Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 vs AIO Cooler Master ML240L v2

[freeagent]

PA120 is like a 265w cooler. CoolerMaster makes junk imo.. PA120 is not a giant cooler, its actually kind of cute. I have one on my 5600X system with  just a stock center fan with a 5600X under it. The CPU is boosting to +150 on all cores, so to 4800MHz. No problem.

 

That said, the PS120 is a better cooler. If you were thinking of 5900X, the PS120 EVO is what you want. It will take a T30 in the center without spreading the towers, and will also use the stock clips without stretching the shit out of them. It will take the full 265w that the 5900X can put out with PBO.

[almog]

17 hours ago, Aleph256 said:

Are you running some particularly tall sticks?
My own PA120 does cover the first two slots but there's no clearance issue (Vengeance sticks)

XPG D41. Look at the video mentioned, they don't fit under the fan.

[almog]

17 hours ago, podkall said:

"up to" is referring to maximum fan speed, not it's normal fan speed, it's one of the quieter Air Coolers

 

there shouldn't be clearance issue, the fan can be mounted slightly higher to clear any tall RAM

I know... just said that to make clear that case fans are not the problem, the cpu fan is (regarding noise levels... 2300rpm is way too much for any fan size)

I know the fan can be mounted higher but every case have a clearance limit, otherwise fans would hit the side panel. I just CAN'T go over 13mm (I'd say 10mm to avoid touching the glass). You'll see in the video, it seems a lot more than 10mm to clear the ram sticks.

[Aleph256]

31 minutes ago, almog said:

XPG D41. Look at the video mentioned, they don't fit under the fan.

I see.

I don't recall you mentioning your mobo, but could the fan fit on the other side if the cooler, above the VRM heatsink?

[almog]

1 hour ago, Aleph256 said:

I see.

I don't recall you mentioning your mobo, but could the fan fit on the other side if the cooler, above the VRM heatsink?

It is there, at the bottom/end of the post.

I wouldn't put the second fan there, way too close to the rear case fan, would not be the best choice (and would also be elevated from the tower).

[podkall]

3 hours ago, almog said:

(regarding noise levels... 2300rpm is way too much for any fan size)

it's not going to run at 2300rpm, you can set fan curve to let the fan glide at slow rpm, which would just make it hum on a similar low level any other fan in your case is probably running at, possibly even quieter

 

3 hours ago, almog said:

I know the fan can be mounted higher but every case have a clearance limit, otherwise fans would hit the side panel. I just CAN'T go over 13mm (I'd say 10mm to avoid touching the glass). You'll see in the video, it seems a lot more than 10mm to clear the ram sticks.

how much is case clearance for CPU cooler? one of websites that sell the case say 170mm which should be plenty, is your RAM tall?

[Aleph256]

1 hour ago, podkall said:

is your RAM tall?

XPG D41 has the taller-due-to-RGB-top disease.

[podkall]

24 minutes ago, Aleph256 said:

XPG D41 has the taller-due-to-RGB-top disease.

only a little bit tall, how's your Motherboard, is it close to CPU socket or not, if it's not close it's cool for the tower

[RevGAM]

I already responded on your old thread. 

[almog]

On 4/6/2024 at 6:00 PM, podkall said:

only a little bit tall, how's your Motherboard, is it close to CPU socket or not, if it's not close it's cool for the tower

Not enough for that. But I will probably use 1 fan only in the middle and put the rest at the front of the case. Just waiting for the prices to drop on the PA120 as I ruled out the ML240 (unless prices go below the PA120).

[almog]

On 4/7/2024 at 10:22 AM, RevGAM said:

I already responded on your old thread. 

Yes, thank you for helping. Ended up choosing the PA120 (unless prices for the ML240 drop below the PA120 and only because I may have to move to a city around 1500km away in the next months and traveling with that massive tower... But that's something I can deal by removing the tower and reinstalling it later on).

Thx

[podkall]

12 minutes ago, almog said:

Not enough for that. But I will probably use 1 fan only in the middle and put the rest at the front of the case. Just waiting for the prices to drop on the PA120 as I ruled out the ML240 (unless prices go below the PA120).

no you want to keep the fan on the CPU cooler, that's much more important actually,

 

14 minutes ago, almog said:

(unless prices go below the PA120).

unlikely:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L ARGB V2 62 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($66.27 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($33.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $100.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-17 14:50 EDT-0400

[almog]

2 minutes ago, podkall said:

no you want to keep the fan on the CPU cooler, that's much more important actually,

 

unlikely:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L ARGB V2 62 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($66.27 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($33.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $100.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-17 14:50 EDT-0400

I will keep a fan on the CPU cooler, the PA120 comes with 2 fans, but I'll use just one between the towers... The fan that should be installed above memory sticks (the one in the front) I'll use at a chassis fan.

