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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
Noctua NH-D15 G2 wins by 1
Noctua NH-D15 G2 — Twin-tower air · NF-A14x25r G2 · LGA1851/AM5
Noctua

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Twin-tower air · NF-A14x25r G2 · LGA1851/AM5

95
/ 100
From $149
Specdex verdict

Noctua NH-D15 G2 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE lands at 94 and Noctua NH-D15 G2 at 95. That puts Noctua NH-D15 G2 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 Noctua NH-D15 G2 if…

  • ✓Air-cooling king
  • ✓Whisper-quiet fans
  • ✓Rock-solid mounting
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Winner by scenario

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

Thermals

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Compared on the thermals sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on thermals (96 vs 92).

Noise

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Compared on the noise sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on noise (98 vs 88).

Install

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Compared on the install sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on install (92 vs 90).

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 $149).

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 94
vs
95 Noctua NH-D15 G2

Score breakdown

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
94
thermals 92
noise 88
install 90
value 100
Noctua NH-D15 G2
95
thermals 96
noise 98
install 92
value 90

Specs side-by-side

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE versus Noctua NH-D15 G2 — full spec comparison
Spec Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE Noctua NH-D15 G2
Type
Dual-tower air
Twin-tower air
Fans
2× TL-C12C PWM
2× NF-A14x25r G2
TDP rating
~250W
~280W
Height
154 mm
168 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

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Pros
  • +Air-cooling king
  • +Whisper-quiet fans
  • +Rock-solid mounting
Cons
  • −Large in case
  • −Three SKUs (tall/offset/low-profile)
  • −Brown isn’t for everyone

FAQ: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE vs Noctua NH-D15 G2

Which is better, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Noctua NH-D15 G2? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 scores 95 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 Noctua NH-D15 G2 worth the price? +

At $149, Noctua NH-D15 G2 delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in noise.

Does Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Noctua NH-D15 G2 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 Noctua NH-D15 G2? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 — leads on thermals (96 vs 92). Compared on the thermals sub-score.

Which is better for noise, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Noctua NH-D15 G2? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 — leads on noise (98 vs 88). Compared on the noise sub-score.