Be Quiet MC1 and MC1 Pro Review: Essential cooling compatible with any system

Don’t let its petite profile fool you – Be Quiet’s MC1 Pro is a capable SSD heatsink thanks to an integrated copper heatpipe that flows through both sides.

Be Quiet MC1 and MC1 Pro SSD Heatsink
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Thermal Performance

Be Quiet MC1 and MC1 Pro SSD Heatsink

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

This first chart shows the results of Be Quiet’s MC1 in terms of IOPs. On my primary testing system, this has a maximum average performance of 4,900 IOPs with the best heatsinks on the market. The non-pro variant of the MC1 heatsink sustained a rate of 4,150 IOPS.

While this isn't an excellent score on the test test, one must keep in mind three things:

  1. This performance level is strong enough to ensure peak performance for most users
  2. This was tested in a computer with liquid cooling.
  3. When tested with an air cooling setup, Be Quiet’s MC1 non-pro SSD heatsink was capable of passing my stress tests when running on a PCI-e 4 system.

If your aim is for common-use scenarios with good thermal performance, the non-pro version of the MC1 will be more than strong enough for your needs. Now let's move on to the next chart, which shows the performance of Be Quiet’s MC1 and stronger MC1 Pro using thermal measurements.

Be Quiet MC1 and MC1 Pro SSD Heatsink

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

You’ll notice this chart has two black bars: The first indicates where a heatsink would throttle if paired with a PCIe 5 SSD system. The second indicates where a heatsink throttles with a PCIe 4 drive system.

When paired with a AIO liquid cooler, Be Quiet’s MC1 Pro is strong enough to keep the SSD from throttling in my intense stress tests while operating in PCIe 4. However, it experiences minor thermal throttling in the same scenario on a PCIe 5. Again, it’s worth mentioning these results were obtained while using a liquid cooler – users who use an air cooler for their PC’s CPU can expect Be Quiet’s MC1 Pro to sustain the most intense workloads, even under PCIe 5.

Conclusion

Be Quiet MC1 and MC1 Pro SSD Heatsink

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Be Quiet’s MC1 and MC1 Pro offer good thermal performance in a low-profile package that is compatible with PCs of all sizes. Users with demanding workloads are advised to purchase the Pro version of this unit which has stronger thermal performance due to the integration of a copper heatpipe that improves performance.

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Albert Thomas
Freelancer, CPU Cooling Reviewer

Albert Thomas is a contributor for Tom’s Hardware, primarily covering CPU cooling reviews.

  • Notton
    "... integrated copper heatpipe that flows through both sides ..."
    When I saw that line, I thought you meant it had a heatpipe that wraps around the backside, but when I saw the pictures I understood better.

    I guess that's a cost effective way to increase surface area without going for a vapor chamber or slim/wide heatpipe used in laptops.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    It seems to me that the MC1 probably isn't worth buying due to cheaper competition, but the Pro seems like it would be.

    I suspect surface area would likely end up being the only issue with these for sustained load, but even then I don't think it would be a big issue. When I replaced my Thermalright Type AB with the Thermalright Pro the temps were much better (~10C) until over time the heatsink got soaked and then it was much closer (~1C).
    Reply
  • tommo1982
    Haven't seen it mentioned, but the holes for the screws in top cover are not perfectly oval. There's a little protrusion in the middle, which allows to exert some pressure with the SSD on the thermopads and it won't move up.
    I have the non Pro version and the build quality is really good.
    Reply
  • beyondlogic
    thestryker said:
    It seems to me that the MC1 probably isn't worth buying due to cheaper competition, but the Pro seems like it would be.

    I suspect surface area would likely end up being the only issue with these for sustained load, but even then I don't think it would be a big issue. When I replaced my Thermalright Type AB with the Thermalright Pro the temps were much better (~10C) until over time the heatsink got soaked and then it was much closer (~1C).


    as someone who owns both of these i can tell you the mc has a advantage other cheaper solutions dont which is the fins dont go beyond the top of the bracket. this is particularly ideal for nvme slot under the gpu. as what i was finding that some by less then 1mm where stopping gpus fully inserting into the pci slot correctly and some of the fins on others where actually getting stuck under the gpu tab. cause its so close
    Reply
  • thestryker
    beyondlogic said:
    as someone who owns both of these i can tell you the mc has a advantage other cheaper solutions dont which is the fins dont go beyond the top of the bracket. this is particularly ideal for nvme slot under the gpu. as what i was finding that some by less then 1mm where stopping gpus fully inserting into the pci slot correctly and some of the fins on others where actually getting stuck under the gpu tab. cause its so close
    That's interesting as I have a bracket along the edge of my 10Gb NIC which cuts off how tall of a cooler I can use but there's still 12-13mm of space. I didn't think anything overlapped on the slot side of video cards, but that makes sense.
    Reply
  • beyondlogic
    thestryker said:
    That's interesting as I have a bracket along the edge of my 10Gb NIC which cuts off how tall of a cooler I can use but there's still 12-13mm of space. I didn't think anything overlapped on the slot side of video cards, but that makes sense.

    Yeah it was quite annoying

    I replaced the nvme Asus b550 tuf WiFi the second slot is in-between 2 PCI e slots and the tabs are ungodly big that if you use a nvme that's to wide or spills over the bracket you'll get your GPU stuck cause the tab can't compress down.

    That and the heatsink on the GPU tends to be so close to motherboard.

    I had to very painfully bend fins back on a nvme and then push down the latch with a screw driver. With ungodly force just to get it to release .

    Thankfully the MC was much more smaller.

    Benefits of MC pro are as follows

    Still compact for for CPU cooler slot at the top as I had a thermal right cooler for nvme that was tall but the find width clashed with back of GPU and my CPU cooler tower.

    Other good points comes with everything you need including the screw driver. Which comes with both models.

    Also I found with controller chips on nvme the cooler on thermal right for example would move a bit unstable and I had to use thicker pads to get it to clamp properly even though it says for both nvme type and using alot of force to hold it down while screwing it in still felt looser then the MC.

    The install on the MC didn't have this issue I think because the threads on the heatsink were better and had less play once it's on its clamped.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    beyondlogic said:
    Also I found with controller chips on nvme the cooler on thermal right for example would move a bit unstable and I had to use thicker pads to get it to clamp properly even though it says for both nvme type and using alot of force to hold it down while screwing it in still felt looser then the MC.
    I think this might be manufacturing tolerance because I bought several of the AB/AG and one Pro Thermalright heatsink and they didn't all fit quite the same. Of course the AB/AG were $6 and the Pro $7 so I didn't really care so long as they worked.
    Reply
  • beyondlogic
    thestryker said:
    I think this might be manufacturing tolerance because I bought several of the AB/AG and one Pro Thermalright heatsink and they didn't all fit quite the same. Of course the AB/AG were $6 and the Pro $7 so I didn't really care so long as they worked.
    Yeah I bought the be quiet because the thermal right batch that I Got just wasn't up to snuff other advantage of the MC is easier because it's fins are smaller if the nvme is on the back of the board its a god send my metallic gear pc that I built for my cousin had issues as the SD mount eclipsed the back of the nvme on the rear of the motherboard which left just a few cm
    Reply