Noctua
Noctua NH-U12A
Air tower
90
/ 100
From $109
VS
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE wins by 2
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
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
| 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.