SilentiumPC Fortis 3 RGB (HE1425) Air Cooler – Review

Installation

One of the biggest factors that can help make the installation of a cooler a lot easier is having a good quality manual. In this instance, SilentiumPC has really hit the mark.

While it is rather light on written instructions, the diagrams are both detailed and clear meaning that you know, without any difficulty, which parts go where and for what socket style.

Mounting

So, how easy is it to install the SilentiumPC Fortis 3? Well, while not necessarily difficult, it does provide some challenges.

One of the biggest is undoubtedly the ‘internal’ mounting screw to the radiator. Located right at the bottom of the ‘V’, you’re going to need quite a long screwdriver to reach it and, wouldn’t you know, you’re not provided with one!

The one thing you are provided with, however, is a spanner. Yes, you install the socket mounting clip using bolts. Weird, not exactly ideal, but I can live with this!

Overall Thoughts

So, from out of the box and onto our test system, this took me roughly 15-20 minutes to install. Of which, I must admit, probably 5 were spent looking for a suitable screwdriver long enough to get threw the ‘V’. Another 5 was probably taken in having to put those bolts on with an Ikea-like wrench.

The short version is though, that while the installation has a few relatively tricky aspects (that could be easily overcome with a few changes on SilentiumPC’s part) it wasn’t overly problematic.

When installed, the RGB lighting effects are excellently bright and vivid. As above though, my overwhelming thoughts lie in the fact that, with a few really basic changes in the mounting design, this could be a lot easier to work with.