Another short review today with a heatsink we know well, the AK400. However, for this test, we received it in a very recent version, the Digital version. For some time now, DeepCool has been installing LCD displays on top of its aircooling fans. We’ve already tried our hand at the series with the AK620 Digital. So, what does this version do? We’ll tell you.
Presentation:
The AK range is DeepCool’s series of aircooling heatsinks. They include the AK620, a compact double-tower heatsink, the AK500, a sturdy single-tower heatsink, the AK500S, a single-tower heatsink with five slim heatpipes, and the AK400, the entry-level model!
In any case, just because it’s entry-level doesn’t mean it has to be “ugly” – on the contrary. This Digital White version comes with a beautifully finished all-white finish. What’s more, the glossy white top cover is a nice finishing touch.
As you can see, the main attraction of this model lies in its LCD screen. It provides real-time information on processor temperature and fan speed.
Otherwise, a well-known FK120 fan is used for cooling, while the assembly part is not a particular problem. The brand’s mounting mechanism is easy to deploy, while the heatsink ensures exemplary compatibility with RAM.
In terms of price, the AK400 Digital White will obviously be more expensive than the basic model. It benefits from a better finish and an additional screen feature. Its price therefore rises from around forty euros (depending on the retailer) to around fifty.
[nextpage title=”The AK400 Digital WH”]
As for the packaging, it’s the usual DeepCool box: all white with a few shades of green. The box also features a picture of the heatsink and a reminder of its features, which can be found on the back of the box.
In terms of protection, the AK400 Digital WH is comfortably encased in white foam. On top is the bundle section with assembly instructions. In short, it’s as efficient as ever: no breakage on arrival.
The radiator:
Weight and dimensions :
Having tested a number of large fans (Assassin IV, MA824 Stealth, A115), this model seems very small to us. Indeed, unlike the aforementioned models, it features a single cooling tower. However, this Digital White version is still very pretty, but we’ll come back to that later.
In concrete terms, this translates into dimensions of 126 (W) x 94 (D) x 156 (H) mm. So, as with the original model, we’re dealing with a slim heatsink that should fit into a good number of cases. In fact, 160 mm is the height limit for many references, so there’s no need to worry here.
Finally, in terms of weight, this isn’t a heavyweight that’ll rip your card out at the slightest jolt when transported, as it weighs less than 1 kg (695g on the scales).
Base :
In keeping with the basic model, this version uses the same base, with the heat pipes in direct contact with the CPU. As you can see, the two in the middle are tighter than the two on the outside. On an Intel Core i, there’s no doubt that they’ll pass right over the die, the processor’s silicon chip. Once again, the treatment is good, and to the touch, the passage of the heat pipes is barely felt.
As you can see, the brand pre-applies thermal paste, which is common practice. Nevertheless, don’t count on a syringe as an extra unfortunately.
Radiator:
Once again, we’re dealing with a typical entry-level radiator. It has a slim profile, while the 54 fins are crossed by a total of four 6 mm copper heat pipes. Last but not least, the slotted profile is designed to increase the heat exchange surface. In the meantime, it looks great.
The finish :
This white version also has a very attractive finish. First of all, it has a full white coating. It is therefore present on the fins as well as on the heat pipes. The fan is also white, so as not to clash with the rest.
However, what we really like about DeepCool is that it hides the unsightly tips of the heat pipes. On the original model, this was done with a plastic cover; here, we find a transparent white plastic strip surrounded by RGB edging. As you’d expect, this is where the LCD display is located, providing information on CPU temperature, among other things.
Compatibility :
In terms of compatibility, Corsair indicates that its CPU cooler can be mounted on the following motherboards:
- Intel: LGA-115x – LGA-1200 – LGA-1700
- AMD: AM4 – AM5
As you can see, there is no compatibility with HEDT motherboards. Faced with an entry-level heatsink, the processors in question are not supported. It’s easy to see why: their power consumption is high, and so is their heat output!
Fans:
As far as ventilation is concerned, we’re familiar with the fan in question, since it’s the same mill as the one on the original AK400… For this version, it’s simply been turned white.
In fact, the shape remains identical, with a 25 mm-thick square frame. White rubberized silentblocks are also present to attenuate stray vibrations emitted by the mill during operation.
As for the blades, there are nine of them. They are quite thick at the tip, with a pronounced curvature.
There’s no change to the power supply, which is still a four-pin PWM cable. As for speeds, the brand announces a rotation range extending from 500 rpm to 1850 rpm. Finally, airflow is 68.99 CFM, while static pressure is 2.19 mmAq.
The bundle:
The accessories section highlights :
- A mounting guide
- Universal AMD and Intel mounting arm
- Black metal backplate for Intel platforms
- Screws and bolts for AMD-side mounting
- Two steel clamps for mounting a second fan
- Assembly hardware for Intel side
In short, the accessory section concentrates on the essentials, with everything you need to mount your heatsink. One might regret the absence of thermal paste in syringe form, but the pill is easier to swallow when you know what range of heatsinks you’re dealing with.
