Noctua
Noctua NH-D15 · Black
Air tower
93
/ 100
From $109
VS
Noctua NH-D15 · Black wins by 1
Thermalright
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black
Air tower
92
/ 100
From $35
Specdex verdict
Noctua NH-D15 · Black takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-D15 · Black lands at 93 and Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black at 92. That puts Noctua NH-D15 · Black ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Noctua NH-D15 · Black if…
- ✓Multi-socket bracket support
- ✓Quiet fans at idle
- ✓Strong TDP rating
Pick Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black if…
- ✓Multi-socket bracket support
- ✓Quiet fans at idle
- ✓Strong TDP rating
Noctua NH-D15 · Black 93
vs 92 Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black
Score breakdown
Noctua NH-D15 · Black
93 thermals 93
noise 89
install 88
value 86
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black
92 thermals 92
noise 88
install 88
value 86
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Noctua NH-D15 · Black | Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Air tower | Air tower |
Noctua NH-D15 · Black
Pros
- +Multi-socket bracket support
- +Quiet fans at idle
- +Strong TDP rating
Cons
- −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
- −AIO pump noise varies
- −Installation requires motherboard-off
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black
Pros
- +Multi-socket bracket support
- +Quiet fans at idle
- +Strong TDP rating
Cons
- −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
- −AIO pump noise varies
- −Installation requires motherboard-off
FAQ: Noctua NH-D15 · Black vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black
Which is better, Noctua NH-D15 · Black or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black? +
Noctua NH-D15 · Black scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Noctua NH-D15 · Black worth the price? +
At $109, Noctua NH-D15 · Black delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in thermals.
Is Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black worth the price? +
At $35, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in thermals.
Does Noctua NH-D15 · Black or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE · Black last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.