When you buy a Ryzen CPU for an AM5 build these days, it often comes bundled with a Wraith Stealth (or similarly modest) stock cooler. It’s there to “just work,” not to push your thermal envelope. As AMD has quietly phased out its higher-end bundled coolers (Wraith Prism / Spire), more users are needing to rely on aftermarket solutions. Tom’s Hardware
Here’s a head-to-head look at what you might expect by sticking with the stock cooler versus stepping up to something like the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE (aka PA120 SE).
Performance & Temperature Differences
Stock (Wraith / Wraith‐Stealth) on AM5
- Under light to moderate loads (browsing, light gaming), the stock cooler can keep things in check, though it often runs pretty hard in terms of fan speed.
- Under sustained heavy loads (rendering, long gaming sessions), it is not unusual to see core or T_control / T_die temps reaching 80–95 °C, depending heavily on ambient, airflow, and chip power draw.
- Some user reports for Ryzen 5 7600 with stock cooler have recorded temperatures near 100 °C under gaming load. Reddit
The downside with these high temps: the CPU may hit thermal limits, boosting gets constrained, and fan noise climbs sharply.
What the Peerless Assassin 120 SE Brings to the Table
Thermalright’s cooler is a serious step up. According to independent benchmarks:
- In Tom’s Hardware tests, when pushing 200 W, the PA120 SE held the CPU at ~ 61 °C above ambient, outperforming many air-cooled rivals. Tom’s Hardware
- It’s claimed to be the first air cooler to complete a 200 W test with fans limited to 50% and still keep things stable. Tom’s Hardware
- In The Overclocking Page’s review (with a Ryzen 7 2700X as test), the cooler achieved very competitive ΔT (difference above ambient) figures, though with higher noise at full fan speed (≈ 41.2 dBA) under max load. The Overclock Page
- GamersNexus measured ~ 52.1 °C over ambient at 123 W load (100% fan), which places it among the top air coolers tested. GamersNexus
What that means in practice: on the same CPU and in the same case and ambient conditions, the PA120 SE can reduce CPU temps by 15–40 degrees (or more) compared to what the stock cooler would show under heavy load.
Other Considerations (Noise, Mounting, Trade-offs)
- Noise: To hit those lower temps, the fans will spin harder. In some reviews, PA120 SE at full speed emits ~ 41 dBA. That’s audible, but in real-use with a decent case it may not feel oppressive. The Overclock Page
- Fan curve tuning: Many users mitigate noise by tweaking the fan curve (letting temps float up a little in less demanding workloads) without sacrificing safety.
- Mounting / compatibility: The PA120 SE is relatively tall, so check clearance with your RAM, case height, or GPU. Also make sure your motherboard supports the bracket (AM5 support is included). The Overclock Page
- Diminishing returns: If your usage is light (web, documents, streaming), gains are smaller. The biggest wins come under load.
Suggested Copy for Your Blog (with buy link)
Upgrade your cooling: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
Want cooler, quieter performance for your AM5 setup? You can get the Peerless Assassin 120 SE here:
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