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Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB vs be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3

Both are dual-fan, six-heatpipe 120mm towers that handle mainstream Intel and AMD chips well. The Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB adds addressable RGB and a slightly higher rated airflow, and its 15 owner ratings average a full 5 stars. The Pure Rock Pro 3 runs quieter at its low setting and has a much larger base of 86 ratings at 4.5 stars, with a 2,000 rpm fan ceiling. Pick the Thermalright for lighting and airflow, the be quiet! for quiet operation and a longer track record of owner feedback.

  • Choose the Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB if you want addressable RGB lighting, a black finish, and the higher rated airflow of the two.
  • Choose the Pure Rock Pro 3 if you want the quieter cooler at idle and low load and a model with far more owner ratings behind it.

Prices

  • Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB: $33.90 at Amazon (last seen Nov 13)
  • be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3: $39.90 at Newegg.com (last seen Nov 13)
  • Difference: the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB is $6.00 cheaper than the be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 at the latest prices (Nov 13)
Thermalright
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler

5(15 ratings)
$33.90at AmazonChecked Nov 13
See all prices and details
Visit Amazon

Store links may earn us a commission. As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

Pros
  • Dual tower with six AGHP heat pipes that work in any mounting direction
  • Two 120mm ARGB PWM fans
  • Higher rated airflow of the pair
  • TF-7 thermal paste in the box
  • Easy SS2 mounting system
Cons
  • Fewer owner ratings to judge long-term reliability
  • Higher minimum noise than the be quiet! at low speed
  • Taller footprint can crowd RAM and side panels
be quiet!
be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 120mm CPU Cooler

be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3

be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 120mm CPU Cooler

4.5(86 ratings)
$39.90at Newegg.comChecked Nov 13
See all prices and details
Visit Newegg.com
Pros
  • Very quiet 14 dB(A) low setting
  • Fan spins up to 2,000 rpm for headroom under load
  • Six 6mm heat pipes in a 120mm tower
  • Large base of 86 owner ratings
  • Rifle bearings on both fans
Cons
  • No RGB lighting
  • Lower rated airflow than the Thermalright
  • Silver finish only

What separates them

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGBbe quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
LightingARGB on both fans, controlled through motherboard softwareNo lighting
Noise at low loadAbout 15 dBA minimum per fan14 dB(A) low setting, 26.5 mid, 34.8 high
Fan speed ceiling1,550 rpm2,000 rpm
Rated airflow66.17 CFM per fan59.6 CFM
Fan bearingHydraulicRifle
Color and finishBlack with ARGB fansSilver
Owner ratings5.0 from 15 ratings4.5 from 86 ratings
Included thermal pasteThermalright TF-7 includedNot stated

Price history

  • Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB: lowest $33.90 on Nov 13 at Amazon.
  • be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3: lowest $39.90 on Nov 13 at Newegg.com.

Prices at every store

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB

  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Tech Wave

    $36.90Checked Nov 13
    Visit Walmart
  • Quiet PCNew

    In stock

    $38.58Checked Nov 13
    Visit Quiet PC
  • Best BuyNew

    In stock

    $39.99+ $10.00 shippingChecked Nov 13
    Visit Best Buy
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $33.90Checked Nov 13
    Visit Amazon

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart

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All 12 stores and price history →

be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3

  • Newegg.comNew

    In stock

    $39.90Checked Nov 13
    Visit Newegg.com
  • Newegg BusinessNew

    Availability unknown

    $39.90Checked Nov 13
    Visit Newegg Business
  • PoshmarkNew

    Availability unknown

    $40.00Checked Nov 13
    Visit Poshmark
  • WalmartNew

    Availability unknownSold by Newegg Inc.

