We start of the performance tests with the easiest configuration: CPU at stock, all case fans at full speed. For comparison purposes we've included the Intel Stock Cooler, Scythe Ashura and SilentiumPC Fera 2 :

3rd party coolers are not wasted on this platform, at stock speeds the Intel cooler is overwhelmed, maxing out at 71+°C and closing in on 50dBA which is really loud. The R1 and Ashura are tied in first spot, the extra 140mm fan on the R1 Universal does add a bit more noise, running at full speed these fans are not silent, but far from annoying, toned down through PWM management they can easily go into silent mode.

Without the extra airflow through the case, the R1 takes (a very small) lead over its closest competitor. Impressive numbers nonetheless. Time to turn up the heat:

With enough fresh air going through the case the difference in performance between the top contenders remains minimal.

Our final configuration is a good stress test for silent computing, keeping the dual core Smithfield running stable (when overclocked!) without your PC sounding like a hairdryer is quite a challenge. The R1 Universal passes the test with flying colors, of course we were not expecting anything less!

Conclusive Thoughts

We've come to the end of our evaluation and can now pen down our findings. For a CPU cooler product to be worthy of recommendation it must pass several criteria:

- Performance: The R1 from CRYORIG makes an impressive showing here, hardly flinching at the heat generated by a dual core Prescott  CPU ! Pass

- Noise: The dual fan setup rules out extreme silent computing, and at 12v the fans are definitely audible, there is however enough thermal headroom for the fans to be run at lower speeds, their PWM friendly connectors helps ensure quiet computing. Pass

- Installation / Compatability: For such a beast of a heatsink, installation is surprisingly straight forward and easy to do. Motherboard removal required if you don't have access to the backplate, otherwise installation can be done under 10min! Pass

- Pricing/Availability: CRYORIG has made an impressive showing on the availability front, on their "where to buy page" you will see that the R1 can be bought almost worldwide! Price wise the R1 Universal is without a doubt a premium product, but they do price the R1 competitively, clocking in between €60-70 where as similar products from other high end brands cost €10-15 more.  Pass

If you want to have a cool looking and performing high end CPU cooler for your current/next build, look no further than the CRYORIG R1 product range:

CRYORIG R1 Universal Recommended For

We like to thank Andy from eTonix Media for allowing us to test CRYORIG's latest products.