Cooling

CoolerMaster Masterair MA612 Stealth CPU Cooler Review

Performance

I have to confess that prior to the installation of the CoolerMaster Masterair MA612 Stealth, I expected a good and competent, but not exactly mind-blowing level of performance. I have to admit though, I was very much wrong in this case. Throughout all of our tests, the Masterair MA612 Stealth hugely exceeded my expectations!

Starting with the temperature control, while this design was clearly never going to top the charts (based purely on the merits of size) for such a relatively small package, it punches well above its weight. Even when overclocked, the Masterair MA612 Stealth barely felt like it was breaking a sweat. The most notable highlight, however, has to go to the acoustic output. Despite providing some excellently low CPU temperature scores, the two fans remained surprisingly quiet. Even when they were operating at close to full speed (we recorded a maximum RPM of around 1,750).

Overall, I have to confess to being exceptionally surprised at just how good the Masterair MA612 Stealth is! Not only is it amazingly good at keeping the CPU nice and cool, but it also does so while being one of the quietest coolers we have ever encountered. It even manages to outperform the Noctua NH-D15 which, while certainly not a new product by any means, has for years represented the ‘gold standard’ for air cooler designs. Between the two though, the CoolerMaster MA612 Stealth is certainly the far more attractive to look at!

In a nutshell, color me exceptionally impressed!