Low-profile cooler in co-operation with DAN Cases

Alpenföhn® Black Ridge

Product description

Black nickel-plated, 6x6mm heatpipes, a large heat sink and a fin design that supports RAM with a maximum height of 33mm - Black Ridge offers pure performance in a minimal installation space. The 92mm PWM fan included in the scope of delivery is mounted on the underside of the heat sink to provide the necessary airflow. This not only reduces the volume in tightly dimensioned systems, but also realises a maximum height of just 47mm. The screw mounting system included in the scope of delivery has been designed to ensure the best possible compatibility with mini-ITX mainboards.GPU compatibility: 100% compatibility on some mainboards with riser cable only.Note for AMD based systems: With mini ITX mainboards from the manufacturers ASrock, Gigabyte and MSI, mounting problems may occur due to the arrangement of the components.

further informations

Main features

Maximum height 47mmVGA compatibility on mini-ITX mainboardsBlack nickel-platedRAM compatibility for modules with a maximum height of 33mm6x6mm heatpipes92x92x15mm PWM fanSecure mounting system for Intel/AMD

WHERE TO BUY
Retailer
Distributors

Specifications of the cooler

Article number	84000000156
Dimension	140 mm x 120 mm x 47 mm
Operating voltage	12 VDC
Weight	438 g (incl. fan) g
Power loss	95 W TDP
Heatpipes	6 x 6 mm heatpipes
Fins	Aluminium
Base plate	Copper

Specification of the fan

Dimension	92 mm x 92 mm x 15 mm
Operating voltage	12 VDC
Warehouse	Fluid Dynamic bearing
Fan connection	4-pin
Speed	800 U/min - 2800 U/min
Air flow rate	80.03 m³/h
Noise level	37.6 dB(A)

Dimensions in mm

Description

German engineering

The intelligent use of materials and a complex fin design creates the perfect balance between performance and compatibility. With its maximum height of 47mm, the cooler is also ideal for use in DAN Cases cases.

VGA compatibility on mini-ITX mainboards

The asymmetrical design of the heat sink enables full VGA compatibility on most mini-ITX mainboards.

Heatpipes

6 heatpipes transport the waste heat from the processor quickly and efficiently to the soldered aluminium fins of the heat sink.

Expandable fan configuration "Performance and Overclocking Mode"

For even more flexibility in the realisation of your project, 2 different mounting brackets are included in the scope of delivery. One pair of brackets is suitable for mounting a 120x120x12/15mm fan on the underside of the heat sink. In conjunction with VLP RAM, the performance of the heat sink can be increased even further. The scope of delivery also includes a pair of brackets for mounting a 120x120x25mm fan on the top of the finned package. In this configuration, the Alpenföhn Black Ridge offers the highest performance.

Compatibility mode (92x92x15mm fan)

Performance mode (120x120x15mm fan)

Overclocking mode (120x120x25mm fan)

PWM fan

The built-in 92x92x15mm PWM fan has a 4-pin connection and can therefore be controlled via the mainboard. This enables speed adjustment between 800 and 2,800 rpm, allowing a minimum of 14 dB(A) and a maximum of 80.03 m³/h.

Secure mounting system for AMD/Intel

The screw mounting system included in the scope of delivery has been designed to ensure maximum compatibility with mini-ITX mainboards.

Important note for the use of the Alpenföhn Black Ridge

Please note that the Alpenföhn Black Ridge is a powerful cooler up to max. 95W TDP for use in compact cases. The cooler is supplied with a 92x92x15mm fan for the best possible compatibility and no overclocking of your CPU is recommended. Performance increases can be achieved using the "Performance" or "Overclocking" mode with alternative fan configuration. How much the cooling performance can be increased in these two modes depends on the fan used and cannot be specified exactly by Alpenföhn®.
Nevertheless, it can happen that the performance of the heat sink is not sufficient despite the supported TDP of your CPU. This problem can occur with processor series with the suffix K, X and C if a TDP limitation is deactivated or the board automatically overclocks the CPU due to incorrect settings, which can lead to higher power consumption, for example.

Installation video Black Ridge Intel
Installation video Black Ridge AMD

Awards

"Alpenföhn has added a very interesting cooler to its range with the Black Ridge. With its matt black surface, the cooler also looks good in PCs with a small viewing window. In addition, the 92 mm fan is not even visible by default. If required, an additional fan with 120 mm holes can simply be packed onto the Black Ridge to customise the cooling performance or optionally the appearance with an illuminated fan. In addition, a 15 mm wide fan can also be optionally mounted between the base plate and the cooler."

