INTRODUCTION

   This summer maybe almost over but temperatures are still holding strong but even if this was not the case still a high-performance CPU Cooler is always a good thing to have regardless of season. Of course with the increasing amount of AIO (all in one) liquid CPU Cooler models around if you are into serious overclocking one of the high-end dual radiator solutions is without doubt the most ideal solution however for people who just want to do a mild overclock to their systems and require good performance even normal CPU Air Coolers are sufficient. Thermalright introduced the very good Archon SB-E CPU Cooler quite a long time ago but since some people required even a higher cooling efficiency Thermalright decided to release the dual fan Archon SB-E X2 solution and since quite a few of you have been requesting that we take it for a spin that's exactly what we did.

   Thermalright is an elite design house that manufactures cooling products for computer components for the best quality and performance your money can buy. In 2002, AMD released its first generation Thunderbird CPU and since then we have been there every step of the way to counter high voltage and high heat with innovative design and highly acclaimed cooling solutions not only for AMD but for Intel as well. One of early well known solutions was the SK-6. With many positive and rave reviews under its belt Thermalright bolted to the top as the heat sink manufacturer mostly preferred by Overclockers and enthusiasts around the World. To this day, innovation never left our vocabulary as we keep coming up with leading edge designs staying ahead of the competition.

   Although the new Archon SB-E X2 and the previous Archon SB-E share the same name (leaving out the X2) in reality they have but one very large difference and that's the model and number of equipped fans. So whereas the original Archon SB-E is equipped with a single TY-150 150mm PWM fan (1100RPM/84CFM/23dBA) the new Archon SB-E X2 comes outfitted with two TY-141 140mm PWM fans (1300RPM/73.6CFM/21dBA) which should further improve its cooling efficiency. Now i don't know exactly why Thermalright chose to use smaller fans especially since the 10CFM difference between the 150mm and the 140mm models might be enough to produce even better results but knowing how they work there must have been a reason behind it. The main heatsink body remains roughly the same (there are some tiny differences such as 44 aluminum fins instead of 50) so owners of the original would be far better off adding a 2nd TY-150 in push & pull (and they should also get better performance numbers). So let's see how the latest version of the Archon does when accompanied with not one but two of the latest fan model to roll out from Thermalright the TY-141.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Thermalright keeps using the same plain brown cardboard box with just their logo at the top to pack their coolers.

As usual the model of the cooler is present on both sides.

The heatsink, 140mm fans and the bundle are all enveloped inside several Styrofoam pieces.

Along with the Archon SB-E X2 heatsink you are also getting two TR-TY141 140mm PWM fans, installation manual, Thermalright sticker, 4 wire fan clips, CF III thermal compound tube, two sets (4 each) of rubber and silicone shock-absorbing pads and mounting hardware for Intel LGA775/1155/1156/1366/2011 and AMD 939/AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/FM1 compatible mainboards.

THE ARCHON SB-E X2

Just like the Archon SB-E the latest X2 measures 170mm in Height, 155mm in Width and just 53.6mm in depth while weighing a total of 750g without the two fans installed.

The SB-E heatsink is made by 44 aluminum fins, each 0.5mm thick.

Both the arrow fin design and the long hole in the middle of the heatsink are once again in place to reduce air-resistance and thus increase airflow levels.

A grand total of eight 6mm nickel plated copper heatpipes spaced evenly from each other should ensure even distribution of heat on the aluminum fins and provide superior cooling efficiency.

As usual the base of the cooler features a mirror like finish.

The 140mm PWM fans (TY141) can reach speeds of up to 1300RPM and produce airflow of 73.6CFM with 21dBA.

Prior to mounting the two fans you first need to install 4 silicon pads on each side as seen above.

After mounting both fans the Archon SB-E X2 now measures 172mm in Height, 155mm in width and 105mm in depth while weighing a total of 1134g.

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. 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 Intel Core i7-3930k 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 takes a lot more time 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

   The original Archon SB-E was a great performer especially if you take into consideration both the size of its heatsink (not a dual sandwich solution) and speed of its 150mm PWM fan so in a way we knew almost exactly just how good the X2 version would perform. As a matter of fact the Archon SB-E X2 performed slightly better than what we had hoped when we saw that Thermalright used 140mm fans instead of 150mm ones so that's very good news. The slightly bad news on the other hand is that by using two fans instead of one the noise levels of the cooler are increased compared to its predecessor, still even 50dBA under heavy stress is not really much so that's nothing to worry about. Now we all know that it's not really hard to add a second fan in push & pull in order to further improve the cooling efficiency of a CPU Cooler so i can't say that Thermalright did something incredible but that's beside the point and since the Archon SB-E X2 ranks 9th in our LGA2011 database (out of the 22 models reviewed) right next to the NH-D14 by Noctua i don't think we need to say more.

   Another great thing about the Archon SB-E X2 by Thermalright is its price since it's roughly the same as the previous Archon SB-E version so currently you can get it for USD89.95 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and 64.99Euros inside the EU (PC-Cooling.de). Now this price tag may not be set really low for most people but it's right next to the prices of many similar CPU Coolers including the NH-D14 by Noctua so we can't really call it expensive either. So if you are out to buy a new CPU Cooler and you want one of the best ones out there without having any clearance issues with other parts of your mainboard then the Archon SB-E X2 by Thermalright is amongst the very few products that can cover that role currently and that's why it gets our Golden Award just like its predecessor.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Near-Excellent Performance
- Size (No Clearance Issues)
- Two 140mm PWM Bundled Fans
- Relatively Low Noise Levels
- Universal Compatibility 

CONS

- Height (For Some)
- Price (For Some)