INTRODUCTION

   Total surface area (whether that's aluminum or copper) followed by the number of fans are the two things that pretty much define the performance of every cooling solution out there from regular heatsink based models (air coolers) and up to AIO (liquid) and custom water cooling models. Of course, we are all well aware that nowadays for PC hardware components and peripherals to be successful (especially among gamers) they also need to feature RGB lighting (or the new updated addressable RGB version - ARGB) and so pretty much every single manufacturer has introduced that feature into one of more of their newest models. Scythe is among them and today we'll be taking a look at the latest CPU Air Cooler to carry the name Mugen, the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus.

   Scythe Co., Ltd., (Registered and incorporated in Tokyo Japan) originally started its business operation in Japan's famous "Akihabara Electric Town" located in the metropolitan Tokyo, where visitors can find a variety of products from the latest computer parts to the world's most advanced high-tech electric devices. Scythe Co., Ltd., began its operation and business since November, 2002 as a distributor and the manufacturer of passive and low-noise PC parts. Since then, the company has established the R&D facility in Taiwan & China for production and quality control, and the USA office (in Los Angeles, California) & European office (in Hamburg, Germany) for customer care and sales support. At Scythe, we believe that the best ideas for product come simply from knowing customers' needs and their expectations. Based on this philosophy, the PC enthusiasts working at Scythe know what to develop because that is exactly what we would like to have for ourselves too! We offer products with 100% quality assurance and total pride, and if the product has the Scythe name on it, you can rest assure that its quality will be up to the "Zero Tolerance" standards!

   Once again in our hands we have a CPU Cooler by Scythe which is largely based on their regular Mugen 5 model (the ARGB Plus version should be the 11th or 12th model to bear the Mugen name) but unlike previous variants like the PCGH (PC Games Hardware) which we reviewed a while back (review here) thanks to both its top shroud and the dual Kaze Flex 120 ARGB fans the brand new Mugen 5 ARGB Plus is truly unique looking. The addressable RGB lighting system is not only compatible with mainboards featuring ARGB headers (such as the ASUS Aura Sync, ASRock Polychrome Sync, MSI Mystic Light and the GIGABYTE RGB Fusion 2.0) but can also be controlled via the bundled ACT-1000ARL ARGB controller (14 modes/effects and 5 speed settings). Scythe however didn't just add looks into the mix, they also improved cooling efficiency (always according to the PCGH model) by using two high-performance 120mm fans (1500RPM/66.47CFM/1.67mmH2O/29.75dBA) in push & pull configuration. Of course, as expected the brand new Mugen 5 ARGB Plus features the same asymmetrical design as its predecessors which ensures compatibility with most memory modules.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

A large product picture is located at the front of the box surrounded by the mainboard compatibility list, the RGB compatible technologies and the company logo.

The main product features are listed on the left side of the box whereas on the right side we find the product specifications printed in 8 languages.

Warranty and warning information can be found at the rear of the box in 4 languages.

The bundle is placed inside a cardboard box as seen above.

Inside the box you will find the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus heatsink, two Kaze Flex 120 ARGB fans, 4 fan clips, ACT-1000ARL controller, ARGB splitter cable, ARGB power cable, 4-pin fan splitter cable, Philips screwdriver, thermal paste tube, installation guides, backplate and all the necessary screws, standoffs and brackets to mount the cooler onto Intel LGA775/1150/1151/1155/1156/1366/2011/2011-3/2066 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/AM4/FM1/FM2/FM2+ mainboards.

THE MUGEN 5 ARGB PLUS

The main body of the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus weighs roughly 780g and measures 157.5mm in height, 133mm in width and 87mm in depth/length (no fans included).

At the top we find a white shroud which is part of the ARGB lighting system (the two holes are used to mount the cooler onto the mainboard).

A total of 39 aluminum fins can be seen here as well just like with previous Mugen 5 models.

The asymmetrical design of the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus all but ensures that you will have no problem neither with mainboard components nor with the height of your memory modules.

According to Scythe the design of the fins increases airflow levels inside the heatsink resulting in improved heat dissipation.

Just like its predecessors the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus features six 6mm nickel-plated copper heatpipes.

Again, the large base features a mirror like finish as you can see from the above picture.

The 120mm FDB Kaze Flex ARGB fans bundled with the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus can reach speeds of up to 1500RPM to produce airflow levels of up to 66.47CFM with 1.67mmH2O of air pressure and 29.75dBA of noise.

