Compare: Wraith Spire vs Peerless Assassin 140

Design and Aesthetics:

Wraith Spire

The Wraith Spire cooler boasts a sleek and compact design, making it a visually appealing addition to any PC build. Its low-profile structure ensures compatibility across a range of configurations, easily fitting into cases with height constraints.

Peerless Assassin 140

The Peerless Assassin 140 shares a similar design with other 140mm coolers from Thermalright, featuring two 140mm heatsinks paired with a 120mm fan at the front and a 140mm fan in the middle. The difference in fan sizes helps reduce RAM clearance issues, which are common with most 140mm air coolers. This model has a polished top and comes in an all-black design, though other color options may be available.

Install Notes:

Wraith Spire

Setting up the Wraith Spire cooler is relatively simple, thanks to its compatibility with the AMD backplate. However, some users may experience minor challenges with securing the backplate flush against the motherboard. With a little care and patience, most builders should find the installation process manageable.

Peerless Assassin 140

The Peerless Assassin 140 CPU cooler features installation components similar to many mainstream Thermalright designs, making it relatively easy to install. However, it encounters a challenge when uninstalling, as it doesn't allow for sliding or twisting to break the thermal paste seal. This can be problematic if the thermal paste creates a strong bond between the cooler and the CPU.

Cooling Performance:

Wraith Spire

The Be Wraith Spire cooler does a good job of keeping your computer cool, especially for the CPUs it's made for. It might not be the best choice for super powerful processors, but it keeps temperatures stable for most people, even when gaming.

Peerless Assassin 140

While the cooler offers similar peak performance to its competitors, its main advantage lies in its efficiency at lower RPMs, where it provides slightly better cooling. This translates to a noticeable edge in noise-to-performance ratio compared to smaller coolers, making it quieter under lower loads while still maintaining strong cooling capabilities.

Noise Performance:

Wraith Spire

Compared to other coolers, the Be Wraith Spire cooler isn't too loud. It's not the quietest option, but it won't be too annoying while you use your computer or play games.

Peerless Assassin 140

Due to its larger fans, this cooler becomes more audible at higher RPMs. However, because the fans move more air, lower RPMs are generally sufficient for cooling under most moderate CPU loads, allowing for quieter operation without sacrificing performance.

Summary:

Wraith Spire

The Wraith Spire cooler is a good option if you need an affordable, reliable cooler for your computer. It might not be the best at cooling or being quiet, but it's a good balance of price, performance, and easy installation. Overall, the Wraith Spire cooler is a worthy contender in the budget cooling market.

Peerless Assassin 140

The Peerless Assassin 140 CPU cooler is easy to install, thanks to its design resembling other mainstream Thermalright models, but it presents a challenge during uninstallation as it doesn’t allow for sliding or twisting to break the thermal paste seal. It features two 140mm heatsinks, a 120mm fan at the front, and a 140mm fan in the middle, which helps reduce RAM clearance issues common with larger coolers. While its peak performance is on par with competitors, it excels at lower RPMs, offering better cooling and a superior noise-to-performance ratio compared to smaller coolers. Although more audible at higher RPMs due to its larger fans, the slower speeds still provide sufficient cooling for most moderate CPU loads, ensuring quieter operation without compromising performance.