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BeQuiet Dark Rock 3 Heatsink Review
BeQuiet Dark Rock 3 Heatsink Review
  84%   
Abstract: The Dark Rock 3 stands 159mm tall and weighs in at 976 grams. Built around six, 6mm diameter copper heatpipes and a large aluminum fin stack, the Dark Rock 3 is rated to heat loads up to 190W TDP.

 Manufacturer  Category  Published  Author 
BeQuiet   Cooling / Heatsinks   May 23, 2014   Max Page  

Home > Reviews > Page: 360° View - BeQuiet Dark Rock 3 Heatsink

360° View - BeQuiet Dark Rock 3 Heatsink


Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here.

BeQuiet's Dark Rock 3 heatsink ships with a 135mm PWM on the front that rotates at 1400-900RPM. The 159mm tall heatsink incorporates six 6mm diameter copper heatpipes which are grouped towards the outside edges of the ~103mm tall fin stack. The dark nickel plated aluminum measure 0.3mm thick and are spaced ~2.0mm apart. The bottom-most fin is elevated 41mm above the base for motherboard clearance.

The intake fan is 135mm diameter, an exhaust fan can be added if desired (not included). The heat pipes are soldered to a 2-5mm thick copper heatspreader and swaged into the aluminum cooling fins. The wire fan clips stick out 4mm beyond the fins on each side.

The top of the heatsink is capped with a simple aluminum extrusion. The dark nickel plated copper base plate on the Dark Rock 3 heatsink measures 40x43mm in size. Note the large dimples on the aluminum fins.

Base Finish and Flatness

Flipping a heatsink over to inspect the business end is often a simple indicator of overall cooler quality. More practically speaking, a heatsink is in many ways only as effective as the contact it makes with the processor - the flatter and smoother the better. Base finish is one of the criteria that Frostytech measure in the course of evaluating heatsinks, and it involves two distinct aspects. Surface Finish is the first; this is calculated with the aid of Surface Roughness Comparator that has a cross section of common machine surface finishes and their numerical surface roughness equivalents in microinches. The second is Surface Flatness. This is tested with an engineer's straight edge or proven flat surface, in two axes.

The dark nickel plated copper base of the BeQuiet Dark Rock 3 heatsink has a machined surface finish which is quiet smooth given the metal plating it has received. Surface roughness is ~8 microinches or better. According to the straight edge, the base is perfectly flat in both axes.

Sound level measurements are coming up next on Frostytech...

 Previous Page ° ° Next Page 

Table of Contents:

 1:  BeQuiet Dark Rock 3 Heatsink Review
 2: — 360° View - BeQuiet Dark Rock 3 Heatsink
 3:  Sound Level Measurements: Which Heatsink is Quietest?
 4:  AMD Heatsink Temperature Comparisons
 5:  Intel LGA115x/775 Heatsink Temperature Comparisons
 6:  Intel LGA2011/AMD Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

List all BeQuiet heat sinks that Frostytech tested?

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