Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Air Cooler, Dual PWM Fans, 6 Heat Pipes

Technical overview

Six heat pipes carry heat through the Peerless Assassin 120 SE’s dual-tower aluminium heatsink, while two TL-C12C PWM fans move air across the fins. This air-cooling design gives a desktop CPU a dedicated heatsink and fan setup without switching to liquid cooling. Need active airflow that can respond to changing system demands? The fans connect through a 4-pin power connector and run at a maximum rotational speed of 1550 rpm ±10%.

The cooler measures 125(L) x 135(W) x 155(H) mm. Its listed maximum airflow is 66.17 CFM, with a noise level of ≤25.6 dB(A). The six 6 mm heat pipes use AGHP technology, designed to address the effect of vertical or horizontal orientation. Together, the heat pipes, twin towers and PWM fans make this a substantial air-cooling arrangement for a desktop build.

Buyers often highlight cooling performance and a straightforward installation process. Feedback on noise is mixed, so the listed sound specification and the system’s intended use are useful considerations when choosing a cooler.

Compatibility

The Peerless Assassin 120 SE supports AMD AM4 and AM5, along with Intel 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 1700 and 17XX sockets. Mounting plates or fastener parts are provided for the supported AMD and Intel platforms, helping make the installation approach relevant to the processor socket in the build. Check the socket designation against your CPU and motherboard before fitting the cooler.

For a desktop setup where the priority is a tower-style air cooler, this model offers a different approach from a liquid-cooling system: heat is transferred through six heat pipes to an aluminium heatsink and moved away by two 120 mm fans. That makes it a practical format to consider when selecting a cooler around a supported socket and an air-cooling layout.

Usage tips

Identify the processor socket first, then use the corresponding mounting plate or fastener parts during installation. The cooler’s dimensions are useful when planning its position within the desktop build, while the fan’s 4-pin connection and PWM operation are relevant when arranging the cooler’s power connection. Secure the cooler using the platform-specific mounting hardware supplied for the supported socket.

The two TL-C12C fans are standard 120 x 120 x 25 mm PWM fans. Their stated maximum speed of 1550 rpm ±10% and maximum airflow of 66.17 CFM give practical reference points when comparing air coolers for a system. AGHP technology is intended to address orientation-related effects in the heat pipes, supporting the cooler’s use in different vertical or horizontal arrangements.

Practical questions

Which processor sockets does it support? It supports AMD AM4 and AM5, plus Intel 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 1700 and 17XX. Use the mounting parts suited to the socket in your system.

What fans are used? The cooler has two Thermalright TL-C12C PWM fans, each measuring 120 x 120 x 25 mm. They use a 4-pin power connector and have a listed maximum speed of 1550 rpm ±10%.

What does AGHP refer to? The six 6 mm heat pipes use AGHP technology, which is designed to address the effect of vertical or horizontal orientation on heat-pipe operation.

Buying verdict

For a desktop builder choosing air cooling for a supported AMD or Intel socket, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE brings together a dual-tower aluminium heatsink, six AGHP heat pipes and two 120 mm PWM fans. Its defined socket support and platform-specific mounting parts make it a focused option for builds where a substantial tower-style CPU cooler is the preferred fit.