Consumercarts

Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more

Corsair A500 vs Thermalright Silver Soul 135: Comparison

Corsair A500 vs Thermalright Silver Soul 135: the height difference

The gap that matters here is height: Corsair A500 165 mm against Thermalright Silver Soul 135 135 mm, which puts Thermalright Silver Soul 135 22% ahead. Add fan count to that, 2 on the Corsair A500 versus 1 on the Thermalright Silver Soul 135, and the pattern holds. Static pressure runs the same way, 4.2 mmH2O on the Corsair A500 versus 2.1 mmH2O on the Thermalright Silver Soul 135, another win for Corsair A500. Add max speed to that, 2400 RPM on the Corsair A500 versus 1850 RPM on the Thermalright Silver Soul 135, and the pattern holds.

Who each one is for

Buy the Corsair A500 for High-TDP builds wanting flagship air cooling without RGB and builders already in Corsair's fan and case ecosystem, though it is the wrong buy for small cases without room for a 165mm-tall dual-tower cooler and builders who want RGB lighting. Avoid it for anyone chasing the absolute best air cooling result, where Noctua's NH-D15 G2 tests slightly ahead. The Thermalright Silver Soul 135 is the one to take for enthusiasts wanting flagship-adjacent cooling on a budget and single-fan-clearance cases, though it is not built for buyers wanting premium brand warranty support and RGB-themed builds. Our rating of the Corsair A500 (8.1/10): A genuinely strong flagship-tier air cooler that trades a few degrees against Noctua's best for a lower price and Corsair's ecosystem familiarity. Our rating of the Thermalright Silver Soul 135 (8.1/10): near-flagship single-tower cooling at a fraction of the premium-brand price.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Corsair A500 and Thermalright Silver Soul 135 differ on noise level?

Yes. Noise Level reads 37 dBA on the Corsair A500 versus 29.6 dBA on the Thermalright Silver Soul 135.

Is the Cooler Type the same on the Corsair A500 and Thermalright Silver Soul 135?

It is. Both are listed at Air Tower, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    Corsair A500
    Corsair
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Thermalright
  • Cooler Type

    Corsair A500
    Air Tower
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Air Tower
  • Series

    Corsair A500
    Corsair A500
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
  • Tower Type

    Corsair A500
    Single-Tower
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Single-Tower
  • Model Number

    Corsair A500
    CT-9010003-WW
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Silver Soul 135
  • Height

    Corsair A500
    165 mm-22%
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    135 mmBest
  • Socket Compatibility

    Corsair A500
    AMD AM4, Intel LGA115X/2066/2011-3
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X/2066/2011
  • Tower Layout

    Corsair A500
    Single-Tower
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Single-Tower
  • Fan Count

    Corsair A500
    2Best
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    1-50%
  • Noise Level

    Corsair A500
    37 dBA
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    29.6 dBABest
  • Heatpipe Count

    Corsair A500
    4
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    6
  • Base Material

    Corsair A500
    Nickel-Plated Copper
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Nickel-Plated Copper
  • Fan Size

    Corsair A500
    120 mm
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    120 mm
  • Max Speed

    Corsair A500
    2400 RPMBest
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    1850 RPM-23%
  • Airflow

    Corsair A500
    75 CFM-9%
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    82 CFMBest
  • Static Pressure

    Corsair A500
    4.2 mmH2O
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    2.1 mmH2O-50%
  • Bearing Type

    Corsair A500
    Magnetic Levitation
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Fluid Dynamic
  • PWM Control

    Corsair A500
    Yes
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    Yes
  • Fans

    Corsair A500
    2x CORSAIR ML120, 120mm
    Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    1x TL-D12 PRO-G 120mm PWM

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose Corsair A500 if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 1), the higher max speed (2400 RPM vs 1850 RPM) and the higher static pressure (4.2 mmH2O vs 2.1 mmH2O).

    Choose Thermalright Silver Soul 135 if you want the lower height (135 mm vs 165 mm), the lower noise level (29.6 dBA vs 37 dBA) and the higher airflow (82 CFM vs 75 CFM).

    Price comparison

    RetailerCorsair A500Thermalright Silver Soul 135
    AmazonView on Amazon
    NeweggView 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

    Corsair A500

    8.1 / 10 Expert Rating

    A genuinely strong flagship-tier air cooler that trades a few degrees against Noctua's best for a lower price and Corsair's ecosystem familiarity.

    Thermalright Silver Soul 135

    8.1 / 10 Expert Rating

    Near-flagship single-tower cooling at a fraction of the premium-brand price.

    More comparisons in CPU Coolers