Entry-Level Air Cooler from FSP

If you read my previous article which is about FSP MP7 ARGB. Then you already know that they started testing the waters in CPU Air Cooler space.

Another air cooler product from FSP, the NE5 Air Cooler is going to be tested and to see if this entry-level cooler is worth to buy or not.

Specifications:

CPU Supported Platforms	Intel LGA : 1851 / 1700 / 1200 (The installation method for 1851 is the same as for 1700) AMD : AM4 / AM5
Dimensions (LxWxH)	120 x 71 x 150 mm
HeatSink Dimensions (LxWxH)	120 x 45 x 150 mm
Fan Dimensions ( L x W x H )	120 x 120 x 25 mm
Weight	553 g
Heatsink Material	Aluminum Alloy
Heat-pipe	6 mm x 4PCS
Fan Speed	800 – 1600 RPM ( PWM ) ± 10%
Bearing Type	HDB
Fan Air Flow	62 CFM ± 10%
Static Pressure	1.8 mm H2O ± 10%
Noise Level	28 dBA ± 10%
Rated Voltage	12 VDC
Rated Current	0.2 A
LED	ARGB

Closer Look

The box comes with a color printed design with the image of the Air cooler at the front.

At the back are the specifications and some features of the FSP NE5.

Inside the box are the following; the Intel Backplate, Thermal Grease, User’s Manual and AMD mounting bracket.

And lastly, the FSP NE5 Air Cooler itself.

The FSP NE5 is a compact single-tower air cooler with a single 120mm ARGB fan. It didn’t include any additional fan clips, so right out of the box you can put an additional fan at the back.

The fins are not that dense, so it only needs high airflow fans. It doesn’t also have any notch at the bottom back of the fins as it is compact and doesn’t block the Motherboard’s I/O Cover.

At the top, the air cooler doesn’t have any covers. So, the ends of the heat pipes are exposed. There is an FSP embedded to the heatsink.

The base plate is made from copper that covers the whole CPU’s heat spreader. Typically,, you will see this kind of expose design on entry-level coolers

The fan included doesn’t have a name based on the spec sheet. But this fan is a Hydro Dynamic Bearing (HDB) type with up to 1600 RPM fan speed and an airflow of 62 CFM. The fan is also ARGB that can be configured using your Motherboard’s software.

The fans can be controlled using the 3-pin ARGB Cable and the 4-pin PWM Cable.

Benchmarks

For benchmarking, I will use Cinebench 2024 and HWiNFO64.

Here are the specs of the components I will use for testing.

Specifications:
ASRock Phantom Gaming Z790 NOVA WiFi
Intel i5 13600KF
Kingston Fury Renegade (CUDIMM) 48GB (24×2) 7200 MT/s
PNY GeForce RTX 4070Ti SUPER VERTO OC
Thermaltake Core P3 Pro Chassis
FSP VITA GM 1000W
Noiseblocker e-Loop X Fans

Results

Conclusion

The FSP NE5 has a good build quality. It’s an entry-level air cooler, but it doesn’t come off as a cheap product either. FSP built this cooler with no cutting corners in mind and made it as affordable but sturdy as possible.

The RGB lighting is a nice little bonus. It adds just enough color to make your build stand out, but it’s not overwhelming. It’s more of a clean, subtle glow that blends well with most setups, which I think works better for this kind of cooler.

Performance-wise, the FSP NE5 shows that even as an entry-level air cooler, it can hold its own. It keeps temps in check and does not let heat build up during everyday use. It runs steady without any signs of struggle, making it a solid pick if you want reliable cooling whether you’re just using your PC for the usual stuff or pushing it a bit harder with an entry-level budget.

Installing it was very straightforward. You don’t need special tools to assemble it, just your handy-dandy screwdriver, and that’s it. No awkward parts or confusing steps, just a straightforward process from start to finish.

If I had to point out a downside, the Intel backplate does feel a bit cheap since it’s made of plastic, and the mounting brackets have that generic budget look you often see from mass-produced ones. Still, this is an entry-level cooler for an entry-level price, so I can’t complain too much. You’re getting a functional and decent-looking cooler without breaking the bank.

The FSP NE5 may be an entry-level air cooler, but it delivers more than you’d expect for its price. A good build quality, tasteful RGB lighting, and good performance for everyday use of your PC. Sure, the plastic Intel backplate and generic-looking mounting brackets remind you this is a budget option, but those are small trade-offs for the value it offers. If you’re building a budget or mid-range PC and want something reliable, easy to work with, and nice to look at, the NE5 is definitely worth considering.

You can buy the FSP NE5 Air Cooler for around $19.90 or P1,140.00 pesos. At your nearest FSP-affiliated online and physical stores.

With that, the FSP NE5 Air Cooler receives the Recommended Award.