A Closer Look

The DeepCool Assassin IV is certainly a sleek design, sure it's boxy and black, but it has a visual aesthetic that is appealing in that it's not overly garish or adorned with eccentric plastics and ARGB LEDs. Instead the simplicity is refreshing. The solid plastic shrouds help provide clean lines while the vented side and top break up what could otherwise be a monotonous design.


At 1575 g, it certainly falls into the heavyweight category, being nearly 300 g heavier than even the Noctua NH-D15. The checkerboard fin stack adds deep gaps for better airflow while still maximizing overall surface area as well. Meanwhile, the black coating on the fins keeps with the overall visual theme. The cooler also has a slight offset to maximize memory compatibility.


The top plate is held in place with magnets which is a nice touch, helping keep the overall body lines of the cooler intact. The only elements that stand out are the selector switch that offers low noise or high-performance operation and the DeepCool logo that has a faint or bright glow depending on the previously selected modes. If you want no teal color, you can bypass the built-in fan controller for a fully blacked-out design. To transfer heat from the CPU to the dual fin stacks, DeepCool opted for seven heat pipes. As for the nickel-plated copper base, it has some visible machining marks and is slightly convex to deliver good pressure. All that said, the overall fit and finish is exceptional.


The 120 mm and 140 mm fans used by DeepCool have the same RPM range of 500 to 1700. The Low noise option via the selector on the top of the cooler drops the fan's max RPM to 1350. What makes the setup unique is the rear 120 mm fan is essentially reversed from contemporary designs. While you may not see it once installed, it does make for a more attractive design and shows some nice attention to detail.