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Noctua NH-D15 · Black — Air tower
Noctua

Noctua NH-D15 · Black

Air tower

93
/ 100
From $109
VS
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE wins by 1
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — Dual-tower air · $39 · Ridiculous value
Thermalright

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Dual-tower air · $39 · Ridiculous value

94
/ 100
From $39
Specdex verdict

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-D15 · Black lands at 93 and Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 94. That puts Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 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 Phantom Spirit 120 SE if…

  • ✓Matches $100 coolers at $39
  • ✓7 copper heat-pipes
  • ✓Universal socket support
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Thermals

Tie

Compared on the thermals sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Install

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Compared on the install sub-score

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE leads on install (90 vs 88).

Noise

Tie

Compared on the noise sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE more score per dollar ($39 vs $109).

Noctua NH-D15 · Black 93
vs
94 Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Score breakdown

Noctua NH-D15 · Black
93
thermals 93
noise 89
install 88
value 86
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
94
thermals 92
noise 88
install 90
value 100

Specs side-by-side

Noctua NH-D15 · Black versus Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — full spec comparison
Spec Noctua NH-D15 · Black Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Type
Air tower
Dual-tower air
Fans
—
2× TL-C12C PWM
TDP rating
—
~250W
Height
—
154 mm

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 Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Pros
  • +Matches $100 coolers at $39
  • +7 copper heat-pipes
  • +Universal socket support
Cons
  • −Fan noise average
  • −Styling utilitarian
  • −Included paste so-so

FAQ: Noctua NH-D15 · Black vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Which is better, Noctua NH-D15 · Black or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE scores 94 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 Phantom Spirit 120 SE worth the price? +

At $39, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in value.

Does Noctua NH-D15 · Black or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 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.

Which is better for install, Noctua NH-D15 · Black or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — leads on install (90 vs 88). Compared on the install sub-score.

Which is the better value, Noctua NH-D15 · Black or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — more score per dollar ($39 vs $109). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.