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Thermalright Assassin X 120 single-tower CPU air cooler
Thermalright

Thermalright Assassin X 120

Expert rating7.5 / 10

Cooler Type:
Air
Tower Type:
Single-Tower
Height:
155mm
RGB Lighting:
No

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Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

Manufacturer: Thermalright Last updated: 2026-09-12

Where to buy

Thermalright Assassin X 120 (Single-Tower Air/4 Heatpipes/120mm PWM Fan/155mm Height/Extreme Budget Value) Review

Thermalright Assassin X 120 budget single-tower air cooler, 4 heatpipes, 120mm PWM fan, 155mm height, AM4/AM5/LGA1700 support, 180W TDP, extreme value pricing.

Thermalright built its reputation on selling far more heatsink than the price tag suggests, and the Assassin X 120 continues that at the entry tier — four heatpipes and a single PWM fan for well under the cost of a name-brand equivalent, aimed at builders who'd rather spend the savings on a GPU.

Comparison to Alternatives

It's the little sibling to the Peerless Assassin 140 in this catalog: the same value-first philosophy scaled down to a single-tower, single-fan format for tighter budgets and smaller cases. Against the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition, the Assassin X 120 typically undercuts it on price while landing in a similar thermal band.

Specifications

Identity

BrandThermalright
SeriesThermalright Assassin X 120
Model NumberAssassin X 120 SE

Design

Cooler TypeAir
Tower TypeSingle-Tower
Height155 mm
Socket CompatibilityAMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200

Performance

Fan Count1
TDP Rating180 W
Noise Level25 dBA
RGB LightingNo

Expert Review

Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.

Expert rating7.5 / 10

Exceptional price-to-performance for a locked mainstream build.

Best for

  • Extreme-budget builds
  • Locked mainstream Ryzen/Core CPUs
  • Compact cases needing single-fan tower clearance

Not for

  • Overclocked or unlocked CPUs
  • RGB-focused builds
  • Buyers wanting a second fan pre-installed

FAQs

What are the key specifications of the Thermalright Assassin X 120 (Single-Tower Air/4 Heatpipes/120mm PWM Fan/155mm Height/Extreme Budget Value)?

The Thermalright Assassin X 120 (Single-Tower Air/4 Heatpipes/120mm PWM Fan/155mm Height/Extreme Budget Value) is a CPU cooler from Thermalright. Key specs: Cooler Type Air, Tower Type Single-Tower, Height 155mm, Socket Compatibility AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200, Fan Count 1.

Will the Thermalright Assassin X 120 (Single-Tower Air/4 Heatpipes/120mm PWM Fan/155mm Height/Extreme Budget Value) work with my current setup?

The Thermalright Assassin X 120 (Single-Tower Air/4 Heatpipes/120mm PWM Fan/155mm Height/Extreme Budget Value) lists Socket Compatibility is AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.

Who is the Thermalright Assassin X 120 (Single-Tower Air/4 Heatpipes/120mm PWM Fan/155mm Height/Extreme Budget Value) best suited to?

It suits extreme-budget builds, locked mainstream ryzen/core cpus, compact cases needing single-fan tower clearance.

What are the drawbacks of the Thermalright Assassin X 120 (Single-Tower Air/4 Heatpipes/120mm PWM Fan/155mm Height/Extreme Budget Value)?

It is a poor fit for overclocked or unlocked cpus, rgb-focused builds, buyers wanting a second fan pre-installed.

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