The X6 (Product No. RR-X6NN-19PR-R1) has been designed by Cooler Master to give computer enthusiasts, gamers and overclockers the edge when using their systems. Unlike traditional fans/heatsinks, the X6 ensures optimal air flow in order to disperse the heat from the CPU. This then allows users to overclock their CPU in order to increase their core speeds without it overheating or more importantly, dying. For gamers, it ensures for longer gaming sessions and thanks to the cooler CPU, less graphical glitches and smoother gameplay.

Features
 

The first thing that we did notice about the X6 was the unique design that looks quite sci-fi in its appearance, especially with its crimson red fan blades. The X6 also uses a honeycomb fin structure which maximises the surface area coverage and cooling performance. The idea is to create optimal airflow and heat dissipation due to the angles of its design and when linked with a Coolermaster case, this ensures that heat is dispersed from the case. The unit itself is also quite large and relatively heavy for a CPU cooler but thankfully the product is extremely sturdy.

The X6 also supports a wide variety of CPU sockets that include Intel (LGA 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 775) and AMD (M1 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2) with support for a wide range of high-end CPU's such as the Core™ i7 Extreme and Phenom™ series from AMD. A full detail of the specifications of this CPU air cooler can be found at the end of this review.

Installation the X6 was extremely easy but this is dependent on your computer case so if you want the easiest installation, a Cooler Master case is the way to go. Of course some computer knowledge is also needed to successfully install this product. The first thing to do is apply a thin layer of thermal grease onto the surface of the installed CPU which is attached to the motherboard. Then you install the retention brackets onto the cooler itself and depending on whether it's Intel or AMD, there is a slight difference here but nothing major. We tested the installation on an AMD processor and before we put the cooler unit onto the CPU, we then put the anti-vibration pads onto the motherboard which was over the holes were the unit's screws would go through in order to attach it to the motherboard. You then put the back plate on the other side of the motherboard and then screw the nuts into this. The last process was to connect the fan to the motherboard and that was it. A very fast and secure install.

It worked well with our existing system but it would have been slightly easier to install on a fresh system. Nonetheless, the installation process was quite minimal and more importantly stress free. Another strange aspect of the installation was the final placement of the fan which was on angle. Compared to standard CPU coolers which are in line with the motherboard/CPU, the X6 sits on an angle. This of course is to assist with the dispersion of the heat away from your CPU for optimal cooling. Through our tests, we noticed that our CPU was considerably cooler, especially while playing high intensive games. As it is a very well designed product, the fan life is around 40,000 hours. Another great aspect of the i tem is that the fan was extremely quiet. It did speed up on a certain games but for the majority, it was silently purring away thanks to its clever design.

Final Thoughts?

The X6 is a must have CPU cooler for computer enthusiasts, overclockers and gamers who want to get the most out of their systems. With a relatively easy installation process, the only downside to the X6 is the size which is quite large so some caution needs to be used when installing it. At the end of the day, this is exceptional product designed for maximum cooling of your CPU and to disperse heat away from it. Brilliant!

Specifications