At the start of 2025, Intel expanded its processor family Core Ultra 200Sthe famous Arrow Lake in LGA1851 which have been talked about a lot since their launch, even though they haven’t sold well. The 5 “K” models initially launched in October have been joined by 12 new “non-K” references which also implies one thing to note: the now appearance of CPUs sold in boxes with a cooler supplied as a bundle. After three long years of good and loyal service, the Intel Laminar RM1 and Laminar RH1 will begin a deserved early retirement phase and leave room for the LGA1851 to two newcomers: the Laminar RM2 et Laminar RH2quite simply.
Intel Laminar RM1 left / Intel Laminar RH1 right
A quick word first about Intel Laminar RM1 and RH1which will therefore have accompanied the LGA1700 socket throughout its life by being supplied with the 12th, 13th and 14th generation Intel Cores. They were supplied with 65 W TDP processors with the specificity that the RM1 was supplied with the Core i3, i5 and i7 while the RH1 was included in the 65 W Core i9 boxes.
On paper, LGA1700 coolers are compatible with LGA1851 motherboards so Intel could basically have renewed these two references for an additional dance, but that would not have sent a positive signal as we have already been seeing them for 3 years now and that LGA1851 is a new platform. So here comes the era of the Laminar RM2 and RH2, and according to Intel the new vintage will be significantly better!
Intel Laminar RM2 left / Intel Laminar RH2 right
The look changes quite radically with the Laminar RM2 et RH2those who appreciated the protruding fin edges of the previous generation will perhaps be slightly disappointed, but as always this is only a question of taste and there will undoubtedly be supporters of this style sober and black. Intel also seems to have made the decision to channel the air flow more with its new coolers, which is ultimately not very surprising since many customers had noticed that by placing a tube around their Laminar RM1 or RH1, they gained a few sometimes precious degrees on their CPU temperature, especially in summer. Otherwise, Intel uses the same principle as the previous generation, with an RM2 which does not have LED lighting, while it is present on the RM2. We again have an ARGB ring around the perimeter of the RM2, while the “Intel” logo in the center of the rotor is equipped with white LED lighting.
@momomo_us managed to get his hands on a small comparative sheet of the Laminar LGA1851 and LGA1700, which according to Intel summarizes the key points about them:
We discover that apart from the more “eco-friendly” side of the Laminar RM2, it would therefore be in terms of noise pollution that the second generation would do better than its predecessor. The problem is that the product sheets do not corroborate the 2.2 BA in sound pressure and actually indicate 2.7 BA, which still changes the situation quite clearly. To provide you with reliable data, we have recompiled Intel’s information relating directly or indirectly to the noise pollution of its coolers in the following table, using the same order as in the presentation sheet above:
| Laminar RH2 | Laminar RM2 | Laminar RH1 | Laminar RM1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fréq. min | 1000 million/min | 600 million/min | 1000 million/min | 600 million/min |
| Fréq. max | 3000 million/min | 3250 million/min | 3000 million/min | 3150 million/min |
| Acoustic power | 2.7 BA at 1600 rpm 4.7 BA at 3000 rpm | 3.6 BA at 2400 rpm 4.6 BA at 3250 rpm | 2.6 BA at 1600 rpm 4.5 BA at 3000 rpm | 3.9 BA at 2400 rpm 4.6 BA at 3150 rpm |
| Acoustic pressure | 23 dBA at 1600 rpm | 30 dBA at 2400 rpm | 16 dBA at 1600 rpm | 29 dBA at 2400 rpm |
If the Laminar RM2 seems to have slightly better sound performance than its predecessor the RM1, with a sound power (at the source) slightly lower at 2400 rpm and equal at full speed while it spins at 100 rpm. min faster, we note however that the acoustic pressure (measured at a point in the space around the cooler) ultimately does not do better at 2400 rpm.
Concerning the Laminar RH2, the results are striking, it must be said. Already the 2.2 BA at the source of the previous document is forgotten, but the newcomer would display sound readings at the source a little higher than those obtained by the RH1 in its time, with a sound level assessment even more to its disadvantage since Intel indicates 23 dBA at 1600 rpm for the radbox of its Core Ultra 9 “non-K” LGA1851, while that of the Core i9 “non-K” LGA1700 is also given for 16 dBA at 1600 rpm. The Laminar RH2 could therefore well be a disappointment in the end in light of the values indicated by Intel itself…
