Final words and conclusion
Final words and conclusion
Top-flow coolers have fallen out of favor in high-performance systems, and it's easy to understand why: they are unable to compete with the effectiveness of classic tower coolers or liquid all-in-ones when it comes to cooling a modern, many-core processor. Despite our expectations for the bequiet Dark Rock TF 2, real-world performance did not fall short or shy of our expectations and can keep up with Noctua's flagship, until you overclock that is. However, this does not rule out the cooler as a viable option. Dark Rock 2's 134mm height (107mm if you remove the top fan) will appeal to enthusiasts looking to fit high-end components into a low-profile chassis. The all-black design is very attractive and true to the manufacturer's name, noise levels are maintained to a bare minimum at all times.
Performance
Performance is very satisfactory at the default clock frequency; nothing more and nothing less is required. Overclocking a CPU based on voltage still gives enough leash to fool around a bit. However Intel these days bypasses their specified TDP by nearly doubling it for approximately a minute when under stress. For example, a 125 Watt TDP processor can even run at 250 Watts for 60 seconds if it is given the opportunity. Because of this, we always recommend purchasing a cooler with at least double the capacity of the TDP of your processor. Processors having a TDP of 125W Watts or less are best suited for use with the Dark Rock TF 2 (under non-overclocked conditions)
Acoustics
Perfect, we can put this discussion to rest right there! With regards to the product's noise levels, we found it to be extremely quiet at default settings (not overclocked), and yes, we did achieve 30 DBa with the default fan profile, which is at full processor load. Even at 1.30-1.35 Volts (tweaked), the noise levels remain extremely silent as well, and after 1.35 Volts, we simply don't have enough cooling performance left to continue. Overall, and particularly when set to defaults, this is a quiet piece of technology.
Final Words
With its small size and high performance, the Dark Rock TF 2 is a great choice for those who want good looks, a dense cooler, and extremely silent acoustics. The fit, finish, and overall quality of the TF 2 are immediately noticeable exemplary from the moment you take it out of the box. The price of $80 US is the only thing that some people might find objectionable. While this is a high-priced air cooler, it is comparable to other high-quality coolers in its class. Because of the expanded PL2 Watt stages in the new Comet Lake and newer Intel processors, things are a little more complicated for users of the new processors in regards to tweaking. However, in such a case, I'd propose an LCS any time of the day. There is a small amount of capacity remaining for a minor tweaking on your CPU, but we wouldn't recommend pushing it too far in terms of voltages, which makes sense for coolers of this nature. Fantastic looks, fantastic acoustics, and overall solid performance. We can certainly recommend this product.
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