Further information on the award

"The cooling performance is also very good for the compact dimensions. The cooler is not designed for OC due to its TDP rating of 95 watts. The fan is also audible at maximum speed. However, if the speed is reduced, the cooler is no longer audible. Otherwise, the fans can of course be easily replaced. The Alpenföhn Black Ridge occupies an interesting niche and offers many features, very good performance and high compatibility with RAM or fan configuration."

Further information on the award

"The new Black Ridge is a successful ITX top blower. First and foremost, the new Alpenföhn cooler is characterised by its clean build quality, decent cooling performance and powerful fan. The manufacturer has also not made any major mistakes in terms of installation and (ram) compatibility. The fair sales price of just under 43 euros secures our test sample a purchase recommendation."

Further information on the award

"With the Black Ridge, Alpenföhn has added a very compact CPU cooler to its range, which scored points in our test not only with its good workmanship but also with its good compatibility. Thanks to its very low height of just 47 mm, the cooler is particularly suitable for particularly compact ITX systems, in which you can only actually install coolers that are the size of a boxed cooler. Despite the low height and the only 92 mm fan, the cooler can still deliver a comparatively high cooling performance thanks to the large cooling surface and the heatpipes used."

"The Alpenföhn Black Ridge cooler is ideal for small HTPC and ITX systems thanks to its shape and height of just 47 mm. The construction of the cooler is very good, from the accessories to the fan to the heat sink, the main materials used are aluminium and nickel-plated copper. The assembly is simple, the mounting system uses only metallic components, which increases the value of a cooler that is already available at a competitive price (43 €). The cooling performance of the Alpenfohn Black Ridge was good compared to some other low-profile coolers on the market. If you are not satisfied with the standard TDP of 95W, you can attach a fan with 120mm holes to the top or bottom using the included fan brackets. The overall height of the cooler remains unchanged, of course. This should slightly increase the cooling capacity. However, if a fan is mounted on the top of the Black Ridge, the height of the cooler increases according to the width of the mounted fan. The installation of the Alpenfohn Black Ridge was simple and went smoothly. Trying to get around the back of the motherboard and align the cooler at the same time proved to be a bit of a challenge, but with a little patience it can be done. Not the most complicated installation I've ever done by far."

"Only 47 millimetres high. Very little. To achieve this, Alpenföhn has hidden the fan under the very low louvre block. Otherwise, it's a tried and tested top-down design that is enhanced by the black colour scheme and the perfection with which Alpenföhn has built, assembled and finished it at every point. The retail price is around 40 euros, which is quite reasonable. There are indeed many coolers that resemble it in design and solutions, but few with this build quality and performance efficiency. By dispensing with the 120 millimetre fan, Alpenföhn not only keeps the final price low, but can also advertise a height of 47 instead of 62 millimetres. Not bad at all."

Further information on the award

"This is a great example of how a product comes from two companies working together to offer a great cooler for such a niche market. Make no mistake, this cooler is not just for the DAN A4-SFX case, but for almost any SFF case. Given its amazing versatility, you can even install 2 fans at the same time (1x 120 slim at the bottom and 1x normal 120 at the top if the case allows it) and you get something unrivalled in this size. So it has a great design, is really easy to install and has 6 heatpipes which is amazing for something so small. There may be issues with some motherboards, but as long as you do your due diligence, you shouldn't have any major incompatibilities."

"The Alpenföhn Black Ridge is a good CPU cooler that is designed from the outset for small motherboards and cases, such as the DAN cases. The performance is good, considering the side of the heatsink and the fan used ex works... The build quality is great, the dark coating is evenly applied to all components and the cooling fins have smooth edges. The surface of the base plate is smooth and provides optimal distribution of the thermal paste... To summarise, the Alpenföhn Black Ridge is a good cooler for a small form factor gaming system. However, it requires certain components to achieve the best possible performance and distance."

Further information on the award

"Best 47mm cooler: Alpenföhn Black Ridge ($60) - While hard to find in the US and expensive in Europe, and requiring the use of ultra-low profile RAM, the Black Ridge seems to maximise the cooling potential of a cooler that fits within Intel's 47mm height limit."

Further information on the award