CONCLUSION

   The original Pure Rock CPU cooler by be quiet! was part of their entry level line so it was never meant to blow us away with its cooling performance (and it didn't). The Pure Rock 2 on the other hand may also be part of the "essential" line (entry level) by be quiet! but thanks to the 7 extra fins and H.D.T base it manages to outperform its predecessor by a full 5.8 degrees Celsius. Granted even with such a large cooling improvement the Pure Rock 2 still can’t compete with all the high-end air cooler in the market but that was obviously not its purpose. The all-black version is also a plus since there are many people who will prefer it over the “regular” model i tested today.

   Right now, the Pure Rock 2 CPU cooler by be quiet! retails for USD39.30 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 33.99Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price tag which not only perfectly reflects what performance levels you can expect but is also set a lot lower than what the original Pure Rock model cost (the all-black version retails for roughly USD5/9Euros more). Yes, the Pure Rock 2 may also not be getting any performance awards anytime soon but it’s not only a valid upgrade to the original Pure Rock but it’s also compact, has good build quality and features a very tempting price/performance ratio thus securing our Golden Award.

PROS

- Good Build Quality
- Cooling Efficiency (Compared to Its Predecessor)
- Low Noise Levels
- Size & Weight
- All Black Version Available
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Bundle (Compared to Its Predecessor)