Cooling PC COMPONENTSSeptember 30, 2021October 18, 2021 By Khalil Be.

Reeven Justice II CPU Cooler Review

[cmsmasters_row data_width=”boxed” data_padding_left=”3″ data_padding_right=”3″ data_top_style=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_color=”default” data_bg_position=”top center” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_parallax_ratio=”0.5″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top_large=”0″ data_padding_bottom_large=”0″ data_padding_top_laptop=”0″ data_padding_bottom_laptop=”0″ data_padding_top_tablet=”0″ data_padding_bottom_tablet=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_v=”0″ data_shortcode_id=”tvtobp3t1b”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″ data_animation_delay=”0″ data_border_style=”default” data_shortcode_id=”wg0k3ra7mn”][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”jj0eiugmg” button_link=”http://www.reeven.com/justice2″ button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Product on Review : Reeven Justice II CPU Cooler [/cmsmasters_button]

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[cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”5xm4nx54o” button_link=”http://www.reeven.com/” button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Manufacturer: Reeven[/cmsmasters_button]

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Important note: REEVEN provided the sample for this review although we are providing our honest and objective product review based on our testings.

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Introduction

All the way back in 2016 we took a look at Reeven’s Justice CPU cooler, which was a very solid and affordable single-tower CPU cooler. Fast forward to today and Reeven has updated this cooler with a similar, yet current design.

Just like the original the Reeven Justice II is a single-tower air cooler that sports a 120 mm cooling fan and six 6mm-thick copper heatpipes. Reeven has actually cut-down the number of heatsink fins and made the gaps between them larger to help air pass through easier, the cooler is designed in an asymmetrical way so that you won’t have any clearance issues, the fan has also been upgraded and they have ditched the yellow fins.

Does Reeven have another winner on their hands? Read on as we find out!

[/cmsmasters_featured_block][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”06dwitmbef”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”4yksht5wet” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Technical Specifications[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”m91insmuwc” caption=”General specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (Intel)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LGA 115X / 1366 / 2011-V3 / 2066[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (AMD)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]AM2(+) / AM3(+) / FM1 / FM2(+) / AM4

[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Overall Dimension[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”](W)125 x (H)155 x (D)100mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Fan Speed[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]300 ~ 1200RPM[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Noise Level[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]5.83 ~ 25.1dBA[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Weight (with Fan)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]920g (with fan)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”flb7l9gmhq” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Packaging & Bundle[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”4a0x2irsz” animation_delay=”0″]

The Justice II comes in Reeven’s typical retail packaging. On the front there is a picture of the cooler and it lets us know the compatibility, which is pretty much all current sockets. Flipping over to the back we have a full list of specifications and a diagram of the cooler giving exact dimensions.

Looking at the side of the box many of the features of the cooler are detailed. Finally on the other side it just says “Justice II”. I think that if you were at the store you would have more than enough information about the cooler to make an informed buying decision.

Getting everything out of the box we have the heatsink, fan, mounting hardware, fan clips, thermal paste, and a user’s guide.

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”yt2prbiu6q” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Closer Look[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”aaj8kvslgw” animation_delay=”0″]

The Reeven Justice II looks very much like your typical single-tower cooler. It has official dimensions of 125 x 155 x 100mm (WxHxD), which means you should have no problem fitting it in most cases / systems.

Starting with the fan this cooler sports Reeven’s Zephyros II 120mm fan, which makes use of a fluid dynamic bearing and an interesting blade design with slots cut-out of each fan blade. This PWM fan will run anywhere from 300 – 1200 RPM, pushing 12.73 – 50.93 CFM of air, with a noise level between 5.83 – 25.1 dBA.

Looking at the cooler from the side we can see the aluminum fin stack. As I mentioned earlier Reeven has decreased the total number of fins from the previous version and made the spacing between them larger so air could pass through easier. This heatsink has an asymmetrical design so you won’t run into any clearance issues. From the back we can see the heatpipes, which go up into the heatsink, more on that in just a second.

