Buying Guide
The Best CPU Coolers for a Home Office
We weighed five air coolers on heat pipe count and fan size; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black has the highest heat pipe count, and the Assassin X120 Refined SE costs the least.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Office work rarely loads the CPU, so an inexpensive tower cooler keeps it cool and quiet. Every pick is a tower cooler that cost $45 or less.
We ranked these air coolers on heat pipes, fan size and height using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these air coolers ourselves, and where a maker leaves out height, we say so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SEA lower price than the Freezer 36 and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $50.
Check price for Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ARCTIC Freezer 36A push-pull single tower.
Best for: Buyers who want push-pull single tower.
Check price for ARCTIC Freezer 36 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SEA 260W rating.
Best for: Buyers who want 260W rating.
Check price for ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB WhiteA white heatsink with white ARGB fans.
Best for: Buyers who want white heatsink with white ARGB fans.
Check price for Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Highest Heat Pipe Count
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE BlackThe highest heat pipe count here (7).
Best for: Buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE
The Assassin X120 Refined SE is a basic four-heat-pipe tower with one PWM fan and an aluminium cover.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $50.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when heat pipe count of 4, behind the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black (7) is a problem.
Why we like it
At 148mm tall it is a cheap step up from a stock cooler. Its TL-C12C fan is a 120mm PWM unit rated up to 1550rpm, 66.17CFM and 25.6dB(A) or less. The four 6mm heat pipes use Thermalright's AGHP technique, which the maker says handles vertical or horizontal mounting.
It weighs 0.645kg and mounts on AM4, AM5 and Intel sockets up to LGA1851. On heat pipe count it ties with the Freezer 36 at 4. Check that your case offers at least 148mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering.
It undercut the Freezer 36 and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: heat pipe count of 4, behind the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black (7). If that matters, the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black offers 7.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 4
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 148mm
- Fans included
- 1
Pros
- TL-C12C PWM fan
- Aluminium heatsink cover
- Lowest height of the picks (148mm)
- A lower price than the Freezer 36 and the rest when we checked
Cons
- Heat pipe count of 4, behind the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black (7)
Also Consider2 of 5
ARCTIC Freezer 36
The Freezer 36 is a single tower with fans in push-pull and a contact frame for Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700.
Best for
- Buyers who want push-pull single tower.
Skip if
- Skip it if heat pipe count matters most to you; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black offers 7.
Why we like it
Its six-year warranty matches Noctua's. Its four offset heat pipes run in a single tower with two fans in push-pull. The click-in fan mounts make fan swaps easy, and it takes most 120mm fans.
Its side-flow heatsink lets the rear fan pull air through the fins and out of the case, and ARCTIC backs it with a six-year warranty. Its pressure-optimised fans push air through four offset heat pipes, which suits high-end CPUs in a single tower. On heat pipe count it ties with the Assassin X120 Refined SE at 4.
Its price falls between the Assassin X120 Refined SE and the Frozn A620 Pro SE, based on our last check. If heat pipe count is your priority, the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black (7) is the stronger choice.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 4
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Warranty
- 6-year
- Fans included
- 2
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 6-year warranty
- Two fans included
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Push-pull single tower
Cons
- Heat pipe count trails the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black (7)
- Costs more than the Assassin X120 Refined SE at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE
The Frozn A620 Pro SE is the cheapest dual tower here, with six heat pipes, a 157mm height and a 260W rating.
Best for
- Buyers who want 260W rating.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Assassin X120 Refined SE cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its dual-tower heatsink and two 120mm PWM fans stand 157mm tall, which fits most tower cases. The black finish suits a dark interior. Its RAM clearance of 40mm fits standard-height memory under the front fan.
It is rated at 27.2dB(A) maximum noise. Its two PWM fans slow down at idle. On heat pipe count it ties with the Peerless Assassin 120 SE White at 6.
Check that your case offers at least 157mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Assassin X120 Refined SE at the time of writing. Its price falls between the Freezer 36 and the Peerless Assassin 120 SE White, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 6
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 157mm
- Fans included
- 2
Pros
- Two fans included
- 260W rating
- 40mm clearance for standard RAM
- Heat pipe count of 6, ahead of the Assassin X120 Refined SE
Cons
- Costs more than the Assassin X120 Refined SE at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB White
The Peerless Assassin 120 SE White is built around a white heatsink with white ARGB fans, with a 25.6dB(A) noise rating on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want white heatsink with white ARGB fans.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Assassin X120 Refined SE, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 6 heat pipe count and offers a 120mm fan size. At 155mm tall it fits most mid-towers, and its two TL-C12C-S ARGB fans add lighting. The white heatsink and fans suit an all-white build.
Mounting hardware covers Intel LGA115x to LGA1700 and AMD AM4/AM5. On heat pipe count it ties with the Frozn A620 Pro SE at 6. The maker names AM5 but not Intel LGA1851, so check the maker's site if you are building on Core Ultra. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Frozn A620 Pro SE and the pricier Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 6
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Fans included
- 2
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- Two fans included
- White heatsink with white ARGB fans
- 25.6dB(A) noise rating
- Heat pipe count of 6, ahead of the Assassin X120 Refined SE
Cons
- Costs more than the Assassin X120 Refined SE at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its height; if that figure matters, the Assassin X120 Refined SE comes in at 148mm.
