I'm planning a build with an RX 9070 XT, either a Ryzen 7 7800X3D or 9800X3D, and a Lian Li Lancool 217 case. I've been considering the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120, but I'm open to similar options. I'm not looking for an expensive flagship cooler—just a high-quality air cooler that can handle these parts well. Would the Peerless Assassin be enough, or should I choose something else?
5 Answers
I use a Peerless Assassin 120 with my system and it performs very well. CPU temperatures generally stay around 70–80°C under heavy load, so it’s a sensible choice for either processor.
The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 is a slightly improved version of the Peerless Assassin and is often priced about the same. It should be more than capable of cooling either the 7800X3D or 9800X3D.
A Dark Rock Pro is another capable option and can be quiet, but it is usually much more expensive than Thermalright models without providing a major performance advantage. It may run warm during particularly demanding workloads, though overall noise and temperatures can still be good.
The Peerless Assassin 120 is still an excellent value. It offers strong cooling for the price, and the more expensive alternatives usually don’t provide anywhere near twice the performance. It should work well in this build as long as the case has enough CPU cooler clearance.
If you want the absolute best air-cooling performance, a Noctua NH-D15 G2 is worth considering, but it costs several times more. The Phantom Spirit 120 SE offers much better value and should be plenty for these CPUs.
That’s the main drawback with the Dark Rock Pro: the build quality and appearance are appealing, but Thermalright generally delivers similar cooling for considerably less money.