The top of the heatsink is capped-off with a piece of black aluminum which has the Reeven logo on it.

Moving down to the bottom of the cooler we have six nickel-plated copper heatpipes that go into the base of the cooler and back out and up into the heatsink tower in a “U” fashion. The base of the cooler is pretty clean, although we can spot some machining marks. The base is also made of nickel-plated copper.

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We will be installing the Reeven Justice II in our Ryzen test system so this installation guide will be for the AM4 socket. The first thing you are going to want to do is remove the AM4 mounting bracket completely.

After you have it removed you are going to want to find the backplate. The backplate has holes for AM3/AM4 and Intel sockets. Be sure to follow the installation guide to see what holes to use for the backplate bolts. Put the backplate bolts through the back of the backplate and install the silicon washers on the other side. If you’ve done everything correctly your backplate should look like the second picture below.

Now take the backplate and place it behind your motherboard very carefully threading the bolts through the holes around your CPU socket. Next take the spacers and install them on top of the bolts. Then take the mounting bracket and secure it to the bolts using the four included nuts. The mounting bracket actually says “TOP” so you know you have it installed correctly.

Now go ahead and take the heatsink tower and carefully place the mounting bar on the bottom in the small groove. Then apply the included thermal paste and place the tower on top of your CPU lining up the screws on the mounting bar with the holes on the mounting bracket. Then simply secure the cooler with the screws.

The last thing to do is install the fan, which uses clips and is quite easy to install. Even with the fan installed you can see there are no clearance issues at all as the fan doesn’t cover any of our RAM slots.

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As I mentioned we installed the Reeven Justice II in our Ryzen test system, which is comprised of the following hardware.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
Cooling: Reeven Justice II CPU Cooler
Motherboard: ASUS Prime X470-PRO
Graphics Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC Edition
Memory: HyperX Predator RGB DDR4-2933 16GB
Storage: Gigabyte UD Pro 512GB
Power: Corsair RM850x

We will be comparing the to the following CPU coolers tested on the same hardware.

– AMD Wraith Prism RGB
– AMD Wraith Spire
– Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition
– Cooler Master MasterAir MA410M
– Cooler Master MasterAir MA620P
– Cooler Master MasterAir MA620M
– Cryorig C7 Cu
– Cryorig H7 Plus
– Noctua NH-U12A
– Reeven Brontes
– Scythe Mugen 5 TUF Gaming Alliance
– Scythe Big Shuriken 3
– Scythe Ninja 5

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For performance testing we will first test idle temperatures. These are taken on the Windows 10 desktop and hour after the system has been turned on.

Moving on to load testing we will be running the AIDA64 system stability test with the CPU only checked. This puts a full load on our CPU. We run this test for 1 hour and record the highest temperature throughout the test.

Looking at the results we can see that the Justice II sits pretty much right in the middle of our test group, which is not bad by any means.

We have just upgraded to a new dB meter which we place a few inches in front of our memory to get a reading for noise levels. Here are those results.

As you can see the Justice II is the quietest out of the three coolers tested.

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The Reeven Justice II is a nice upgrade over the original version and does everything that it is supposed to do. It kept our Ryzen 7 2700X nice a cool during both idle and load tests. Installation is a breeze and the included instructions are easy to follow. The fan is very quiet, even during load. And overall the cooler will look good in your build.

There really is not much bad to say about this cooler. Starting with cooling power this cooler sits right in the middle of our test group, which is not bad at all. During full load it kept our Ryzen 7 2700X at 57.38C, which is far below the thermal throttling limit. On top of doing a great job with cooling the fan is very quiet. You are barely going to hear it if you have it installed in a case.

We’ve seen some pretty bad mounting systems over the years when it comes to air coolers, but Reeven’s implementation with the Justice II is not really complicated at all and as I mentioned the instructions are easy to follow. Reeven has also ensured that you won’t run into any clearance issues with this cooler as even with the fan installed you are not overlapping your RAM slots.

