By: Aaron Lai
August 28, 2026
Review in progress.
Contents in this article are incomplete, and may contain errors or incorrect information.
I recently went with my realtor friend to a house that was for sale. I have been looking at homes around the area to get an idea of features in a home that I am looking for. In my research, I noticed this one had been available for quite some time. Given the current housing situation we are in, it is not too surprising. However, when we first entered in, I immediately understood why. It was clear I was duped by the photographer as the inside felt a lot smaller than the photos. There were some positives including the price and the finished basement, but I did not feel comfortable. My friend said this home was in an awkward middle ground where it would be an upgrade, but not big enough for the long term and I completely agree with his sentiment. While it is true the home would be bigger than what I have, I could not see myself staying here for longer than five or ten years, which means I would want to move again. Sometimes, it is worth getting the full thing rather than picking something in between, especially if the transition, like moving homes, is a major event. On the other hand, there are times when something that is good enough is genuinely good enough. Today, we have the be quiet! Dark Rock 6. From all signs, this is an adequate cooler and sufficient to keep CPU temperatures down. However, it is smaller than its brother, the Dark Rock Pro 6. As such, I must wonder if it falls into the "in between" trap, or if it is indeed a fine option on its own. Hopefully, this review will answer these questions and more!
Today's review unit of the be quiet! Dark Rock 6 arrived from electronics retailer Newegg in Ontario, California, USA. This box traveled with UPS and their Standard ground service and arrived at our APH Networks location here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The corrugated cardboard box was worn with some rounder edges and corners, but there was nothing to suggest any damage to the products inside. Along with the Dark Rock 6, we also received the Dark Rock Pro 6. There were some packing bubbles inside to prevent the two boxes from hitting each other or getting damaged while in transit.
The two be quiet! coolers look quite similar to every other product from this manufacturer, which is not a surprise. This means there is a black box with the product displayed in the middle. The top right has a be quiet! logo, while the bottom has the product name. There is no tagline underneath. The only other fact that is clear from the box is the fact that this cooler has a 220W TDP, but we will explore how it translates to performance later. The sides hold some specifications and features of the cooler, but it is clean of extraneous words.
Before we continue, I have grabbed the specifications from the manufacturer's website for your viewing pleasure.
General data
Model: DARK ROCK 6
TDP (W): 220
Overall dimensions without mounting material (L x W x H), (mm): 102.4 x 139 x 162
Total weight (kg): 1.01
Socket compatibility Intel: 1851 / 1700 / 1200 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155
Socket compatibility AMD: AM5 / AM4
Overall noise level (dB(A)) @ 50/75/100% (rpm): 11.9 / 23.2 / 31.1
Number of fans: 1
Heatsink specifications
Dimensions (L x W x H), (mm): 77.4 x 139 x 162
Fin material: Aluminum
Surface treatment: Ceramic coating
Base material: Copper / nickel plating
CPU contact surface: CNC machined
Heatpipe number / Diameter (mm): 6 / 6
Fan specifications
Fan model: Silent Wings PWM
Fan dimensions (mm): 135 x 135 x 25
Speed @ 100% PWM (rpm): 2000
Airflow at 100% PWM / 12V (CFM / m3/h): 79.48 / 135.04
Air Pressure at 100% PWM / 12V (mm H2O): 2.48
Bearing technology: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
Motor technology: 6-pole fan motor
Rated Voltage (V): 12
Input current (A): 0.16
Safety current (A): 0.4
Input power (W): 4.8
Connector: 4-pin PWM
Cable length (mm): 220
Lifespan (h / 25°C): 300,000
Accessories
Thermal grease (Type): Included
Mounting set: Intel & AMD
Screwdriver: ✓
Out of the box, the be quiet! Dark Rock 6 is situated between several cardboard layers. The cooler with the fan attached is wrapped in a plastic bag as well. A small cardboard box is also nearby with the mounting accessories for AMD and Intel systems. According to the manufacturer, the Dark Rock 6 can be installed on AMD AM5 / AM4 and Intel 1851 / 1700 / 1200 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155 sockets. Be quiet! has also packaged the separate parts into separate bags, making it easy to not accidentally mix the hardware from the two sides. Finally, a long Philips screwdriver is included with the cooler, which may be useful especially as the mounting screws are in tight spaces, as you will see.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Installation and Test Results
4. Conclusion