Thank you.

[podkall]

1 minute ago, almog said:

I will keep a fan on the CPU cooler, the PA120 comes with 2 fans, but I'll use just one between the towers... The fan that should be installed above memory sticks (the one in the front) I'll use at a chassis fan.

Thank you.

you can install it higher, or see if it actually fits above them first, but just so you know if you need that cooler to cool more, leave both fans on

[RevGAM]

3 hours ago, almog said:

I will keep a fan on the CPU cooler, the PA120 comes with 2 fans, but I'll use just one between the towers... The fan that should be installed above memory sticks (the one in the front) I'll use at a chassis fan.

Thank you.

@podkall is correct. Both fans on is much better. Otherwise, find a single-tower cooler.

[TatamiMatt]

13 hours ago, podkall said:

no you want to keep the fan on the CPU cooler, that's much more important actually,

 

unlikely:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L ARGB V2 62 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($66.27 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($33.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $100.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-17 14:50 EDT-0400

 

13 hours ago, almog said:

I will keep a fan on the CPU cooler, the PA120 comes with 2 fans, but I'll use just one between the towers... The fan that should be installed above memory sticks (the one in the front) I'll use at a chassis fan.

Thank you.

Just going to pop this in here too, the PA120s big brother mentioned by some above, only $2 extra

 

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kXrcL9

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L ARGB V2 62 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($66.27 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($33.90 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($35.90 @ Amazon) 
Total: $136.07
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-18 04:11 EDT-0400

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/GpbRsY/thermalright-phantom-spirit-120-se-6617-cfm-cpu-cooler-ps120se

[TatamiMatt]

On 4/6/2024 at 12:19 AM, freeagent said:

PA120 is like a 265w cooler. CoolerMaster makes junk imo.. PA120 is not a giant cooler, its actually kind of cute. I have one on my 5600X system with  just a stock center fan with a 5600X under it. The CPU is boosting to +150 on all cores, so to 4800MHz. No problem.

 

That said, the PS120 is a better cooler. If you were thinking of 5900X, the PS120 EVO is what you want. It will take a T30 in the center without spreading the towers, and will also use the stock clips without stretching the shit out of them. It will take the full 265w that the 5900X can put out with PBO.

OOC, what is, hands down, the best air cooler youve used disregarding all other variables? Stock or otherwise i.e. PS120EVO with a T30 is an option

[RevGAM]

1 hour ago, TatamiMatt said:

OOC, what is, hands down, the best air cooler youve used disregarding all other variables? Stock or otherwise i.e. PS120EVO with a T30 is an option

The truth is, it doesn't actually make much difference which of them you choose. The performance difference is pretty small, except that the FC falls behind the others in some tests. I would be happy with PA, PS and FS, except the minis.

[TatamiMatt]

7 minutes ago, RevGAM said:

The truth is, it doesn't actually make much difference which of them you choose. The performance difference is pretty small, except that the FC falls behind the others in some tests. I would be happy with PA, PS and FS, except the minis.

Oh its just pure curiosity, im not looking to acquire another cooler or anything

[almog]

On 4/17/2024 at 3:55 PM, podkall said:

you can install it higher, or see if it actually fits above them first, but just so you know if you need that cooler to cool more, leave both fans on

I don't need that much cooling, just looking for silent operation first, also the 3700x is a 65W processor and I run it at stock settings, I believe a single tower fan would be ok, but using a two tower radiator or an 240mm AIO I believe I'd get a lower overall noise from my PC. Where I live temps go around 25-35ºC at noon during the whole year (today temps are around 30ºC and cpu fan is freaking me out at 2000-2100 rpm... at idle with cpu at ~50ºC for the package).

Anyways, I'm now, with all the comments here and in other forums and reviews watched, just waiting for a discount at any of the coolers above or ones like those.

Thank you all guys.

[podkall]

48 minutes ago, almog said:

I don't need that much cooling, just looking for silent operation first, also the 3700x is a 65W processor and I run it at stock settings, I believe a single tower fan would be ok, but using a two tower radiator or an 240mm AIO I believe I'd get a lower overall noise from my PC. Where I live temps go around 25-35ºC at noon during the whole year (today temps are around 30ºC and cpu fan is freaking me out at 2000-2100 rpm... at idle with cpu at ~50ºC for the package).

Anyways, I'm now, with all the comments here and in other forums and reviews watched, just waiting for a discount at any of the coolers above or ones like those.

Thank you all guys.

if you manage to run 2 fans on dual tower air cooler, the fans can run slower

 

you can tune the fans to run slow, one benefit of air cooler is that there's no pump hum sound, unless you don't mind that