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Noctua NH-U12A — Air tower
Noctua

Noctua NH-U12A

Air tower

90
/ 100
From $109
VS
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE wins by 2
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE — Air tower
Thermalright

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Air tower

92
/ 100
From $35
Specdex verdict

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-U12A lands at 90 and Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE at 92. That puts Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Noctua NH-U12A if…

  • ✓Multi-socket bracket support
  • ✓Quiet fans at idle
  • ✓Strong TDP rating

Pick Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE if…

  • ✓Multi-socket bracket support
  • ✓Quiet fans at idle
  • ✓Strong TDP rating
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Winner by scenario

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

Thermals

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Compared on the thermals sub-score

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE leads on thermals (92 vs 90).

Install

Tie

Compared on the install sub-score

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

Noise

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Compared on the noise sub-score

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE leads on noise (88 vs 86).

Value for money

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE more score per dollar ($35 vs $109).

Noctua NH-U12A 90
vs
92 Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Score breakdown

Noctua NH-U12A
90
thermals 90
noise 86
install 88
value 86
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
92
thermals 92
noise 88
install 88
value 86

Specs side-by-side

Noctua NH-U12A versus Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE — full spec comparison
Spec Noctua NH-U12A Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
Type
Air tower
Air tower

Noctua NH-U12A

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

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-U12A vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Which is better, Noctua NH-U12A or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE? +

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Noctua NH-U12A worth the price? +

At $109, Noctua NH-U12A delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in thermals.

Is Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE worth the price? +

At $35, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in thermals.

Does Noctua NH-U12A or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 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-U12A or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE? +

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE — leads on thermals (92 vs 90). Compared on the thermals sub-score.

Which is better for noise, Noctua NH-U12A or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE? +

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE — leads on noise (88 vs 86). Compared on the noise sub-score.