Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 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 Peerless Assassin 120 SE scores 7.8/10 overall, ahead of the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 6.8/10.

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

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

They score the same on compatibility and fit.

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

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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 Peerless Assassin 120 SE	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Cooling	35%	9/10	7/10
Noise	25%	7/10	6/10
Compatibility and fit	15%	7/10	7/10
Value	15%	9/10	8/10
Build and installation	10%	5/10	6/10
Overall		7.8/10	6.8/10

Specifications

Spec	Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Type (tower air cooler, low-profile air, or AIO liquid with radiator size)	Dual-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)	155 mm (L125 × W110 × H155 mm)	154 mm
Rated cooling capacity (W TDP)	not listed	280 W (retailer figure, not manufacturer-published)
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-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 (rated, per fan spec)	25.6 dBA (fan rating, manufacturer)
Warranty (years)	Premium dual-tower air cooler series (including Peerless Assassin): 3–6 year limited warranty; no figure stated for this model	12 months

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 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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