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
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
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
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.