Reeven Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler Review

Installation
First thing I have to mention about the installation of this cooler is that instruction manual for the Arcziel 12 is rubbish.  This is odd considering I had no issue with the one included with the Kelveros RC1202.  But to be honest, it’s nearly impossible to follow what you are supposed to do step by step.  If you do buy this cooler I would suggest following along here as well to do your install.

The first thing you will want to do is put together the clips for attaching the cooler to the motherboard.  This is the part that is like an erector set. Taking the shorter of the screws, find the hole in the tip piece that corresponds to your socket.  Our test rig is socket 1155 so we used the middle hole.  Simply screw all the tips into place.

Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler

Now we want to attach the clip to the base of the cooler.  Start by flipping the cooler over on the fan.  Now take the left over longer screws and attach the clips to the base with the lowest point of the tip facing up.  When the cooler is flipped over they will then be facing down.  With both sides attached it should look like the second picture above.

Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler

With the heat sink ready to install we need to put the backplate on the motherboard.  Take the cleverly designed multi socket backplate and insert the backplate screws into the correct hole for your socket.  This is found using the diagram in the manual.  For us (1155) it is hole A.  Insert all four screws and you’re ready to insert it into the motherboard.

Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler

There is a diagram showing how to turn the arms of the backplate for each socket type, but I found it to be easy enough to simply line up the screws with the top two holes and go from there.

Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler

I suggest checking now to see if the cooler will clear your ram DIMMs.  In the case of the test rig we didn’t clear the inside DIMM and had to run without it.  Another thing to make your life easier is to just remove all of your DIMMs before installing the cooler to give you a little more room for your hands.

Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler

After you’ve got the backplate in position you will want to apply the thermal grease directly to the CPU.  As with all flat based coolers I recommend the grain of rice method, where you put a drop of the thermal paste in the center of the CPU about the size of a grain of rice.

With the thermal paste on, press the cooler directly on the CPU surface and hold it steady with one hand.  This is a little tricky, but you want to take your screwdriver and screw each of the backplate screws into the screw holes on the tips of the clip.  Start all four screws just a couple of turns, then using a cross pattern tighten them all until they won’t turn anymore.  Go ahead and pat yourself on the back.  The hardest parts are all behind you!

With heatsink attached  the only thing left to do is to attach the fan to the CPU_FAN header on the motherboard.

Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler

The cooler may be a bit lower than most allowing you to clear door fans, but it is a tight fit all around the case now.

Reveen Arcziel 12 CPU Cooler

*Remember to also reinstall your ram if you removed it earlier