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ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against CPU coolers at a similar price

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE scores 7.8/10 overall, ahead of the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 at 6.8/10.

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE leads on noise, compatibility and fit and value.

They score the same on cooling and build and installation.

The biggest difference is noise, where the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE scores 7/10 to the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360's 4/10.

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360

6.8/10verdict: good, not the best

This is a 360 mm all-in-one cooler for people with a high-power AMD or Intel chip who want maximum cooling headroom. It suits builders who are happy to set a fan curve and fit a long radiator. It is a weaker choice for anyone who wants a quiet build with little setup.

Typically about £67.49 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

7.8/10verdict: buy

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is for builders who want strong air cooling on a tight budget. It suits Intel and AMD desktop owners on current sockets who would rather not pay for liquid cooling. It asks for some patience at install time and a case with room for a 155 mm tower.

Typically about £25.41 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
Cooling35%9/109/10
Noise25%4/107/10
Compatibility and fit15%6/107/10
Value15%8/109/10
Build and installation10%5/105/10
Overall6.8/107.8/10

Specifications

SpecARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)AIO liquid, 360 mm radiatorDual-tower air cooler
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)AMD AM5, AM4; Intel LGA1851, LGA1700Intel 115X/1200/1700/1851; AMD AM4/AM5
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)Radiator 398 (L) x 120 (W) x 38 (H) mm; tubing 450 mm; weight 2020 g155 mm (L125 × W110 × H155 mm)
Fans included and their size3 x P12 Pro 120 mm, 600-3000 rpm, 77 cfm, 6.9 mmH2O; pump 800-2800 rpm; VRM fan 400-2500 rpmTwo TL-C12C 120 × 120 × 25 mm 4-pin PWM fans, 1550 RPM ±10%, 66.17 CFM max, 0.20 A each
Noise level (dBA)0.3 Sone at maximum fan speed (third-party reported)25.6 dBA (rated, per fan spec)
Warranty (years)6 yearsPremium dual-tower air cooler series (including Peerless Assassin): 3–6 year limited warranty; no figure stated for this model

Strengths and weaknesses

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360

  • + Lower temperatures than two 360/420 mm rivals in Club386's tests
  • + MX-6 paste is pre-applied and the warranty runs six years
  • + Separate VRM fan covers the socket area
  • − TechPowerUp calls the fans excessively loud above 50% PWM
  • − Intel mounting is a hassle and no manual was included
  • − An owner returned one over pump noise

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want a quiet system and will not tune fan speeds
  • Intel builders who want a simple, well-documented mounting process
  • Anyone whose case cannot take a 398 mm-long 360 mm radiator
Read the full ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 review ›

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

  • + Led Tom's Hardware's air cooler results at 200W
  • + Rated 25.6 dBA with two PWM fans
  • + Supports LGA1851, LGA1700, AM4 and AM5
  • − Installation described as fiddly, with one reviewer reporting an hour
  • − 155 mm height and tall RAM need clearance checks
  • − One owner reported 92°C peaks on a Ryzen 7 7600X

Skip it if:

  • Builders with compact cases that cannot take a 155 mm tower
  • Anyone who wants a quick, simple cooler installation
  • Buyers who plan to use tall RAM modules without checking clearance
Read the full Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE review ›

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