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Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler, 4 Heat pipes, TL-C12C-S PWM Fan, Aluminium Heatsink Cover, AGHP Technology, for AMD AM4/AM5/Intel LGA 1150/1151/1155/1851/1200/1700 (SE ARGB)
Thermalright

Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler

Bottom line: The Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler: Four 6mm AGHP heat pipes rated for 125-225W TDP; main trade-off: 148mm height rules out many slim and small-form-factor cases.

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By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014, focused on GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. Synthesises community benchmarks, manufacturer specs, and public forum data into actionable buying guides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Four 6mm AGHP heat pipes rated for 125-225W TDP
  • ✓ TL-C12C-S fan moves up to 66.17 CFM at 25.6 dB(A) or lower
  • ✓ Mounts on AM4, AM5 and Intel LGA 1700, 1851, 1200 and 115x sockets
  • ✓ ARGB fan lighting plus an aluminium heatsink cover
  • ✓ S-FDB bearing fan rated for up to 20,000 hours of service

Cons

  • ✗ 148mm height rules out many slim and small-form-factor cases
  • ✗ Single 120mm fan, no second fan for push-pull out of the box
  • ✗ 225W TDP ceiling limits headroom for top-end CPUs
  • ✗ Fan tops out at 1550rpm (+/-10%), limiting burst airflow

Manufacturer description

The Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB is a single-tower CPU air cooler built for mainstream AMD and Intel builds that want lower temperatures than a stock cooler without moving to liquid cooling. Four 6mm heat pipes use Thermalright's AGHP technique, which is designed to counter the inverse-gravity effect when the cooler is mounted vertically or horizontally. The cooler carries a 125-225W TDP rating. Airflow comes from the included TL-C12C-S PWM fan, a standard 120x120x25mm unit. It spins at 1550rpm (+/-10%), moves up to 66.17 CFM and is rated at 25.6 dB(A) or lower. Its S-FDB…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB CPU Air 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 Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB fit AM5 and LGA 1851?

Yes. It supports AMD AM4 and AM5 plus Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1200, 1700 and 1851. Mounting plates or fasteners for each platform are included.

Will this cooler fit in my case?

The cooler is 148mm tall, 120mm long and 71mm wide. Thermalright recommends it for medium-sized cases, so check that your case's CPU cooler clearance is at least 148mm.

How loud is the included fan?

The TL-C12C-S PWM fan is rated at 25.6 dB(A) or lower at its maximum of 1550rpm (+/-10%), and it moves up to 66.17 CFM.

What CPU wattage can the Assassin X120 Refined SE handle?

Thermalright rates it for a 125-225W TDP. The rating comes from four 6mm AGHP heat pipes and an aluminium heatsink.

Can I replace the fan with a different 120mm fan?

The included fan is a standard 120x120x25mm, 4-pin 12V PWM unit, so standard-size 120mm fans match its dimensions. Check the product listing for current warranty terms before swapping parts.

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 AX120 SE ARGB; CPU Cooler dimensions: 120(L)x71(W)x148(H)mm (4.92x2.8x 5.83 inch); Product weight:0.63kg(1.39lb); heat sink material: aluminum, CPU cooler is equipped with metal fasteners of Intel & AMD platform to achieve better installation
  • 【PWM Fans】MOdel:TL-C12C-S; Colorful and gorgeous ARGB light effects; 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), the fan pairs efficient cool with low-noise-level, providing you an environment with both efficient cool and true quietness
  • 【AGHP technique】4×6mm heat pipes apply AGHP technique, Solve the Inverse gravity effect caused by vertical / horizontal orientation, cpu cooler TDP is 125 to 225W. Up to 20000 hours of industrial service life, S-FDB bearings ensure long service life of air-cooler radiators. UL class a safety insulation low-grade, industrial strength PBT + PC material to create high-quality products for you. The height is 148mm, Suitable for medium-sized computer case
  • 【Compatibility】The CPU cooler Socket supports: Intel:1150/1151/1155/1851/1200/1700/17XX AMD:AM4/AM5; For different CPU socket platforms, corresponding mounting plate or fastener parts are provided

Full Specifications

BrandThermalright
ModelAX120 Refined SE ARGB
Weight0.63kg
Voltage12 volts
MaterialAluminum
Dimensions4.92x2.8x 5.83 inch
Unit Count1 Count
Noise Level25.6 db
Part NumberAX120 Refined SE ARGB
CompatibilityPC
Material TypeAluminum
Cooling MethodAir
Number of Items1
Number of Packs1
Air Flow Capacity66.17 cfm
Compatible DevicesDesktop
Included Componentscpu cooler
Power Connector Type4-Pin
Maximum Rotational Speed1550 rpm
Item Dimensions L x W x H5.83"L x 4.92"W x 2.8"H
Full listing titleThermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler, 4 Heat pipes, TL-C12C-S PWM Fan, Aluminium Heatsink Cover, AGHP Technology, for AMD AM4/AM5/Intel LGA 1150/1151/1155/1851/1200/1700 (SE ARGB)

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Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler, 4 Heat pipes, TL-C12C-S PWM Fan, Aluminium Heatsink Cover, AGHP Technology, for AMD AM4/AM5/Intel LGA 1150/1151/1155/1851/1200/1700 (SE ARGB) 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.

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Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler, 4 Heat pipes, TL-C12C-S PWM Fan, Aluminium Heatsink Cover, AGHP Technology, for AMD AM4/AM5/Intel LGA 1150/1151/1155/1851/1200/1700 (SE ARGB)
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