Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO

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

all judged against CPU coolers at a similar price

The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO scores 7.2/10 overall, ahead of the Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 at 5.6/10.

The Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 leads on noise, compatibility and fit and build and installation.

The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO leads on cooling and value.

The biggest difference is cooling, where the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO scores 9/10 to the Noctua NH-L9a-AM5's 4/10.

Noctua NH-L9a-AM5

5.6/10verdict: good, not the best

The Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 is for AM5 builders who need a low-profile cooler for a small case. It suits 65 W-class Ryzen chips and buyers who put quiet running ahead of cooling headroom. It is not aimed at overclockers or higher-end processors.

Typically about £49.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO

7.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO suits builders who want top-tier air cooling for a high-end CPU without moving to liquid. It works best in a roomy case with low-profile memory. It is a poor match for compact builds or tall RAM kits.

Typically about £42 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	Noctua NH-L9a-AM5	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO
Cooling	35%	4/10	9/10
Noise	25%	7/10	6/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	6/10	4/10
Value	15%	5/10	9/10
Build and installation	10%	8/10	6/10
Overall		5.6/10	7.2/10

Specifications

Spec	Noctua NH-L9a-AM5	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	Low-profile top-flow air cooler	Dual-tower air cooler
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)	AM5	Intel LGA115X/1200/1700/1851/2011/2066, AMD AM4/AM5
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)	37 mm with fan (23 mm without fan)	157 mm
Rated cooling capacity (W TDP)	65 W (Noctua rating as stated by Vividrepairs; quietpc lists 95 W maximum TDP, so sources conflict)	not listed
Fans included and their size	1 x 92x92x14 mm NF-A9x14 PWM	2 x TL-K12 120 x 120 x 25 mm PWM, 4-pin, ARGB connector, 2150 RPM max, 69 CFM max
Noise level (dBA)	23.6 dB(A) maximum; 14.8 dB(A) with Low-Noise Adaptor	27 dBA rated fan noise
Warranty (years)	6 years	5 years

Strengths and weaknesses

Noctua NH-L9a-AM5

+ Quiet running, with 14.8 dB(A) using the Low-Noise Adaptor
+ Only 37 mm tall with the fan fitted
+ NT-H1 paste, AM5 mounting kit and 6-year warranty included
− 65 W rating leaves little headroom for hotter chips
− RAM clearance is tight with taller DDR5 heatspreaders
− AM5 only; AM4 needs a separate model

Skip it if:

Buyers planning to overclock or run a higher-end AM5 processor under heavy load.
Builders with tall DDR5 heatspreaders or an ultra-compact case.
Anyone on AM4, who needs the separate NH-L9a-AM4 model.

Read the full Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 review ›

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO

+ Second-best air cooler result in Tom's Hardware's 238 W test
+ Supports AM4, AM5, LGA1700 and LGA1851 among its sockets
+ Five-year warranty
− Hangs over all four DIMM slots
− Somewhat loud at maximum fan speed
− Heavy and bulky at 810 g without fans

Skip it if:

Builders with tall RAM kits who cannot swap to low-profile memory
Anyone with a compact case or limited CPU area clearance
Buyers who want the quietest possible running at full fan speed

Read the full Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO review ›

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