# be quiet! Dark Rock PRO TR4 Review: Threadripper Fit, 163mm Clearance, Who Should Skip > Dark Rock PRO TR4: TR4/sTRX4-only air cooler, 250W, 24.3 dB(A), 163mm tall. Fit checks, 280W TR 3000 limits, who should skip. Tags: cpu-cooler, be-quiet, dark-rock-pro-tr4, threadripper, tr4, strx4, air-cooler Source: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07J589GHF Article page: https://web-autoai.com/articles/be-quiet-cpu-cooler-dark-rock-pro-tr4?lang=en Prices and ratings change over time — check the article page for the current values. --- This article covers be quiet! CPU cooler Dark Rock PRO TR4. The short answer: it is a dedicated air cooler for Threadripper (TR4/sTRX4) owners who want to run long all-core workloads quietly, without liquid cooling. It does not fit mainstream Ryzen sockets such as AM4/AM5 or any Intel platform. Its cooling headroom is also thin on the 280W Threadripper 3000 series. ## Overview The be quiet! Dark Rock Pro TR4 is a large dual-tower air cooler made only for AMD's high-end desktop sockets, TR4 and sTRX4. It is rated for 250W TDP. Two towers of aluminum fins on seven copper heat pipes are paired with two fans: a 120mm unit at the front and a 135mm unit in the center. The maximum noise level is listed at 24.3 dB(A), so it stays quiet even at full speed, and that is its main selling point. The cooler measures 121 x 136 x 163 mm and weighs 1.18 kg, which puts it among the largest air coolers. Threadripper has a much larger heat spreader than mainstream Ryzen chips. An AM4 cooler fitted with an adapter may not cover the whole CPU with its cold plate. This cooler was built for the TR4 family from the start, so that is not a concern. That is the reason to buy a dedicated model. The design is all black with no lighting. It is a tool for keeping a work machine quiet and stable, not a showpiece. ## Compatibility Guide ### Sockets and CPUs Only TR4 and sTRX4 are supported. It is meant for Ryzen Threadripper 1000/2000/3000 series CPUs on X399/TRX40 motherboards. It cannot be mounted on Intel sockets or on mainstream Ryzen sockets such as AM4 and AM5. Putting each CPU's rated TDP next to the 250W rating shows how much headroom you get. | CPU (examples) | Socket | Typical rated TDP | Versus 250W | |---|---|---|---| | Threadripper 1950X / 2950X | TR4 | 180W | Comfortable headroom | | Threadripper 2970WX / 2990WX | TR4 | 250W | Right at the limit | | Threadripper 3960X / 3970X / 3990X | sTRX4 | 280W | Above the rating | The 16-core chips of the 1000/2000 series leave plenty of headroom, even with a quiet fan curve. With 250W chips such as the 2990WX you are right at the rating, so case airflow decides how well it cools. The 3000 series is rated at 280W, which is more than this cooler is rated for. It will still run, but long all-core loads are more likely to make the CPU lower its clocks to stay cool, and there is little room left for overclocking. The data here does not confirm support for Threadripper PRO (sWRX8) or later generations. Even if the mounting holes look similar, check the manufacturer's compatibility list first. ### Case Height and Width The cooler is 163mm tall, so your case must list a CPU cooler clearance of at least 163mm. Side panel thickness and glass mounting hardware eat into that space, so a few millimeters of spare room is safer. A case at least 180mm wide is recommended. ### Memory Clearance X399 and TRX40 boards usually have memory slots on both sides of the socket. The cooler is 136mm wide, and its towers and fans hang over both sides of the socket, so tall memory modules may hit it. The fins are said to be shaped to reduce memory interference. Still, if you plan to fill all eight slots with tall modules, check the module height before you buy. ### Fan Connection The fans use standard 4-pin PWM connectors and plug into the motherboard's CPU_FAN header. Set their speed with the motherboard's fan curve. ## Product Info | Item | Value | |---|---| | TDP rating | 250W | | Fans | 2 (120mm front / 135mm center) | | Max noise level | 24.3 dB(A) | | Heat pipes | 7 | | Dimensions (L x W x H) | 121 x 136 x 163 mm | | Weight | 1.18 kg | | Warranty | 3 years | | Sockets | TR4 / sTRX4 | The Dark Rock Pro TR4 came out in late 2018 as an air cooler