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Cooler Master GeminII S524 VER.2 CPU Cooler Review
By Julian Duque
Manufacturer: Cooler Master Ltd. Inc.
Product Name: Cooler Master GeminII S524 VER.2
Model Number: RR-G5V2-20PK-R1
UPC: 884102026942
Price As Tested: $42.71 (Newegg l B&H l Amazon)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Cooler Master.
The story of Cooler Master and the DIY-PC industry is strictly linked together back to it’s origins back in 1992. Emerging as an aftermarket company for hardware cooling solutions, Cooler Master has become a symbol of the still growing market of computer hardware products. It is almost impossible for the cooling giant to go a month without a release, hence their evergrowing catalog of products that range from the popular CM storm brand to their Choiix power fort. As usual, they have taken the challenge and sent Benchmark Reviews- a sample of the Cooler Master GeminII S524 Version 2.
The Geminii series from cooler master has a very unique design that allows not only the CPU to be cooled, but also the memory and power delivery components located near the socket of the motherboard. Another key point of the Geminii series is compatibility, the Cooler Master S524 Version 2 borrow from it’s predecessor by keeping ram compatibility with modules up to 47.06 mm in height, as well as with cases that allow for 105.4 mm of height, making the GeminII S524 Version 2 adequate for small cases like the Haf Stacker 915F.
Air-Cooling VS Water-Cooling
There are several misconceptions when it comes to the ordeal of choosing a cooler for your processor. It is true that Water-Cooling may yield better cooling results, mostly due to water’s higher thermal conductivity when compared to the ethanol and ammonia mixture found in most heat-pipes based coolers. But that does not mean that air coolers should not be considered as an option for enthusiasts. Unlike water-coolers, air-coolers do not need a pump, and can be “Passively Cooled” for quieter operation. Although pumps have become more silent and reliable, they should still be considered as another moving part inside your system that may be subject to failure, as well as being a source of noise. Another important factor to take into consideration when choosing the right CPU cooler is compatibility, Most heatsinks require certain parameters to be met including the CPU cooler height limit of your case, and motherboard clearance compatibility. In contrast, water-coolers only require a place to mount the radiator inside your case, as most CPU blocks are small enough to not interfere with important components near the CPU socket.
Features & Specifications
Courtesy of Cooler Master
| CPU Socket | Intel LGA 2011-3 / 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 1150 / 775 AMD FM2+ / FM2 / FM1 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2 |
| Dimensions | 144 x 141 x 105 mm(5.7 x 5.6 x 4.1 inch) |
| Heatsink Dimensions | 136 x 124 x 77 mm (5.4 x 4.9 x 3 inch) |
| Heatsink Material | 5 Continuous Direct Contact Heatpipes / Aluminum fins |
| Heatsink Weight | 392 g (0.9 lb) |
| Heatpipe Dimensions | Ø6 mm |
| Fan Dimensions | 120 x 120 x 25 mm (4.7 x 4.7 x 1 inch) |
| Fan Speed | 800~2000 RPM (PWM) ± 10% |
| Fan Air Flow | 16.5 – 65 CFM (28 – 110.5 m3/h) |
| Fan Air Pressure | 0.48~4.8 mmH2O |
| Fan Life Expectancy | 160,000 hours |
| Noise Level | 6.5~22 dBA |
| Bearing Type | Loop Dynamic Bearing (LDB) |
| Connector | 4-Pin |
| Rated Voltage | 12 VDC |
| Rated Current | 0.08 A |
| Power Consumption | 0.16 A |
| Fan Weight | 0.96 W |
| Weight | 154 g (0.34 lb) |
3 comments
JackNaylorPE
25 June 2015 at 8:48 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Given the claims of the extra cooling benefits besides the CPU, can you add anything relative to that particular feature ? Given the cost difference, versus performance difference with the Hyper 212, many I don’t think would be willing to spend the extra moola unless there’s some real benefit there.
Julian Duque
25 June 2015 at 12:08 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Of course! Don’t forget that this is not supposed to be a direct replacement of the hyper 212 evo, as it is not even of the same line of CM products. The Geminii Ver. 2 is low profile-ish, which should allow it to be mounted in smaller cases were the 212 evo doesn’t fit like the corsair 250d. You also get support for a 140 mm fan, something that the 212 evo lacks. CM also include a silencio 120 mm fan with the Geminii Ver.2 which is a lot better acoustically when compared to the stock fan of the 212 Evo. Also, remember that the Hyper 212 Evo retailed close to $35 in the USA when launched, meaning the Geminii Ver. 2 is actually just a $7 dollar premium.
Richard Graber
20 July 2015 at 12:44 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
You evaluated this device against others, including the 212 Evo, and found it superior. I would like to confirm that this is the cooler to get in comparison to the 212 Evo.