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

Cooling performance at idle is as expected, with the Scythe Ashura performing similarly to its competitors.

Typical Load Temperatures

In Wprime, the Scythe Ashura does well for its size, coming in just 1°C behind the Cooler Master Seidon 120XL at stock. With the CPU overclocked, the cooler does well too, managing to tie the more expensive and less versatile Phanteks PH-TC14PE, a high-end heavyweight.


The Ashura performs roughly the same as in Wprime in AIDA64. At stock, it is again 1°C behind the Cooler Master Seidon 120XL. The Ashura falls back into the middle of the pack with the overclock; however, performance is still above average.

Max Load Temperatures

Stressing the FPU with AIDA64 shows the Ashura again performing exceptionally well at stock, which places it a mere 2°C behind the Seidon 120 XL; this is exceptional considering the Cooler Master option is nearly double the price. Applying the overclock sees temperatures increase to 90°C, which is, again, just 2°C behind the Seidon 120XL. Overall, a solid showing from Scythe with this single tower design.