Side by side
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
190 positive (91%) · 16 mixed (8%) · 3 negative (1%)
Trust + time weighted: +91%
AI summary — not a quote
The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE is widely regarded as one of the best value air coolers on the market, frequently recommended for its ability to handle high-end CPUs like the Ryzen 7800X3D at a budget-friendly price point. Users consistently report excellent thermal performance, often maintaining gaming temperatures between 60-65°C, while remaining quiet enough for silent-focused builds.
Pros
- Exceptional price-to-performance ratio, often outperforming more expensive coolers.
- Quiet operation, particularly when fans are set to lower RPMs (700-800).
- Effective cooling for demanding CPUs like the Ryzen 7600X and 7800X3D.
- Compact 154mm-156mm height fits in many mid-sized cases.
Cons
- Front fan clearance can be an issue when paired with tall RAM modules.
- Raising the front fan to clear RAM can increase the total height beyond the base 154-156mm spec.
Top excerpts
CPU cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU, AM5, height 154 mm, 1500 RPM, 25.6 dB (€ 41.03)
Yep that cooler is great.
The PS 120 SE should be nice and cool if you want to run stock set up of PL1/PL2 125W/250W.
I'd go Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Evo, extra heat pipe, I've owned both very solid with my 7800x3d
My 7600x ran hot, reapply thermal paste and Spend $35-40 on a Phantom Spirit 120 SE and it'll drop those temps tenfold
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
179 positive (81%) · 28 mixed (13%) · 14 negative (6%)
Trust + time weighted: +76%
AI summary — not a quote
The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is widely regarded by the Reddit community as a top-tier budget air cooler that offers thermal performance comparable to much more expensive All-In-One (AIO) liquid coolers. It is frequently recommended for high-end gaming CPUs due to its dual-tower design and exceptional price-to-performance ratio.
Pros
- Exceptional value, often cited around the $35 USD price point
- Thermal performance that rivals some liquid AIO coolers
- Capable of cooling high-end chips like the 9800X3D and 5800X3D without thermal throttling
- Reliable dual-tower design with included fans that users find sufficient
Cons
- Mounting hardware can be difficult to install, specifically getting the spring-loaded screws to thread simultaneously
- Large physical footprint may be 'overkill' for low-power CPUs
- Potential for high shipping costs in certain regions like Canada
Top excerpts
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler
The difference is basically 32GB vs 64GB RAM and a $250 AIO vs a $35 air cooler.
What would you recommend over the Peerless Assassin? Everything Ive seen says its as good as some AIOs. I use it and it keeps my CPU temp very low.
Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
"Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE" is a double tower cooler that gets recommended a lot.