for Threadripper and has a 3-year manufacturer warranty. The box contains only the black TR4-family mounting kit. No universal mounting hardware for other sockets is included. Marketplace listings may be used or missing parts, so check the condition and whether the mounting kit is included. Prices change a lot with sales and stock, so check the current price before you buy. For a large, socket-specific product, that is a steady rating. ## Comparison with Competitors Other well-known TR4/sTRX4 air coolers include the Noctua NH-U14S TR4-SP3 and the Cooler Master MasterAir MA621P TR4. It is easiest to choose by looking at how each type is built. - **Why pick the Dark Rock Pro TR4**: cooling capacity from two towers and two fans, a maximum of 24.3 dB(A), and an all-black look. - **Why pick a single-tower cooler**: it usually leaves more room around the memory and inside the case, and it weighs less. - **Why pick an AIO liquid cooler**: more headroom for 280W 3000-series chips, or a clearer area around the CPU. In exchange, you have to deal with pump noise, pump lifespan, and where to put the radiator. Prices shift over time, so this section only compares design. ## Installation Notes 1. Fix the TR4-family mounting hardware to the motherboard as the manual describes. 2. Apply thermal paste. Threadripper's heat spreader is large, so make sure the paste reaches the edges. 3. Set the heatsink in place and tighten the screws a little at a time in a diagonal order. On dual-tower coolers, removing the center fan makes the screws easier to reach. 4. Mount the fans and connect them to CPU_FAN. At 1.18 kg, it is safer to install with the case lying flat. The mounting direction sets which way the fans blow, so before installing, check that it matches your case's front-intake, rear-exhaust airflow. ## Recommended Users - **Building a quiet workstation on Threadripper 1000/2000**: these CPUs leave TDP headroom, so the cooler keeps up even at low fan speeds, and the 24.3 dB(A) maximum really pays off. - **Running long, heavy jobs such as video editing, 3D rendering, or compiling**: there is no pump, so pump noise, leaks, and pump wear are not a concern. - **Making an existing X399/TRX40 machine quieter**: a low-maintenance replacement for an aging AIO. ## Before You Buy - **It does not fit AM4/AM5.** Part of the spec listing shows AM4 / AM5 / sTRX4, but the product is sold as TR4/sTRX4-only and that conflicts with its compatibility data. If you buy it for a mainstream Ryzen build, it will not mount. Store listings sometimes contain errors, so check that the product name includes TR4 and confirm the supported sockets. - **Little headroom on Threadripper 3000.** Those CPUs are rated at 280W, while this cooler is rated for 250W. If you run long all-core loads on a 3990X or plan to overclock, compare it against a large AIO first. - **Big and heavy.** At 163mm tall and 1.18 kg, it may not fit mid-tower or smaller cases. When shipping a built PC, remove the cooler to protect the motherboard. - **Memory height.** Tall modules in the slots on either side of the socket may hit the cooler. - **Used units.** The mounting kit is TR4-family-specific and hard to replace with generic parts, so make sure it is included when buying used. - **No lighting.** Not for RGB builds. ## FAQ **Q. Does it work with AM5 Ryzen? ** A. No. It supports only TR4 and sTRX4. Choose a mainstream air cooler for AM4/AM5. **Q. Can it cool a Threadripper 3990X? ** A. It mounts, but the 3990X is rated at about 280W, above this cooler's 250W rating. Clocks are likely to drop under long all-core loads, so compare large AIOs if you want full performance. **Q. How much case clearance do I need? ** A. At least 163mm of CPU cooler height clearance, and a case width of about 180mm or more. **Q. How quiet is it? ** A. The listed maximum is 24.3 dB(A). How quiet it is in practice depends on your case airflow and fan curve. **Q. Is there a warranty? ** A. Yes, a 3-year manufacturer warranty. For used units, ask the seller how the warranty applies. ### Product Disclosure (Amazon) - Manufacturer: BeQuiet! - Brand: be quiet! - Seller: pampa-store - Fulfilled by: pampa-store - ASIN: B07J589GHF - Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.