Conclusion
This concludes our review of the Dark Rock Pro 5 and Dark Rock Elite from be quiet! Are we dealing with a successful product? Let’s take a closer look!
Impressive heatsinks!
Clearly, if you’re looking for compactness, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Indeed, these double-tower models are imposing, exceeding 160 mm in height. Depending on the case, you’ll have to look twice – wouldn’t it be a shame to end up with a configuration whose side panel you can’t close?
Worse still, the Elite version has two 135 mm fans, so depending on the profile of your RAM, you may have to raise the first fan, increasing the height even further! Fortunately, in this case, you won’t have to play with steel claws, but the adjustment rail is really hard.
Aside from this, the finish is meticulous, and the fans are entirely black. The upper part is also interesting, with a clever mix of aluminum and mesh grille, and a be quiet! logo in the right direction.
As for the accessory section, we’re delighted to find everything you need to assemble the heatsinks, along with the necessary tools. From one model to the next, there are no changes to the bundle.
Simple assembly, but you have to take everything apart..
With these models, be quiet! has greatly simplified the assembly system compared to its earlier fans, and so much the better. Assembly is simple and takes just a few minutes. However, as with many double-tower fans, you’ll need to dismantle the top part and the central fan to access the mounting tab.
However, given the nature and connectivity of the central fan, in the event of a problem, you’ll have to turn to be quiet! again. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to buy another fan at a later date, as this one is screwed onto a frame directly integrated into the top part. Not great.
Excellent on AMD, very good on Intel too!
In terms of performance, as we’ve seen, the Dark Rock Elite performs well on Intel processors, and even better on AMD. As we’ve seen, it buries all competition on our Ryzen 9 7900X, especially at high power consumption where it shows its full potential.
As for Dark Rock Pro 5, we’re frustrated not to have been able to test it on our AMD CPU . However, we’d like to point out that it ranks up there with the best-performing single-tower heatsinks. When power consumption rises, its imposing size sets it apart from its rivals!
Last but not least, noise levels are well under control, and the Dark Rock Pro 5 is the quieter of the two. In any case, all you need to do is regulate them, and you’ll no longer be bothered by the price of fans. From mid-range, they become inaudible, or almost!
A premium price:
Once again, we’re dealing with the crème de la crème from be quiet! so prices are high. As a reminder, the official price for the Dark Rock Pro 5 is €99.90, compared with €119.90 for the Elite version. Unfortunately, these prices are high, but they remain in line with market standards, since the Assassin IV is priced at €105~110, compared with €110 for the MA824 Stealth. Of the lot, the AK620 Digital remains the most affordable at just €85.
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 :
We like :
- Excellent design and finish
- Good RAM compatibility
- Screwdriver included
- Easy to install
- The quieter of the two..
- … and its controlled noise levels!
We didn’t like :
- The impossibility of changing fans in case of failure!
- The considerable height (168 mm)
At the end of this test, we have decided to award gold to the Dark Rock Pro 5. This heatsink offers solid performance and controlled noise levels. Assembly is straightforward, and all tools are supplied in the box. Unfortunately, in the event of failure, you won’t be able to change the fans due to their particular connectors and format, and beware of the 168 mm height, which can be a hindrance!
be quiet! Dark Rock Elite :
We like:
- Excellent design and finish
- Rail-mounted central fan for easy adjustment
- Screwdriver included
- Easy assembly
- The most powerful of the two
- Very good on a Core i5 13600K…
- … and even better on our Ryzen 9 7900X
- Noise levels under control!
We liked it less :
- The considerable height (168 mm)..
- … Even more so when you have to raise the front fan
- The very hard front fan adjustment rail!
- The impossibility of changing the fan in case of failure!
If the Dark Rock Elite wins silver, it’s simply because of its size. Yes, 168 mm in height is substantial, even more so when you have to raise the front fan because the RAM is too high. However, despite rising noise levels at full speed, performance is solid, even more so than the Pro 5, and it really shines on our AMD processor… At least, against the competition!
Many thanks to be quiet!
