Air Coolers

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin is the de-facto, no-nonsense line of air coolers by a company dedicated to both outperforming and undercutting its competition. is the latest and greatest water cooler line from Arctic. This line of coolers is always ranked near, or at, the top of the rankings, even sometimes beating out coolers that cost more than $100 more! And for a cooler that can cost less than $40 from the start, that's an intense comparison.

There are many versions of the Thermalright Peerless Assassin. It is important to note that all versions have the same mount, heat pipes, radiators, and assembly. The larger versions perform moderately better due to more thermal mass, more airflow, etc., but for their size all variants are chart toppers, or nearly there, amongst the direct competition. The standard, most popular version is the Peerless Assassin 120, which like most options in the Peerless Assassin line include two fans, a split radiator stack, and all the mounting hardware necessary to support more than 10 years of processors for both Intel and AMD processors. There is also an ARGB version with ARGB fans, and a Digital version with a digital ARGB display built in to display critical system information such as CPU or GPU temperature and load. And then take all those options and repeat them for white, instead of black! Despite the low price, is that too expensive for you? Thermalright has a "SE", or Special Edition, that costs a few dollars less, and they cut the cost by sacrificing aesthetics such as less paint, stickers, and other minor cosmetic touches. Then, take all of those options, and double them again because you can get just about all of that in a 140mm size as well! Going in the other direction, for builders trying to make a smaller build, you've got a couple specialty choiches that include only 1 fan standard; a "120 mini", which is also 120mm with a slightly more compact radiator stack, and a "90" that's even smaller with a 90mm fan.

Whew. Let me catch my breath here for a moment. How many variants is that? Trying to pin it down for this review, I found 21 different variants of Peerless Assassin coolers. Not all options are available in all combinations. For example, I couldn't find any Peerless Assassin 90s that include ARGB or Digital variants. Not saying they do not or never existed, but as of the time of this review they are not available. There may be more out there that just aren't available as of now. But still, there's an option that will fit just about any build. And all using the same high quality cooling standard.

Now, to be clear, there are more similar options, but they're not exactly "Peerless Assassin". There's some Assassin X and Burst Assassin variants, for example. They get similar marketing by Thermalright, but details remain unclear if it's using the same heatpipe and radiator design as their Peerless brethren, and there's not enough independent testing by qualified professionals of their thermal performance to know for sure. We have used some and found good quality results, but no way for us to confidently say they should be counted among the same ranks.

Mounting the cooler follows the standard protocol. Use the existing backplate (AMD) or use one of the multiple provided options (Intel), screw on the custom mounting points, line the heatsink up, and screw down just two posts, top and bottom from the CPU (on most PC orientations). Then attach your fans, and you're good to go. Nothing particularly special or noteworthy there. Which isn't a bad thing. Simplicity and consistency in this manner makes it more understandable and accessible to the average user. When you can do that while achieving great results, it's a positive in our book. The included user manual will walk you through the steps and clearly identifies which parts go with which CPU for proper compatibility, which is a nice touch. Digital guides have their pros and cons too, but there's just something about having a physical guide that helps the experience. There is only one complaint we would have here, and it's not even Thermalright's problem or fault, but Intel's. The LGA 1700/1851 socket's default retention mechanism is prone to bending and warping over time, as it does not apply even and consistent pressure to the CPU in the socket. To fix this, on any chip in either of these sockets we highly recommend a contact frame, which is sold separately. If the Peerless Assassin cost more we would like to see a contact frame included. But not including that in every box to keep the cost down for everyone who may use it is a better choice. And Thermalright sells a contact frame as well, also for a very reasonable price.

Another note is the attention to detail. The cooler is vertically symmetrical, with the only difference being the logo. This lets the user install it in whichever way they prefer, or what matches other text in their case such as may be on the motherboard or GPU. On the bottom, there's a small section of radiator that doesn't extend all the way to the bottom, providing clearance for more RAM sizes, and this is on both sides so it will be compatible with any RAM choice in either orientation. This is true on all versions of the cooler we have seen and tested, with the exception of the Digital variants, which has a clearly defined up and down orientation. However, the top with the digital display is removable and can be installed in any orientation with the fans installed in any orientation, so it does not change the versatility in any meaningful way. 

