Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE CPU Air Cooler, 4 Heat Pipes, TL-C12C PWM Fan, Aluminium Heatsink Cover, AGHP Technology, for AMD AM4/AM5/Intel LGA 1150/1151/1155/1200/1700/1851(AX120 R SE)

Outstanding Cooling Performance at a Great Value!I recently installed the Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE, and I am thoroughly impressed with its performance, build quality, and overall value. Thermalright has a long history of producing excellent cooling solutions, and this model continues that tradition.Cooling EfficiencyThe Assassin X120 Refined SE delivers outstanding cooling performance, keeping my CPU temperatures significantly lower even under heavy workloads and gaming sessions. The 4 high-performance heat pipes and direct-touch baseplate ensure efficient heat dissipation, making it a great option for both stock and overclocked processors.Silent OperationOne of the standout features of this cooler is its near-silent operation. The 120mm PWM fan runs smoothly and quietly, even when ramping up under load. Compared to other air coolers in this price range, the noise levels are impressively low, making it perfect for quiet PC builds.Build Quality & DesignThe overall construction is robust, and the all-black aesthetic gives it a premium look that blends well with modern PC builds. The compact design ensures excellent RAM clearance, which is often a concern with larger air coolers.Easy InstallationThe mounting system is straightforward and secure, making installation a breeze. The included brackets support a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets, ensuring compatibility with most setups.Final VerdictFor anyone looking for a budget-friendly, high-performance air cooler, the Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE is an absolute steal. It competes with more expensive models while maintaining a quiet operation, solid build quality, and easy installation. Highly recommended!

This is a cheap, effective cooler that mounts properly on socket 1700 boards. Mounting it is not terribly complicated but you really do have to read the instructions. Some people have written reviews stating that it didn't fit or it damaged their motherboard -- I am not sure if they installed it improperly but there are three different sized mounting spacers and you need to adjust the bracket size with clicks / notches before installing. Also the fan mounts with the rubber pads towards the heatsink and needs to be clipped on securely; if you don't do that it will rattle. These are not super obvious, so it pays to be attentive when installing.Pros:* Cheap* Fits many cases and sockets* Secure mounting* Comes with thermal paste* Works great for many desktop CPUsCons:* Uneven bottom block -- the heat pipes come uneven and, not perfectly level with the mounting block and there were tool marks in the copper. I had to spend about 30 minutes progressively sanding it with sandpaper taped to a piece of glass to get it flat. Went from 400 grit to 1500 grit. It turned out fine, but it would have been a lot worse if I didn't do that. If you want to lapp it flat, make sure to use a completely flat surface and use long, even strokes.* Fan does not indicate which direction it blows -- I had no idea if it blows air into the heatsink or exhausts from the heatsink. I assumed it blew and positioned it so that it would be blowing into the case fan which would exhaust out the back, but it doesn't; it pulls air through the heatsink. So now I have two fans opposing each other. I will flip it to the other side but it is annoying to have to do that when they could have put an arrow on it at least.The stock Intel cooler and fan was so terrible that it ended up coming off and I was throttling my 12100F at 100C for I don't know how long. When I found out I got a same-day delivery of this cooler. After installing it, temps went down to 60C. Solved my problem so I am happy.

I installed this to replace the stock AMD Wraith fan that came with my 5600X. Under load, my CPU was reaching >90C playing Oblivion Remastered. I was shocked to find that this dropped operating temps nearly 30C and also gave me a 30% gain in FPS and a comparable drop in CPU use under load. It was incredibly easy to install (15 minutes) and is very quiet. All my case fans are now running at lower RPMs due to the drop in temp and the computer is much quieter. Overall this was an incredible value for $17 and I should have bought it day one when I built the computer.

Easy to install, silent and keeps my CPU running cool. It does everything you could want at a reasonable proce.

Nice heatsink and fan, despite the instructions being so bad, it was an easy install. The fan clips are cheesy, should use screws....not that hard. But in a pinch this is what I could get in 6 hours. It will work just perfectly and is very quiet.