Reviewed: Deep Cool Lucifer CPU Cooler

Size / Clearance

You will see the best results with low profile RAM because you can mount the front fan flush with the tower. The 140mm fan can be mounted on either the front or back of the heat sink and the height can also be adjusted to cater for taller RAM heat sinks. If adjusting the height, you should expect the performance to be compromised as the airflow will be less than optimal over the aluminium fins.

The 1st PCIE slot is also (borderline) accessible. There is a photo below showing how we managed to fit a graphics card in the 1st slot on our ASUS Maximus VI Gene M-ATX motherboard. There is about 1mm clearance so there is no room for error and we wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a back plate on your GPU to protect against shorting out your graphics card.

IMG 6144

Key message here is that you can use the first PCIE slot at your own risk but we had success with it.

Acoustics

It isn’t as quiet as the Noctua coolers but that doesn’t mean that it’s loud. The 140mm fan is generally quiet but I noted during testing that the changes in speed were clearly audible above 900 RPM. It’s worth keeping in mind that during ‘normal’ use and gaming the fan typically stayed under 900 anyway. Our synthetic benchmark pushed the temperatures and fan profile over the 900 RPM mark so I wouldn’t be calling this a deal breaker.

Thermal Performance

In terms of thermal performance the Lucifer is a solid performer and comes close to the more expensive coolers when it comes to temperatures. In passive mode it managed to beat the Intel stock cooler. The contrast between the loud Intel cooler and the silent passive heat sink is a good result but remember that this is highly variable depending on case ventilation.

Value

The RRP of $59 makes the Lucifer one of, if not the, least expensive 140mm performance coolers available. The competitive price should make it tempting despite some of the shortcomings I’ve raised regarding installation. This deserves to be on the short list for any budget builder.

Final Thoughts

The Lucifer is a good cooler but I wouldn’t call it premium like the Noctua offerings. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth buying – at the price point of $59 RRP this is an attractive aftermarket cooling option.

Although it isn’t finished off as nicely as other more expensive alternatives, when you look at the raw performance of the Lucifer it’s undeniably capable of it’s primary focus – cooling your CPU.

Passive cooling is possible under certain conditions but on a performance chip I think it’s asking for trouble – strap the included fan on the Lucifer and ‘massage’ a quiet profile via the PWM controller on your motherboard.

Bottom line, this is a quiet, effective cooler that can handle a Haswell overclock for under $60. It’s a very capable cooler at a great price.

 

  Deep Cool
Gamer Storm Lucifer CPU Cooler
   b95694216e49474c922d3ea755b6b279

PROS

Quiet in general use
Includes everything you need to fit a second fan
Very reasonable price
Passive mode allows for silent operation with the right case conditions
The included fan is coated in rubber to dampen vibration.

CONS

A little fiddly to install – make sure you have a long screw driver.
The included fan has more audible fan speed changes than others we have seen.
Awards HighlyRecommended

TheValueAward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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