INTRODUCTION

   Improving on an already popular and successful product is nothing new, manufacturers have been doing that forever and why not since it's basically a recipe for certain success? Yes, sometimes at the end of the day consumers are getting nothing better really than the original product but even that is not a bad thing, not when an entirely new product could underperform in comparison. Just like with most manufacturers around be quiet! is also no stranger to that entire process and so almost 7 years after the release of their original Shadow Rock Slim model (review here) they just released the updated 2.0 version (more accurately the Shadow Rock Slim 2 model) which landed on my desk earlier this month.

   be quiet! is a premium brand of power supplies, PC cases and cooling solutions for desktop PCs. The products of be quiet! offer legendary quiet operation and first-class performance thanks the passion for quality and precision. Attention to detail is the key to perfection. Which is why our very own experts lead product conception, design and quality control from our headquarters in Germany. be quiet! sticks to its name: More than 15 years’ experience in the field of noise reduction and silence make be quiet! products probably the most silent ones on the market.

   So, what I’m certain most of you out there will be wondering is what exactly did be quiet! change after 7 years? Well, not much to be honest. Both the Shadow Rock Slim and Shadow Rock Slim 2 share the same TDP (thermal design power) of 160W, dimensions (161x137x74mm), number of heatpipes (four 6mm all-copper ones) and the same SilentWings 135mm rifle-bearing fan (BQ SIW3-13525-MR-PMW / 1400RPM). Still be quiet! did introduce three key differences (at least visible/stated ones), total cooler weight (roughly 735g for the Shadow Rock Slim and 685g for the Shadow Rock Slim 2), number of aluminum fins (52 for the Shadow Rock Slim and 53 for the Shadow Rock Slim 2) and base type (nickel plated one for the Shadow Rock Slim and HDT - heatpipe direct touch - for the Shadow Rock Slim 2). Now whether or not these additions/changes will have an impact in performance is something we'll find out later in this review.