Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 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 Peerless Assassin 120 SE scores 7.8/10 overall, ahead of the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO at 7.2/10.

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

The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO leads on build and installation.

They score the same on cooling and value.

The biggest difference is compatibility and fit, where the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE scores 7/10 to the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO's 4/10.

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

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

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	Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO
Cooling	35%	9/10	9/10
Noise	25%	7/10	6/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	7/10	4/10
Value	15%	9/10	9/10
Build and installation	10%	5/10	6/10
Overall		7.8/10	7.2/10

Specifications

Spec	Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	Dual-tower air cooler	Dual-tower air cooler
Supported sockets (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)	Intel 115X/1200/1700/1851; AMD AM4/AM5	Intel LGA115X/1200/1700/1851/2011/2066, AMD AM4/AM5
Height in mm (air coolers) or radiator size in mm (AIO)	155 mm (L125 × W110 × H155 mm)	157 mm
Fans included and their size	Two TL-C12C 120 × 120 × 25 mm 4-pin PWM fans, 1550 RPM ±10%, 66.17 CFM max, 0.20 A each	2 x TL-K12 120 x 120 x 25 mm PWM, 4-pin, ARGB connector, 2150 RPM max, 69 CFM max
Noise level (dBA)	25.6 dBA (rated, per fan spec)	27 dBA rated fan noise
Warranty (years)	Premium dual-tower air cooler series (including Peerless Assassin): 3–6 year limited warranty; no figure stated for this model	5 years

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

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 ›

More comparisons

Compare all CPU coolers · Best CPU coolers