14 DAY TRIAL // Home-theater personal computers are known for trading potential performance in favor of compact form factors, but ultimately, performance depends on the CPU and graphics card, and they, in turn, depend on coolers. SilverStone is building on that. When we say that CPUs and graphics card depend on coolers, we mean that, in this case, the stronger ones can only fit if they can make do with more compact heatsinks, maybe without fans altogether.
Sure, some video boards are too long or tall, and some CPUs need large, bulky coolers to avoid overheating, but that still leaves plenty potential parts in both categories.
So if, say, someone makes a good low-profile cooler, an HTPC could use even processors or video cards made for good, even excellent, desktops.
In this instance, we have a SilverStone CPU cooler called AR04. This cooler is only 23 mm tall, but even so, it possesses not just an aluminum heatsink (that actually “hugs” the fan from two sides), but two 6 mm direct-touch copper heatpipes.
What's more, an 80 mm Sleeve Bearing fan is included, with a rotary speed of 1,500 to 3,400 RPM (rotations per minute).
The top noise level products by the SilverStone AR04 from the Argon series is 26 dBA, lower than a normal whisper.
And since HTPCs are usually pretty well shut off from the outside world, the noise should be further muffled. Nothing is going to taint your enjoyment during a movie night.
The only sad part, if it can even be called that, is that the SilverStone Argon AR04 is not a universal cooler. Instead, it works only for Intel LGA 115x CPUs (central processing units). And even then, the top TDP is of 65W.
Still, for something bearing a price of only $26.99 / €26.99, that's still more than decent.