Speaking of fan orientations, the fans are swappable and reversible, so that they can be configured on the two outsides of the heatsink, or one on the inside and the other on either side. This can be done push or pull, front or back, so it supports and flows with any kind of fan orientation in the rest of your case, even the rare but valid rear intake. This makes a minor point of problem with novice builders who may accidentally point their two fans opposed to eachother, hurting cooling performance, but the included manual notes not to do this, but we have seen it happen on personal builds people bring into our shop. Even the smaller options that come with only 1 fan let you mount it in any of these possible orientations, and they include the necessary hardware to mount a second fan if purchased and added separately. The fans have standard 4-pin PWN connectors, and the included Y-splitter is also universal. We are always proponents of universal connectors as opposed to proprietary ones. With the fans' cables and the splitter, the cables are long enough to reach just about any fan header in your motherboard. Really, this cable length is mostly unnecessary, as only edge cases may need a header a foot away from the CPU. The CPU header is usually pretty close, so you end up with excess cable length. However, you can simply wrap the cables around the fans, and there's adequate space underneath the heatsink to tuck any extra cabling under there unseen, meaning cable management is easy and efficient for the 99% of installs that don't need that extra cable length.

All in all, the Peerless Assassin line has earned the de-facto recommended air cooler for almost any build. Not only among us, but the broader PC community as a whole. And Thermalright accomplishes this while beating most of their competition on price. Ranging from ~$25 to ~$60, depending on exact model chosen, the Peerless Assassin line is more affordable than just about any other cooler that delivers similar performance, and delivers better performance than just about everything at the same price point. Due to all of these factors, we are happy to award Thermalright not only a full 5 star rating, but no cons (of their fault) worth noting on the banner. Really, the only things we can complain about this are either subjective or a give and take decision that would have minor issues whichever way it's designed. You can read all about the more technical specs or order your own on Amazon here. 

The Thermaltake Toughair 510 is the cooler in the "Toughair" line of Thermaltake air coolers, fitting the theme for other "tough" products, including Toughpower (PSUs), Toughliquid (AIOs), Toughram (obviously RAM), and more. They even have some niche items such as Toughdesk and such! In our experience, "tough" products are usually high quality and slightly overpriced. This is no exception, having used the Toughair 510 in an older Mid Range Gaming build, Mint Chocolate Chip. We chose this cooler because it matched the colors and theme of the build, and do not regret the choice.

We're going to tackle the biggest, most notable thing about this cooler right up front: this thing is silent. Not very quiet. Not hardly noticeable. Not drowned out by other fans or components. Absolutely SILENT! When we first set this up it was on a test bench with no other fans or other noisy components installed. No mechanical hard drives or case fans or anything that even physically moves. And we couldn't hear it. At all. Just to test, we took a camera and recorded, getting the microphone up to around ~1/4 inch (~0.5cm) away from the fan. Still couldn't hear anything. Looking at the audio track in a simple video editor and there was no distinction between the fan and the random background not-quite-silence in the room. Not quite a hemi-anechoic chamber level test, but inasmuch as we are able to test, there is NO SOUND produced at idle. 

To be fair we did stress test the build and just for curiosity sake if nothing more we disconnected every fan besides the CPU cooler just to see. It does make audible noise when ramped up to 100%, but not much. Subjectively, we would say it's approximately the same volume of an Arctic P12 when ramped somewhere between 25%-50%, and Arctic fans are known for being on the quieter side of high performance fans. So at full bore not completely silent, but still very quiet. But at idle speeds for general computer use? No. Sound. At. All. It's even quieter than a Noctua NH-D15!

