current best air coolers

GotNoRice said:
That's not even a good deal. You can get a Frost Spirit 140 for <$28 which is better than the Peerless Assassin 120. If you don't have the space for the Frost Spirit 140, you can get the Phantom Spirit 120, which is the same size as the Peerless Assassin 120 and a direct upgrade in every way (including better fans), for about $35 also... So why on earth would anyone buy a Peerless Assassin 120 for $35?
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the pa120 is $32-35, always has been, the ps120 is $34-38. the FS140 just happens to be on sale at the moment, its normally $38-40. all of them have been posted numerous times. you are right though, that going ps120 is the better option for the $2.
https://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-Peerless-Assassin-Aluminium-Technology/dp/B09YTL3JT5
https://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-PS120SE-TL-C12B-Technilogy-Bearing/dp/B0BNGVWL98
https://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-Cooler-Aluminium-Heatsink-Technology/dp/B09P34RVPX
 
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pendragon1 said:
the pa120 is $32-35, always has been, the ps120 is $34-38. the FS140 just happens to be on sale at the moment, its normally $38-40. all of them have been posted numerous times.
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Ya, the PA120 is a couple bucks less than when I bought one last week. Also the PA120 has the ARGB fan version if you are into that. (I am.) I was also able to buy 3x matching ARGB fans for the case for $12.
 
GotNoRice said:
That's not even a good deal. You can get a Frost Spirit 140 for <$28 which is better than the Peerless Assassin 120. If you don't have the space for the Frost Spirit 140, you can get the Phantom Spirit 120, which is the same size as the Peerless Assassin 120 and a direct upgrade in every way (including better fans), for about $35 also... So why on earth would anyone buy a Peerless Assassin 120 for $35?
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Well... obviously deals are just that... deals.

Maybe I got my Peerless Assassin for $5, then your Frost Spirit 140 at $28 is absolute crap, right?

Anyway, if this becomes a "my deal is bigger than your deal" thread.... etc.... etc...
 
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cjcox said:
Well... obviously deals are just that... deals.

Maybe I got my Peerless Assassin for $5, then your Frost Spirit 140 at $28 is absolute crap, right?

Anyway, if this becomes a "my deal is bigger than your deal" thread.... etc.... etc...
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No one said anything was "crap". Ditch the emo melodrama, we're just talking about heatsinks here.

My point is simply that, IMO, the Peerless Assassin is overpriced at this point. Maybe not by much, and it's certainly not a bad heatsink by any means, but there are basically always deals on at least one version of the Phantom Spirit or Frost Spirit where you're either getting something better for cheaper or only paying a dollar or two more at most.

It just seems to me that the Peerless Assassin 120 variants have become a lot like the Cooler Master 212 variants, in that people kept buying them long after they were past their prime simply due to name recognition and inertia.
 
GotNoRice said:
No one said anything was "crap". Ditch the emo melodrama, we're just talking about heatsinks here.
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Whoa honey child... I guess were going from "my deal is bigger than your deal" to a totally new off topic direction...
 
cjcox said:
Whoa honey child... I guess were going from "my deal is bigger than your deal" to a totally new off topic direction...
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I'm not sure what you're discussing, but I'm talking about air coolers in an air cooler thread. And yes, price is absolutely relevant to the discussion. "Deals" aren't irrelevant, especially when those deals last months and there are perpetually always several models on sale.
 
GotNoRice said:
I'm not sure what you're discussing, but I'm talking about air coolers in an air cooler thread. And yes, price is absolutely relevant to the discussion. "Deals" aren't irrelevant, especially when those deals last months and there are perpetually always several models on sale.
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What? No, read your posts. You were strictly talking deals and pooping on anyone else because your deal was bigger. You went "off range" a while back.
 
cjcox said:
What? No, read your posts. You were strictly talking deals and pooping on anyone else because your deal was bigger. You went "off range" a while back.
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I re-read my posts, and I'm still not seeing anything off-topic. So clean the sand out of your vagina or put me on ignore, because I won't be changing what I post about in the future.
 
GotNoRice said:
That's not even a good deal. You can get a Frost Spirit 140 for <$28 which is better than the Peerless Assassin 120. If you don't have the space for the Frost Spirit 140, you can get the Phantom Spirit 120, which is the same size as the Peerless Assassin 120 and a direct upgrade in every way (including better fans), for about $35 also... So why on earth would anyone buy a Peerless Assassin 120 for $35?
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They are all good deals when compared to Noctua, as long as they can handle the heat load. I like Thermalright as a company but dang they have a lot of very similar designs in the same relative space...
 
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I find it interesting that the Frost Spirit 140 looks almost exactly like the Peerless Assassin SE just in 140 and yet cheaper (edit - oh it's 1 120mm and 1 140mm, hmm $6 less for 1 smaller fan, hmmm)
 
Burticus said:
I find it interesting that the Frost Spirit 140 looks almost exactly like the Peerless Assassin SE just in 140 and yet cheaper (edit - oh it's 1 120mm and 1 140mm, hmm $6 less for 1 smaller fan, hmmm)
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because its on sale.
 
Actually grabbed one of those $28 FS140s. Just bought a "used - very good" Lian Li V3000+ off Amazon for "only" $278. Sadly my pc really doesn't see any gameplay anymore and I don't feel like diving into redoing my waterloop for a pc that just doesn't get used much. Figured one of these will keep the 7900X cool and can't be beat on the price.
 
