Thermalright Archon IB-E X2 Review

[section_title title=”Conclusion”]Conclusion

Here we are again, time to take a look back over everything and see how the Thermalright Archon IB-E X2 stacks up against the competition.

In terms of performance I was not let down at all but let’s start with the thermal performance of the Archon IB-E X2. When running load @ 3.9Ghz it ties for 5th place with the Cooler Master V8 GTS in terms of what Play3r have previously reviewed keeping the temps down to 34.5c. When upping the voltage to 1.3 and overclocking a 4770k to 4.5Ghz it falls back a few places but this is fine and expected. While the Archon IB-E X2 does included 2x TY-141 the fin array is not as wide as others like the V8 which is why it may loose a small amount of performance.

The Thermalright Archon IB-E X2 is the 3rd quietest cooler Play3r have had the pleasure of testing, only being beaten out by the Thermalright SilverArrow IB-E and the be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim. How audible a cooler is both at idle and full load is a big concern on most peoples part, especially when looking for an air CPU cooler so the quieter the better. Remember I am testing this in a Corsair Carbide Air 540, designed for Airflow so if you have something along the lines of the Aerocool DS200 or similar, meant for silent operation the Archon IB-E X2 would most likely barely be audible.

The design is one I find quite pleasing. It has a single fin array that can accommodate a push/pull configuration of fans to offer maximum performance. The 8 heatpipes coming out from the pure copper mirror finished nickel plated contact plate are also sure to help dissipate heat as quickly as possible. The overall design should bode well with most users and will fit in well with most builds.

When considering the price of the Archon IB-E X2, which is just under €65, it offers good value for the money.  It is not as wide as some of the other offerings in the price range but it offers close to the same performance which is great. It also leaves a bit more room inside the case which can come in handy depending on the individual setup. 

At the end of the day if you are looking for a quality CPU cooler in both aesthetics and performance that is not quite the ‘Monster’ size some of the other more expensive ones are then the Archon IB-E X2 is definitely worth considering.

I would like to thank Thermalright for sending the Archon IB-E X2 in for review and look forward to seeing more from them.