Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
be quiet! Pure Rock 2 vs SilverStone AR12: Comparison
be quiet! Pure Rock 2 vs SilverStone AR12 tdp rating compared
The gap that matters here is tdp rating: be quiet! Pure Rock 2 150 W against SilverStone AR12 95 W, which puts be quiet! Pure Rock 2 37% ahead. Add max speed to that, 1500 RPM on the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 versus 2200 RPM on the SilverStone AR12, and the pattern holds. SilverStone AR12 also leads on airflow, 51.4 CFM on the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 versus 68.9 CFM on the SilverStone AR12.
be quiet! Pure Rock 2 vs SilverStone AR12: which one fits your build
Buy the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 for budget locked Ryzen 5 / Core i5 builds and noise-sensitive entry-level PCs, though it is not built for unlocked or high-TDP CPUs and enthusiasts wanting RGB. The SilverStone AR12 is the one to take for mainstream non-overclocked builds where 95W of headroom is genuinely enough, though it is not the pick for buyers wanting RGB lighting, since this stays unlit. The same goes for SFF and HTPC builders who need the shortest possible cooler height. Avoid it for overclocked or high-TDP builds, where the thermal ceiling runs out quickly. Our rating of the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 (7.4/10): A sensible quiet budget cooler for locked mainstream CPUs, not for chasing overclocks.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, cooler type, tower type, tower layout, fan count and rgb lighting included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 3 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 and SilverStone AR12 differ on noise level?
Yes. Noise Level reads 26.8 dBA on the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 versus 29 dBA on the SilverStone AR12.
Is the Heatpipe Count the same on the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 and SilverStone AR12?
It is. Both are listed at 4, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- be quiet!
- SilverStone AR12
- SilverStone
Cooler Type
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- Air Tower
- SilverStone AR12
- Air Tower
Series
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- SilverStone AR12
- SilverStone Argon AR12
Tower Type
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- Single-Tower
- SilverStone AR12
- Single-Tower
Height
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 155 mm-1%
- SilverStone AR12
- 154 mmBest
Socket Compatibility
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3
- SilverStone AR12
- AMD AM4/AM3/AM2/FM2/FM1, Intel LGA115X/1366/2011/2066
Tower Layout
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- Single-Tower
- SilverStone AR12
- Single-Tower
Fan Count
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 1
- SilverStone AR12
- 1
TDP Rating
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 150 WBest
- SilverStone AR12
- 95 W-37%
Noise Level
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 26.8 dBABest
- SilverStone AR12
- 29 dBA
RGB Lighting
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- No
- SilverStone AR12
- No
Cooler Width
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 121 mm
- SilverStone AR12
- 128 mm
Cooler Weight
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 580 gBest
- SilverStone AR12
- 632 g
Heatpipe Count
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 4
- SilverStone AR12
- 4
Base Material
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- Direct-Touch Copper
- SilverStone AR12
- Nickel-Plated Copper
Fan Size
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 120 mm
- SilverStone AR12
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 1500 RPM-32%
- SilverStone AR12
- 2200 RPMBest
Airflow
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- 51.4 CFM-25%
- SilverStone AR12
- 68.9 CFMBest
PWM Control
- be quiet! Pure Rock 2
- Yes
- SilverStone AR12
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Pure Rock 2 if you want the higher fan count (1 vs 1), the higher TDP rating (150 W vs 95 W) and the lower noise level (26.8 dBA vs 29 dBA).
Choose SilverStone AR12 if you want the lower height (154 mm vs 155 mm), the higher max speed (2200 RPM vs 1500 RPM) and the higher airflow (68.9 CFM vs 51.4 CFM).
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Pure Rock 2 | SilverStone AR12 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
be quiet! Pure Rock 2
7.4 / 10 Expert Rating
A sensible quiet budget cooler for locked mainstream CPUs, not for chasing overclocks.
SilverStone AR12
7.3 / 10 Expert Rating
A purpose-built low-profile cooler whose entire value proposition is fitting where taller coolers cannot.