Xigmatek Dark Knight II – Night Hawk Edition CPU Cooler

[News Team]

Today we will be taking a look at something new to the PC thermal world. Interestingly, for all the car enthusiasts out there, this may be something you have seen before. This is technology you likely have not seen in a computer on your desktop, but it's very possible you may have seen it in a heavily modded hot rod sitting in your driveway. We are going to be looking at a new CPU Cooler from Xigmatek. It's called the Dark Knight II - Night Hawk Edition Cooler. It uses what they call "stealth" technology which basically means the heatsink has been ceramic coated to provide additional thermal dissipation. This is first of its kind technology we have seen used on a CPU Cooler, and today we will see how it stacks up to its more traditional competitors.To talk a little more about what's in store, the Xigmatek Dark Knight II - Night Hawk Edition Cooler may look like your typical tower cooler available on the market; however, its thermal technology is a little more unique. The Ceramic coated aluminum fins along with a direct copper base design gets our imagination wondering just how well this cooler might perform. Before we move on, let's learn a little more about Xigmatek.

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[Doctor_Death]

Good review Kenny !

[Solara2xb]

Thanks! This was a great cooler for the money... Also the ceramic coating is really diff. from what we have seen in the past..

[Doctor_Death]

It's a really nice looking air cooler, that also does a great job cooling.

[Solara2xb]

It's a really nice looking air cooler, that also does a great job cooling.

Yup I agree!!

[realneil]

Another good review,......thanks Kenny.
This cooler looks good, but is the coating easy to scratch?

As for the new coating idea, doesn't Phanteks already use a coating to make their coolers work more efficiently?
They call it: "Exclusive P.A.T.S (Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield)"

In pictures, the Phanteks coating looks a lot like an aluminum anodizing process, but I'm not sure until I hold one in my hand.

[Solara2xb]

Another good review,......thanks Kenny.
This cooler looks good, but is the coating easy to scratch?

As for the new coating idea, doesn't Phanteks already use a coating to make their coolers work more efficiently?
They call it: "Exclusive P.A.T.S (Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield)"

In pictures, the Phanteks coating looks a lot like an aluminum anodizing process, but I'm not sure until I hold one in my hand.

Thanks Neil,
Regarding the coating, if you have ever touch ceramic coated headers on a car it feels the same way, it doesn't scratch easy, but if you manage to scratch the cooler during installation it will be more apparent due to its finish. The coating isn't smooth, but more of a flat finish which is why.

I guess the best way to describe is, a wall painted in high gloss vs flat finish. The flat finish wall will leave marking and dirt allot easier..

Phanteks's technology is slightly diff. as the process they use is heated and anodized on the cooler, while Xigmatek is more of a "Dipped" coat.

[realneil]

Thanks for the info.
This cooler looks good to me, but I would probably use quiet fans of my own with it.
Price seems to be fair too.

[xD3aDPooLx]

Nice review on it. I wonder how would some different fans would stack up on it.

[Solara2xb]

Thanks for the info.
This cooler looks good to me, but I would probably use quiet fans of my own with it.
Price seems to be fair too.

I agree, They do provide extra hardware for a additional fan, I think some Cougar PWM fans would do nicely with this cooler.
I plan on putting this cooler into my Pops, Intel rig since he is no longer water cooled. I gave him my old i5 750 which is aircooled right now, but I am using the Corsair A50 which doesn't cool as well as this one.

[Solara2xb]

Nice review on it. I wonder how qould some different fans would stack up on it.

Hey Eric, Nice to see you made here.. the Xigmatek fan is rated at pretty high CFM's 89 to be exact but at 2200RPMS, which makes is a little noisy... If you can find fans that can match similair CFM's and static pressure with a lower DB rate I am sure it can perform excellent. its to bad they didn't send this cooler with 2 fans otherwise I would have tested it 2 fans.