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DeepCool AK500S vs Thermalright Assassin X 120: Comparison
What is the difference between DeepCool AK500S and Thermalright Assassin X 120?
Tdp rating is where these two genuinely part company, DeepCool AK500S 220 W against Thermalright Assassin X 120 180 W, a 18% lead for DeepCool AK500S. Noise level is closer, 28 dBA on the DeepCool AK500S versus 25 dBA on the Thermalright Assassin X 120. They differ on cooler type too, Air, Single-Tower on the DeepCool AK500S versus Air on the Thermalright Assassin X 120.
Who each one is for
The DeepCool AK500S suits budget builds that don't need a status display and 220W-class CPUs on a tight cooler budget, though it is not built for anyone who wants the AK500 DIGITAL's real-time temperature readout and Higher-TDP CPUs where the dual-fan AK620 performs meaningfully better. The Thermalright Assassin X 120 is the one to take for extreme-budget builds and locked mainstream Ryzen/Core CPUs, though it is the wrong buy for overclocked or unlocked CPUs and RGB-focused builds. Our rating of the DeepCool AK500S (7.5/10): A sensible budget trim of the AK500 line for builders who don't need the display and want to save a few dollars. Our rating of the Thermalright Assassin X 120 (7.5/10): exceptional price-to-performance for a locked mainstream build.
What DeepCool AK500S and Thermalright Assassin X 120 have in common
Everything else lines up. Height, tower type, socket compatibility, fan count and rgb lighting read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- DeepCool AK500S
- DeepCool
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Thermalright
Cooler Type
- DeepCool AK500S
- Air, Single-Tower
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Air
Series
- DeepCool AK500S
- DeepCool AK500S
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
Tower Type
- DeepCool AK500S
- Single-Tower
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Single-Tower
Model Number
- DeepCool AK500S
- AK500S
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Assassin X 120 SE
Height
- DeepCool AK500S
- 155 mm
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- 155 mm
Socket Compatibility
- DeepCool AK500S
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200
Fan Count
- DeepCool AK500S
- 1
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- 1
TDP Rating
- DeepCool AK500S
- 220 WBest
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- 180 W-18%
Noise Level
- DeepCool AK500S
- 28 dBA
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- 25 dBABest
RGB Lighting
- DeepCool AK500S
- No
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- No
Which one should you pick?
Choose DeepCool AK500S if you want the lower height (155 mm vs 155 mm), the higher fan count (1 vs 1) and the higher TDP rating (220 W vs 180 W).
Choose Thermalright Assassin X 120 if you want the lower noise level (25 dBA vs 28 dBA).
Price comparison
| Retailer | DeepCool AK500S | Thermalright Assassin X 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon |
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
DeepCool AK500S
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A sensible budget trim of the AK500 line for builders who don't need the display and want to save a few dollars.
Thermalright Assassin X 120
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
Exceptional price-to-performance for a locked mainstream build.