Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White
Air tower
Noctua NH-D15
Air tower
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White lands at 94 and Noctua NH-D15 at 93. That puts Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White 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
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testThermals
TieCompared on the thermals sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Noise
TieCompared on the noise sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Install
TieCompared on the install sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · WhiteSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White more score per dollar ($39 vs $109).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White | Noctua NH-D15 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Air tower | Air tower |
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White
- +Multi-socket bracket support
- +Quiet fans at idle
- +Strong TDP rating
- −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
- −AIO pump noise varies
- −Installation requires motherboard-off
Noctua NH-D15
- +Multi-socket bracket support
- +Quiet fans at idle
- +Strong TDP rating
- −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
- −AIO pump noise varies
- −Installation requires motherboard-off
FAQ: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White vs Noctua NH-D15
Which is better, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White or Noctua NH-D15? +
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White worth the price? +
At $39, Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White delivers a Specdex score of 94 — 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 Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White 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 Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White or Noctua NH-D15? +
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE · White — more score per dollar ($39 vs $109). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.