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Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE — Air tower
Thermalright

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Air tower

92
/ 100
From $35
VS
Noctua NH-D15 wins by 1
Noctua NH-D15 — Air tower
Noctua

Noctua NH-D15

Air tower

93
/ 100
From $109
Specdex verdict

Noctua NH-D15 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE lands at 92 and Noctua NH-D15 at 93. That puts Noctua NH-D15 ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE if…

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

Pick Noctua NH-D15 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

Tie

Compared on the thermals sub-score

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

Noise

Tie

Compared on the noise sub-score

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

Install

Tie

Compared on the install sub-score

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

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).

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 92
vs
93 Noctua NH-D15

Score breakdown

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
92
thermals 92
noise 88
install 88
value 86
Noctua NH-D15
93
thermals 93
noise 89
install 88
value 86

Specs side-by-side

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE versus Noctua NH-D15 — full spec comparison
Spec Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Noctua NH-D15
Type
Air tower
Air tower

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

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

FAQ: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE vs Noctua NH-D15

Which is better, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE or Noctua NH-D15? +

Noctua NH-D15 scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

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.

Is Noctua NH-D15 worth the price? +

At $109, Noctua NH-D15 delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in thermals.

Does Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE or Noctua NH-D15 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 the better value, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE or Noctua NH-D15? +

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