It's not often a GPU cooler design makes me do a double-take, but here we are. The a prototype version of this cooler at Computex with a screen in the middle of the fan.
The latest MSI Cyclone is described as "a legacy reborn for a new era" as it references Cyclone designs of old. I'll it to looking them up to refresh my memory, but whaddaya know, you can still find a listing for one on MSI's site. Still, as unusual as the new card looks compared to modern GPU shroud designs, I'll it to being more of a fan (see what I did there?) of the prototype version I was shown at Computex a mere two weeks ago.
The prototype RTX 5070 12 G Cyclone Visual OC makes use of the same cooler design, except with the addition of a small circular screen. I'm not sure what useful information you'd show in the middle of your GPU (although I suppose you could always mount the card upright with an angled riser and show some temperature figures), but I thought it was pretty neat.
Plus it appears to be made of copper, which brings to mind the popular Zalman U coolers of old. I always lusted after one of these, mainly because the aesthetic was wild for the time and, if memory serves, they were pretty efficient for their day.
Anyway, rose-tinted glasses and all that. The other thing to note about the RTX 5060 8G Cyclone OC is it's got a tasteful (?) arctic camo wrap on parts of the shroud, and it appears to be on a skiing holiday.
Oh, and those two high-efficiency heat pipes look reassuringly chonky, on a design that is otherwise rather sleek. The RTX 5060 is a fairly cool-running GPU to begin with, so getting a little wild with the thermal design in the pursuit of slimness and an aesthetic that stands out from the crowd strikes me as a "why not" sort of idea to me.
Graphics card coolers have become a little boring over the past few years, so I'll gladly welcome the odd drop of hot sauce in the homogeneous GPU soup. Arctic camo-themed PC build, anyone? I await the photos with anticipation.
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