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Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE: Comparison
What is the difference between Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux and Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE?
Expect a near tie. The closest thing to a difference is noise level, Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux 32 dBA against Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 25.6 dBA. Static pressure runs the same way, 2.96 mmH2O on the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux versus 1.53 mmH2O on the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, another win for Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux. Max speed runs the same way, 2300 RPM on the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux versus 1550 RPM on the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, another win for Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux.
Who each one is for
Take the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux for buyers who prefer sourcing their cooler from an established, broad-portfolio brand. Cooler Master's air cooling reputation extends into this AIO offering. It also earns its place with compact cases needing a 240mm liquid cooling solution. Covers mainstream thermal needs without requiring 360mm clearance. It is not the one for buyers specifically chasing the strongest value-per-dollar in this radiator size. The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240, covered elsewhere on this site, carries the stronger independent testing reputation at a comparable price point. Take the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE for budget and mid-range builds up to about 200W sustained. Nothing else at $32 gets close. The same goes for first-time builders. The mounting hardware is genuinely simple and the bundled screwdriver reaches everything. It is the wrong buy for mATX or SFF cases. 155mm of height rules out most of them.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux and Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE differ on airflow?
Yes. Airflow reads 72.37 CFM on the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux versus 66.17 CFM on the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE.
Is the Fan Count the same on the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux and Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE?
It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Cooler Master
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- Thermalright
Cooler Type
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- AIO Liquid
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- Air Tower
Series
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- Peerless Assassin
Model Number
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- MLY-D24M-A23PZ-R1
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- PA120 SE
Socket Compatibility
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- AMD AM4/AM5/TR4, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011-3
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X
Tower Layout
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Not Applicable
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- Dual-Tower
Fan Count
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 2
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- 2
Noise Level
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 32 dBA
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- 25.6 dBABest
Fan Size
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 120 mm
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 2300 RPMBest
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- 1550 RPM-33%
Airflow
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 72.37 CFMBest
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- 66.17 CFM-9%
Static Pressure
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- 2.96 mmH2O
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- 1.53 mmH2O-48%
PWM Control
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Yes
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- Yes
Lighting
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- ARGB
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- None
Fan Connection
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
- Standard 4-Pin PWM
- Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
- Standard 4-Pin PWM
Which one should you pick?
Choose Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 2), the higher max speed (2300 RPM vs 1550 RPM) and the higher airflow (72.37 CFM vs 66.17 CFM).
Choose Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE if you want the lower noise level (25.6 dBA vs 32 dBA).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux | Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | $32.31 View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The best cooling-per-dollar in air cooling right now.