DeepCool's Assassin IV is a truly stellar air cooler that firmly cements itself as one of the best options available at the time of writing. While it isn't a massive upgrade over the Assassin III, it is better looking than its predecessor while performing similarly. More affordable than the Noctua NH-D15 and NH-D15S. All while delivering similar or, in some cases, better performance than both in the OC tests at the same noise level. If noise is not a concern, the Assassin IV easily pulls away with the victory. Also worth noting is setting the built-in fan controller to the low noise option, which equals the 45 dBA noise normalized tests that were run. This means if noise is a concern, then the noise-normalized charts show the exact performance that fan setting provides. Regardless of the test bench or individual test that was run, the DeepCool offering overall really is the complete package, at least as far as out-of-the-box air coolers go.

The build quality of my sample is easily on par with Noctua, and be quiet! in regards to fit and finish. Furthermore, the mounting hardware is incredibly easy to work with and simple as can be. The only issue is the extra fan mounting bracket. It is a plastic plate that you can screw another fan too, but if you do so, it essentially destroys the cooler's visual appeal while also forcing the use of standard or low-profile memory. Also worth noting is that the fan speed control switch, while not overly noticeable, does stand out a bit, and the illuminated DeepCool logo, if you use it, will destroy the all-black aesthetic. For some, if it was an ARGB logo, that may not be a problem, but DeepCool sticks with their teal-lighted logo, which, at least for me, kind of ruins the cooler's crisp, clean appearance. Thankfully you can avoid it by just plugging the fans into the motherboard directly, so it's a minor quibble at best.

Overall the DeepCool Assassin IV is an all-around exceptional top-tier air cooler that delivers tremendous performance and looks while simultaneously being easy to install and backed by a great warranty, making it a no-brainer to recommend.