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be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 vs be quiet! Shadow Rock 3: Comparison
Pure Rock Pro 3 vs Shadow Rock 3: the tdp rating difference
On tdp rating the spread is 24%, Pure Rock Pro 3 250 W against Shadow Rock 3 190 W, so Pure Rock Pro 3 takes it. Pure Rock Pro 3 also leads on fan count, 2 on the Pure Rock Pro 3 versus 1 on the Shadow Rock 3.
Which should you buy, Pure Rock Pro 3 or Shadow Rock 3?
Take the Pure Rock Pro 3 for buyers who prioritize a quiet PC above squeezing out maximum thermal headroom. be quiet!'s entire brand identity and engineering focus centers on this exact priority. It also earns its place with anyone gaming or working without headphones where fan noise is genuinely noticeable. The measured noise advantage here is real, not just marketing. It is the wrong buy for buyers chasing the lowest possible temperatures on a demanding CPU. The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, covered elsewhere on this site, delivers measurably cooler results at a similar price, at the cost of more noise under load. The Shadow Rock 3 is the one to take for buyers who prioritize a silent-running PC over maximizing thermal ceiling and mainstream, non-overclocked builds where 190W of headroom is sufficient. The same goes for builders who prefer a single large 120mm fan over dual smaller fans for acoustics. Avoid it for overclocked or high-TDP builds, where the ceiling runs out before flagship dual-tower options. Our rating of the Shadow Rock 3 (8.1/10): the strongest cooler in be quiet!'s Shadow Rock series, and a genuinely quiet single-tower option for buyers who put acoustics ahead of maximum thermal headroom.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Pure Rock Pro 3 and Shadow Rock 3 differ on noise level?
Yes. Noise Level reads 34.8 dBA on the Pure Rock Pro 3 versus 24.4 dBA on the Shadow Rock 3.
Is the RGB Lighting the same on the Pure Rock Pro 3 and Shadow Rock 3?
It is. Both are listed at No, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- be quiet!
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- be quiet!
Cooler Type
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- Air Tower
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- Air, Single-Tower
Series
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
Tower Type
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- Dual-Tower
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- Single-Tower
Model Number
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- BK041
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- BK004
Height
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- 155 mmBest
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- 163 mm-5%
Socket Compatibility
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- Intel LGA1700/1200/2066/1151/1150/1155/2011(-3), AMD AM5/AM4
Fan Count
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- 2Best
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- 1-50%
TDP Rating
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- 250 WBest
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- 190 W-24%
Noise Level
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- 34.8 dBA
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- 24.4 dBABest
RGB Lighting
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- No
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- No
Heatpipe Count
- be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
- 6
- be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
- 5
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 if you want the lower height (155 mm vs 163 mm), the higher fan count (2 vs 1) and the higher TDP rating (250 W vs 190 W).
Choose be quiet! Shadow Rock 3 if you want the lower noise level (24.4 dBA vs 34.8 dBA).
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 | be quiet! Shadow Rock 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
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! Shadow Rock 3
8.1 / 10 Expert Rating
The strongest cooler in be quiet!'s Shadow Rock series, and a genuinely quiet single-tower option for buyers who put acoustics ahead of maximum thermal headroom.