Thermalright Peerless Assassin 140 Black CPU Cooler - Dual-Tower

In this review the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 140 Black emerges as a strong air-cooling choice for builders who want serious thermal headroom without moving to liquid cooling. It targets PC enthusiasts and mainstream overclockers who need a cooler that lowers CPU temperatures reliably while remaining reasonably quiet. The single biggest reason to buy is its twin-tower design with six copper heatpipes plus dual PWM fans, which together deliver sustained heat dissipation and stable performance under load.

Key Features

• Twin-tower construction: The double towers provide a large fin area, improving heat transfer from the pipes to the case airflow for lower sustained CPU temperatures.
• Six pure copper heatpipes: A copper base and six heatpipes rapidly move heat away from the CPU, helping the cooler handle higher sustained loads.
• Dual PWM fans: Two fans with PWM control and up to 1500rpm balance airflow and noise so the cooler can ramp quietly under light load and push more air when needed.
• Black nano-painted finish: The black-coated fins and heatpipes give a uniform aesthetic and resist minor corrosion while matching darker builds.
• Compatibility: Mounting hardware supports modern Intel and AMD sockets including AM5 and LGA 1700, so it fits a wide range of current CPUs.
• 158mm height: At 158mm it fits most mid and full towers while still allowing clearance for many tall memory modules and GPU configurations.

Who It's For

The Peerless Assassin 140 is ideal for PC builders who want high air-cooling performance without custom loops, including gamers and content creators running mid to high TDP CPUs who value lower temps and quieter fans. It also suits users who prefer a blacked-out aesthetic and a robust, dual-fan cooling solution for sustained workloads.

Users with very small form-factor cases or those requiring absolute zero RAM height restriction should look elsewhere; the 158mm height and dual-tower layout require a mid-tower or larger case and may conflict with very tall memory modules in cramped builds.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent heat dissipation from the twin towers and six copper heatpipes for lower CPU temps under load.
• Dual PWM fans offer a good balance of airflow and noise, remaining relatively quiet at typical loads.
• Solid build quality and a pleasing black finish that complements modern builds.
• Good value for the performance delivered compared with similar high-end air coolers.

Cons

• At 158mm tall and with a double-tower layout it requires enough case clearance and may limit very tall memory modules.
• Bulkier than single-tower designs, so cable routing and installation can be slightly more fiddly for first-time builders.

Specifications

Model	Peerless Assassin 140 Black
Design	Dual tower cooler with symmetrical fins
Heatpipes	Six pure copper heatpipes
Fans	Dual PWM fans (120x120x25mm and 140x140x27mm), up to 1500rpm
Noise level	Approx. 25.6 dB(A)
Height	158mm
Compatibility	Intel LGA 1150/1151/1155/1156/1200/1700/1851; AMD AM4/AM5

Our Verdict

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 140 Black is a compelling air cooler for enthusiasts who need robust thermal performance and a quiet dual-fan setup without the complexity of liquid cooling. Its twin-tower design, six heatpipes and dual PWM fans make it a strong value for users with adequate case clearance who want lower operating temperatures and a clean black finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this fit in a mid-tower case?
It fits most mid and full tower cases thanks to its 158mm height, but check clearance if your case or memory modules are unusually tall.

Does it support the latest AMD and Intel sockets?
Yes, mounting hardware includes support for AMD AM4 and AM5 and a range of Intel sockets including LGA 1700 and 1200.

Are the fans loud under load?
The dual PWM fans reach about 1500rpm and remain relatively quiet around 25.6 dB(A) in typical use while providing strong airflow under higher loads.