Head-to-head · Best Air Coolers Under $100

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 vs Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO

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

The short answer

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about high-end enthusiasts seeking maximum cooling — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Air Coolers Under $100

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120

4.4

$29

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 delivers impressive cooling performance at an affordable price point, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious builders. Tom's Hardware praised its 'incredible, affordable air cooling performance,' while PC Gamer noted its solid build quality and quiet operation. However, some reviewers cautioned that it may not handle extreme overclocking scenarios as well as more premium options. This cooler is ideal for mainstream users seeking reliable cooling without breaking the bank, but enthusiasts pushing high-end CPUs might want to consider more robust alternatives.

Strengths

— Excellent cooling performance for an affordable air cooler
— Quiet operation under typical loads
— Solid build quality with durable materials

Watch-outs

— May struggle with very high-end CPUs under extreme overclocking
— Limited RGB lighting options

$29 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Air Coolers Under $100

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO

4.7

$69

The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO earns high praise as a top-tier air cooler, with Tom's Hardware calling it a 'massacre' in performance. TechPowerUp and ChoiceCheck both highlight its seven 6mm heat pipes with AGHP technology, dual 120mm PWM fans, and exceptional cooling under load. Reviewers note its quiet operation thanks to S-FDB bearings and solid build quality. However, the cooler's 157mm height and front fan overhang may cause clearance issues in compact cases or with tall RAM modules, limiting its suitability for some builds. This cooler is ideal for enthusiasts and gamers with high-end CPUs seeking maximum performance and reliability.

Strengths

— Seven 6mm heat pipes with AGHP 4th generation technology for superior heat dissipation
— Dual 120mm PWM fans with S-FDB bearings for quiet operation and long lifespan
— Excellent cooling performance under load, with low thermal resistance

Watch-outs

— Height of 157mm may not fit in compact or SFF cases
— Front fan overhangs RAM slots, potentially causing clearance issues with tall memory modules

$69 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 provides excellent value for budget builds, matching the cooling performance of the Noctua NH-U12S redux and Scythe Fuma 2 at a lower price point. It's more affordable than the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO and be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5, but lacks the advanced heat pipe technology and build quality of the premium models.

Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO

The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO dominates in raw cooling performance with its seven 6mm heat pipes and dual 120mm fans, outperforming the Noctua NH-U12S redux and Scythe Fuma 2 in thermal efficiency. While it's more expensive than the Deepcool AK620 and Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition, it's less versatile than the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 due to its height and clearance issues, and lacks the compact design of the Noctua NH-L9i.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO
Cooler Type	Air Cooler	Air Cooler
Fan Size	120mm	Dual 120mm
Heat Pipes	6	7x6mm
TDP Rating	180W	250W
Noise Level	22-30 dBA	24.4 dBA
Height	145mm	157mm
Interface	PWM	PWM
Compatibility	LGA 1700, AM5, AM4, LGA 1200, sTRX4	LGA1700, AM5, AM4, LGA1200, LGA115x

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