Cooling

Scythe Choten TUF Gaming Alliance CPU Cooler Review

Final Thoughts

Price

At the time of writing, we do not have a confirmed price for the Scythe Choten TUF Gaming Alliance. Based on indications of the former (non-RGB) model, however, we would expect this to retail for a price in the region of £40. This, in comparative terms, makes is a highly attractive proposition. Not only does it come with sync capable RGB lighting effects, but it’s also exceptionally small and more than a little unique in design.

Under our testing, for such a small cooler this was a powerhouse. If you’re after something that’s a bit different and can still handle the performance, this is a bargain!

Design and Ease Of Use

When we see such unusual cooler designs, we’re often initially dreading what the practicality of them in the ‘real-world’ might be. For the Scythe Choten TUF, however, there are no such concerns. Despite the unique low-profile design, this was no more difficult to install than your average air cooler and was, perhaps, a little bit easier than the majority.

Due to the lateral placement of the radiator, while you may not have RAM clearance issues, you may possibly run into some tight taps with your GPU. This wasn’t a problem for us and I wouldn’t expect it to be one for you either, but it is worth bearing in mind.

One running, however, the Scythe Choten TUF is simply a delight. It performs strongly, quietly and does it all while presenting the RGB in that ‘side-profile’ that you so rarely see from air cooler designs.

Overview

Scythe may not be a particularly huge branch in Europe, but if they keep pushing products like the Choten TUF, that will change. This is exactly what we love to see here at eTeknix, something different, but not simply for the sake of it either. In addition, the unique design choices that Scythe made surprisingly did not compromise the design, installation or performance.

I’ve strangely found myself rather enamoured with the Scythe Choten TUF and I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps it’s because it was a design brave enough to think outside of the box but also good enough to pull it off!

Pros

Impressive performance in temperatures for a low-profile radiator.
Low noise levels thanks to the excellent Kaze Flex fans.
Excellent value for money.
Strong aesthetics whether the RGB is on or off.
A unique design that did not compromise on performance.
Another excellent product building up the Scythe reputation.

Cons

The exterior packaging is simply awful. Limited information, provided badly, and no clear picture of the cooler. For such an amazing design, this deserved better!