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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
VS
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE wins by 1
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 — 360 mm AIO · VRM fan · silent
Arctic

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360

360 mm AIO · VRM fan · silent

93
/ 100
From $109
Specdex verdict

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

In our weighted Specdex score, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE lands at 94 and Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 at 93. That puts Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE if…

  • ✓Matches $100 coolers at $39
  • ✓7 copper heat-pipes
  • ✓Universal socket support

Pick Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 if…

  • ✓Class-leading value
  • ✓Integrated VRM fan
  • ✓Excellent sustained load thermals
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Winner by scenario

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

Thermals

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360

Compared on the thermals sub-score

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 leads on thermals (96 vs 92).

Noise

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360

Compared on the noise sub-score

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 leads on noise (90 vs 88).

Install

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Compared on the install sub-score

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

Value for money

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE more score per dollar ($39 vs $109).

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 94
vs
93 Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360

Score breakdown

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
94
thermals 92
noise 88
install 90
value 100
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360
93
thermals 96
noise 90
install 88
value 100

Specs side-by-side

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE versus Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 — full spec comparison
Spec Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360
Type
Dual-tower air
360 mm AIO
Fans
2× TL-C12C PWM
3× P12 PWM
TDP rating
~250W
—
Height
154 mm
—
Radiator thickness
—
38 mm

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

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360

Pros
  • +Class-leading value
  • +Integrated VRM fan
  • +Excellent sustained load thermals
Cons
  • −Utilitarian looks
  • −Thick rad needs case clearance
  • −No RGB standard model

FAQ: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE vs Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360

Which is better, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360? +

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

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.

Is Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 worth the price? +

At $109, Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in value.

Does Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 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, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360? +

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 — leads on thermals (96 vs 92). Compared on the thermals sub-score.

Which is better for noise, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360? +

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 — leads on noise (90 vs 88). Compared on the noise sub-score.