CPU cooler group test review with 3770K - Deepcool Assassin / Alpenfohn K2 - Scythe Grand Kama Cross Rev. B and Katana 4

Deepcool Assassin / Alpenfohn K2

From Deepcool we received the Assassin, but here in Europe you will recognise the cooler as the Alpenfohn K2, available in a wide variety of colors.

The Deepcool Assassin / Alpenfohn K2 is amongst the more wicked performance coolers we have had our hands on. It performs great, has two radiating fin areas, two perfomance fans and 8x6mm heatpipes. By using 8 heatpipes in a twin tower design, dual wing boost configuration and MnTal-Airflow Technology the new Alpenföhn K2 reaches high performance at fairly low noise levels.

• The new Twin Tower Design can reach best results in noise and performance by using a combination of 2 fans.
• The trapezoid fin shape ensures better compatibility with VGA coolers by keeping the distance to the PCIe Slot
• All contact surfaces between Fins, Heatpipes and the baseplate are soldered.
• The U-Shape Heatpipes offer a large connection area to the baseplate for a better heat absorption
• By CNC machining the surface of the baseplate is perfectly even and the thermal transfer is optimized.
• K2 is the first cooler to feature the brand new Minimized noise Transfer at low Airflow-Technology. The advanced finstructure influences the airflow through the heatsink to increase the heat transfer to the air.
• Equipped with integrated decoupling elements, WB technology and HD bearing K2 comes with one each of 120mm and 140mm Wing Boost fans.

Scythe Grand Kama Cross Rev. B

All hail the Grand Kama Cross Rev. B Top-Flow CPU Cooler, it is based on an X-Structure setting a gap between the two heatsinks. By applying this design, improved airflow could be achieved resulting in higher cooling performance, especially for motherboard components. Compared to conventional Top-Blow CPU Coolers, the Grand Kama Cross Rev. B is more efficient.

• By pointing the airflow of the fan towards the motherboard, Chipsets and MOS-FETs on VR modules can be cooled simultaneously. This is supported by the X-structure with two seperate heatsinks, leaving a gap in between for better airflow. 
• By applying the new Slip Stream 140 fan, a wider area of components on the motherboard can be cooled compared to 120mm fans while keeping low noise and high cooling ability for the CPU.
• 4-Way (direction) mounting is possible. This allows you to configure the optimized airflow direction inside your chassis and improved adoption to space restrictions of your mainboard / chassis.

It's amongst the biggest coolers we have tested as its dimensions are 177x140x137 mm / 6.97x5.51x5.39 in. Now, when you look at it you'd expect something quite expensive; not at all, this is a 40 EUR/USD cooler. That V shape is special alright and also clears out space for full-profile DIMM usage.

Scythe Katana 4

Draw your sword my man! The spirit of the Japanese sword inspired the naming of the CPU Cooler 'Katana'. Well known for its reliability and its tilted fin structure, Katana 4, just like the Japanese sword, looks back on a long tradition. The 4th generation stands out with its new, modern design combining key features of previous versions with design and efficiency improvements.

• Higher cooling performance is one of the characteristics of the 4th generation Katana CPU cooler. The combination of 3 heatpipes, large fins and a PWM-controlled Slip Stream 92 mm fan ensures high-scale heat dissipation. A slightly angled fin structure, allows the airstream to hit the surface directly. Overall surface of the heatsink has been increased.
• As it is common practice for all Scythe products, Katana 4 provides maximum compatibility. All current sockets are supported. Furthermore, a new generation one-touch clip system is launched with Katana 4 excelling in user friendliness and durability.
• To be released in a completely new design, Katana 4 provides a new, modern look. The fan is situated right-angled to the motherboard and fins are tilted downward. Heatsink and Heatpipes are completely redesigned. Optical enhancements go hand in hand with practical improvements. Better cooling performance is one of them.
• The bias of the new design originates in one simple question.

The low height as well as the structure of the fins and the use of three heatpipes are adopted from its predecessors. In addition, the new design lays the foundation for higher cooling performance by providing larger cooling surface and the possibility to mount a second fan. The Katana 4 is equipped with a 92 mm Slip Stream fan operated by the PWM signal of the mainboard, circulating at 300 to 2500 rpm. This combination enables a virtually silent mode as well as overclocking, by providing sufficient cooling ressources for almost all environments. The Katana 4 is compatible with all current sockets. Installation is a push-pin design, and the price is only 25 EUR/USD.