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Head-to-head · Best Cpu Air Coolers

be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 vs Thermalright AXP90-X47

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about users prioritizing noise reduction over peak performance — read the strengths below before deciding.

be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Cpu Air Coolers
be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
8 sources1 derived$54.9as of Oct 2

be quiet!'s Pure Rock Pro 3 Black offers high cooling performance with its dual-tower design and 6mm heat pipes, delivering strong thermal results while maintaining a compact profile. The included Pure Wings 3 fans provide excellent airflow and pressure, though reviewers noted inconsistencies in the product's specification sheet. TechPowerUp praised its performance and quiet operation, making it suitable for high-end systems and overclocking. Users seeking a balance between cooling capacity and noise will find it well-suited, though those requiring precise fan specifications may encounter issues.

Strengths
  • — 6 nickel-plated high-performance copper heat pipes with nickel-plated base for excellent heat dissipation
  • — Two optimized Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM fans with funnel-shaped air outlet for high airflow and pressure
  • — Compact offset design allows easy installation and compatibility with RAM and VRM coolers
Watch-outs
  • — Spec sheet contains inconsistencies regarding fan RPM and performance data
  • — Fan speed may be limited by inaccurate specifications in marketing materials
$54.9 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Thermalright AXP90-X47
Ranked #2 in Best Cpu Air Coolers
Thermalright AXP90-X47
3 sourcesall derived$38as of Oct 2

The Thermalright AXP90-X47 Full is an all-copper low-profile CPU cooler that delivers exceptional performance within its 47mm height constraint, according to sff.gg. It outperforms all other coolers in its class and is considered one of the best available. The cooler features a 4x 6mm copper heat pipe design with a nickel-coated copper base and cooling fins. While it offers excellent cooling performance, the mounting system requires securing from the back of the motherboard, which is considered outdated. The included orange stock fan is not aesthetically compatible with most systems, though the review recommends swapping it for an NF-A9x14 or RTX 4070 CNC fan.

Strengths
  • — All copper construction with 4x 6mm heat pipes and copper base for superior thermal performance
  • — Outperforms all other coolers in the 47mm height class
  • — Compact 47mm profile suitable for low-profile builds
Watch-outs
  • — Outdated mounting system that secures from the back of the motherboard
  • — Stock fan is only available in orange and doesn't match most system aesthetics
$38 · Buy at us.computerorbit.comFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3

The be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 Black excels in quiet operation and dual-fan airflow, but it's less performant than the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE which includes an extra heat pipe and better airflow direction options. While it's quieter than the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini, it suffers from inconsistent specs that the latter avoids.

Thermalright AXP90-X47

The Thermalright AXP90-X47 delivers superior performance in a low-profile design, outperforming the AXP90-X36 in terms of cooling efficiency and heat pipe count. Unlike the ID Cooling IS-47-XT v2, it uses all-copper construction and offers better performance despite its outdated mounting system, though it lacks the flexible installation features of the IS-47-XT v2.

Specs side-by-side

Specbe quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3Thermalright AXP90-X47
Height139 x 124 x 155mm47mm
Heat Pipes6 x 6mm4x 6mm copper heat-pipes, copper base (nickel coated), copper cooling fins
Fan Size2 x Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM90x15mm
Noise Level34.8dB(A) at max speed22.4 dBA
CompatibilityIntel 1851 / 1700 / 1200 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155; AMD AM5 / AM4Intel: 1200/1700, AMD: AM4/AM5
Price$54.90—
Cooler TypeDouble-tower air cooler—
Dimensions5.47"L x 4.88"W x 6.1"H94.5 mm x 95 mm x 32 mm
Voltage12 volts—
Wattage3.6 watts—
MaterialAluminum—
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