CPU cooler · MODEL NOTES
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
The Peerless Assassin 120 SE is a dual-tower air cooler whose published heatsink height is only the start of the fit calculation. Its two fans and the memory beside the CPU still need room in the assembled machine.
Check the exact SE model, mounting hardware and installed fan height together. Use temperatures and noise under your workload to judge cooling suitability; a socket-support list cannot answer that question.
Consider it when
- You want an air-cooled build and can verify the space above the CPU and memory before choosing the case.
- Your required socket appears on the manufacturer list and the correct mounting hardware is included with the unit you will use.
Look again when
- The case height margin is small and your plan relies on tall memory fitting underneath the front fan without measurement.
- You are relying on results for a Peerless Assassin EVO, SE V2 or another similarly named model as if it were the same cooler.
THE SPACE IT NEEDS
Check the height with the fan installed
- Published cooler height
- 155mm
Confirm the manufacturer fan position, RAM clearance and the case side-panel limit. The drawing does not measure cooling performance.
Check cooler and RAM clearance ↗Based on the manufacturer specification record, checked . Check the exact revision and installation instructions before buying.
The checks that can change your choice
Keep heatsink and installed heights separate
Thermalright lists the heatsink as 125 × 110 × 155 mm and explicitly asks for clearance above the installed cooler and tall memory. The 155 mm figure alone does not prove a raised front fan will fit under the side panel.
Check the manufacturer document ↗Verify the mounting hardware
The current page lists AM4/AM5 and Intel 115X/1200/1700/1851 support. Check the instructions and included bracket set for your actual package, especially when reusing an older or second-hand cooler.
Check the manufacturer document ↗Check fan power and airflow direction
The supplied TL-C12C fans use 4-pin PWM connectors. Identify the CPU-fan header and the connection arrangement in the board manual, then orient the fans consistently with the case airflow. Fan specifications are not a measurement of the assembled PC noise.
Check the manufacturer document ↗Published specifications
Dual-tower air cooler; 6 heatpipes; 155 mm heatsink height; 120 mm PWM fans; AM4/AM5 and LGA1700/1851 support.
| Brand | Thermalright |
|---|---|
| Exact model | Peerless Assassin 120 SE |
| Cooler mounting sockets | AM4, AM5, LGA1700, LGA1851, LGA1200, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156 |
| Published cooler height | 155 mm; fan position can change this |
| Cooler design | air |
Exact non-SE-V2 / EVO model as named. Quoted height is the manufacturer heatsink dimension; fan position and tall memory can change installed height. No verified RAM clearance or thermal-wattage guarantee is assigned.
Compare the choice, not just the name
A different choice worth checking
These alternatives address related choices. Recheck their platform, connections and fit before treating one as a replacement.
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Sources and review notes
RigAtlas connects manufacturer specifications to component choices. This page is document-based analysis; it does not claim a hands-on test or a current store offer.
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