NightReaver said:
Just got the FS140 delivered. Wow. Largest air cooler I've ever owned. That's a hefty piece of hardware and the rubber corners on the fans are neat, too.

Criminally cheap. Impressive.
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Just looked at it. Freaking huge.
 
It probably isn't the "best" but for $32~ the PA120 is pretty excellent, no complaints using it w/ my I7-12700K excellent cooler and value.
 
atarione said:
It probably isn't the "best" but for $32~ the PA120 is pretty excellent, no complaints using it w/ my I7-12700K excellent cooler and value.
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There is a phrase that stuck with me from Jeremy Clarkson years and years ago. "As near as makes no difference". Covers a lot of stuff in this hobby.
 
Been awhile since I've messed with metal fan clips. Get spoiled on using screws lol.

IMG_20240322_163649.jpg
 
I use an old chopstick with a 'V' filed at 45 degree angle in square end to hook fan clip onto fan. So much easier than trying to get fingers and not get cut.
 
You can get bags of clips on Ali express.. I lost a few for some of my coolers so I will need some at some point :D
 
Phantom Spirit 120 SE has been around for awhile now. It was released in November 2022.
Nice to see a decent review to back up what owners have been saying. ;)
 
Impressive to see the Phantom Spirit beating many 280mm AIOs and hanging in there with many 360mm AIOs. I don't see that they actually improved anything compared to previous Phantom Spirit models other than the fans though.
 
pendragon1 said:
5 more fins per stack(iirc)
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All of the Phantom Spirit models with the top cap have 5 more fins compared to the SE versions. The 5 extra fins are part of the top cap. The SE versions have no top cap, that's why you can see the tops of the heatpipes.
 
GotNoRice said:
All of the Phantom Spirit models with the top cap have 5 more fins compared to the SE versions. The 5 extra fins are part of the top cap. The SE versions have no top cap, that's why you can see the tops of the heatpipes.
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the side by side he shows is a non-se, so i assumed thats what he was comparing to, i havent looked at the docs. you can count 'em if ya want ;)
1713447475569.png
 
GotNoRice said:
All of the Phantom Spirit models with the top cap have 5 more fins compared to the SE versions. The 5 extra fins are part of the top cap. The SE versions have no top cap, that's why you can see the tops of the heatpipes
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Actually Phantom Spirit models have 3 more fins with a 4th tight against thicker top cap . ;)
Phantom Spirit models have 3 more cooling fins plus top cap.
To be fair heatpipe to fin seating is minimal if at all to those 3 fins
I've included drawing to show differences:

1713455764565.png
 

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doyll said:
Actually Phantom Spirit models have 3 more fins with a 4th tight against thicker top cap . ;)
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OK, thanks for the tip. I only knew that the SE had a handful less fins, and so I assumed that was what pendragon1 was referencing when he mentioned the 5 pin difference, since it's the only Phantom Spirit version that has fewer fins.

PScomparison.jpg


This picture was created using official product images directly from Thermalright:
https://www.thermalright.com/product/phantom-spirit-120/
https://www.thermalright.com/product/phantom-spirit-120-evo/
https://www.thermalright.com/product/phantom-spirit-120-se/

pendragon1 said:
the side by side he shows is a non-se, so i assumed thats what he was comparing to, i havent looked at the docs. you can count 'em if ya want ;)
View attachment 648458
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View: https://youtu.be/cgkggcBBW8Q?t=76
"Overall, the EVO is a literal clone of the Phantom Spirit with the same dimensions, same seven heat pipe layout, identical mounting kit, and exactly the same fin arrays"
 
GotNoRice said:
OK, thanks for the tip. I only knew that the SE had a handful less fins, and so I assumed that was what pendragon1 was referencing when he mentioned the 5 pin difference, since it's the only Phantom Spirit version that has fewer fins.

View attachment 648519

This picture was created using official product images directly from Thermalright:
https://www.thermalright.com/product/phantom-spirit-120/
https://www.thermalright.com/product/phantom-spirit-120-evo/
https://www.thermalright.com/product/phantom-spirit-120-se/




View: https://youtu.be/cgkggcBBW8Q?t=76
"Overall, the EVO is a literal clone of the Phantom Spirit with the same dimensions, same seven heat pipe layout, identical mounting kit, and exactly the same fin arrays"
Click to expand...

Your PS120 and PS120EVO image clearly shows what I posted is accurate. 👍
I used Thermalright dimensional images for mine. ;) I didn't post source because it's obvious where they came from .. and I've been working with Thermalright fr om shortly after they opened shop. They changed ownership a few years ago, but same making eceptional products.
 
doyll said:
Your PS120 and PS120EVO image clearly shows what I posted is accurate. 👍
I used Thermalright dimensional images for mine. ;) I didn't post source because it's obvious where they came from .. and I've been working with Thermalright fr om shortly after they opened shop. They changed ownership a few years ago, but same making eceptional products.
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You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I was trying to argue with you. Thanks for posting your resume though?
 
I think the EVO looks better than the SE obviously.. but I like the fact that I can drop in my T30 no problem while using the stock clips. Try that on the SE. I saw the HWC review, and I do not agree with a few things they had to say, but I am not a reviewer so.. just another voice in the crowd :D

Edit:

Those extra fins are the difference between your 120 fan that is sitting on your G.Skills being flush with the top, or sticking out a quarter inch over the top.
 
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