Highest Heat Pipe Count5 of 5
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black is a seven-heat-pipe dual tower with two PWM fans at a budget price.
Best for
- Buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Assassin X120 Refined SE cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
The black coating covers the heatsink and heat pipes for a consistent dark look. At 154mm tall it fits most mid-tower cases, and the black coating extends to the heat pipes rather than just the fin tops. Its S-FDB fans are rated for long service, and the heatsink has cut corners to clear tall RAM.
Mounting hardware covers AM4, AM5 and Intel sockets up to LGA1851. Its two TL-C12B V2 PWM fans run up to 1500rpm and are rated at up to 66.17CFM and 25.6dB(A) or less. Nothing else here matches its 7 heat pipe count; the Frozn A620 Pro SE comes closest at 6. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Peerless Assassin 120 SE White the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 7
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Fans included
- 2
Pros
- 7 heat pipes
- Two fans included
- Black-coated dual-tower heatsink
- Two TL-C12B V2 PWM fans
Cons
- Costs more than the Assassin X120 Refined SE at the time of writing
The catch
Fan size is its weakest area, and the Assassin X120 Refined SE covers it better at 120mm.
How We Chose These CPU Coolers for a Home Office
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five coolers on heat pipe count, fan size, height and fans included from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 5 fields compared are stated for every pick, while height and sockets named have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Assassin X120 Refined SE to the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black, state heat pipe count, fan size and fans included.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Freezer 36, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE White and the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black give no height; the Assassin X120 Refined SE, the Frozn A620 Pro SE and the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black give no sockets named.
- Price range
- From the Assassin X120 Refined SE to the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a CPU Cooler for a Home Office
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much heat pipe count you need
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black tops heat pipe count at 7 and the Freezer 36 sits lowest at 4. The Frozn A620 Pro SE comes second at 6, in the same price tier as the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black.
Height
Here height runs from 157mm on the Frozn A620 Pro SE to 148mm on the Assassin X120 Refined SE, a 6% spread. The Assassin X120 Refined SE is the pick for height. The Freezer 36, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE White and the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black give no height figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC Extras that separate them
The Frozn A620 Pro SE: 40mm clearance for standard RAM. The Peerless Assassin 120 SE White: a 25.6dB(A) noise rating. The Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black: two TL-C12B V2 PWM fans.
How much to spend
All 5 sat in the under $50 tier when we checked, from the Assassin X120 Refined SE at the low end to the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black at the top, so decide on features first.
A tower air cooler in a case with red-lit fans Start from what matters most
Keeping the cost under $50: the Assassin X120 Refined SE. Buyers who put heat pipe count first: the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black.
How to Choose a CPU Cooler for a Home Office
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $50 | Assassin X120 Refined SE | A lower price than the Freezer 36 and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want push-pull single tower | Freezer 36 | A push-pull single tower |
| Buyers who want 260W rating | Frozn A620 Pro SE | A 260W rating |
| Buyers who want white heatsink with white ARGB fans | Peerless Assassin 120 SE White | A white heatsink with white ARGB fans |
| Buyers who put heat pipe count first | Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black | The highest heat pipe count here (7) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black leads on heat pipe count at 7, ahead of the Frozn A620 Pro SE at 6. "Not listed" marks height where the Freezer 36, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE White and the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black leave the figure out.
| Cooler | Heat pipes | Fan size | Height | Fans included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin X120 Refined SE | 4 | 120mm | 148mm | 1 |
| Freezer 36 | 4 | 120mm | Not listed | 2 |
| Frozn A620 Pro SE | 6 | 120mm | 157mm | 2 |
| Peerless Assassin 120 SE White | 6 | 120mm | Not listed | 2 |
| Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black | 7 | 120mm | Not listed | 2 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Frozn A620 Pro SE compare with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black on heat pipe count?
Between the top two, it is 7 on the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black against 6 on the Frozn A620 Pro SE, a 17% difference. The Freezer 36 is at the other end of this group with 4.
Which has the lowest height: the Assassin X120 Refined SE or the Frozn A620 Pro SE?
The Assassin X120 Refined SE is lowest on height at 148mm; the Frozn A620 Pro SE follows at 157mm, 6% apart. No height figure is published for the Freezer 36, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE White and the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What does the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black add over the Assassin X120 Refined SE?
The spec sheets show heat pipe count (7 against 4) in its favour. Both sat in the under $50 tier when we checked, so the gains in heat pipe count cost little extra by tier.
Why is the Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black our Highest Heat Pipe Count pick?
The label rests on the highest heat pipe count here (7). On heat pipe count it leads the Frozn A620 Pro SE, 7 against 6, a 17% margin. It is aimed at anyone who puts heat pipe count first.
What extras do the Assassin X120 Refined SE and the Freezer 36 include?
The Assassin X120 Refined SE: a TL-C12C PWM fan. The Freezer 36: a push-pull single tower. The Frozn A620 Pro SE: a 260W rating.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Assassin X120 Refined SE, chosen for a lower price than the Freezer 36 and the rest when we checked. Look at the Freezer 36 for a push-pull single tower, the Frozn A620 Pro SE for a 260W rating and the Peerless Assassin 120 SE White for a white heatsink with white ARGB fans if those matter more to you.
Set the fan curve to stay near minimum below 60°C for a silent office PC.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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