I'm putting together a system with a Core Ultra 5 250K and the bundle includes an ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360 AIO. I'm considering selling the AIO and putting that money toward more RAM, then using a less expensive air cooler instead. Would a budget-friendly Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE be sufficient, or should I look at something stronger such as the Phantom Spirit?
2 Answers
A smaller Thermalright cooler such as the Assassin X120 can handle a similar Intel chip perfectly well. One user reported stock temperatures around 80–87°C at low fan speeds, dropping to roughly 65–72°C after undervolting. The Peerless Assassin gives you more thermal headroom, so if you can get one new for around £15, it’s an excellent bargain.
The Thermalright Phantom Spirit is a solid choice and offers excellent cooling for the price. That said, a Peerless Assassin 120 SE should also be more than adequate for a 250K if you’re running normal settings. A 360 mm AIO isn’t essential unless you’re planning heavy overclocking, sustained all-core workloads, or specifically want lower temperatures and noise.
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