Roughly speaking:
In broad terms, this Digital White model shares the same base as the original version. However, there is one major difference: the addition of a digital display on top of the heatsink. On paper, this option gives you an instant reading of your CPU’s temperature. Whether it’s useful or not remains to be seen, but in any case, the integration is neat and tidy.
[nextpage title=”Installation”]
For installation, you’ll need to keep your AMD backplate, as DeepCool doesn’t supply one. If you don’t have one any more, a quick trip to eBay should make it easy to find one.
AK400 Digital WH assembly:
Installation on AMD and Intel sockets is basically the same. On the Intel side, there’s just a little extra work to be done on the backplate. Incidentally, pay attention to the distance between the screw threads on the backplate. Widest spacing = LGA-1700. As for the AMD platform, you’ll need to unscrew the original mounting arms.
Next, spacers are fitted to the four corners of the socket. Of course, care must be taken with the type of spacer, as they are not universal:
- Orange: AMD
- Ringed black: Intel LGA-1700
- Smooth black: Intel LGA-115X/1200
Once in place, all that’s left to do is screw on the universal mounting arm. To do this, we’ll use the hardware that corresponds to the platform in our possession!
All that remains now is to screw the heatsink onto the CPU. To do this, you’ll need to remove the fan to expose the fixing screws. Once in place, we’ll screw the heatsink to the left or right, to avoid applying all the pressure to one side.
A word about the LCD display:
Once installed, all that’s left to do is plug the USB 2.0 header into the motherboard, download and install the brand’s little utility, and roll with the punches.
In reality, as with the CH560 Digital, this display is more of a gadget than anything else. In fact, it provides information on your CPU ‘s temperature or utilization rate in °F or °C, depending on your settings. It’s up to you to decide whether you need it, and whether you’re ready to add yet another utility to your PC!
[nextpage title=”Protocol”]
A small update to our test protocol. We’ve changed the software we used to stress our configuration. The same applies to the different profiles.
For test purposes, we’ll be comparing the A115 with other single-turn and double-turn models in 120 mm and 140 mm:
- AK400 Digital WH (DeepCool)
- AK620 Digital (DeepCool)
- Assassin IV (DeepCool)
- Dark Rock Pro 5 (be quiet!)
- Dark Rock Elite (be quiet!)
- HX6250 (Jonsbo)
- MA824 Stealth (Cooler Master)
- NH-U12A chromax.black (Noctua)
- T120 RGB (NZXT)
[nextpage title=”Speed and noise”]
Fan speed :
We’re starting from scratch with our series of temperature readings. Let’s specify the fan speeds recorded during our readings (for 12V, 8V, 5V):
As far as operating speeds are concerned, the fan used by the AK400 Digital WH remains fairly standard. As can be seen, at low speed, it runs at 900 rpm, while at medium speed, it rises to 1400 rpm. Finally, at full speed, we measure 1900 rpm. Overall, we find the same speed profile as the AK620 Digital ‘s mills, which are… quite simply, the same fans. Likewise, speeds are close to those of NZXT’s T120 RGB.
Noise :
When it comes to noise, the AK400 Digital WH can’t be said to be a particularly noisy fan. Indeed, with the exception of the Dark Rock Pro 5, there’s nothing quieter than this model. However, the T120 RGB isn’t much quieter at full power either.
Finally, as soon as we turn the fan to mid-range or low speed, we’re back to something perfectly unobtrusive. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s see how it fares in terms of temperature!
[nextpage title=”Intel CPU temperatures”]
Processor at 65W :
We start with the 65W profile, a rather low power consumption, especially when you consider the basic consumption of this 13600K. We’re here to simulate the power consumption of small processors with few cores or low power consumption. In theory, everyone should do well!
At 65W, the AK400 Digital WH doesn’t do too badly at full speed, as we can see, stabilizing our 13600K at a temperature of 47°C. Compared to its rival, the T120 RGB, it takes the lead as fan speed decreases. It then displays 2°C less at low and medium speeds.
95W processor :
Here, we’re taking our readings on a Core i5 13600K, so power consumption reaches 95W. For this, both the P-Core and the E-Core operate at 3.5 GHz, while the VCore is set to 1.210V!
As power consumption and heating increase, the AK400 Digital WH stands out even more from its NZXT rival. Here, temperature differences are more pronounced: 3°C less at full speed, 4°C less at mid-range and 8°C better at low speed. Clearly, the two heatsinks may be of the same type (4 heat pipes in direct contact), but the DeepCool model is far more efficient!
130W processor :
Finally, we end our series of readings with our Core i5 13600K, which consumes 130W. To achieve this, we push the frequencies a little further, as well as the VCore, which now rises to 1.270V!
With a power consumption of 130W, our AK400 Digital WH from DeepCool is well ahead of NZXT’s T120 RGB. This is particularly noticeable at low temperatures. Where NZXT’s heatsink can’t keep up at low speeds, we record no less than 86°C on DeepCool’s model. Admittedly, that’s quite a lot, but it’s clear that we’re on the next level in terms of efficiency!
