Testing
The following system was used to test the cooler:
– Processor: Intel i9 9900K @ 5GHz
– Motherboard: ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X
– RAM: Ballistix Tactical Tracer 16GB DDR4 @ 2666MHz
– GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio
– SSD: Crucial MX500
– HDD: WD 1 TB Blue
– PSU: Seasonic Snow Silent 750W Platinum
– Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe White
– Thermal compound: Noctua NT-H2
Software used for testing the cooler:
– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 6.25.5400
– 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 – IntelBurnTestV2
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.
The Dark Rock TF will cover the first two RAM slots on an ATX motherboard. However, thanks to its asymmetrical shape, the lower fan offers plenty of space for the RAM modules.
The PCIe expansion slot clearance is average, with approximately 14mm of space between the heatsink and the graphics card. There is plenty of space to access the upper M.2 SSD socket.
Final thoughts
The be quiet! Dark Rock TF is a great air CPU cooler, which addressees an important problem found within modern gaming systems. Thanks to its top flow design, the airflow is directed on the VRM components of the motherboard, which is a welcomed feature, especially in the case of motherboards that use inadequate VRM heatsinks.
The Dark Rock TF is available for around 80 USD or EUR at the moment of writing this review. A price which places this CPU cooler next to models such as the Noctua NH-D15, or the Dark Rock Pro 4 from be quiet!
The performance of the cooler is very good, especially when considering the low noise output and the lower than average height of just 130mm. However, the Dark Rock TF is on average between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius warmer than the Noctua NH-D15. This is because while the cooler does have a dual tower heatsink design, the lower “tower” is smaller and has fewer cooling fins installed.
The build quality of the Dark Rock TF is identical with that of the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4. The cooling fins have smooth edges and are not easy to bend or displace from their initial position. The all black matte coating present on most of the cooler is applied evenly, and has no marks or blemishes.
The installation process is simple, this is due to the fact that the mounting system has been redesigned and simplified since 2016. If the user manual is followed, nobody should have any issues when installing this CPU cooler.
In terms of clearance, the Dark Rock TF is difficult to describe, mostly thanks to its asymmetrical shape. Depending on how the cooler is installed and its orientation, either the first two RAM slots or the first expansion slots are covered. This will pose issues if tall RAM modules are used, or the first expansion slot is too close to the CPU socket.
In conclusion, the be quiet! Dark Rock TF is a good air CPU cooler that will also actively cool the VRM components of the motherboard. The build quality is great and the performance is very good for a cooler with a height of just 130mm. Another benefit of this cooler is the low noise output, with a maximum noise reading of 34db(A). The only inconvenient is with the clearance, which will vary based on the orientation of the cooler, and the layout of your motherboard.
