Tuesday, April 5th 2022
Noctua Presents NH-D12L Low-height 120mm Dual Tower CPU Cooler
Noctua today presented the all-new NH-D12L low-height dual tower CPU cooler and the corresponding NF-A12x25r round-frame 120 mm fan. At a height of only 145 mm (13 mm lower than Noctua's regular 120 mm models), it fits many 4U enclosures as well as narrower tower cases that have been previously limited to solutions with 92 mm fans. At the same time, its five heatpipe dual-tower design and state-of-the-art NF-A12x25r 120 mm fan allow it to achieve a level of efficiency that surpasses many full-height 120 mm models.
"So far, all our 120 mm class coolers were 158 mm high, but as of recent, more and more PC cases only support up to 150 or even 145 mm - this is where the NH-D12L steps in", explains Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "Simply lowering one of our existing models wasn't an option because a standard square 120 mm fan would cause lots of issues with motherboard heatsinks or shrouds. That's why we came up with this novel dual tower design and a round-frame version of the NF-A12x25 fan that can be installed at a very low position between the two towers - a winning combination that provides impressive results for this height class."While Noctua's regular 120 mm CPU coolers stand 158 mm tall, the NH-D12L measures only 145 mm. This allows it to fit not only a wide range of 4U rackmount server cases and many tower-style enclosures that are not wide enough for 158 mm units, but also some larger Small Form Factor (SFF) and Mini-ITX chassis. Despite its reduced height, the NH-D12L easily outperforms 92 mm coolers. It can even surpass renowned 120 mm units such as the NH-U12S and often comes close to Noctua's award-winning 120 mm flagship model NH-U12A.
Due to its asymmetric design, the NH-D12L does not overhang the RAM slots on Intel LGA1700/LGA1200/LGA115x and AMD AM4/AM5 based motherboards, which ensures easy access to the modules and 100% compatibility with DIMMs that feature tall heat-spreaders or RGB lighting.
Introduced in 2018, Noctua's NF-A12x25 is widely considered to be the best 120x25mm fan on the market. The round-frame variant used on the NH-D12L provides the same renowned quiet cooling performance yet makes it possible to reduce overall cooler height without risking compatibility issues with tall motherboard heatsinks or shrouds. The NH-D12L also ships with an extra pair of fan clips that can be used to install a second of these NF-A12x25r PWM fans either on the front or on the rear fin stack. However, it must be noted that the second fan will usually sit on top of either the RAM or I/O panel and thereby increase the total height beyond 145 mm.
Topped off with Noctua's award-winning NT-H1 thermal compound, a 6-year manufacturer's warranty and the renowned SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system that already supports Intel's latest LGA1700 socket as well as AMD's upcoming AM5 platform, the NH-D12L is the perfect choice for applications that require serious cooling performance but cannot fit the larger NH-U12A.
Suggested retail prices: The manufacturer's suggested retail prices are as follows:
"So far, all our 120 mm class coolers were 158 mm high, but as of recent, more and more PC cases only support up to 150 or even 145 mm - this is where the NH-D12L steps in", explains Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "Simply lowering one of our existing models wasn't an option because a standard square 120 mm fan would cause lots of issues with motherboard heatsinks or shrouds. That's why we came up with this novel dual tower design and a round-frame version of the NF-A12x25 fan that can be installed at a very low position between the two towers - a winning combination that provides impressive results for this height class."While Noctua's regular 120 mm CPU coolers stand 158 mm tall, the NH-D12L measures only 145 mm. This allows it to fit not only a wide range of 4U rackmount server cases and many tower-style enclosures that are not wide enough for 158 mm units, but also some larger Small Form Factor (SFF) and Mini-ITX chassis. Despite its reduced height, the NH-D12L easily outperforms 92 mm coolers. It can even surpass renowned 120 mm units such as the NH-U12S and often comes close to Noctua's award-winning 120 mm flagship model NH-U12A.
