A Closer Look

While the AK400 from DeepCool may have a simplistic design overall, it is still a nice-looking heatsink with a well-thought-out design. The 54 aluminium fins have folded edges to maintain spacing while also directing the conical shape of the fan's airflow through the fin stack. The fins are also rather robust with very little flex showcasing a level of quality not always seen on coolers in the $30 to $40 price range.


Compared to its larger sibling, the AK620 which can handle up to 260 watts, the AK400 is rated at 220 watts. Considering it has roughly half the heat dissipation area, I find DeepCool's rating a bit hard to believe; however, the performance results show it is within the realm of possibility.


The top plate has a pattern reminiscent of a checkerboard with the DeepCool logo on the bottom right. Much like the overall design, it is simple, clean, and somewhat elegant. You won't find ARGB lighting or anything of the sort here. Only the DeepCool logo in teal adds a touch of color to an otherwise neutral aesthetic. As for the base, it's a heat pipe direct touch design comprised of four 6-mm heat pipes. Two are in the center, with two more slightly offset. I was surprised to find the base predominately flat. Only the outer corners sat imperceptibly lower than the center.


The fan used for the AK400 is DeepCool's FC120P with model number DF1202512CM. It has a PWM RPM range of 500–1850 with a CFM rating of 66.47. As for the design itself, it uses a solid square frame with the hub of 9 fan blades, and a fluid dynamic bearing. Overall, much like the heatsink, it feels quite nice with the build quality above some of its competitors.