Test System & Temperature Results

Test System

Testing Procedure

All testing is done at a room temperature of 23°C (73°F) with a 1°C margin of error. The coolers are tested with Turbo, EIST, and C1E enabled, which will allow the CPU to clock down to a low 1.6 GHz while idle, or clock up to proper speeds under stock and overclocked conditions. The retail Intel Core i7-4770K I use for testing at stock is set to load-optimized defaults with the CPU's voltage at a static 1.15 V. Overclocked, the processor is running at 4.2 GHz on the CPU and 3.9 GHz on cache, with respective voltages set to 1.20 V and 1.15 V. During all these tests, fans are set to run at 100% in the BIOS, with temperatures being recorded by AIDA64.

The idle test will consist of the CPU sitting idle at the desktop for 15 minutes. This will allow for a stable temperature reading that will be recorded at the end of those 15 minutes.

Wprime's and AIDA64's CPU test represent typical multi-threaded loads. Both offer consistent results, with one being a benchmarking application and the other a stability test. Both are run for 15 minutes before the peak reading during the test is recorded and taken as the result. This test lets enthusiasts know what temperatures they can expect to see with games and applications. Wprime is set to eight threads while AIDA64 is configured to stress the CPU, FPU, cache, and system memory.

AIDA64 offers maximum heat generation when set to stress just the FPU in the stability test, which will really push the CPU. This test represents extreme loads much like LinX, Prime95, and other extreme stress tests many users are familiar with.

Idle Temperatures

At idle, Deepcool's Gamer Storm Assassin does poorly at stock, coming in near the back of the pack, but the situation is reversed when the CPU is overclocked, with the Gamer Storm Assassin taking second place behind the Phanteks PH-TC12DX by 1°C.

Typical Load Temperatures

In Wprime, the first typical load test, Deepcool's Gamer Storm Assassin does extremely well for itself. At stock, it manages to place second on the chart, behind the Corsair H110 by just 2°C. When the system is overclocked, it still does extremely well, placing fourth overall and just 1°C behind the next best air cooler, be quiet!'s Dark Rock Pro 2.


Firing up Aida64's CPU benchmark also has the Gamer Storm Assassin showing impressive cooling performance. At stock, it is just 1°C away from tying the top two contenders. Meanwhile, with the system overclocked, Deepcool's Assassin manages to take the top spot, tying the likes of be quiet!'s Dark Rock Pro 2, Corsair's H110, and Phanteks PH-TC14PE.

Max Load Temperatures

Now for the torture test. Using Aida 64 to maximize heat on the CPU's FPU, we see the Gamer Storm Assassin sweeping aside the competition and taking the top air cooling spot. Only Corsair's H110 proves better by 2°C at stock and 1°C when overclocked.