Noctua
Noctua NH-D15
Air tower
93
/ 100
From $109
VS
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black wins by 1
Thermalright
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black
Air tower
94
/ 100
From $39
Specdex verdict
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-D15 lands at 93 and Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black at 94. That puts Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Noctua NH-D15 if…
- ✓Multi-socket bracket support
- ✓Quiet fans at idle
- ✓Strong TDP rating
Pick Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black if…
- ✓Multi-socket bracket support
- ✓Quiet fans at idle
- ✓Strong TDP rating
Noctua NH-D15 93
vs 94 Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black
Score breakdown
Noctua NH-D15
93 thermals 93
noise 89
install 88
value 86
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black
94 thermals 94
noise 90
install 88
value 86
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Noctua NH-D15 | Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Air tower | Air tower |
Noctua NH-D15
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 · 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 vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black
Which is better, Noctua NH-D15 or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black? +
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Noctua NH-D15 worth the price? +
At $109, Noctua NH-D15 delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in thermals.
Is Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black worth the price? +
At $39, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · Black delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in thermals.
Does Noctua NH-D15 or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 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.