DeepCool Assassin IV VC Vision – Cubed perfection

Key features

DeepCool’s Assassin IV and Assassin 4S coolers performed exceedingly well in our reviews. Now another variant of this cooler is about to be released, the Assassin IV VC Vision, which has a redesigned base built around the vapor chamber principle. This should provide more efficient and faster heat dissipation from the CPU. So let’s see how this cooler performs in stress tests and whether it will carve out a place in the elite club of high-end coolers.

Build, design and key features

The DeepCool Assassin IV VC Vision is another variant of the original Assassin IV cooler. With the Assassin 4S, we got a smaller size thanks to the lack of a rear fan, and a lower price. The Assassin IV VC Vision cooler, on the other hand, added some features. However, it is still a black block with a minimalist look that is complemented by futuristic elements. But just like the Assassin 4S, the devil is in the details, which we’ll discuss in detail below.

   

The design of the passive part of the Assassin IV VC Vision cooler is identical to its two previous versions and is therefore made up of two dense bundles of aluminium fins connected by seven six-millimetre copper heatpipes. The towers are not symmetrical, as the rear tower is roughly a third thicker than the front one. This is the optimal configuration considering the position of the fans on the radiator. The rear tower is located between the two fans, while the front one relies on air intake through the fins from the middle fan. With the exception of the cold plate on the base, the entire cooler is finished in black and grey tones, so it won’t look too distracting in the build, except for its size, of course.

The most interesting feature of this cooler is probably its redesigned base. It is now made of a vapor chamber instead of the usual block of copper, which should increase the efficiency and speed of heat dissipation from the heat spreader of the processor. Simply put, a vapor chamber is a similar cooling element to the all too familiar heatpipes.
But while conventional heatpipes usually conduct heat in only one direction, a vapor chamber is an omnidirectional element that is not constrained by a tubular shape. However, its manufacturing is not simple, which is why most cooler manufacturers either limit themselves to conventional contact surfaces made up of flattened heatpipes, or, in more expensive coolers, use copper blocks that surround the heatpipes.

   

On the top surface you will now find a new large LCD instead of the original perforated center fan cover. The rest of the top surface is rather inconspicuous and you will find only a small switch to limit the maximum fan speed (by about 20%) and an inconspicuous manufacturer’s logo, which changes its backlight intensity according to the selected speed range. Unfortunately, however, it is still not possible to change its colour, so the logo only glows in a shade of green-blue.

   

The top display attaches to the cooler with small magnets and hides a 140mm fan underneath, which when removed from the cooler reveals access to a metal partition with a pair of mounting system screws. These screws are also fitted with springs to achieve optimum cooler pressure on the CPU heat spreader. Although the displayed parameters cannot be changed or customized in any way, you will find the most important parameters of your processor such as temperature, total utilization, power consumption or current clock speed. However, for the display to work properly, you will need to plug the appropriate cable from the cooler into the internal USB 2.0 header on the motherboard, and also have the DeepCreative application running, which can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

   

The accessories for the Assassin IV VC Vision cooler are quite varied and you will find practically everything you might need to install the cooler. A significant improvement can be found in the backplate, which is now really massive and does a good job of reinforcing the area around the CPU socket on the motherboard against excessive flexing due to the not-insignificant weight of the cooler. The rest of the mounting system is also made of sturdy metal and nicely complements the overall feeling of high-end craftsmanship of each piece of the cooler. DM9 thermal paste awaits you in the supplied tube, and you will also find a large plastic squeegee for optimal spreading of said paste on the CPU’s heat spreader.

   

The installation of the cooler is straightforward and obstacle-free thanks to a clear user manual and a well-designed mounting system. Since you have to tighten a pair of spring-loaded screws at the very heart of the radiator, you will appreciate the included screwdriver.

Cooler and fan parameters

All coolers from the current Assassin series are very similar in size. While the passive sections of all three coolers have the same physical dimensions, the Assassin 4S cooler lacks a rear fan, making it shorter overall. The width is the same for all three coolers, but for the Assassin IV VC Vision, the top display increases the overall height of the cooler. This is now just over 170mm, which needs to be factored in for compatibility with your computer case. The price has also increased by another 30 EUR, which unfortunately is a tax on the vapor chamber base and large display on the top surface of the cooler.

The fans used are identical to the standard DeepCool Assassin IV cooler. I had a bit of hope of finding the improved version from the DeepCool Assassin 4S as the center fan here, but I suppose the reason for keeping the original fan combination is the proven synergy of efficiency and mutual acoustic optimization.

• Contents
• Key features
• Measurement methodology
• Results – 39 dBA
• Results – 42 dBA
• Results – 45 dBA
• Results – 48 dBA
• Results – maximum speed
• Spectral analysis of noise
• Conclusion and evaluation

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