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Head-to-head · Best Cpu Air Coolers

Thermalright AXP90-X47 vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Thermalright AXP90-X47 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.5 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about users needing high-performance low-profile cooling — read the strengths below before deciding.

Thermalright AXP90-X47
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Cpu Air Coolers
Thermalright AXP90-X47
3 sourcesall derived$38as of Oct 2

The Thermalright AXP90-X47 Full is an all-copper low-profile CPU cooler that delivers exceptional performance within its 47mm height constraint, according to sff.gg. It outperforms all other coolers in its class and is considered one of the best available. The cooler features a 4x 6mm copper heat pipe design with a nickel-coated copper base and cooling fins. While it offers excellent cooling performance, the mounting system requires securing from the back of the motherboard, which is considered outdated. The included orange stock fan is not aesthetically compatible with most systems, though the review recommends swapping it for an NF-A9x14 or RTX 4070 CNC fan.

Strengths
  • — All copper construction with 4x 6mm heat pipes and copper base for superior thermal performance
  • — Outperforms all other coolers in the 47mm height class
  • — Compact 47mm profile suitable for low-profile builds
Watch-outs
  • — Outdated mounting system that secures from the back of the motherboard
  • — Stock fan is only available in orange and doesn't match most system aesthetics
$38 · Buy at us.computerorbit.comFull review →
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini
Ranked #5 in Best Cpu Air Coolers
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini
2 sourcesall derived$34.39as of Oct 2

Thermalright's Peerless Assassin Mini delivers exceptional thermal performance in a compact form factor, making it ideal for small-case builds. Machines & More praised its sturdy construction and strong cooling ability despite its reduced size. The cooler features a single 120mm fan with fluid dynamic bearing and is priced at $35, matching the full-size version's cost without discount. While it lacks the premium features of some competitors, its performance justifies the price for users needing a compact solution.

Strengths
  • — Performs extremely well considering its compact size reduction
  • — Maintains high-quality materials and sturdy construction despite small stature
  • — Single 120mm fan with fluid dynamic bearing for quiet operation
Watch-outs
  • — No price cut from the full-size Peerless Assassin despite size reduction
  • — Capped fan speed at 1500 RPM compared to Silver Soul 135's 1850 RPM
$34.39 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Thermalright AXP90-X47

The Thermalright AXP90-X47 delivers superior performance in a low-profile design, outperforming the AXP90-X36 in terms of cooling efficiency and heat pipe count. Unlike the ID Cooling IS-47-XT v2, it uses all-copper construction and offers better performance despite its outdated mounting system, though it lacks the flexible installation features of the IS-47-XT v2.

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini stands out for its compact design that maintains high performance, but it's priced the same as the full-size version, making it less economical than the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE which offers an extra heat pipe and better value. Unlike the be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 Black, it lacks dual fans and has a single 120mm fan capped at 1500 RPM compared to the Pure Rock Pro 3's dual 120mm fans with higher airflow.

Specs side-by-side

SpecThermalright AXP90-X47Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini
Height47mm135 mm
Heat Pipes4x 6mm copper heat-pipes, copper base (nickel coated), copper cooling fins6 x 6mm
Fan Size90x15mm120mm TL D2B
CompatibilityIntel: 1200/1700, AMD: AM4/AM5Intel: LGA115X/1200/1700/1851/2011/2066 AMD: AM4/AM5
Noise Level22.4 dBA25.6 dBA
Dimensions94.5 mm x 95 mm x 32 mm4.33"L x 5.31"W x 4.92"H
Cooler Type—Dual Towers
Voltage—12 volts
Material—Aluminum
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