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 1150/1151/1155/1156/1200/1700 (AX120 R SE)

My computer was having trouble booting so replaced my CPU cooling solution with the Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE, and I'm thoroughly impressed with its performance. This air cooler is a game-changer, providing exceptional cooling efficiency while maintaining a whisper-quiet operation.The first thing that caught my eye was the premium build quality. The Assassin X120 Refined SE exudes durability, with its sleek aluminum fins and nickel-plated copper base. The dual tower design, coupled with seven high-quality heat pipes, ensures efficient heat dissipation, making it an ideal choice for both gaming and demanding computational tasks.Installation was surprisingly straightforward, thanks to the user-friendly mounting system and clear instructions provided by Thermalright. The cooler supports a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets, offering compatibility with various CPU configurations.When it comes to performance, the Assassin X120 Refined SE truly stands out. The dual 120mm fans are not only efficient in cooling, but they also operate almost silently. Even during intense gaming sessions or CPU-intensive tasks, the cooler maintains low noise levels, contributing to a more comfortable and enjoyable computing experience.Thermalright's craftsmanship is evident in the details. The polished nickel-plated finish not only adds a touch of elegance to my system, but it also serves a functional purpose by enhancing thermal conductivity. The specialized mirror-finished base ensures optimal contact with the CPU, resulting in efficient heat transfer.I've experienced a significant improvement in temperature management since installing the Assassin X120 Refined SE. It effectively keeps my CPU temperatures in check, even under heavy workloads and overclocking scenarios. This cooler provides the peace of mind that my processor is operating within a safe temperature range, contributing to its longevity and performance consistency.In addition to its impressive cooling capabilities, the Assassin X120 Refined SE's low-profile design doesn't interfere with RAM modules or PCIe slots, allowing for easy integration into various PC builds.In conclusion, the Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE CPU Air Cooler is a top-tier cooling solution that combines exceptional performance, quiet operation, and premium build quality. If you're in the market for an air cooler that can handle the heat while maintaining a low profile and quiet demeanor, look no further. The Assassin X120 Refined SE has exceeded my expectations, and I highly recommend it to fellow PC enthusiasts.

So, I'd mostly finished my new budget gamer and had just run a mandatory (to my mind) Prime 95 stress test for over 24 hours. All 6 cores [12 threads] had passed this classic torture test. The default [included with CPU] Wraith cooler had been doing its job alright, but I wanted more information. It then dawned on me to downloaded some kind of temperature app (duh!), so I did. Then I ran Prime 95 once more. Enlightened by AMD Ryzen Master [app], I realized that my new Ryzen 5 5600 was approaching the max heat level of 95°C. The CPU wasn't running at the max speed [4,400 MHz] yet either. Apparently because it was protecting itself from overheating, thus throttling itself down to about 92°C @ 4,150 MHz.My search began. I eventually chose this Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE out of dozens because... well, because it was inexpensive, looked a lot like two very similar CM Hyper T4 units I paid 30% more for a decade ago. And then there was the 2 day Prime Shipping thing, of course.Overall, it's an excellent budget cooler IMHO. There are actually a few web reviews on the Thermalright Tf4 paste (included with cooler). Specs for it are on their website. Looks to be altogether decent goop. The syringe contains more than enough for a single application, and possibly even enough for 3-4. (Installation videos would advisable for newbies.) I even used a bit of it to redo an old RX 480 and it made a crucial difference — now it doesn't overheat anymore. The thing is, even the best thermal pastes will dry out and become less effective over time, thus eventually making a good cleanup & reapplication well worth the effort.The small instruction pamphlet, although challenging for me to read, was helpful nevertheless. Fan clips are new to me, so I checked out the pic on the description page once, and enlightenment was hit-and-run. Otherwise, installation was simple, basic, and went smoothly, mostly. However, if I have occasion to do it again I'll plug in the fan first and set it aside a bit before installing the heat sink.After running Prime 95 for awhile again, Ryzen Master showed a temp drop of about 27°C! And that was with the CPU ramped up to the default max of more than 4,400 MHz. A seriously effective budget cooler, indeed! I've no plans to overclock any time soon, so temps should be good enough as is for my modest gaming purposes. In the event things change down the road tho, it's good to know that Thermalright makes even more massive coolers. All righty then!