Summary :
Broadly speaking, this DeepCool model is quite effective, at least for its size. Clearly, there’s no comparison with an equivalent model from NZXT, as the gap in favor of the Chinese brand is so pronounced! However, it can’t compete with larger heatsinks such as the HX6250, since it’s limited by its format!
[nextpage title=”Intel temperature-to-noise ratio”]
On these perf/noise ratio graphs, we remind you that it’s best to be positioned as far to the bottom left of the graph as possible. For ease of reading, the leftmost point symbolizes 12V ventilation, the central point 8V ventilation and the rightmost 5V.
The AK400 Digital WH’s temperature-to-noise ratio is, to say the least, surprising for a CPU with low power consumption. As you can see, the ventirad easily outperforms NZXT’s T120 RGB, that’s for sure. However, it’s also going up against a much bigger opponent: the HX6250 from Jonsbo. Let’s not forget that we’re talking about a very thick 140 mm single-tower heatsink.
At 95W, NZXT’s poor T120 RGB is clearly outclassed by DeepCool’s heatsink. Meanwhile, our AK400 Digital WH tries to make trouble for Jonsbo’s HX6250, but doesn’t manage to do as well. It has to be said that the latter is much bigger.
Finally, with our 130W profile, the AK400 Digital WH sees its limits, as it also breaks away from the pack. There’s a clear difference between it and larger heatsinks such as the HX6250, AK620 or NH-U12A. Also, avoid running your fan at low speed, as the temperature/noise ratio deteriorates under these conditions!
[nextpage title=”Conclusion”]
We’ve come to the end of this test of DeepCool’s AK400 Digital WH. Are we dealing with a successful product? Let’s take a closer look!
A heatsink that goes everywhere!
After reviewing such monsters as Cooler Master’s A115 and MA824 Stealth, it’s time to move on to a smaller format. Especially since a compact model like the AK400 Digital can slip in anywhere. Its height of less than 160 mm makes it easy to fit into a case. As for memory slots, it won’t obstruct them like the other two models mentioned above.
Aside from that, this is a really well-finished ventirad with a pretty white coat… even if it did force me to take out the black background. However, if you’re looking for a white configuration, this is a choice worth considering, especially if you’re not putting in a 16-core CPU drawing 200W!
Assembly is as easy as ever!
These days, it’s harder to find heatsinks that are complicated to assemble. With this model, however, there are just a few components to handle, and installation is really simplified. What’s more, once installed, this model places no constraints on your memory, so you can opt for RAM with large heatsinks without the risk of having to remount the front fan. On the other hand, the orange spacers on AMD platforms… Tasteless..
However, its digital display means that a USB 2.0 cable will need to be plugged into your motherboard. Likewise, you’ll also need to install a small utility. In reality, this is an accessory, like the display on the brand’s CH560 Digital case. After that, it’s up to you to decide whether you need it or not.
Good performance for the format!
With the AK400 Digital, DeepCool offers us an entry-level ventirad with a meticulous finish, nothing more. However, for its format, we’re surprised by its temperatures, which are significantly lower than those of its NZXT rival. Temperatures are therefore correct for the format. You can therefore mount this ventirad on a CPU consuming up to 130W without fear… That is, provided you don’t run the fan at low rpm when the CPU is working, otherwise temperatures will rise.
As for noise, the nuisance generated by the fan is fairly contained, and remains bearable at full speed – by a long shot, in fact! And if you’re a fan of silence, there’s nothing to stop you from regulating it a little so that it makes itself perfectly invisible.
Finally, the temperature/noise ratio is interesting: at 65W and 95W, the heatsink was able to compete with larger models. However, at 130W, this ratio deteriorates. At the same time, as this is a four-heatpipe model, it’s easy to understand that it’s gradually reaching its limits.
A rising bill!
As far as the sale price is concerned, it’s bound to go up, especially compared to the original series. While the basic version can be found for just over €30, this AK400 Digital WH comes in at almost €50, which is not cheap. Moreover, this price is explained by the extra processing involved in integrating the digital display. Fortunately, if you don’t need a digital display, but are looking for a white ventirad, there’s a version that meets these criteria for around €40!
DeepCool AK400 Digital WH :
We like:
- The meticulous design of this Digital WH version!
- The quality finish of the heatsink
- Its compact dimensions mean it will fit into many cases…
- … and won’t obstruct memory slots
- Easy to install
- Controlled noise levels
- Good temperature-to-noise ratio for its size!
- Numerous versions on offer
Our least favorite :
- A syringe of thermal paste would have been welcome
- Orange spacers on AMD socket (seriously)
- Increasing price
With the AK400 Digital WH, DeepCool offers us a new version of its flagship entry-level CPU Cooler. It features a digital display which, depending on your point of view, may turn out to be a bit of a gimmick. In any case, when mounted on a CPU, it makes a good cup of coffee, while keeping noise levels under control. Otherwise, its dimensions mean it won’t stand up to any particular constraints… However, a syringe of thermal paste or more discreet AMD spacers are possible improvements for this model, which sells for almost €50!
Many thanks to DeepCool!