The Justice II is selling at our favorite online retailer for $49.99, which is not a horrible price, but the Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition is a full $10 cheaper and you get an RGB fan with that cooler. So that is something to think about.

**Pros:
– Nice upgrades over the original
– Good overall performance
– Very quiet fan
– Easy installation
– No clearance issues

**Cons:
– Other coolers priced lower that perform better

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Cooling PC COMPONENTSSeptember 30, 2021October 18, 2021 By Khalil Be.

Deepcool Castle 240EX Review

[cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”k0ie41q8e” data_padding_bottom_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_v=”0″ data_padding_bottom_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_top_mobile_h=”0″ data_padding_bottom_tablet=”0″ data_padding_top_tablet=”0″ data_padding_bottom_laptop=”0″ data_padding_top_laptop=”0″ data_padding_bottom_large=”0″ data_padding_top_large=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_bg_parallax_ratio=”0.5″ data_bg_size=”cover” data_bg_attachment=”scroll” data_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” data_bg_position=”top center” data_color=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_top_style=”default” data_padding_right=”3″ data_padding_left=”3″ data_width=”boxed”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″ data_shortcode_id=”wg0k3ra7mn” data_border_style=”default” data_animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_button shortcode_id=”cclicid0db” button_link=”https://deepcool.com/product/gamerstorm/CPULIQUID/index.shtml” button_target=”blank” button_text_align=”center” button_font_weight=”default” button_font_style=”default” button_text_transform=”default” button_border_style=”default” animation_delay=”0″]Product on Review : Deepcool Gamer Storm Castle 240EX[/cmsmasters_button]

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Important note: DEEPCOOL provided the sample for this review although we are providing our honest and objective product review based on our testings.

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Introduction

We looked at the Gamer Storm Castle 240 RGB a little over a year ago and since then some subtle but welcomed changes have been made, today we look at the Castle 240EX.

One of the biggest additions is their anti-leak system. Deepcool have been developing this anti-leak technology for three years now and are pushing it hard on their latest AIO cooling loops, hopefully taking away one of the biggest risk factors of putting, what is essentially, a quantity of conductive liquid into your system. The anti-leak mechanism works by incorporating a rubber ‘bung’ into the radiator where the elastic properties of the rubber can accommodate for pressure, and therefore volume, changes within the loop.

Other changes include Deepcool removing the RGB 120mm fans and replacing them with black TF120 S fans, as well as being able to change the orientation of the Gamer Storm logo within the pump enclosure.

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RGB lighting remains on the pump housing, with support for GIGABYTE’s RGB Fusion Sync, ASRock’s Polychrome Sync, MSI’s Mystic Light Sync and ASUS Aura Sync.

Within the pump enclosure is a stronger motor featuring a pressure charging impeller that’s driven by 3-phase power, along with rounded internal corners and a double chamber design for all-round improvements within the pump.

With the removal of the RGB fans, you’d typically expect the price to drop but it’s risen by £15 in the UK and a similar amount in other markets, so what do we get for the extra money? Let’s find out.

Deepcool on the Gamer Storm Castle 240EX:
CASTLE 240EX is equipped with Deepcool’s exclusive Anti-leak Technology. The technology helps the system achieve an automated pressure balance, which will significantly improve operation safety of AIO liquid cooling systems.
With this technology, Deepcool is setting a new standard for liquid cooling systems.

[/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_shortcode_id=”m65ehtm9pl”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”y1gffbi6rp” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Technical Specifications[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_table shortcode_id=”r3zsuqwtku” caption=”General specifications” animation_delay=”0″][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (Intel)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LGA20XX/1151/1150/1155/LGA1366[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Sockets supported (AMD)[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]TR4/AM4/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2/FM2+/FM2/FM1[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Coldplate material: [/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Copper[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Thermal paste[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Pre-applied[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Tube length[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]310 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LED Power Consumption[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]2.25w[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]LED Type[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Addressable RGB LED[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Pump Noise[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]17.8 dB(A)[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_tr][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]Radiator Dimensions[/cmsmasters_td][cmsmasters_td align=”left”]282×120×27 mm[/cmsmasters_td][/cmsmasters_tr][/cmsmasters_table][cmsmasters_heading shortcode_id=”byywgdzuc” type=”h2″ font_weight=”default” font_style=”default” text_align=”center” color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Packaging & Bundle[/cmsmasters_heading][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”92mi3z89fw” animation_delay=”0″]

