The SilverStone Permafrost PF120, PF240, and PF360 ARGB AIO Coolers Review
by E. Fylladitakis on June 17, 2020 10:00 AM ESTConclusion
SilverStone released the Permafrost series as competitively priced, quality AIO coolers that also feature RGB lighting. It is apparent that the company’s engineers did not try to make the coolers extravagant in any given way, but to design products that mix solid aesthetics, reliability, and performance, all while remaining reasonably priced.
Overall, the thermal performance of the new Permafrost series is good, although unsurprising for coolers of their size. This was to be expected, as they are using virtually the same tried-and-true radiators that many other manufacturers have been using for many years now, with the design team focusing their efforts on the main block. There is little to be gained by fiddling with the mini pump when limited by the small available power, but SilverStone’s engineers managed to maintain good flow performance while considerably reducing the pump’s noise output.
Each of the three Permafrost coolers seems to have a different performance profile and, thus, targets a different group of users. The PF240 seems to be the most balanced of the three coolers, being reasonably sized and capable of closing near the performance of the PF360 if it has to. The larger PF360 does not really stand out in terms of raw thermal performance but is capable of maintaining that performance even if the airflow drops greatly. Finally, the small PF120 offers acceptable thermal performance and relatively low noise levels in a small, easily handleable package that should fit inside even the smallest of PC cases.
While SilverStone could not make substantial improvements regarding the thermal performance of their AIO coolers, they did manage to get ahead in terms of acoustics. Most of that improvement seems to be coming from the better pump engine and the high quality fan engines. No matter the reason, the Permafrost PF240 and PF360 tend to offer better thermal performance at lower noise levels than many similarly sized, older AIO coolers, which will definitely entice users who enjoy low noise levels.
As for the RGB lighting, its application on the Permafrost coolers is simplistic but effective. The LED lighting is bright enough and the fans glow brilliantly into a dark environment. It is compatible with nearly all current RGB motherboards and can be controlled via the motherboard’s software. For users that do not have a compatible motherboard, the RGB lighting can be effectively programmed via the included controller that includes several fancy and static lighting effects, but the user will have to access the inside of the system for each program/brightness change.
In conclusion, with the release of the Permafrost series, SilverStone brought three very well balanced AIO coolers with RGB support into the market. The three coolers are sensibly priced, with the 240mm model running for $99 and even the largest 360mm model and can be frequently found for $129 – and they're often on sale for less, making them a serious threat to the competition.
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PeachNCream - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
I can't see advantages in adding software and hardware complexity purely for lighting, but addressable RGB seems to be doing just that. More lines of code in which to make errors, more hardware that can fail, and a bigger software footprint for possible compromise and exploitation (nevermind the possible requirement of internet connectivity and awareness of said control software like Razer seems to require which is a by-design potential security problem).eastcoast_pete - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
Agree! I wish reviewers could add (estimate) just how much the LEDs and associated hardware add to the BOM. I'd rather have an AIO cooler for $ 5 less with no lightshow.The only time any LED lighting of the cooling fans could be useful if they would activate or change colors with the CPU temperature (e.g. green, yellow, red); that would, at least, be of interest and tell me if the cooler is doing its job.
QB the Slayer - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
Well... as much as I agree. I do have a bunch of RGB stuff that I really only have since it came with the gear I purchased. But since I have it, I might as well use it! So I have ALL my RGB linked and it actually is linked to the CPU temp... Nice and cool blue when 45°C or less and burning hot red at 85°C or above. MB has 5, GPU has 20, AIO has 16, and mouse has 2... again nothing I went out of my way to get, but they are there. JackNet RGB Sync is a handy little app for this. All this does have a cost though... 3 apps must be running and they are not light in any way (iCUE, G HUB, and JackNet). Thankfully iCUE has an ASUS plugin so that doesn't have to run and the GPU and board can be linked with a cable so no app for the GPU either... Ugh, I am rambling now, sorry guys.QB
PeterCollier - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
Repeat after me: AIO cools no better than air and will leak.PeachNCream - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
Would be nice to see a couple of air coolers in the benchmark charts just for the sake of completeness. I wonder if that would paint these liquid coolers in a poor light though.BenSkywalker - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
https://www.anandtech.com/show/14621/the-noctua-nh...AIO wins easily which shouldn't surprise anyone. The best air coolers can best the worst AIOs by a little providing you are ok with a cluttered sloppy build and rarely need to open your case for anything and you like having more noise.
khanikun - Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - link
Imagine if they tested in a hot room. I have 3 desktops. 1 on custom loop and two on AIO (one Cooler Master and one Corsair). I use to live in Germany, where they don't seem to believe in A/C. So my computer room easily climbed into 85-90F. I couldn't keep any of my machines cool on air.I seem to be doing alright with my AIOs or my custom loop. My Cooler Master AIO was just $55. My Corsair AIO was $115. I have no idea how much my custom loop was, like $500. Owned each of them between 2-3 years now.
Lord of the Bored - Thursday, June 18, 2020 - link
I can't imagine your computers running 85-90F in a room with no AC. Because that is sub-ambient right now where I am.Air conditioning is God's gift to Texas.
Lord of the Bored - Thursday, June 18, 2020 - link
I misread that. Computer room != computer.khanikun - Friday, June 19, 2020 - link
Ya, computer room. My CPU sits around 30-35C for my custom loop (dual 360 rads/push pull fans), depending on whether it's winter or summer. My AIOs are in the 40s (240 rads/push pull fans).