Introduction

I would like to thank Noctua for supplying the review sample.

With so many CPU coolers saturating the market these days, it's hard to pick from all the options that are out there. Noctua has proven in the past that their strive to produce coolers that combine the performance to keep overclocked multi-core processors cool, while being nearly silent in operation at the same time, is quite attainable. Today we will be taking a closer look at the Noctua NH-U9B SE2, a smaller unit designed to fit into tight spaces while still providing the popular "push-pull" fan setup found on many tower designs.

Features:

• Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminum (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
• 2x NF-B9 premium fans (1600 RPM , 37 CFM , 17.6dB)
• 2x Ultra-Low-Noise Adapters (U.L.N.A.)
• 2x Low-Noise Adapters (L.N.A)
• NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound
• SecuFirm2 Mounting Kits
• Noctua Metal Case-Badge
• Six year warranty

Compatibility:

Intel - 775, 1156, 1366
AMD - 939, 940, AM2, AM2+, AM3, 1207

About Noctua

From the Noctua website:

Noctua comes from a cooperation of the Austrian Rascom Computer distribution Ges.m.b.H. with the Taiwanese cooling specialist Kolink International Corporation, pooling more than ten years of experience in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-end cooling components. Established in 2005, Noctua took the international silent enthusiasts' hearts by storm and quickly developed into one of the most acclaimed suppliers of premium quality quiet cooling products. Today, Noctua is present in more than 30 countries across the globe and working with several hundred sales partners. Chosen by noise conscious PC users, system integrators and industry clients alike, Noctua has become synonymous with impeccable quality, excellent customer service and class leading quiet cooling performance.

Scientific know-how pooling and state-of-the-art simulation environments allow for advanced, highly optimized products that set new benchmarks for performance to noise efficiency. Over the years, Noctua has put itself on the forefront of quiet cooling innovations with its unique, psycho-acoustically optimized impeller designs as well as new bearing and drive technologies such as the SSO-Bearing (Self-Stabilizing Oil Pressure Bearing) or the Smooth Commutation Drive (SCD) system. Thanks to advanced aerodynamic design measures like Vortex-Control Notches and Beveled Blade Tips, Noctua's products are renowned for pushing the envelope in axial fan technology.

In a market that's increasingly driven by cost saving rather than customer dedication and flooded with branded budget products, we take pride in striving for excellence both in product and service quality. For example, our heat sinks feature all soldered joints for maximum performance and durability, our fans' 150,000h+ MTBF is backed up by a full 6 years manufacturer's warranty and when AMD introduced AM2 and Intel introduced LGA1366, we provided thousands of users with mounting kits for free. As a result, an ever growing base of avid Noctua users not only swears by the thoroughgoing premium quality of our products, but also by our excellent, customer-friendly service.