As is evident in the photograph, the packaging is battered and bruised from its trip from Taiwan, despite being in an outer box and surrounded by bubblewrap, but the internals have made it in tip-top shape so it’s done its job.
The front shows a large picture of the cooling loop, a brief mention of the anti-leak tech inside, and some manufacturer’s RGB logos in the bottom-left.

The reverse of the box gives a specifications table, neatly laid out, with some brief bullet point features. There are also some detailed diagrams of the exact dimensions of each component to help ensure the loop will fit into your chassis.

Alongside the cooling loop and radiator fans, there’s a detailed instruction leaflet for both AMD and Intel socket types, an in-line SATA to RGB controller, all the mounting hardware need and a replacement for the Gamer Storm logo that we’ll touch on in more detail later.

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Starting with the pump enclosure, which stands around 70mm in diameter and 70mm tall, has been given a complete overhaul inside. Deepcool have rounded off internal corners to optimise the flow of water, upgraded their dual chamber design to increase heat exchange efficiency and reduce operating noise.

Bolstering their efficiency improvement efforts, they’ve also increased the number of fins on the backside of the copper cold plate by 25% to improve heat absorption into the coolant loop.

The lid on top of the pump is removable, allowing you to remove the Gamer Storm logo and replace it with a mirrored replacement, or to orientate it whichever way you like, if you need to have the pump mounted at 90° to vertical, for example. It’s finishing touches like this that really make a product great.

The radiator isn’t anything special, as they typically aren’t. The only notable feature is the rubber anti-leak measure in the bottom-left.

The included Gamer Storm TF 120S fans have been adapted for increased static pressure, a characteristic which is desirable for their intended use of being mounted onto a radiator. There’s no RGB lighting here but they look smart as-is.
Each corner is adorned with a rubber pad, helping to reduce vibration transmission from the fan into the radiator and then into the computer case.

Bolting the fans up to the radiator is a simple task with the provided screws.

Installation

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Starting the installation process, you first mount the pins into the corresponding slots on the backplate, with one side being designed for Intel and the other AMD. The manual tells you clearly which ones to use and the black plastic caps locks everything into place.

Next up you need to mount the relevant mountings to the bottom of the pump enclosure. Each mounting point is countersunk with the exact same angle on the screwhead to ensure each mounting arm is seated perfectly.

Using the included mounting screws, it’s definitely a good idea to install the radiator before the pump enclosure. We’ve also installed, or at least tried to, the backplate mount, where you can see the four mounting pegs outside of each corner for the LGA 1156 socket.

When installing the pump, it’s a very tricky job holding the backplate in place, manoeuvring the pump into the correct location and also clamping it down with the thumb screws. It was just about doable with one pair of hands but really this is a two-person job. Most backplates will be put into place then mounted from the front-side before the pump goes anywhere near.

Another issue we faced at this point was tightening up the thumbscrews. They’ve been recessed at the top to take a flathead or Phillips screwdriver but the threaded pins from the backplate come through the centre and push the screwdriver back out, making the final half a turn almost impossible with a screwdriver, which is exactly when you want to use a screwdriver!

All things considered, the mounting procedure on an Intel socket could definitely be revised and improved but once it’s in, it’s in.

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Due to popular demand, we have retired the long-standing cooling rig that we once used and replaced it with a shiny new system with an Intel Core i7 9700K at its heart. This should benefit you, the reader, in a couple of ways. The first being it can provide you with results on a CPU that is currently available to buy and secondly, the mounting instructions on our installation page will be far more relevant than the outgoing LGA 2066 was, with its pre-installed backplate.

