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Noctua NH-D15 G2 — Twin-tower air · NF-A14x25r G2 · LGA1851/AM5
Noctua

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Twin-tower air · NF-A14x25r G2 · LGA1851/AM5

95
/ 100
From $149
VS
Noctua NH-D15 G2 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 takes it — here’s why.

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

Pick Noctua NH-D15 G2 if…

  • ✓Air-cooling king
  • ✓Whisper-quiet fans
  • ✓Rock-solid mounting

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

Compared on the thermals sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on thermals (96 vs 92).

Noise

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Compared on the noise sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on noise (98 vs 88).

Install

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Compared on the install sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on install (92 vs 90).

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 95
vs
94 Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Score breakdown

Noctua NH-D15 G2
95
thermals 96
noise 98
install 92
value 90
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
94
thermals 92
noise 88
install 90
value 100

Specs side-by-side

Noctua NH-D15 G2 versus Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — full spec comparison
Spec Noctua NH-D15 G2 Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Type
Twin-tower air
Dual-tower air
Fans
2× NF-A14x25r G2
2× TL-C12C PWM
TDP rating
~280W
~250W
Height
168 mm
154 mm

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Pros
  • +Air-cooling king
  • +Whisper-quiet fans
  • +Rock-solid mounting
Cons
  • −Large in case
  • −Three SKUs (tall/offset/low-profile)
  • −Brown isn’t for everyone

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 vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

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

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

Is Noctua NH-D15 G2 worth the price? +

At $149, Noctua NH-D15 G2 delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in noise.

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 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 or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 — leads on thermals (96 vs 92). Compared on the thermals sub-score.

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

Noctua NH-D15 G2 — leads on noise (98 vs 88). Compared on the noise sub-score.