We have another cooler for review and today it is a bit special (at least for me!). On the bench today is the Scythe Mugen MAX CPU Cooler, and why is that important? Well, they are a name that has been around for a very long time, and before everyone got their act together, Scythe were ahead of the game.
Back in the day, we couldn’t always afford Scythe fans or coolers, so we would look on in awe at the “Pro’s” who had all the best kit. Now, you can trip into a computer hardware store and pretty much fall into a display of coolers, take it home and it will be not too bad a performer, things have certainly moved on.
We are not fan boys or girls, we are just happy to be reviewing a Scythe again, let’s just hope it performs….
Scythe describe this as,
The cooling-expert is introducing the new Mugen MAX, aiming for users seeking maximum performance for their PC system. Mugen Max has received various optimizations, such as the re-designed heatsink for increased performance and the shifted base-plate for improved compatibility to memory modules.
Features
- T-M.A.P.S. (Three-dimensional Multiple Airflow Pass- through Structure)
- User-friendly Installation
- Maximum Compatibility
- Multi Fan Mount Structure
- 140 mm GildeStream Fan
Socket Compatibility
- Intel:LGA775, LGA1150, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366 and LGA2011 / 2011-v3 (Square ILM)
- AMD: AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2 and FM2+
So, on with the product shots.
Product Shots
First up, it is in a more generic packaging, though we can’t really complain, beQuiet! and Noctua and high end companies do spoil us. The top of the heatsink is very shiny, good to see and good for any lighting you have in your rig.
Next up, the heatsink. Without the fan it is weighted to one side, so overall, and once the fan is fitted, it should be balanced. Not the most important attribute but it should stress the motherboard mounts evenly.
The heatsink looks good and feels solidly made, no cause for concern here. There is a little group of what looks like heatsink fins on the top of the base. These may allow for heat dissipation, but they are mainly for the mounting, the cross bar uses this for correct positioning. Here is a picture of the shiny top!
Scythe Mugen MAX CPU Cooler Review
Package - 8
Performance - 9.2
Price - 9.5
Consumer Experience - 9.2
9
Scythe are a brand with a large following and we can see why. Though the packaging of this cooler is a little on the budget side, the performance is excellent. It is very close to the Dark Rock Pro 3 and currently at £41.00 on the UK Amazon site, it is almost half the price, how can you argue with that? Well there are a few downsides, the packaging is a bit dated, or cheap, depending on your viewpoint, there is only one fan included and it has the smallest portion of thermal paste you have ever seen.