Thermalright
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler
Bottom line: The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler ($34.90 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): Six 6mm sintered copper heat pipes with AGHP anti-gravity design and a pure copper base; main trade-off: 155mm tall - many compact and mATX cases cannot clear it.
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Complete builds that use this part: 1080p Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS (CPU cooler) · 1440p Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS (CPU cooler) · 4K Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS (CPU cooler) · Build Your Own Gaming PC in 2026: The 5 Components That Actually Matter (CPU cooler) — see the full parts list for the rest of the build.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Six 6mm sintered copper heat pipes with AGHP anti-gravity design and a pure copper base
- ✓ Dual TL-C12C 120mm PWM fans rated 66.17 CFM max airflow
- ✓ Noise ceiling of 25.6 dB(A) at the 1550RPM maximum fan speed
- ✓ Metal mounting fasteners included for both Intel and AMD, not plastic clips
Cons
- ✗ 155mm tall - many compact and mATX cases cannot clear it
- ✗ AMD AM4/AM5 installs require the motherboard's stock backplate, not included
- ✗ 125 x 135mm dual-tower footprint can block the top PCIe slot area on small boards
- ✗ Aluminum fin stack with no RGB, screen, or software control
Manufacturer description
[Brand Overview] Thermalright is a Taiwan brand with more than 20 years of development. It has a certain popularity in the domestic and foreign markets and has a pivotal influence in the player market. We have been focusing on the research and development of computer accessories. R & D product lines include: CPU air-cooled radiator, case fan, thermal silicone pad, thermal silicone grease, CPU fan controller, anti falling off mounting bracket, support mounting bracket and other commodities [Product specification] Thermalright PA120 SE; CPU Cooler dimensions: 125(L)x135(W)x155(H)mm…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the cooling & fans category. Thermalright's cooling & fans lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for cooling & fans of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Peerless Assassin 120 SE fit AM5 and LGA 1700?
Yes. Thermalright includes mounting plates for Intel 115X, 1200, 1700, and 17XX plus AMD AM4 and AM5. For AMD installs you must reuse your motherboard's built-in backplate, which is not supplied with the cooler.
How tall is it, and will it fit my case?
The cooler measures 125mm long by 135mm wide by 155mm tall (4.92 x 5.31 x 6.1 inches). Check your case's listed CPU cooler clearance against 155mm before buying - Thermalright specifically flags case and motherboard compatibility as the buyer's responsibility.
Will it block my RAM?
The fin stack is designed to leave room for memory chips so installation is not restricted, but the 135mm width across two towers means very tall RGB memory can still interfere. Measure your DIMM height if you run heatspreader-heavy kits.
How loud is it at full speed?
The two TL-C12C fans top out at 1550RPM +/-10% with a rated noise level of 25.6 dB(A) or lower. Because they are 4-pin PWM on 12V, your motherboard curve can drop them well below that ceiling at idle and light load.
Is it worth it compared to a 240mm AIO?
It delivers six-heat-pipe dual-tower cooling with no pump to fail and no coolant to permeate. For mainstream Ryzen and Core CPUs it is the cheaper, lower-maintenance option; extreme overclockers may still want liquid.
Key Features
- [Brand Overview] Thermalright is a Taiwan brand with more than 20 years of development. It has a certain popularity in the domestic and foreign markets and has a pivotal influence in the player market. We have been focusing on the research and development of computer accessories. R & D product lines include: CPU air-cooled radiator, case fan, thermal silicone pad, thermal silicone grease, CPU fan controller, anti falling off mounting bracket, support mounting bracket and other commodities
- [Product specification] Thermalright PA120 SE; CPU Cooler dimensions: 125(L)x135(W)x155(H)mm (4.92x5.31x6.1 inch); heat sink material: aluminum, CPU cooler is equipped with metal fasteners of Intel & AMD platform to achieve better installation, double tower cooling is stronger（(Note:Please check your case and motherboard for compatibility with this size cooler.）
- 【2 PWM Fans】TL-C12C; Standard size PWM fan:120x120x25mm (4.72x4.72x0.98 inches); fan speed (RPM):1550rpm±10%; power port: 4pin; Voltage:12V; Air flow:66.17CFM(MAX); Noise Level≤25.6dB(A), leave room for memory-chip(RAM), so that installation of ice cooler cpu is unrestricted
- 【AGHP technique】6×6mm heat pipes apply AGHP technique, Solve the Inverse gravity effect caused by vertical / horizontal orientation, 6 pure copper sintered heat pipes & PWM fan & Pure copper base&Full electroplating reflow welding process, When CPU cooler works, match with pwm fans, aim to extreme CPU cooling performance
- 【Compatibility】The CPU cooler Socket supports: Intel:115X/1200/1700/17XX AMD:AM4;AM5; For different CPU socket platforms, corresponding mounting plate or fastener parts are provided（Note: Toinstall the AMD platform, you need to use the original motherboard's built-in backplanefor installation, which is not included with this product)
Full Specifications
| Size | PA120 SE series |
|---|---|
| Brand | Thermalright |
| Color | PA120 SE |
| Model | PA120 SE |
| UnitCount | 1 |
| Manufacturer | THERMALRIGHT |
| ItemPartNumber | PA120 SE |
| Full listing title | Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler, 6 Heat Pipes AGHP Technology, Dual 120mm PWM Fans, 1550RPM Speed, for AMD:AM4 AM5/Intel LGA 1700/1150/1151/1200/1851,PC Cooler |
Ready to buy?
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler, 6 Heat Pipes AGHP Technology, Dual 120mm PWM Fans, 1550RPM Speed, for AMD:AM4 AM5/Intel LGA 1700/1150/1151/1200/1851,PC Cooler is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
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