A Closer Look

Scythe's Ashura CPU cooler is a single tower design with fifty aluminum fins. Thus far, it is the only heatsink I have reviewed that uses offset heatpipes to improve memory compatibility. While it doesn’t stand out in terms of looks, there is more here than initially meets the eye.


Weighing in at 750 g, the Scythe Ashura is 125 g heavier than the Mugen 4 I already reviewed. The increase in weight is due to its solid aluminum fins whose increased surface area should place the Ashura higher up on the chart when it comes to cooling performance.


An anodized black aluminum plate, attached to the cooler at each corner, covers its top. It hides the heatpipes there and contrasts nicely with Scythe's white logo and the heatsink's aluminum fins. The six 6 mm heatpipes are arranged in a way to transfer heat rather evenly across the aluminum fins of the heatsink. The base has also been set up as a small heatsink of its own and acts as a means to secure the mounting bar.


The base of the Ashura is made out of nickle-plated copper and displays a spiral pattern, which is due to the milling process. While barely noticeable, the base is in fact slightly convex, which means that the mounting hardware will have to offer a decent amount of pressure for optimal contact. That said, Scythe's mounting hardware does offers more than adequate pressure.


The Glide Stream fan Scythe provided is 140 mm x 25 mm large, and its model number is SY1425HB12M-P. It is, as previously stated, a PWM fan with an RPM range of 500-1300. The fan is black and utilizes a small hub and wide blade design that has been paired with grooved fan blades.