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Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black — Air tower
Noctua

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black

Air tower

95
/ 100
From $149
VS
Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black 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

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black lands at 95 and Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 94. That puts Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Noctua NH-D15 G2 · 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

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black

Compared on the thermals sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black leads on thermals (95 vs 92).

Noise

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black

Compared on the noise sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black leads on noise (91 vs 88).

Install

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Compared on the install sub-score

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

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 $149).

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black 95
vs
94 Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Score breakdown

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black
95
thermals 95
noise 91
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 G2 · Black versus Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — full spec comparison
Spec Noctua NH-D15 G2 · 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 G2 · 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 G2 · Black vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Which is better, Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black worth the price? +

At $149, Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black delivers a Specdex score of 95 — 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 G2 · 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 thermals, Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black — leads on thermals (95 vs 92). Compared on the thermals sub-score.

Which is better for noise, Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 · Black — leads on noise (91 vs 88). Compared on the noise sub-score.