As far as the construction of the cooler itself, it's a decent cooler with four heat pipes that make direct contact with the CPU's IHS. The radiator is "designed with an asymmetric structure" that "lowers the air turbulence and straightens out the airflow making it easier to disperse heat from the fins standard", and it seems to do that job well. Despite the abnormal construction, it's a standard 120mm radiator stack with 2 fans that should be used in a push/pull configuration. These fans come in multiple colors that precisely match other Thermaltake products; the specific cooler we used was "Racing Green" to match the Tower 100. There are two Intel Backplates included for a variety of LGA socket supports from 1150 to 1200 (LGA 1700/1851 compatibility with a different mounting kit, not included in the box), and compatible AMD hardware for everything from FM1 to AM5 sockets. 

We paired this with a Ryzen 7 5800X, for reference. When using this cooler, idle temps stay between 25-30 Celsius at idle. When doing our standard stress test, temps leveled out at 78 degrees. We use a standard "silent" fan curve that doesn't max out the cooler until 80 degrees, so the cooler never even ran at full bore during stress testing. Obstensibly this cooler is rated to 180W TDP, and oftentimes these numbers are unreliable, but after handling a 105W chip like the 5800X without even breaking a sweat, this may indeed be adequate to keep a 180w chip below 100 degrees. Though, as always, we would never recommend maxing out your cooler potential and instead choosing your parts to have a bit of overhead.

The mounting hardware for AMD includes an adapter to utilize the standard backplate and CPU mounts. This is great for multi-generational compatibility, but does leave the cooler feeling a little loose and unsecure, as it can rock and slide slightly, being only held in by friction and no directly mounted points. Still, this doesn't seem to impact thermal performance in any way so it's completely forgivable. Other bits in the box include an interesting injection molded standoff/cap set that comes in the frame similar to a model kit, a user manual in paper (always a plug), a simple tube of thermal paste, and a Y-splitter to connect both fans to the same motherboard header. The splitter is very short in length and it pairs nicely with the fans to have a good reach without overdoing, making cable management a simple affair. Really, the only complaint may be that there is no consideration to the modern desire for LEDs or other cosmetic lighting elements. This is a subtle silent cooler only, and while there are a variety of color choices, there is no option for lighting. Still, a minor, subjective, cosmetic thing doesn't detract from the rating on its own.

Overall, this is a great cooler that delivers great performance, and does it quieter than any other cooler (including water coolers) that we have ever tested. That's phenomenal! Honestly, our biggest gripe with this cooler is the price tag. While we've found archived records of this selling for $50 when new, it is listed at an MSRP of $60, and rarely going on sale for even $55, it's hard to justify this when other options that perform just as well cost $20-$30 less. And at the $60 price point there's perfectly valid AIO water coolers to choose. It's a good choice if the colors match what you're going for, and the best choice if you're looking for a silent cooler. Just, like all Thermaltake "tough" products, slightly overpriced. If it was available anywhere for $50, it would be a 5 star rating, but still for a $5-$10 difference it's still not a bad choice. If you're interested in the Toughair 510, you can read all about the more technical specs or order your own on Amazon here. 

The Zalman CNPS16X is more than just a jumble of letters and numbers that are hard to remember. It's also the cooler of choice we used when doing an "ALL the RGB" build. And this cooler certainly delivers on that, with 3 channels of RGB, one on each side as well as the entire logo and it's surroundings, all decked out in fully addressable RGB lighting.

When looking for the cooler that offered the most RGB, the Zalman caught our eye. For those unaware, Zalman was a big name in the custom gaming PC scene around 15-20 years ago. One of the first companies to start pioneering products designed for this industry but with a cosmetic angle for the consumer market, Zalman is an OG who fell out of favor for more attractive, newer companies. It's one of those "I wonder whatever happened to them?" type of companies. So when we saw the Zalman cooler on sale for 50% off with all it's RGB goodness, we just had to have it for this build.

