Compare: Peerless Assassin 120 vs Liquid Freezer III 360

Design and Aesthetics:

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.

Liquid Freezer III 360

This cooler features a contemporary, symmetrical design. Although this particular model does not include RGB lighting, other versions do, providing options based on your preferences. Overall, this cooler enhances your PC with a sleek and modern appearance.

Install Notes:

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.

Liquid Freezer III 360

The Arctic Freezer III maintains the user-friendly installation features of its predecessor. This cooler distinguishes itself by having fans pre-attached to the radiator, which streamlines the installation process compared to other all-in-one (AIO) coolers. Additionally, the CPU mounting component is detachable, allowing for easier installation without interference from aesthetic parts. However, connecting the control cable to the motherboard can be tricky when the cooler is already mounted. Therefore, it is recommended to attach the desired cable to the motherboard before installing the cooler.

Cooling Performance:

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.

Liquid Freezer III 360

The Arctic Freezer III 360 offers improved performance over the previous model, though it does generate more noise. Despite this, it outperforms most coolers in its class on a cooling basis.

Noise Performance:

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.

Liquid Freezer III 360

The Arctic Freezer III 240 comes equipped with a more powerful pump, which can become noticeably audible at higher speeds. As our testing was done with the pump running at 100% speed, reducing the pump speed during less demanding tasks can help minimize noise without significantly compromising performance.

Summary:

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.

Liquid Freezer III 360

The Arctic Freezer III maintains user-friendly installation features, with pre-attached fans on the radiator and a detachable CPU mounting component for easier setup. However, connecting the control cable can be tricky once the cooler is mounted, so it's recommended to attach the cable before installation. It features a contemporary design, with some versions offering RGB lighting. Despite aesthetic improvements and lower noise levels compared to typical coolers and the previous Arctic Freezer 360, the Arctic Freezer III 360 has average performance and struggles to cool high-core CPUs under heavy loads.