Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO Review
Review Overview
High-End Thermal Performance
The Phantom Spirit 120 EVO is built around two fin towers and seven copper heat pipes. Independent testing has shown cooling performance competitive with some of the strongest air coolers available.
Compact Dual-Tower Design
At 157mm tall, the EVO remains relatively compact for a dual-tower cooler. This can make it easier to accommodate in mainstream performance cases than some larger 165–170mm-class alternatives.
Performance-Focused Fans
Two TL-K12 120mm fans use S-FDB V2 bearings and operate at up to 2150 RPM. They provide substantially more static pressure than the lower-speed fans used on the original Phantom Spirit 120.
Verified Specifications
| Model | Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO |
|---|---|
| Cooler Type | Dual-tower CPU air cooler |
| Heatsink Dimensions | 110 × 125 × 157 mm |
| Heatsink Weight | 810g without fans |
| Heat Pipes | 7 × 6mm heat pipes |
| Base | C1100 pure copper, nickel plated |
| Included Fans | 2 × Thermalright TL-K12 |
| Fan Dimensions | 120 × 120 × 25 mm |
| Maximum Fan Speed | 2150 RPM ±10% |
| Maximum Airflow | 69 CFM per fan |
| Maximum Static Pressure | 2.87 mm H₂O per fan |
| Manufacturer Fan Noise | 27 dBA |
| Fan Bearing | S-FDB V2 |
| Fan Connector | 4-pin PWM |
| ARGB Connector | 3-pin 5V |
| Fan Current | 0.16A |
| Intel Compatibility | LGA115X / 1200 / 1700 / 1851 / 2011 / 2066 |
| AMD Compatibility | AM4 / AM5 |
Cooling Architecture
Dual Fin Towers
Two aluminum fin stacks provide a large heat-dissipation surface. The front fan pushes air into the first tower while the centrally positioned second fan continues moving air through the complete heatsink assembly.
Seven Heat Pipes
Seven 6mm heat pipes connect the CPU base to both fin towers. This is one more heat pipe than many competing dual-tower designs and provides multiple paths for transferring heat away from the CPU.
Nickel-Plated Copper Base
The cooler uses a C1100 pure-copper contact base with nickel plating. The heat pipes converge through the base before distributing thermal energy throughout both fin stacks.
TL-K12 Fan System
2150 RPM Maximum
The EVO's TL-K12 fans reach 2150 RPM ±10%, providing considerably more upper-end fan speed than the 1500 RPM fans used by the original Phantom Spirit 120.
2.87 mm H₂O Pressure
Thermalright rates each TL-K12 for up to 2.87 mm H₂O static pressure. That pressure capability helps the fans move air through the resistance created by the cooler's dense dual fin stacks.
S-FDB V2 Bearings
Both fans use Thermalright's S-FDB V2 bearing design and standard 4-pin PWM control, allowing motherboard fan curves to balance cooling output against acoustics.
Independent Thermal Performance
238W Test Result
In Tom's Hardware testing with an unrestricted Intel Core i7-13700K, the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO dissipated 238W before the processor reached its thermal ceiling. That was the publication's second-strongest air-cooler result in that test at the time.
232W at 38.2 dB(A)
When Tom's Hardware normalized cooler noise to 38.2 dB(A), the EVO handled 232W. In that specific test set, it produced the strongest noise-normalized result the reviewer had measured from an air cooler.
Strong at 175W
Under a fixed 175W Cinebench workload, the same testing recorded a CPU temperature 54°C above the 23°C ambient environment, tying for the publication's second-best air-cooling result in that workload.
Noise & Fan Tuning
Excellent When Tuned
Noise-normalized testing is one of the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO's strongest results. Reducing fan speed slightly can preserve most of its cooling capability while substantially lowering acoustic output.
Louder at Full Speed
Tom's Hardware measured 45.6 dB(A) with the fans operating at maximum output. The reviewer found the performance gained from maximum fan speed relatively small compared with the additional noise, making a tuned PWM curve particularly worthwhile.
ARGB & Visual Design
Subtle Fan Lighting
The TL-K12 fans use small ARGB lighting elements rather than fully illuminated translucent blades. This gives the EVO a more restrained lighting treatment than many RGB-focused CPU coolers.
Black Heatsink Finish
Unlike the silver finish of the original Phantom Spirit 120, the EVO uses a blacked-out heatsink and matching dark fans, producing a more uniform appearance in black performance builds.
Installation & Compatibility
Current Intel & AMD Platforms
Official compatibility includes Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700 as well as AMD AM5 and AM4. Thermalright also includes mounting support for several older Intel desktop and HEDT sockets.
157mm Case Clearance
The heatsink itself is 157mm tall. Builders should confirm that the chassis provides sufficient CPU-cooler clearance before installation.
Memory Clearance
Memory around 42mm tall or lower is the easiest fit. Taller DIMMs can require raising the front fan, which increases the cooler's effective installed height and should be considered when checking case clearance.
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Excellent independent thermal performance
- Outstanding noise-normalized cooling results
- Seven 6mm heat pipes
- Dual-tower heatsink architecture
- Two high-pressure TL-K12 PWM fans
- Relatively compact 157mm heatsink height
- Nickel-plated C1100 copper base
- Current AM5 and LGA1851 compatibility
- Subtle ARGB fan accents
- Strong performance relative to many larger premium air coolers
Limitations
- Maximum fan speed can produce noticeably higher noise
- PWM tuning is worthwhile for the best performance-to-noise balance
- Large dual-tower footprint still requires clearance planning
- Tall memory can require raising the front fan
- Raising the front fan increases effective cooler height
- ARGB requires a compatible 3-pin 5V connection
- Official specifications do not provide every longevity metric offered by some premium competitors
Works Best With
Performance CPUs
Independent testing demonstrates enough thermal capability for demanding modern desktop processors when paired with appropriate power settings and case airflow.
Airflow-Focused Cases
Strong front intake and rear or top exhaust airflow helps the dual-tower heatsink remove CPU heat efficiently instead of recirculating warm air inside the chassis.
AM5 & LGA1851 Builds
Official support for current AMD and Intel mainstream sockets makes the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO suitable for new performance-oriented desktop builds as well as several older platforms.
Rockin Box Tech Summary
The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO demonstrates how competitive modern CPU air cooling has become. Its dual towers, seven 6mm heat pipes and two 2150 RPM TL-K12 fans provide the hardware needed for genuinely high-end thermal performance.
Independent testing reinforces that design. Tom's Hardware measured 238W cooled during an unrestricted Core i7-13700K workload and 232W when acoustics were normalized to 38.2 dB(A), with the latter producing the strongest air-cooler result in that reviewer's noise-normalized test set at the time.
Maximum-speed acoustics are its clearest compromise. The same testing recorded 45.6 dB(A) at full output, while reducing fan speed sacrificed very little cooling performance. A sensible motherboard PWM curve is therefore an important part of getting the most from the EVO.
For builders who have room for a 157mm dual-tower cooler, the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO combines excellent thermal capability, current-platform compatibility and unusually strong performance-to-noise characteristics in a comparatively compact air-cooling package.