Testing
The following system was used to test the cooler:
– Processor: Intel i9 9900K @ 5GHz
– Motherboard: ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X
– RAM: Neo Forza Faye DDR4 64GB 3600MHz
– GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Ti Suprim X
– SSD: Crucial p5 500GB
– Mass Storage: Neo Forza NFP075 2 TB
– PSU: Seasonic Prime TX-1000 Platinum
– Case: be quiet! Silent Base 802 White
– Thermal compound: Noctua NT-H2
Software used for testing the cooler:
– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 6.88.6400
– Intel Burn Test v2.54
– Prime95 29.1
The cooler was tested with the CPU at the default turbo frequency of 4.9 GHz and overclocked to 5 GHz with a core voltage of 1.261 V.
Also, the included fans have been used at their maximum speed.
The room temperature was approximately 26°C (78°F), with 2°C margin of error.
The idle test consists of the CPU sitting idle at the desktop for 30 minutes, the temperature was measured at the end of the test.
The settings of the software used are the following:
Intel Burn Test v2.54 – Stress level: Maximum
Prime95 29.1- small FFT
AIDA64 Extreme Version – FPU Benchmark & Temperature monitoring.
Each test was conducted for 40 minutes.
Idle
Full Load – IntelBurnTest V2
Full Load – AIDA64 CPU, FPU & Cache
The noise level was measured at three different distances from the fans (10cm, 20cm, 30cm.) the noise was measured with a margin of error of ± 2 db.
In the video below you have a noise sample of the CPU cooler with its fan at maximum RPM.
The PCIe clearance with this cooler is average at best, with 26mm of space between the side of the CPU cooler and the backplate of the graphics card.
Final thoughts
The Akasa Alucia H4 Plus is a CPU cooler that has a different approach to cooling than the usual RGB LED cooler of today. It delivers a good performance even though it only has four copper made heatpipes and a 120mm fan. The design of this CPU cooler is not for everyone but it is a good design. The semi-glossy black on the heatsink with the dark blue on the fan is a rare combination these days.
In terms of pricing, the Alucia H4 Plus can be had for 49 Euro, and if you want RGB LEDs and a better design, then the Soho H4 Plus is priced at 65 Euro.
The noise performance of this CPU cooler is good when considering its small size and single 120mm fan. While the fan spins at 2000RPM, the cooler is not that loud, as it has a noise output of 42 decibels. In addition, the noise it generates is not obnoxious.
The cooling performance of the Alucia H4 Plus is good, with the CPU reaching a maximum of 90°C while running the heaviest benchmark we have. While not the best temperature, especially for long term usage, you have to keep in mind that many budget CPU coolers would allow the CPU to thermal throttle, while the Alucia H4 Plus didn’t.
The mounting system is good and simple, with mostly metal parts and plastic spacers. The installation procedure with this CPU cooler is easy and even a total beginner will manage to install it in under 5 minutes.
If there are drawbacks with this CPU cooler, they are the uneven heatpipe endings and the fac that the fan cannot be stopped via PWM. While not a deal breaker, they are present and they could be addressed in the next model or revision.
In conclusion, the Akasa Alucia H4 Plus is a good budget CPU cooler that can handle even an Intel i9 9900K overclocked to 5GHz, just barely. The general cooling performance of this cooler is good and it makes it a good choice for a mid-range gaming system. The mounting system is good and simple to use and the design is different than what we usually get today.
