Rank #2 in Best CPU Air Cooler 2026: 10 Ranked, One Sold Twice at Two Prices
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Dual Tower Cooler
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is a dual-tower air cooler with six 6 mm heat pipes and two 120 mm TL-C12C PWM fans, listed at £29.99. It takes the number 2 slot in this guide, and it is the cheaper of two entries carrying exactly the same name: the other Peerless Assassin 120 SE in the list is priced at £35.90 and shows 307 ratings, against the 3,133 shown on this one. That is £5.91 more for the same product name, and nothing in the text of either listing accounts for it.
The figures on this page are where the listing argues with itself. The Wattage field says 265 watts, sitting next to a Voltage field of 12 Volts and a 4-Pin connector — a combination that would imply roughly 22 amps through a fan header. The listing's own fan spec describes a 12-volt TL-C12C pulling 66.17 CFM at 1550 RPM, and the 265 W appears in the AGHP bullet as the CPU TDP the cooler is rated to handle, not as the current it draws. The dimensions disagree in the same way: the bullets give 125(L) x 135(W) x 155(H) mm, while the dimensions field gives 15.5L x 13.5W x 12.5H cm, which swaps length for height. The width agrees at 135 mm either way. Everything here is taken from the Amazon listing — we have not tested this cooler ourselves.
How those 3,133 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.7 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £29.99 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7 out of 5 from 3,133 Amazon ratings |
| Wattage (as listed) | 265 watts |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Power Connector Type | 4-Pin |
| Fans | 2 x TL-C12C 120 mm PWM, 1550 RPM ±10%, 66.17 CFM, up to 25.6 dB(A) |
| Dimensions (as listed) | 15.5L x 13.5W x 12.5H cm — the bullets give 125(L) x 135(W) x 155(H) mm |
| Item Weight (as listed) | 907 g — the bullets give 0.97 kg |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Had it installed for almost 2 years at this point, works flawlessly, it is a little bulky but that may be because I am not used to high-end air coolers. The cooling itself is perfect and I have had no problems with overheating even on really hot 33C+ afternoons while gaming.It has been a couple of years now but from what I recall the installation process was easy and the manual provided clear instructions. Definitely recommended!”
Verified purchase“I replaced my old cooler with this absolute beast, and I couldn't be happier! It does an amazing job at keeping my temperatures low and running efficiently. Just be sure to check the dimensions before purchasing to ensure it fits your case. Overall, it's a fantastic upgrade for cooling performance!”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best CPU Air Cooler 2026: 10 Ranked, One Sold Twice at Two Prices.
Questions people ask
Does the Peerless Assassin 120 SE use 265 watts?
No. The Wattage field on the listing says 265 watts, but the same listing describes a 4-pin, 12-volt TL-C12C fan running at 1550 RPM and moving 66.17 CFM. The 265 W appears in the AGHP bullet as the CPU TDP the cooler is rated for, not as its power draw.
Why does the guide show two Peerless Assassin 120 SE coolers?
Because the two listings carry the same name but different numbers: this one is £29.99 with 3,133 ratings, the other is £35.90 with 307. The £5.91 difference is not explained anywhere in the listing text.
How tall is the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE?
The listing gives two answers. The bullets state 155(H) mm, while the dimensions field states 12.5H cm, which is 125 mm. Length is swapped the same way (125 mm in the bullets, 15.5 cm in the field). Both agree the width is 135 mm, and reviewers advise checking the dimensions before buying.
Which sockets does it fit?
The compatibility bullet lists Intel 115X/1200/1700/17XX and AMD AM4. The product title goes further and also names AMD AM5 and Intel LGA 1150/1151/1200.
How noisy is it?
The listing gives a maximum of 25.6 dB(A) for the TL-C12C fans at 1550 RPM ±10%, and the noise specification field repeats 25.6 decibels.
How many fans and heat pipes does it have?
Two 120 mm TL-C12C PWM fans and six 6 mm heat pipes using AGHP technology, in a dual-tower heatsink with an aluminium cover, per the listing.
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