We perform two individual testing routines with each CPU cooler that we receive – temperatures and acoustics. The system used is as follows and all tests are performed at stock frequencies.

Processor – Intel Core i7 9700K
Motherboard – GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS MASTER
Memory – Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB – 2666MHz – C16
Video Card – XFX AMD Radeon RX560
Power Supply – Corsair RM650x
Storage Drive – Western Digital Black SN750 1TB NVMe SSD
Case – Corsair Crystal Series 280X RGB
Monitor ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q

To keep our tests consistent, we always review CPU coolers as they come out of the box – with their factory cooling fans, as the manufacturer intended and as the consumer expects. It should, however, be noted that we do not use supplied thermal paste but instead, Noctua NT-H1 paste to, again, ensure consistency. The paste is applied and the CPU allowed to run for a couple of hours, at idle, to ensure any and all updates or processes are completed to give a true idle reading.

In the first test we record the idle and load temperatures across a 60 second period, with the results logged to file. This way we can provide you with an accurate average temperature over a longer period, instead of, for example, a maximum or minimum temperature. We believe this is the fairest possible method and most representative of what is going on as temperatures will fluctuate even with a consistent load on the CPU. We have three case fans on the front of the PC running with the door closed for this test.

We aim to measure acoustics with our second test, this time with the three case fans on the front disabled and all other ambient noise reduced to an absolute minimum. Our testing room measures around 25dB(A) without the system running. We measure the system acoustics for 60 seconds with the microphone in a set and unchanging position with the chassis door removed completely. An average is then taken across the 60 seconds.

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Thermal Results

We start off by letting the CPU cooler “bed in” for a couple of hours, to ensure the paste has time to move around and form an even layer, after which an idle result is taken.

At this point we hand over to AIDA64 and the built-in system stability test is ran for 20 minutes to generate a consistent 100% load on the 9700K. A temperature reading is then taken at the end of test.

Acoustic Results

We take our first reading from the CPU cooler at idle.

We then run the AIDA64 test and once the temperature measurements are complete, we quickly move in and get an acoustics reading, with the stress test still running.

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The original Castle 240 offered a great value RGB offering with quiet fans and good cooling performance, however, with the 240EX, things are a little different.

Firstly, getting rid of the RGB fans seems like a bit of a mistake, the RGB lighting on those was beautiful with the synchronised effects on the pump housing. We get that not everyone likes RGB lighting, but you then wouldn’t be buying a pump with any RGB lighting, with the pump still pushing out plenty of light shows. Having said that, the RGB lighting that is on the pump housing is beautiful, the effects are smooth and transitions are diffused perfectly. It’s not the brightest RGB but the colours are incredibly deep.

The cooling performance of the loop is certainly up there with the best, it kept our 9700K plenty cool enough, but the acoustic performance was let down somewhat by the fans. This is a surprise compared to the performance of the previous iteration of the Castle 240, where acoustics were kept well under control by the RGB fans.

Having explained earlier in the review the big changes made to the pump and its enclosure, idle noise is kept to an absolute minimum, the pump makes barely any noise whatsoever. It’s not something we’ve isolated and measured scientifically between the different AIOs that we’ve tested but we’re pretty sure this is the quietest and we must applaud Deepcool on their efforts.

Installation is also a problem, with the pump being very difficult to install with only a single set of hands. You will absolutely need to ask a friend or partner to help you with this. Installing a CPU cooler shouldn’t be a two-person task, if you ask us.

The Gamer Storm Castle 240EX has a lot going for it but the TF 120S fans let it down hugely with their loud audible output at high loads.

**Pros:
+ Silent pump
+ Beautiful RGB
+ Supports all current Intel and AMD sockets including TR4
+ Easy to re-orientate the central Gamer Storm logo**Cons:
– Tricky to install to an Intel LGA 1156 socket
– Loud fans under load
– Pricey

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Introduction

Introduction

Thermal Results

We start off by letting the CPU cooler “bed in” for a couple of hours, to ensure the paste has time to move around and form an even layer, after which an idle result is taken.

Acoustic Results

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