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Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE — Air tower
Thermalright

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Air tower

92
/ 100
From $35
VS
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE wins by 2
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

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE lands at 92 and Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 94. That puts Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ahead by 2 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 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

Tie

Compared on the thermals sub-score

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

Install

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Compared on the install sub-score

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE leads on install (90 vs 88).

Noise

Tie

Compared on the noise sub-score

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

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 92
vs
94 Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Score breakdown

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
92
thermals 92
noise 88
install 88
value 86
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
94
thermals 92
noise 88
install 90
value 100

Specs side-by-side

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE versus Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — full spec comparison
Spec Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Type
Air tower
Dual-tower air
Fans
—
2× TL-C12C PWM
TDP rating
—
~250W
Height
—
154 mm

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

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: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Which is better, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. 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 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 Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 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 install, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE or Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE? +

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE — leads on install (90 vs 88). Compared on the install sub-score.