I don’t get it Intel… - New Stock Cooler Review

The video conducts a thorough look at Intel's 12th generation stock coolers, focusing on the RM1 and RH1 models and how they compare to prior stock solutions. The host starts by acknowledging Intel’s long standing practice of shipping CPUs with modest cooling, then highlights the new larger socket and mounting hole pattern introduced with Alder Lake. The RM1 is described as a compact unit with black anodized fins and a crown shaped profile, while the RM1 is a smaller version that omits some premium touches such as RGB lighting and an included backplate. The reviewer explains the testing setup using an MSI Pro Z698 Wi-Fi motherboard and a core i7-12700 as the baseline thermal load, and discusses the traditional trio of stock cooler configurations, emphasizing that the 65 watt TDP rating is shared across the line. The analysis then dives into the copper core and weight changes, showing how more copper in the center slug drives heat transfer efficiency but increases overall weight, hinting at cost tradeoffs and performance implications. In the testing results, the RM1 performs on par with older coolers at some fan profiles and up to about two degrees cooler at full speed, while the RH1 shows only modest gains, suggesting that larger mass does not always translate to proportionally better cooling. The host raises questions about fan performance variability across manufacturers and spec sheets, suggesting that real world results could widen the gap between generations. Overall, the reviewer praises Intel for a value engineered improvement and attractive design, while noting that aesthetics sometimes appear to take precedence over raw cooling performance, particularly in a glass panel PC building context, and ends with light encouragement for the platform’s competitive trajectory and a nod to potential future Alchemist GPU developments.

Topics · technology · hardware · cpu-cooling · pc-building · overclocking · intel