Lighting
It is nice that there is a hardware RGB controller included with this cooler. Many people just don’t like using RGB software supplied by their motherboard. The only issue I have with the controller is that it uses a molex connection for power rather than SATA. The fan features RGB (not ARGB) lighting so all of the LEDs will be the same color at once.
The controller has three buttons on it. The first will adjust the brightness of the fan, there are 5 different brightness levels. The second is the color, you can choose between 7 different colors. The last button is effect. You can either select solid, blinking, or breathing. You can have these effects be a single color or cycle between the 7 available colors.
Performance
Our CPU cooler test system is made up of the follow components…
Case: be quiet! Pure Base 500DX
CPU: Intel Core i5-10600K
Cooling: Amazon Basics CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Ultra
Graphics Card: MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X
Memory: HyperX Predator RGB DDR4-2933 16GB
Storage: Samsung SSD 980
Power: be quiet! Dark Power 12
For testing we will be using AIDA64’s “CPU Package” reading for temperatures and we will also be using a RisePro sound level meter to record sound levels. Sound levels are recorded 3 inches above the top mesh of the case.
We will be comparing the AK400 Digital to the following CPU coolers…
– be quiet! Dark Rock TF 2
– be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim 2
– Cooler Master MasterAir MA624 Stealth
– DeepCool AK400 Digital
– DeepCool AK400 WH
– DeepCool AK500 Zero Dark
– DeepCool AK620
– DeepCool AK620 Digital
– Iceberg Thermal IceSLEET G4 Midnight
– Jonsbo PISA A5
– Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
– Noctua NH-P1
– Scythe Fuma 2 Rev. B
– Scythe Kotetsu Mark 3
– Scythe Mugen 5 Rev. C CPU Cooler
– SilverStone Hydrogon D120 ARGB
– Thermaltake UX200 SE
Idle readings are taken on the Windows 10 desktop an hour after the system has been turned on. “Load 1” readings are taken using AIDA64’s system stability test with just the “CPU” selected. “Load 2” readings are taken using AIDA64’s system stability testing with both the “CPU” and “FPU” selected. Here are the results.
Temperatures
Noise Levels
