Compare: Fuma 3 vs Peerless Assassin 140

Design and Aesthetics:

Fuma 3

This cooler boasts a sleek appearance with a smooth top surface. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that the plastic covering the exposed heat pipes, while contributing to a polished appearance, is a rather subdued gray and lacks the eye-catching appeal of more vibrant or shiny options. This cooler is an excellent choice for those seeking exceptional cooling performance coupled with a more understated aesthetic.

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:

Fuma 3

This cooler employs the standard mounting system commonly found in premium coolers. In comparison to the Fuma 2, the Fuma 3 has introduced a minor adjustment that enhances the ease of installation by preventing over-tightening, a feature absent in the Fuma 2. Overall, the installation process for this cooler is straightforward, and it has demonstrated improvements compared to previous Fuma iterations.

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:

Fuma 3

The Fuma 3 is a mid-performance cooler offering moderate cooling capabilities. While it may not be suitable for high-heat CPUs, it's an excellent option for users who appreciate its aesthetic appeal and require effective cooling for CPUs with moderate thermal loads.

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:

Fuma 3

The dual 120mm Kaze Flex fans are engineered for maximum airflow and moderate noise levels. In terms of the noise-to-cooling ratio, it strikes a good balance, providing an average level of noise for the cooling performance it delivers.

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:

Fuma 3

The Fuma 3 cooler uses a standard premium cooler mounting system but adds a minor tweak from the prior generation for easier installation. Its sleek design features a subdued gray plastic top, making it suitable for users who prioritize both cooling performance and aesthetics, especially for mid-heat CPUs. Equipped with two 120mm fans, it strikes a balanced noise-to-cooling ratio.

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.