Thermalright Assassin X 120-A Dark Launches as Blacked-Out Air Cooler

Thermalright released the Assassin X 120-A Dark, a blacked-out version of its popular single-tower air cooler. This refresh matters to builders who want a uniform dark aesthetic for their CPU cooling without changing the underlying thermal performance. The new model keeps the proven mechanical design of the original while updating the color scheme to match modern dark-themed PC cases.

Black single-tower cooler with 4 heatpipes targets dark-themed builds

The cooler maintains the same single-fan architecture as the standard AX120-A. It measures 120x46x151 mm and uses a single TL-NT12-R9 V2 fan. The fan mounts to the single tower structure and connects via a standard 4-pin PWM header. This configuration targets mainstream desktop users who need reliable cooling for mid-range processors.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 120x46x151 mm
• Heatpipes: 4x 6mm nickel-plated AGHP IV
• Base Design: Direct contact with parallel pipes
• Fan Model: TL-NT12-R9 V2
• Max Fan Speed: 2400 RPM

Thermalright equipped the unit with four 6mm nickel-plated AGHP IV heatpipes. These pipes connect directly to a parallel pipe base design for efficient heat transfer. The fan spins up to 2400 RPM, delivering a maximum airflow of 85.35 CFM. It also generates a static pressure of 2.95 mmAQ to push air through the fin stack.

The unit operates at a maximum noise level of 33.3 dB(A) under full load. It supports Intel FCLGA 1851, 1700, 1200, and 115X sockets. AMD AM5 and AM4 platforms are also compatible with the mounting hardware. This broad socket support ensures the cooler works with both current and previous generation processors.

The Assassin X 120-A Dark launches on July 27, 2024, as a direct aesthetic variant of the existing AX120-A model. Thermalright positions this release as a styling option rather than a performance upgrade. The cooler remains a practical choice for users prioritizing value and compatibility over extreme thermal headroom.