Compare: NH-U12A chromax.Black vs Peerless Assassin 120

Design and Aesthetics:

NH-U12A chromax.Black

The NH-U12A chromax.Black features a single-tower design with a slim aluminum heatsink and a pair of 120mm NF-A12x25 PWM fans. This design allows for efficient heat dissipation, making it capable of handling demanding processors. Aesthetically, the NH-U12A chromax.Black adopts a black color scheme, providing a sleek and modern appearance that complements various build themes.

Peerless Assassin 120

The Peerless Assassin 120 boasts a stylish design, featuring a sizable aluminum heatsink, gray fans, and a gray radiator top that conceals the heat pipes. Its two 120mm fans guarantee excellent airflow and effective heat dissipation. The contemporary and elegant aesthetic suits a variety of build themes, making it an appealing choice for budget-conscious PC enthusiasts. The closely related Peerless Assassin 120 SE provides a black color scheme with a less refined top surface.

Install Notes:

NH-U12A chromax.Black

The NH-U12A features Noctua's SecuFirm2 mounting system, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets and offering a straightforward installation process, typical of Noctua coolers. Clear instructions, high-quality components, and a tube of their premium NT-H1 thermal compound make it an easy and user-friendly experience, even for beginners. The cooler uses the original AMD backplate for AMD installations. However, one downside is that the cooler may stick to your CPU, and due to the screw setup, you can't slide the cooler off the CPU like with some other brands. Overall, the NH-U12A offers a relatively hassle-free installation process.

Peerless Assassin 120

This cooler installation is very similar to Noctua's typical installation, which is one of the easier installation setups. However, it also faces similar issues regarding uninstalling this cooler, where the cooler is unable to slide/twist off the cooler to break the thermal paste seal. This might be necessary if the thermal paste has a strong hold between the cooler and the CPU.

Cooling Performance:

NH-U12A chromax.Black

The performance of the NH-U12A is exceptional due to its seven heat pipes that efficiently transfer heat away from the CPU and into the large fin array of the heatsink. It is suitable for a wide range of processors, including high-end models with high TDPs. The cooler can handle high levels of overclocking and provides reliable cooling under demanding situations, making it a popular choice among enthusiasts.

Peerless Assassin 120

Impressive performance is a standout feature of the Peerless Assassin 120 SE, thanks to its six heat pipes that efficiently transfer heat away from the CPU and into the expansive fin array of the heatsink. It is suitable for a wide range of processors, including high-end models with high TDPs. The cooler is capable of handling demanding workloads and significant overclocking, making it a an attractive cooling solution option.

Noise Performance:

NH-U12A chromax.Black

One of the standout features of the NH-U12A is its quiet operation. The two included 120mm NF-A12x25 PWM fans are designed for optimal airflow and low noise levels. Noctua fans are well-known for their excellent acoustic performance, and the NH-U12A is no exception. Users can expect quiet cooling even during intense workloads or gaming sessions.

Peerless Assassin 120

One of the standout features of the Peerless Assassin 120 SE is its relative quiet operation. The two included 120mm TL-C12 PWM fans are designed for optimal airflow and low noise levels. Although, this cooler can be louder than some other coolers of similar size, the relative cooling makes this cooler a contender for your setup.

Summary:

NH-U12A chromax.Black

Overall, the Noctua NH-U12A is a high-performance air cooler that offers excellent cooling capabilities and quiet operation. Its single-tower design and exceptional build quality make it a top choice for users seeking a reliable and efficient cooling solution for high-performance systems.

Peerless Assassin 120

A notable feature of the Peerless Assassin 120 is its comparatively quiet performance. The cooler comes equipped with two 120mm TL-C12 PWM fans, engineered for optimal airflow and reduced noise levels. While it may be slightly louder than other coolers of a similar size, its impressive cooling capabilities make the Peerless Assassin 120 a strong contender for your PC setup.