Noctua NF-A14 PWM vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler

Design and Build Quality

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler offers a more complex and robust design compared to the Noctua NF-A14 PWM fan. The Peerless Assassin features a twin-tower layout with an offset asymmetric design, enabling installation compatibility with the first graphics card slot, which is a significant advantage for certain PC builds. Its heat sink material is aluminium with a black nanoscale paint finish, covering a heat dissipation area of 9600 cm², while the Noctua NF-A14 PWM is a single 140x140x25 mm fan designed with an award-winning A-series frame.

While the Noctua fan focuses on a premium quiet design with acoustic optimizations and Flow Acceleration Channels, the Peerless Assassin integrates six 6mm pure copper sintered heat pipes with an advanced AGHP technique to enhance thermal performance. The Noctua fan includes anti-vibration mounts and accessories for versatile installation, but the Peerless Assassin’s metal fasteners are tailored specifically for both Intel and AMD platforms to ensure a sturdy setup. Overall, the Peerless Assassin’s larger, dual-tower construction and advanced materials provide a more substantial cooling apparatus compared to the single fan design of the Noctua.

Cooling Performance

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler is engineered for superior cooling with its dual 120 mm PWM fans and six 6 mm heat pipes, promising a maximum airflow of 66.17 CFM. In contrast, the Noctua NF-A14 PWM is a single 140 mm fan with a maximum speed of 1500 RPM and a broad speed range of 300 to 1500 RPM, focusing more on quiet operation than raw airflow.

The Peerless Assassin’s dual-fan setup and extensive heat dissipation area of 9600 cm² allow it to dissipate heat more effectively, especially under heavy CPU loads. Its offset layout further improves compatibility and airflow around other components like the graphics card. The Noctua fan, though smaller in heat dissipation scope, benefits from advanced acoustic optimisation and Flow Acceleration Channels that enhance airflow efficiency and reduce noise. However, for users prioritizing outright cooling power, the Peerless Assassin’s twin towers and dual fans provide a clear advantage.

Noise Levels

In terms of acoustics, the Noctua NF-A14 PWM is designed as a premium quiet fan, producing a maximum noise level of 24.6 dB(A) at full speed, which is slightly quieter than the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black, which has a noise level capped at 25.6 dB(A). The Noctua also offers a Low-Noise Adaptor that reduces its maximum speed from 1500 RPM to 1200 RPM, further lowering noise output for quieter operation.

While the Peerless Assassin employs ultra-silent airflow fans and maintains noise levels below 25.6 dB(A) despite having two fans, the Noctua’s advanced acoustic optimisation and vibration dampening mounts give it an edge for users who prioritise silence. Both coolers use 4-pin PWM fans for automatic speed control, but the Noctua’s lower noise rating and included accessories make it a better pick for quiet PC builds.

Compatibility and Installation

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler supports a wide range of CPU sockets, including Intel LGA1150/1151/1155/1156/1200/1700/17XX/2066/2011 and AMD AM4 and AM5. It comes equipped with metal fasteners for easy and secure installation across these platforms. The cooler’s dimensions of 125(L) x 135(W) x 157(H) mm and its offset asymmetric design provide better clearance, particularly allowing installation over the first PCIe slot on motherboards.

The Noctua NF-A14 PWM is a versatile 140 mm fan, primarily intended as a case or water cooling radiator fan but can be used in various chassis configurations as intake or exhaust. It includes anti-vibration mounts, extension cables, and a y-cable for running two PWM fans on a single header, adding flexibility to installation. However, it is not a full CPU cooler but rather a fan component, which may require pairing with an appropriate heatsink or radiator.

Overall, the Peerless Assassin offers more comprehensive CPU cooler compatibility and installation hardware, while the Noctua fan excels in versatility for multiple cooling roles.

Materials and Durability

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler uses a combination of aluminium for its heat sink and six pure copper sintered heat pipes with a pure copper base, ensuring excellent thermal conductivity and durability. It also features a full electroplating reflow welding process, enhancing structural integrity and corrosion resistance, with a nanoscale black paint finish for aesthetics and protection.

The Noctua NF-A14 PWM is constructed as a high-quality fan with a 140x140x25 mm frame. Its design includes Flow Acceleration Channels and an Advanced Acoustic Optimisation frame, contributing to fan efficiency and longevity. The fan is rated for more than 150,000 hours Mean Time To Failure (MTTF), highlighting its reliability and durability over a long service life.

In summary, the Peerless Assassin combines high-grade metals with advanced manufacturing to boost cooling and longevity, while the Noctua fan emphasizes premium components and proven reliability in its quieter, smaller-scale design.

Fan Features and Control

The Noctua NF-A14 PWM features a 4-pin PWM connector allowing automatic speed control within a broad 300 to 1500 RPM range, with a maximum rated speed of 1500 RPM and an optional Low-Noise Adaptor reducing max speed to 1200 RPM for quieter operation. Its design includes Flow Acceleration Channels, an Acoustic Optimisation frame, and anti-vibration mounts to minimize noise and vibration.

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler comes with two 120x120x25 mm TL-C12B PWM fans, each running at 1500 RPM ±10%, also using 4-pin connectors for automatic control. These fans provide a combined airflow of up to 66.17 CFM with noise levels below 25.6 dB(A). The dual-fan setup operates synergistically to improve cooling without excessive noise.

While both products offer PWM control and use quiet fans, Noctua’s fan is optimized for silent operation and flexibility, whereas Thermalright focuses on dual-fan cooling performance with slightly higher noise emissions.

Price and Value

The Noctua NF-A14 PWM is priced at C$34.95, making it an affordable choice for users seeking a premium quiet fan for case or radiator cooling. Its price reflects its focus on quiet operation, reliability, and accessory inclusions such as anti-vibration mounts and cables.

On the other hand, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler is priced significantly higher at C$54.90. This reflects its advanced cooling architecture with dual fans, twin towers, multiple heat pipes, and compatibility with a broad range of CPU sockets. The added cost is justified by the comprehensive CPU cooling solution it provides, including installation hardware for both Intel and AMD platforms.

For those on a budget, the Noctua fan offers excellent value as a quiet, efficient fan, while users seeking a complete CPU air cooler with superior thermal performance may find the Peerless Assassin’s higher price reasonable.

Which should you buy?

Choosing between the Noctua NF-A14 PWM and the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler depends largely on your cooling needs and budget. If you require a quiet, premium 140 mm fan for case or radiator use with excellent noise control (24.6 dB(A)) and reliability, the Noctua NF-A14 PWM at C$34.95 is an outstanding choice. It offers flexibility, low noise, and proven durability for a modest price.

However, if you want a full CPU cooling solution with stronger thermal performance, wider CPU socket compatibility, and a dual-fan, twin-tower design, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black CPU Air Cooler at C$54.90 is the better option. Its 66.17 CFM airflow, advanced heat pipe technology, and installation hardware justify the higher price for users prioritizing effective CPU heat dissipation.

In summary, choose the Noctua NF-A14 PWM for silent fan applications and the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black for comprehensive CPU air cooling performance.