Sapphire Vapor-X CPU Cooler Review

Edit: Unfortunately Sapphire went ahead and launched the Vapor-X CPU cooler 10-20% more expensively than we were informed. That, combined with the fact the mounting bracket doesn’t stay within Intel LGA 1155 specifications, means that we no longer consider it an award winner. This review was revised after several bits of feedback from readers that brought these developments to our attention.

Sapphire’s Vapor-X CPU cooler has arrived at the UK market with a price of around £50-55. In the USA I have only seen it for $100 at one retailer and in Europe I have struggled to find it online but I can safely assume the pricing will be about €65+ if it ever makes it to European stores. For what the Sapphire Vapor-X CPU cooler is offering this isn’t exactly an attractive price. It is priced equivalently to much better performing CPU coolers like the Thermalright Archon SB-E X2 (£55), the Noctua NH-D14 (£60) and the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 (£60).

Sapphire may be “new-comers” in the CPU cooler market, but from the product itself I can see they know what they are doing. On the positive side, what impresses me about the Sapphire Vapor-X cooler is the ability for a CPU cooler with just four heat pipes and a relatively thin heatsink to offer some really good thermal performance results. Add to that the fact the acoustic performance was generally very good, although things did get a tad noisy under Prime 95. But as we always say Prime 95 is not a realistic usage scenario and so this is a “worst-case” scenario for acoustic output – and for that the results are actually pretty decent.

The product is well designed too, with that rugged plastic that would match a whole selection of gamer cases out there like the CM Storm Trooper – to name one of the most famous. The Blue LEDs are a nice finishing touch, and it is great to see Sapphire personalising their products with their trademark colour blue. Another thing that really did surprise me was the fact I could actually populate all four RAM slots with high profile RAM and face no compatibility issues – top marks to Sapphire for this as many companies sacrifice this in favour of having a larger heatsink.

However, the issues with the mounting bracket were a huge let down and I really think Sapphire should revise their Vapor-X CPU cooler mounting kit in light of this. It is just such an amateur mistake that you wouldn’t expect to see given how good the rest of the product was. In addition to that the pricing doesn’t do the Sapphire Vapor-X any favours, especially compared to the competition. The Vapor-X CPU cooler from Sapphire is a competent CPU cooler but is priced much too highly and has serious issues with its mounting kit. As a result of this we do not feel it worthy of an award.