Which Thermalright Cooler Should I Choose for My Ryzen 5 9600X Build?

October 27, 2025 5 answers
Asked by GamerGal42
I'm building a PC with a Ryzen 5 9600X and need help deciding on an air cooler. I've narrowed it down to a few Thermalright models: the Phantom Spirit 120, Phantom Spirit 120 SE, Peerless Assassin 120, and Peerless Assassin 120 SE. They all seem quite similar, and I'm confused about their differences. My main goal is to keep my system as quiet as possible. Can anyone share advice on which cooler to choose? Thanks in advance!

Answers

ChillTechie
Honestly, with the Ryzen 9600X being relatively cool, you can pick any of these coolers based on looks. They all perform well, and if you adjust the fan speed, you can make them super quiet while still keeping your temps down.
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RGBFanatic_99
It really comes down to whether you care about RGB lighting or not. The performance across all these options is solid, so just grab the cheapest one or the one that looks best to you!
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CoolerKing
I recommend the Peerless Assassin 120 SE. You really canโ€™t go wrong with any of them, but I have the PA 120 SE and it's been great!
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BudgetBuilder88
All of them are good options and quite similar, so just go for the cheapest one. You wonโ€™t notice much difference in most cases.
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CaseCrafter
Theyโ€™re nearly identical performance-wise. The SE versions have shorter fin stacks, which can be beneficial if youโ€™re working with a compact build. If you donโ€™t plan on heavy gaming and find the SEs cheaper, they should work perfectly fine for you.
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