Waveshare Active Cooler vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler

Design and Build Quality

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler offers a more substantial and intricate build compared to the Waveshare Active Cooler. Thermalright’s cooler features a twin tower design with an anodised aluminium heat sink sprayed with black paint at the nanoscale, covering an effective heat dissipation area of 9600 cm². It weighs 1.02 kg and measures 125x135x157 mm, making it a large and robust cooling solution.

In contrast, the Waveshare Active Cooler is much smaller and simpler, constructed from anodised aluminium but designed primarily for lower-power applications like the Raspberry Pi 5. Its compact form factor and lightweight design align with its intended use, but it lacks the extensive surface area and mass of the Thermalright cooler. Overall, Thermalright’s build is geared toward high-performance desktop CPUs, while Waveshare’s design suits compact, low-voltage devices.

Cooling Performance

When it comes to cooling power, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black clearly outperforms the Waveshare Active Cooler. Thermalright’s cooler employs six 6mm pure copper sintered heat pipes combined with two 120mm PWM fans producing a maximum airflow of 66.17 CFM at 1500 rpm. This twin-fan setup and large heat sink area facilitate efficient heat dissipation, making it suitable for demanding CPU cooling needs.

On the other hand, the Waveshare Active Cooler delivers only 1.39 CFM airflow at a very high speed of 8000±10% RPM, driven by a single fan powered by 5V DC. Its pulse width modulation control and tachometer provide precise fan speed management, but the overall cooling capacity is limited by its small size and airflow, appropriate mainly for low-power devices such as the Raspberry Pi 5. Therefore, the Thermalright cooler is the better choice for serious CPU cooling performance.

Noise Levels and Fan Operation

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler is engineered for quiet operation, with a noise level capped at 25.6 dB(A) thanks to its ultra-silent airflow fans running at 1500 rpm. Its dual PWM fans allow for smooth speed control, balancing cooling efficiency with low noise output.

The Waveshare Active Cooler, while operating at a much higher speed of 8000 rpm, does not provide explicit noise level data. Its single fan uses pulse width modulation with tachometer feedback, which suggests some level of speed regulation but may generate noticeable noise due to the high RPM and smaller blade size. In conclusion, Thermalright’s cooler is better optimised for quiet, efficient cooling in a desktop environment.

Compatibility and Installation

Thermalright’s Peerless Assassin 120 Black cooler supports a wide range of CPU sockets, including Intel LGA1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 1700, 17XX, 2066, and 2011, as well as AMD AM4 and AM5. The product comes with metal fasteners compatible with both Intel and AMD platforms, ensuring ease of installation on various systems and allowing for secure mounting.

In contrast, the Waveshare Active Cooler is designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi 5, drawing power from a 5V DC four-pin fan header on that device. Its application is therefore limited to this single platform or similar setups with compatible headers. The Thermalright cooler’s broad compatibility makes it suitable for mainstream desktop CPUs, while the Waveshare cooler targets embedded or compact systems.

Power Requirements and Connectivity

The Waveshare Active Cooler is powered by 5V DC, supplied via the Raspberry Pi 5’s four-pin fan header. Its fan speed is controlled through pulse width modulation with tachometer feedback, providing fine control over fan operation. The low voltage and small power draw make it energy-efficient for small computing platforms.

Conversely, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black operates with two 120x120x25mm PWM fans running at 12V, connected via 4-pin power ports. Its higher voltage and dual-fan setup require more power but are essential for its significantly greater airflow of up to 66.17 CFM. This makes Thermalright’s cooler suitable for desktop CPU cooling scenarios where power availability is not a concern, while Waveshare’s cooler is tailored for low-power embedded systems.

Price and Value

The Waveshare Active Cooler is priced at C$15.99, representing a highly affordable solution for cooling small devices like the Raspberry Pi 5. Its low cost matches its limited application and modest cooling capabilities, making it a budget-friendly option for low-power scenarios.

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler commands a price of C$54.90, more than three times that of the Waveshare cooler. This reflects its advanced cooling technology, larger size, multiple fans, and compatibility with a broad range of desktop CPUs. While more expensive, it delivers significantly better performance and versatility, justifying the higher price for users needing effective CPU cooling.

Use Case Suitability

The Waveshare Active Cooler is best suited for low-power devices and compact systems, particularly the Raspberry Pi 5, where space, voltage, and cooling demands are minimal. Its modest airflow and simple design are adequate for embedded computing but insufficient for high-performance CPUs.

In contrast, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black is designed for desktop CPU cooling, capable of handling intensive workloads with its twin towers, six heat pipes, and dual 120mm fans. It fits a wide array of Intel and AMD sockets, making it suitable for gaming PCs, workstations, or systems requiring substantial heat dissipation.

Which should you buy?

Your choice depends on your cooling needs and system type. If you are using a Raspberry Pi 5 or a similar low-power device and need a compact, low-cost fan, the Waveshare Active Cooler at C$15.99 is the clear choice due to its tailored design and energy efficiency. However, if you require robust cooling for a desktop CPU across many Intel or AMD sockets, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black at C$54.90 offers superior airflow, heat dissipation, and quiet operation, justifying its higher price. For general PC builds demanding effective air cooling, Thermalright is the better investment, whereas Waveshare suits embedded or compact computing environments.