Nexus Real Silent CPU Cooler – FLC-3000 R2

Before we get too far along, let’s define what our bench rig is:

• Gigabyte 880GA-UD3H
• AMD Phenom II X4 965
• 2x2GB Patriot Sector 5 PC3-12800
• Seagate 500GB ST3500630AS
• BitFenix Colossus (click to read our review)
• BFG LS-450
• Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

For idle readings, room temperature is maintained at a cozy 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) and the computer is running for an hour before CPU temperatures are logged.  Full load is achieved with Prime95 set for In-Place Large FFTs (maximum heat, power consumption, some RAM tested).  The TIM is applied and at least 100 hours have passed before the readings are recorded.

What this all boils down to is a heatsink that delivers almost a 5C drop on full load from the stock AMD heatsink and does so without almost any noise.  When they claimed that this unit was quiet, they were not joking.  The FLC-3000 R2 doesn’t compete with other offerings in the roundup, but those others are certainly not designed to be quiet… or small enough to fit into an HTPC for that matter.  I was skeptical at first with the heatpipe on core idea, but it ended up performing better than expected.  I would have liked to have a run at the first revision to benchmark the differences but from what I have read on other sites, the redesign was effective and well delivered. The fan installation on this unit, while clever, leaves you with no options for replacements and that is the only thing that I really have to complain about.  With the Nexus goal of quiet computing in mind, this unit absolutely delivers with performance, design, functionality and silence.  If super cooling is what you want, get a box fan and slap it on the side of your case, if quiet cooling is what you want, get an FLC-3000 R2.