Both fans are equipped with rubber pads on all four corners.

With both fans attached the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus now weighs a total of 1060g and measures 157.5mm in height, 136mm in width and 134mm in depth.

THE ACT-1000ARL

The ACT-1000ARL controller has a button at the top, the SATA power connector at the rear, the ARGB cable at the front and a 2-pin reset connector on the side.

It may not be the sturdiest solution but the two small magnets placed at the base of the controller do work well.

From the above pictures you can see both the available effects and colors of the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus using the ACT-1000ARL controller.

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

   We always take things quite seriously when it comes to work so just like with the previous LGA1366 database we will not be testing each CPU Cooler on its own and with different ambient temperature levels and thus we can actually have yet another valid CPU Cooler database. Testing a CPU Cooler automatically means that you need to know where it stands against the immediate competition and to accomplish that we have spent both money and time through the years, something that we plan to continue to do so in order to get the most accurate results for the end consumers who read these lines. Every CPU cooler in this database is tested with the bundled 140mm/120mm/92mm/80mm fans while working at both idle speed and 100% of their speeds for all the temperature tests. CPU Coolers that do not come bundled with a fan/s are measured using a Noctua fan (size dependent on the model) to test for the temperature tests but due to the lack of a stock fan dBA level tests are obviously skipped. Single (120/140mm) watercooling solutions are tested with the radiator mounted at the rear of our test rig while dual/triple/quad (240/260/280/360/420/480/560mm) solutions with the radiator mounted at the top. For the dBA tests every cooler in the database was measured both while on idle mode or with the fan controller in the minimum setting and while on extreme load or with the fan controller all the way to the highest possible setting (PWM fans do that on their own without our intervention). Every single test takes place in a temperature controlled room of 23 degrees Celsius Ambient Temp with the help of two AC units placed diagonally inside the room. The Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste is used with every CPU Cooler in our latest LGA2011 database (although initially this was not the plan, we had to change things to get the most accurate results). Finally, it's very important to point out that just because a CPU Cooler is better than another when tested with our test rig that does not necessarily mean that the same performance differences will apply 100% for other CPU models and in other situations (such as different ambient temps and system configurations).

     To successfully record the load temperatures, we use the latest OCCT application for around 6-10 minutes to push the processor to its limits and after that is done and the temperatures are recorded, we wait for about 10-20 minutes for the CPU to cool down and record the idle temperatures. This is done to allow time for the thermal conductive material to achieve the optimal performance level. Same procedure is then repeated with the Passmark BurnIn Test as a failsafe just in case the OCCT results are wrong. This procedure is more time consuming than the usual peltier/thermometer tests but this way not only can we deliver real world results to our readers based on real CPUs but we can also triple check the results using a variety of programs. Last but not least the temperatures were recorded using both the latest versions of AIDA64 and RealTemp while the noise level tests are performed using a high precision ExTech HD600 Decibel Meter placed about 10-15cm above the CPU Cooler. Still although the same testing procedure applies to all units do take into consideration that unlike the official numbers which are measured in special noise isolated labs with just the fans here, we also have both the rest of the cooler and the rest of the system (although all system fans are turned off when recording noise levels).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

   Even though the Mugen 5 ARGB Plus is not the highest performance model in our charts it does come very close to that and on top of that it’s without doubt one of the most impressive looking ones (if not the most impressive one). Yes, the Kaze Flex 120 ARGB fans may not be the most impressive ones in the market currently (RGB fan comparison coming up soon) but thanks to the top shroud the end result is indeed something we’ve not seen to date. Of course, the cooling efficiency of this model is largely due to the two high-performance Kaze Flex 120 ARGB fans so noise levels are quite higher compared to both the Mugen 5 PCGH and the original Mugen 5.

   The Mugen 5 ARGB Plus by Scythe was officially released less than a month ago and so currently it only retails inside the EU for 79Euros (Amazon.de) a price tag which is not at all bad considering that the previous versions (non-RGB ones) cost roughly the same. At the end of the day it all comes down to whether or not RGB lighting is important for you so if it is then things can’t get much better right now than the Scythe Mugen 5 ARGB Plus which is also why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Very Good Performance
- ARGB Lighting (Mainboard & Manually Adjusted)
- Zero Clearance Issues with Most Mainboards
- Easy Installation (H.P.M.S III)
- Dual Fan Solution

CONS

- Size (For Some)
- Current Availability
- Noise Levels