Noctua
Noctua NH-D15 G2
$149.95
Released 2024-07
Best CPU Coolers · head-to-head
Noctua NH-D15 G2 vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is cheaper at $34.9. Every spec and price links to its source.
Thermalright
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
$34.9Cheaper
Released 2022
Which is better: the Noctua NH-D15 G2 or Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is the cheaper at $34.9.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Noctua NH-D15 G2 | Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $149.95 | $34.9 |
| Brand | Noctua | Thermalright |
| Released | 2024-07 | 2022 |
| Type | air | air |
| Radiator or height (mm) | 168 mm | 155 mm |
| Fan count | 2 | 2 |
| Socket support | Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x; AMD AM5, AM4 | Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156; AMD AM5, AM4 |
| Tdp rating (W) | — | — |
| Rgb | No | No |
| Noise dba max | 24.8 | 25.6 |
| Release | 2024-07 | 2022 |
Sources — Noctua NH-D15 G2: noctua.at (verified 2026-06-15). Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE: thermalright.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Noctua NH-D15 G2 and Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Radiator or height (mm): Noctua NH-D15 G2 168 mm vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 155 mm
- Socket support: Noctua NH-D15 G2 Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x; AMD AM5, AM4 vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156; AMD AM5, AM4
- Noise dba max: Noctua NH-D15 G2 24.8 vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 25.6
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Noctua NH-D15 G2
Two whitelisted hands-on testers reviewed the NH-D15 G2. TechPowerUp names it the best-performing air cooler; Tom's Hardware confirms it improves on the original NH-D15. Both judge its ~$150 price hard to justify against sub-$50 rivals delivering near-identical cooling, and both praise Noctua's warranty and support. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Best-performing air cooler / holds the air-cooler crown; Improved thermal performance over the original NH-D15; Industry-leading warranty and top-tier customer support.
Flagged: Overpriced / poor value at ~$150 vs sub-$50 rivals offering near-identical cooling; Torx T20 screws add friction with no consumer benefit (driver is included); Fan noise inconsistency / 'Rattlegate' suggesting a possible fan defect.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
Only one whitelisted tester, Tom's Hardware, ran a hands-on lab review of this exact model. That single review is overwhelmingly positive: the best-performing air cooler it had tested, whisper-quiet, at roughly $36. It averaged 61 degrees C over ambient in a 200W Cinebench load and 64 degrees C over ambient in a 200W OCCT load, beating pricier coolers. No meaningful downsides beyond air-cooling's inherent power ceiling. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Best-in-class air cooling performance for its class, beating pricier coolers at capped TDPs; Whisper-quiet acoustics; second-quietest air cooler tested at max fan speed; Exceptional value at roughly $36 for a dual-tower, dual-fan cooler.
Flagged: Cannot keep a 12900K under TjMax in uncapped Cinebench/OCCT without power limits, a ceiling shared by all air coolers tested.