    $41.89Checked Nov 13
    Visit Walmart

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
All 12 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecThermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGBbe quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
colorBlackSilver
size125(L)x135(W)x155(H)mm120 mm
Noise Level25.6 dB14.0 / 26.5 / 34.8 dB(A)
Fan Speed1550 revolutions per minute2000 rpm
actual_colorBlack ARGB—
Noise Level (dB)26—
Fan Rotation Speed (rpm)1550—
No. of Fans2—
Depth (")4.9—
LED LightingYes—
Width (")4.3—
FanActive—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecThermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGBbe quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
Weight (oz)25.7—
Height (")6.1—
Fan Size (mm)120—
Fan Airflow (CFM) (cfm)66.17—
Socket1151, 1155, 1150, 1700, 1156, AM4, 1152, 1200, …—
PWM Fan ControlYes—
Fan Diameter120 mm fan diameter—
Airflow Volume66.17 cubic feet per minute—
Cooling SystemAir—
Fan Size

What reviewers say

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB

  • 5 / 515 ratings

Owners rate it highly, praising cooling for the size and the quiet fans. Complaints center on its bulk and clearance.

What people mention
  • CoolingPraisedOwners say it handles hot CPUs well for an air cooler.
  • NoisePraisedFans are described as quiet at everyday speeds.
  • SizeCriticisedIts height and width cause clearance problems in compact cases.
  • RAM clearanceMixedSome say the front fan overhangs tall memory sticks.

be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3

  • 4.5 / 586 ratings

Rated 4.5 out of 5 across 86 ratings, owners treat it as a solid quiet air cooler for Ryzen systems. Praise centers on low noise and cooling for the size; complaints are mostly about height and fan noise at full speed.

What people mention
  • NoisePraisedOwners say it runs quietly at idle and moderate loads.
  • CoolingPraisedReviewers report solid temperatures on mid-range Ryzen chips.
  • HeightCriticisedSome buyers find the 155 mm height tight in smaller cases.
  • Full-speed noiseMixedAt 2000 rpm the fans become clearly audible, though few run them there.

Questions and answers

Which is better for a quiet build?
The Pure Rock Pro 3. Its low setting is rated 14 dB(A), below the Thermalright's roughly 15 dBA minimum, and it stays under 27 dB(A) at its mid setting.
Which cools better under sustained load?
They are close. Both use six heat pipes and two 120mm fans. The Thermalright has higher rated airflow, but the be quiet! fan spins to 2,000 rpm, so expect similar results on mainstream CPUs.
Do I need a certain motherboard for the RGB?
Yes for the Thermalright. Its ARGB fans need a motherboard with an addressable RGB header and the vendor's software. The be quiet! has no lighting, so nothing to wire.
Will either fit over tall RAM?
Check clearance. Both are dual-fan towers around 155mm tall, and the front fan on either can sit over the RAM slots. The Thermalright's 125mm width is slightly narrower than the be quiet!'s 139mm.
Is the be quiet! worth stepping up to?
Step up if silence matters more than lighting. Otherwise the Thermalright gives you RGB, higher rated airflow and included paste for a similar cooling class.
Which lasts longer?
Hard to say from specs alone. The be quiet! has far more owner ratings behind it, while the Thermalright uses hydraulic bearings. Both are PWM fans that should run for years.

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  • Noctua NH-U12S redux CPU Cooler vs be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 120mm CPU Cooler
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Buying guides that pick them

  • Best CPU coolers for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
120 millimeters
—
Number of Fans Included2—
Lighting TypeRGB—
Product Height25 millimeters—
Product Width120 millimeters—
BrandThermalright—
Model NumberPEERLESS ASSASSIN 120 SE ARGB—
Cooling Fan TypeCPU—
Power Consumption4 watts—
Product Length120 millimeters—
Product Weight49.44 ounces—
Warranty - Parts3 years—
Overall dimensions—139 x 124 x 155 mm
Total weight—1.07 kg
AMD sockets—AM5 / AM4
Number of fans—2
Heatsink dimensions—114 x 124 x 155 mm
Heatpipes—6 / 6 mm
Fan dimensions—120 mm