Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

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

all judged against CPU coolers at a similar price

The Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE and Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE both score 6.8/10 overall.

The Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE leads on noise and build and installation.

The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE leads on cooling.

They score the same on compatibility and fit and value.

Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE

6.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE is for builders who want a low-cost single-tower air cooler for a current Intel or AMD platform. It suits mainstream CPUs in cases with enough height for a 148mm cooler. Owners mostly praise its value, quiet running and easy fitting.

Typically about £15.95 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

6.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The Phantom Spirit 120 SE is for builders who want a dual-tower air cooler for a current Intel or AMD desktop CPU on a modest budget. It suits mainstream and gaming systems, including Ryzen 7 7800X3D builds, where one owner reports around 65c under load. It is a less obvious choice for anyone who wants near-silent running under sustained heavy load.

Typically about £24.87 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	Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Cooling	35%	6/10	7/10
Noise	25%	7/10	6/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	7/10	7/10
Value	15%	8/10	8/10
Build and installation	10%	7/10	6/10
Overall		6.8/10	6.8/10

Specifications

Spec	Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	Single-tower air cooler	Tower air cooler, dual-tower
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)	Intel 115x/1200/1700/1851; AMD AM4/AM5	Intel LGA115X/1200/1700/1851; AMD AM4/AM5
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)	148 mm	154 mm
Rated cooling capacity (W TDP)	not listed	280 W (retailer figure, not manufacturer-published)
Fans included and their size	One 120 x 120 x 25 mm TL-C12C PWM fan, 1550 RPM max, 66.17 CFM max, 1.53 mm H2O max, S-FDB bearing	2 x TL-C12B V2 PWM, 120 x 120 x 25 mm, 1500 RPM ±10%, 66.17 CFM max, 1.53 mm H2O max, S-FDB bearing, 4-pin PWM
Noise level (dBA)	25.6 dBA maximum (manufacturer figure)	25.6 dBA (fan rating, manufacturer)
Warranty (years)	3 years	12 months

Strengths and weaknesses

Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE

+ Supports Intel 1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5
+ Owners praise value, quiet running and easy installation
+ 3-year warranty
− One owner reports it running warm under heavy load
− 148mm height may be too tall for some cases

Skip it if:

Buyers with a high-power CPU under sustained heavy load
Anyone with a compact case or limited CPU cooler height
Builders using tall RAM modules who need a confirmed clearance figure

Read the full Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE review ›

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

+ Supports LGA1851, LGA1700, AM5 and AM4
+ Owners praise its value for money
+ One owner reports around 65c on a 7800X3D
− Owners report loud fans under load
− Owners say it is hard to clean
− Owners report a fan speed floor near 360 rpm

Skip it if:

Buyers who want near-silent running under sustained heavy load
Builders who want fans that idle well below 360 rpm
Anyone who dislikes cleaning a dual-tower cooler

Read the full Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE review ›

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