.buechel@ocaholic.ch l.rocchi@ocaholic.ch