When it comes to selecting a CPU cooling solution, there are a plethora of options available.
You can choose between – AIOs, Custom-looped, and Air cooling solutions. And from them, if you choose a particular type, the number of options is still huge.
Now, if you prefer to have an air cooler, the EVGA ACX 120 mm cooler can be a great choice.
And why is that?
Don’t worry. You’ll get to know everything after you go through this comprehensive review article. Therefore, without wasting much time, let us start the review.
But before that, take a quick look at the specifications that this air cooler has in store for you.
Specifications
Fan Size: 120 X 120 X 25 mm
Fan Speed: 800 – 2500 RPM
Noise Level: 30-45 dBA
Heatsink Material: Alumunium
Compatibility: Intel Socket 775, 1150, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011; AMD Socket AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2
Here are the reasons why you should buy the EVGA ACX CPU Cooler:
1. Compatibility
Building your own Gaming Rig is an exciting experience. As when you build the system all by yourself, you have all the freedom in the world. You don’t have many limitations, and you can choose the components as per your will.
It is usually an excellent prospect because it eliminates all the shortcomings that are found in pre-build gaming systems.
Now, the first thing you need to consider while building your own Gaming Rig is whether the components you are buying are compatible with each other. Because, if the components don’t go with each other, then what’s the point of wasting money. For the proper flow of the performance, every component must fall into its place perfectly. And a CPU cooler is no different from it.
Now, as we are talking about EVGA, they are a brand that produces some of the finest PC parts. That said, the cooling solutions from them, be it AIOs or Air coolers, are excellent in quality.
As for this particular model from EVGA, there aren’t any significant issues regarding compatibility. In the case of this air cooler, it supports most of the sockets under the Intel and AMD Ryzen platforms.
But if you are searching for the best LGA1200 CPU cooler support, unfortunately it doesn’t have.
Therefore, if you plan to buy this air cooler, check the CPU cooler compatibility with motherboard.
2. Build Quality
For every PC part, longevity matters a lot. When you build something, you want it to last for a long time, isn’t it?
But if due to the poor build-up, the component breaks down or erodes due to some other reason, you won’t like it.
A similar is for CPU coolers. Not all the coolers come with the same type of build-up, and not all the coolers offer the same type of durability. And it is no different from the type of coolers you’ll be buying. What it is for AIOs, is the same for the air cooling options.
When it was about this particular 120 mm cooling solution, I was pretty impressed. Now, as a brand, EVGA offers some top-notch components in terms of build-up. It comes with solid construction with high-quality materials used.
In fact, I would say that the total build quality is one of the selling components of this air cooler. It is rare to have such compact solutions with such high durability.
Moreover, I would say that this air cooler gives you less chance of complaining about its longevity and durability.
3. Noise Level
As gamers, we all want a smooth gaming experience. But the idea of a smooth gaming experience differs from person to person. You will find gamers who would love to hear the sound of the fans while gaming.
At the same time, some people like the rig to be almost inaudible.
But a PC component may not cater to all types of people. There are differences which the people need to adapt with.
The main thing is that the gamer needs to make a choice about the level of noise he is okay with. Only after that he will receive the perfect noise level that he desires while gaming.
Now, as you are opting for this air cooler from EVGA, you need to consider a few things. Because these things would result in a smooth and desirable gaming experience.
Let me tell you about my experience with this cooler.
When I tested it in my build, I found the noise level was okayish during regular operations. Even during light gaming, it didn’t go that high.
To be precise, the level was within 30-35 dBA at max. But a shift was there when I pushed my gaming rig a bit further.
Especially during the high-end gaming, a bit of noise was coming from this cooler. Besides, during overclocking, the noise level went up to 45 dBA.
If you want low noise levels, you won’t like the performance during overclocking.
But if noise is not an issue, there are minimal reasons for not choosing this air cooler. Also, check out the list of the top 9 quietest CPU coolers to buy in 2023.
4. Performance
For a CPU cooler, performance is the most crucial part. Because it is one of the vital components that dictate the performance of the whole system.
There is only one reason behind it, and that is the issue of overheating.
A gaming rig will have a CPU, GPU, and many other components. They will run at full stretch to give the gamer the required output he wants. In this process, the heat will be produced, and it is necessary to cool it down.
As when the system gets heated up, there is a lag in the output, which isn’t desirable.
Now, cooling-wise, the performance should vary depending on the cooler. Generally, we know that the liquid coolers give better output than the air coolers. But it doesn’t mean that the air coolers are terrible options.
There are some air cooling solutions you would find better than some AIOs. All you need to do is to choose wisely.
Coming back to this model from EVGA, I think it delivers reasonable performance. As when I tested it in my gaming rig, my CPU rarely got overheated. The best part is that with or without overclocking, the air cooling performance was top-notch. The temperatures recorded were always at an optimum level.
And if you seek such type of performance, I think this model would be an excellent option for your build.
5. Installation
Installation of the cooling components can often turn out to be a challenging task. And it goes the same for all types of coolers.
Mostly the custom-looped coolers audit office to install. But there are also some air and water cooling solutions, which you may find hard to fit inside your gaming rig.
To be honest, this air cooler from EVGA is massive. And sometimes, due to this reason, most of the gamers I knew found it hard to install.
As for me, I thought it wouldn’t be the same when I was installing. But this cooler had some other plans.
It gave me a tough time, and it’s screws were pretty stiff to unhook.
To the ones who would be installing this cooler, I would suggest carefully handling the rubber mounts as they might break while carrying out the process.
6. Pricing
Lastly, the pricing of the PC component is what matters. Whether your Gaming Rig would be reasonable or not depends mainly on the price you will pay for it.
As for this air cooling solution from EVGA, the price is okayish. It is neither a budget cooler nor something with a hefty price.
The ones I know who used this model for their build didn’t really complain about the price. Therefore, if you are concerned about high pricing, this model alleviates that concern to some extent.
Final Thoughts
So, this was my review of the EVGA ACX CPU cooler. I tried to portray all the things that might matter while choosing this air cooler. I hope that after reading this review, all your concerns will be answered.
Still, if you think that I missed out on something, do let me know.
