The SilverStone IceGem AIO Coolers Review: Going Big For Threadripper
by E. Fylladitakis on July 21, 2021 9:00 AM ESTConclusion
SilverStone introduced the IceGem AIO coolers as a family that is fully compatible with the large IHS of Ryzen Threadripper processors. This is also why there aren't any smaller (sub-240mm) models in this series, as they would be unable to handle the thermal stress of such powerful (and power-hungry) CPUs. Other than that, the IceGem coolers are very similar to SilverStone’s existing – and less expensive – Permafrost series.
The thermal performance of the IceGem coolers is overall very good. The IceGem 280 ($197) and IceGem 360 ($162) performed thermally just as well as we expected them to, with no real surprises. On the other hand, the IceGem 240P ($147) proved to be the underdog of this review, outclassing even SilverStone’s larger coolers. Its thicker size may warrant some compatibility checks, but it performed unexpectedly well with regards to thermals. The performance-to-noise ratio graph revealed that the IceGem 240P is on equal footing with the wider IceGem 280, with only the significantly larger IceGem 360 having a slight performance advantage. Acoustically, all three IceGem coolers are excellent, surpassing several other competitive products, especially those based on older designs.
The RGB lighting of the IceGem coolers is well applied and very bright, creating a strong crystal-like effect on the main block and having the fans glowing brilliantly, generating a fantastic visual effect, especially in dark cases. It is compatible with nearly all current ARGB motherboards and can be controlled via the motherboard’s software. For users that do not have a compatible motherboard, the RGB lighting can be effectively programmed via the included controller that includes several fancy and static lighting effects, but the user will have to access the inside of the system for each program/brightness change. The only downside here is the number of cables, which will be difficult to hide.
Quality-wise, the IceGem coolers are very well made and we have no concerns regarding their long-term reliability. However, users should be careful of the warranty terms that apply to their region, as the IceGem coolers are currently being sold with warranties that cover anywhere between one and five years, depending on their distributor.
The IceGem coolers are designed primarily for users who own, or plan to own, a processor with a large IHS, without sacrificing compatibility with nowadays mainstream CPUs. They are definitely a great choice for users who have or are considering an upgrade to a Ryzen Threadripper CPU, as the IceGem coolers will be compatible with both their current CPU and a possible future CPU that may have a significantly different IHS. Otherwise, for users that do not plan on ever getting a CPU with a large IHS, the IceGem coolers may not be the most sensible choice from an economic point of view – the equivalent SilverStone Permafrost cooler can typically be had for $50 less – but their performance will certainly not disappoint.
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YB1064 - Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - link
RGB lights to make your eyes bleed. Who is the OEM? Do Silverstone make their own AIO?Scott_T - Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - link
my next purchase will be a completely light proof case painted internally with ultra black to suck up all the rgb crap I didnt ask for.evilspoons - Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - link
I have a Fractal Define XL R2 with opaque sides and a front door I almost always leave closed. The only light that leaks out of my case is from my 1080 with white LEDs and it works as a nice little nightlight. (I can't even remember if I left the RGB pattern on my mainboard on, I can't see it.) It's very nice that it just stays out of the way.Samus - Thursday, July 22, 2021 - link
My Silverstone AIO cooler purchased a few years ago had Asetek hose clamps, so my guess is the entire thing was sourced from Asetek. It'd be a safe guess that this is still the case today, but who knows as this 280 model is a very proprietary-sized cooler and they could have done it in-house.Threska - Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - link
Well one thing that comes to eye is the ease of installation.Oxford Guy - Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - link
Which of the models tested have proper static pressure design fans instead of case fans?meacupla - Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - link
In the article, just above the picture of the fan, it says they all use air blazer fans, which are high flow, low pressure.Considering the thickness and fin density of the radiators, I doubt using static pressure fans would make any difference.
Oxford Guy - Sunday, July 25, 2021 - link
I remember a detailed fan testing article from here (a number of years back) that made it very clear that case (airflow) fans are optimal only for very low restriction scenarios and static-oriented designs should be used for restriction, such as radiators. I would like to see a chart that changes the perspective to ‘restrictive scenarios like radiators are fine for case fans if the fins are a certain minimum width’.Oxford Guy - Monday, July 26, 2021 - link
The gaps between the fins, that is.citan x - Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - link
Sometimes, I think your testing is too theoretical and not practical enough. I just happen to be looking for a new cooler for my Threadripper CPU and have been looking at reviews. When your article mentioned Threadripper, I though I might see some good analysis on how the size of the cooling block affects cooling performance. Yet, you failed to mentioned this anywhere except for a small blurb in the introduction. Does this mean the size of the contact area does not affect the cooling performance?I find this hard to believe cause I have seen other reviews where the coolers made for Threadripper do hold some advantage over coolers that are smaller. I am looking to get good cooling performance at a low noise level. I am trying to figure out if it is worth it to go for the few coolers that are made for Threadripper or to just get one of the top performing AIO coolers. This article however failed to address that.