Due to its asymmetric design, the NH-D12L does not overhang the RAM slots on Intel LGA1700/LGA1200/LGA115x and AMD AM4/AM5 based motherboards, which ensures easy access to the modules and 100% compatibility with DIMMs that feature tall heat-spreaders or RGB lighting.
Introduced in 2018, Noctua's NF-A12x25 is widely considered to be the best 120x25mm fan on the market. The round-frame variant used on the NH-D12L provides the same renowned quiet cooling performance yet makes it possible to reduce overall cooler height without risking compatibility issues with tall motherboard heatsinks or shrouds. The NH-D12L also ships with an extra pair of fan clips that can be used to install a second of these NF-A12x25r PWM fans either on the front or on the rear fin stack. However, it must be noted that the second fan will usually sit on top of either the RAM or I/O panel and thereby increase the total height beyond 145 mm.
Topped off with Noctua's award-winning NT-H1 thermal compound, a 6-year manufacturer's warranty and the renowned SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system that already supports Intel's latest LGA1700 socket as well as AMD's upcoming AM5 platform, the NH-D12L is the perfect choice for applications that require serious cooling performance but cannot fit the larger NH-U12A.
Suggested retail prices: The manufacturer's suggested retail prices are as follows:
- NH-D12L: EUR/USD 89.90
- NF-A12x25r PWM: EUR/USD 29.90
53 Comments on Noctua Presents NH-D12L Low-height 120mm Dual Tower CPU Cooler
edit: This also fits some SFF cases like the NR200 now. You could possibly fit a U12A in one if you were okay with a bulging side panel, but the D15 was completely out of the question. This is a dual-tower cooler that'll fit with room to spare now.
At least it's a second valid option for anyone using the 280x case and wanting to go air.
I've avoided Noctua coolers on several occasions because someone didn't want "the ugly brown and beige thing".
You can always put the cooling system under stress at 100% CPU load and measure the wall power consumption, then measure the temperatures and define a safe threshold.
Only place to reliably find Silver Soul are places like Taobao and Aliexpress. And at that price the Noctua becomes the steal ($41 shipping anyone?). Noctua coolers I can always find locally on 1st-party Amazon or Newegg, not marked up unless it's a U12A Chromax.
And the SS135 is not some revolutionary messiah. Performance-wise it's just a scaled-up D9L, and didn't end up beating my C14S setup, which is itself barely better than a U12S. Unless you just *have* to have your windowed panel on NR200/NCASE/Cerberus
Regardless, both coolers have the same problems. You basically are stuck with one fan. They don't give you regular square clips (I bruteforced a pair of P12 redux on with stock SS135 clips). And even if you have clips, your second fan either sits on top of the RAM or the VRM heatsink, which prevents the side panel from going on. And if you have the clearance for it not to be a problem, there was no reason to use a D12L/SS135 in the first place......etc
Going back to C14S soon, so might pick up one of these if only for curiosity. But like the SS135, it won't cool my B-die, so who knows if I'll even try.
Edit:spelling
On my Impact, the SO-DIMM.2 with both sides of the heatsink is right on the edge of slot 1, and there's still a good amount of wiggle room. Think that's the closest I've seen anything get to slot 1 - everyone stopped making those weird PCH-above-socket ITX boards. IIRC the back of PCIe cards usually don't extend to the edge of the PCIe bracket, even if they have a backplate.
Secondary, most don't like noctua pricing more
I personally don't treat computers like fish tanks although they are water cooled :laugh:
www.gamersnexus.net/guides/3525-amd-ryzen-tdp-explained-deep-dive-cooler-manufacturer-opinions
noctua.at/en/noctua-standardised-performance-rating
appuals.com/how-processor-tdp-ratings-can-be-misleading/
www.extremetech.com/computing/319402-intels-desktop-tdps-no-longer-useful-to-predict-cpu-power-consumption