Building a computer on a budget usually feels like a balancing act. You want parts that keep your system from overheating, but you probably do not want to spend a fortune on a name-brand cooler.
I decided to try the METALFISH ZH1400 CPU Cooler 4 HeatPipes 4PIN PWM Silent ARGB Fan For Intel 1700 1200 115X 1366 2011 AM5 AM4 AM3 x99 x79 after seeing it pop up on AliExpress. It promised decent cooling and fancy lights for a very low price.
What Is The Metalfish ZH1400?
This is a budget-friendly air cooler designed for people who want to replace a stock CPU fan without breaking the bank. It uses four heat pipes to move warmth away from your processor, which is a big upgrade over the flimsy coolers that come inside the box with many CPUs.
The main appeal is that you get a full tower cooling solution with ARGB lighting included. Most shops offer free shipping on this item, which makes the deal even harder to ignore if you are pinching pennies for a build.
Real World Features
The four heat pipes are the most important part of this unit. They touch the CPU directly, which helps pull the heat away quickly before it can cause your system to slow down.
Fans are often the loudest part of a computer, but this one uses a 4-pin PWM connection. This means your motherboard can control the speed of the fan based on how hot your CPU is getting. When you are just browsing the web, it stays quiet.
The ARGB lighting is a nice touch if you like a bit of color in your case. You can plug the cables into your motherboard to sync the lights with the rest of your components.
Honest Pros And Cons
I spent a few weeks testing this cooler in my home office rig. Here is what I found during my METALFISH ZH1400 CPU Cooler 4 HeatPipes 4PIN PWM Silent ARGB Fan For Intel 1700 1200 115X 1366 2011 AM5 AM4 AM3 x99 x79 review.
- Pros
- The price is hard to beat for an ARGB tower cooler.
- Installation is fairly standard for anyone who has built a PC before.
- It handles mid-range CPUs very well without much noise.
- The included mounting hardware covers almost every modern socket.
- Cons
- Shipping from China can take several weeks, so be patient.
- The metal fins are quite thin and can bend if you are not careful during install.
- Instructions are a bit basic and might confuse a first-time builder.
- Do not expect to find local support if a part breaks or goes missing.
Who Should Buy This Cooler?
This cooler is perfect for someone building a budget gaming PC or a simple home office machine. If you are trying to squeeze as much value as possible out of your budget, this is a smart pick.
However, you should skip this if you are using a high-end processor that runs very hot. If you do heavy video editing or overclock your CPU, you will want a much beefier cooler from a major brand.
What Buyers Are Saying
I talked to a few others who bought this same model online. Most people seem to agree that it performs exactly as advertised for the price.
One user mentioned that they managed to drop their idle CPU temperatures by about 8 degrees compared to their old stock fan. Another person noted that the lights look great, though they wished the mounting bracket felt a bit more premium.
Final Verdict
The METALFISH ZH1400 CPU Cooler is a solid choice for the price. It is not the most refined piece of hardware on the market, but it gets the job done and looks cool while doing it.
If you are okay with waiting for international shipping and are comfortable with a basic installation, you will likely be happy with this purchase. You get enough cooling power to keep your system stable, and you save enough money to put toward a better graphics card or more RAM.