To start, it all looked great. The unboxing went very smoothly, with everything packed very well and protected in an oversized box. They included the needed accessories such as thermal paste, Intel backplate, and screws and washers. They also include nice extras such as both fan and RGB splitters and a fully illustrated and thorough guide that provides instructions in 14 languages. As another nice touch, the two fans included are one standard and one reverse bladed option, so that both sides can show the nicer side of the fan and it can be installed in any orientation without any eyesore. This dichotomy of fans also means that it is impossible for an amateur builder to install incorrectly, as we have seen before, with the fans fighting eachother. The fans will always work in concert, pushing and pulling air in one direction and one direction only.

But then the problems start. The fans themselves, while looking nice, are pre-mounted into special plastic brackets for mounting onto the heatsink. And while the fans do appear to be easily removable from this plastic mount, they are not standard mounting points. Also as a result of the decision to make one reverse bladed, it means they are not interchangeable or easily swapable. While that specifically can't be complained about as there's a clear and present reason for it, due to the non-standard mounts, these fans cannot be replaced at all if one fails without ordering the exact same fan specifically, which are around $20 each. These plastic brackets are also very cheap, feeling brittle and cheap to the touch, and they are mostly solid, blocking much of the face of the heatsink that is not directly in line with the fan blades.

The heatsink itself is very lightweight, and is made with a "corrugated" design. While this does give it a nice, unique appearance, it leaves sharp edges to cut the fingers and hands of the person installing it, and it spaces the heatsink fins out wider than most alternatives. Less heatsink density means less cooling potential. The mounting backplate for Intel CPUs also feels very cheap and flimsy. One backplate with multiple installation options to fit every supported socket means it must be flexible in all the wrong ways. When the fan brackets are snapped onto the heatsink you must secure the cables. There are splitters included for RGB and PWM (fan) headers, and even extra adapters for non-standard RGB options that may be found on motherboards such as Gigabyte and ASUS options. All of that is nice, but the cables are just so long. After finding and connecting the correct adapters, we were left with nearly 2 feet of cables for a connector that needs to only stretch 3 or so inches. And while not every motherboard is going to have the connectors in the same exact place, a foot of cable length is more than generous enough. With so much cableage, we were left with difficult stuffing the extra cables wherever we could fit them. Definitely made cable management a chore in this regard (which is already a major problem in a RGB heavy build to start with).

After getting everything connected, cabled up, and the whole thing is screwed down onto the backplate, the entire thing can wobble slightly; it does not feel solid and sturdy like it should. The top cover with the "Zalman" logo must be the last part snapped down over a couple locking points on the fans. Once this is installed, hope you do not have to remove it, because although there is a "slot" to use to pry these pieces apart again, the cheap plastic cracked and broke when we needed to do so, and then the top cover would not sit firmly flat down after that point.

We lack the equipment or testing methodology necessary to get forensic level results, but as there is not much documentation from other sources on the cooling properties of this cooler, we did our best. When paired with an Intel i7-7700K running Cinebench R12, this cooler maxed out at 86 degrees. For comparison, an Arctic Freezer 7 X that we had on hand at the time leveled out at 77 degrees. A full 9 degrees cooler under the same test in the exact same system. And the Arctic cooler is half the cost and has only 1 fan to the Zalman's 2. In the Zalman's favor, it was very slightly quieter to the ear than the Arctic, and it certainly looked better while doing it.

We aren't qualified to say exactly why this performed so poorly. Important factors that likely played a role, though we cannot say how much, would be poor mounting pressure due to the flimsy backplate, lower heat dispersion due to the airy and spacious heatsink, and possibly eddies of warm air that couldn't escape the hot heatsink due to the restrictive plastic brackets. Possibly some result of fan quality and air pressure, as well, even though both fans worked in tandem.

The MSRP on this cooler is $50. We got it on sale for $25, and have seen it as low as $20. Because of the numerous minor problems, paired with the underperformance compared to coolers that are even half the cost, we cannot give this cooler a recommendation. It does perform well enough on a CPU when the heat output isn't too high, and it does have a unique look to it, but in any case other than a case with more energy dedicated to pretty lights than heating components, it is not the best choice even when on sale. We would not recommend picking this up for most needs, but if you really want to you can read all about the more technical specs or order your own on Amazon here.