The rating for the individual questions of SKROYTZ is simpler, but as for the final stars, it is more difficult. For example, the installation is not so easy. However, I should mention that the limited space may be to blame because I have a Micro ATX case. Also, because I had a temporary issue with the memory, I stumbled upon the obstacle of its volume, which, because it has a large width, covers the memories if the motherboard is Micro ATX. So, I couldn't change slots on the memories or try other DIMMs without removing the cooler. But the tightness of the materials is responsible for this, not the cooler.

At the same time, I got this cooler precisely because I had a small case and a tower cooler wouldn't fit in terms of height. I mention these things because ultimately, everything is a matter of initial design. It is good to have a large case and a full ATX motherboard because otherwise, the small space makes all tasks more difficult. Perhaps the 5 stars should depend on the performance of the cooler and its construction adequacy. Because it delivers close to the promised 130W, it is quiet, and despite the fact that it was difficult to install, the case contained everything needed, so I gave it 5 stars.

As for its performance, I will mention something that I also wrote in the evaluation of the CPU i5-13500. Before buying a CPU, we should look at the official website for the so-called TDP (Thermal Design Power). The Intel i5-13500 states a TDP of 65W, with a maximum of 154W (with BIOS settings). When performing demanding tasks that utilize all cores and threads, it approaches the maximum and correspondingly increases the temperature (I measure it with the program "Core Temp").

It goes without saying that high watts also play a role in processing power. If we leave the BIOS at the default 65W, there is a clear difference in the processor's power compared to when it reaches 150W. Therefore, if we have a good cooler, we should release the LP2 from the BIOS to have the full power of the CPU.

This specific cooler claims to protect us up to temperatures of 130W, but it is a German company. The hot Greek Summer burdens the temperature produced by the 130W compared to Northern Europe.

If from the BIOS, with the Turbo settings of the LP2, we let the CPU reach the maximum of 154W, which practically means that during demanding tasks it will constantly range from 135 to 150W, this cooler does not cover us because the CPU immediately reaches 95 degrees, which is prohibitive.

For Greek standards, practice has shown that in the BIOS, we should set the CPU's working limit to 115W in Winter and 90W in Summer to avoid temperatures above 80 degrees. This means that we will lose some processing power.

Therefore, it is not enough for a cooler to claim to support socket 1700. We need to know which CPU we are targeting. If the CPU can reach 154W, it is good for the cooler to have capacities around 200W to withstand the Summer as well.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the company has been producing this cooler for several years. However, only since April 2022, they include the necessary brackets for socket 1700 in the package. Therefore, it should explicitly state on the package that it supports this socket. If the case we are purchasing has it from the merchant since 2021, then the case will not have what is needed inside. It is good to ask about this.

I had said that I would buy the Alpenfohn Black Ridge again for my next system, but availability and lockdown forced me to go with the BeQuiet! Shadow Rock LP, which is in the same category as the Alpenfohn and its little sibling, the Dark Rock 4 TF, which I have in my main PC.
The cooler aesthetically is at the very high levels that BeQuiet has taught us. Excellent packaging, exceptional finish, and high build quality. It is indeed the little sibling of the TF in everything, weight, cooler size, number of fans. The issue is that it is inferior to the Alpenfohn, as the latter has a smaller additional heatsink near the CPU contact point. On the other hand, the Alpenfohn comes with a smaller 92mm fan, but it can also accommodate a 120mm fan on top.
Its installation is as easy as it gets, and once the brackets are installed the first time, you don't need to remove the entire motherboard if you need to temporarily remove the cooler. However, you may need to watch a video or two on YouTube in one or two places. One thing is for sure, if it is installed as the instructions say, the memory sticks won't come out easily, so either install it as the instructions say and forget about the easy installation/removal of the memory sticks, or install it differently from the instructions.
In terms of performance, it performs well as expected. At an ambient temperature of 23 degrees, it keeps a stock R5 1600 at 35-40 degrees during simple tasks (browsing, office, media), with noise levels barely noticeable.
Overall, it is a very good cooler, beautiful, capable, and efficient, at the right price. The Alpenfohn is slightly more expensive and comes with a 92mm fan, but it is somewhat heavier and more flexible, as it can also accommodate another 120mm fan on top. Comparatively, I prefer the Alpenfohn, but the Shadow Rock LP is equally an exceptional low-profile solution.