
Table of Contents
At CES 2020, we met with our friends at be Quiet! and among other products, saw the Shadow Rock 3 for the first time. Today, they have officially announced the Shadow Rock 3 CPU Cooler and set a March 3rd release date.
The Shadow Rock 3 now includes five 6 mm direct touch heat pipes and brings with it an asymmetric design which gives more RAM clearance by not extending out above them. The Shadow Rock 3 has a solid 190W TDP and should be able to keep most processors running cool.
Among the many upgrades from the Shadow Rock 2 that was reviewed in 2013, the Shadow Rock 3 has five 6mm heat pipes with heat pipe direct touch (HDT) technology. The HDT technology is said to result in faster heat transfer from the CPU to the heatsink. The fan has been upgraded and if necessary a second fan can be added to the heatsink. Reduced weight and number of fins also make this machine more efficient and even quieter as the specifications below state.
be quiet! says the price will be $49.90 / €49.90 / £45.99 which should make it a crowd favorite in the sub-$50 market — depending on how it performs. You can find more information from the specifications and press release below, as well as on the manufacturer’s website.
Specifications
Main Specifications | |
Model | Shadow Rock 3 |
Overall dimensions | 121 x 130 x 163 mm (L x W x H) |
Total weight | 0.71 kg |
TDP | 190 W |
Socket compatibility | Intel: 1200 / 2066 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155 / 2011(-3) Square ILM, AMD: AM4 / AM3(+) |
Fan model, number | 1x Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM high-speed |
Decoupled fan mounting | Yes |
Overall Noise Level | 11.5 / 17.5 / 24.4 dBA (50/75/100% RPM) |
Heatsink Specifications | |
Dimensions | 96 x 130 x 163 mm (L x W x H) |
Number of Fins | 30 |
Fin material | Aluminum |
Base material | Aluminum / Copper |
Contact Surface | Heat pipe direct touch |
Heatpipe number | 5 x 6 mm |
Surface treatment | Aluminum |
Fan Specifications | |
Fan Dimensions | 120 x 120 x 25 mm |
Speed @ 100% | 1600 RPM |
Bearing Type | Rifle |
Motor Technology | 4-pole fan motor |
Rated Voltage | 12 V |
Input Current | 0.2 A |
Input Power | 2.4 W |
Connector | 4-pin PWM |
Cable Length | 220 mm |
Lifespan | 80,000 (h / 25°C) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Newly available: be quiet! Shadow Rock 3 CPU cooler
Exceptional Cooling, Significant Quiet
The be quiet! Shadow Rock 3 offers an impressive cooling performance of 190W TDP and silent operation. It is the perfect choice for design-oriented consumers who need performance beyond the standard for a good price.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHADOW ROCK 3
- Impressive cooling performance of 190W TDP
- Five 6mm high-performance nickel-plated copper heat pipes with HDT technology
- Silent Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM high-speed fan
- Emits only 24.4dB(A) at maximum fan speed
- Asymmetrical construction avoids blocking memory slots in front of the cooler
- Elegant brushed aluminum top cover with bi-color surface
- Easily installable installation kit that can be mounted from above
- Three-year manufacturer’s warranty
be quiet!, the market leader in PC power supplies in Germany since 2007, announces Shadow Rock 3. This addition to the mid-range CPU cooler lineup of be quiet! features a redesigned heat sink and heat pipe layout and a Shadow Rock 2 fan to increase the rated cooling capacity to 190 W TDP while its asymmetrical design improves compatibility with tall RAM modules.
Compared to its predecessor, Shadow Rock 3 has undergone a substantial redesign. The previous model relied on four 8 mm heat pipes to cool the CPU, while Shadow Rock 3 now implements five 6 mm heat pipes with heat pipe direct touch (HDT) technology. The heat pipes are in direct contact with the processor surface, which results in fast heat transfer from the CPU to the heat sink. The fan has been upgraded to a Shadow Wings 2 120 mm PWM high-speed, which is decoupled from the heatsink and offers a silent operation at no higher than 24.4 dB(A), even at maximum speed. Users who are looking for even higher cooling performance have the option to attach a second fan to the heatsink.
By making these structural changes, it became possible to reduce the number of fins from 51 to 30, which cut the weight of the cooler in half compared to its predecessor (716 vs 1120 grams). This significantly reduces the vertical stress placed on motherboards. The higher fin pitch in combination with an optimized fan raises the cooling performance of Shadow Rock 3 to 190 W TDP, enough to enable trouble-free overclocking of mainstream desktop processors.
Asymmetrical design and top mounting system
In contrast to Shadow Rock 2, where the heatsink is placed centered above the base plate, Shadow Rock 3 uses an asymmetrical design, which moves the heatsink back towards the exhaust of the case for unobstructed access to the memory slots in front of the heatsink. This guarantees maximum compatibility with high-performance memory modules, including RAM with tall heat spreaders or LED lighting.be quiet! does not just place emphasis on performance, but also on build quality, appearance, and ease-of-use. Installation is simplified thanks to a top mount design with included screwdriver. The top cover of Shadow Rock 3 is made from brushed aluminium and features a bi-color surface treatment for a unique visual design. The cooler is compatible with all current CPU sockets from Intel and AMD (except TR4 and sTRX4) and fits best on motherboards for mainstream processors with up to four memory slots.
Pricing and availability
Shadow Rock 3 will be available for sale on March 3rd at a recommended retail price of $49.90 / €49.90 / £45.99.
No replies yet
Loading new replies...
Member
Join the full discussion at the Overclockers Forums →