Noctua NH-D12L

[crazyeyesreaper]

Noctua looks to conquer the small form factor cooling market with the NH-D12L. With its maximum height of 145 mm, it fits standard 4U rackmount chassis and a wider range of Mini-ITX cases than traditional tower coolers. Add exceptional long-term support, good performance for its targeted market, and low noise levels and you have a solid offering for those limited by height.

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[dirtyferret]

on the opening page in specs you have the model listed as U12A

	NH-U12A

 

[tabascosauz]

These results are kinda all over the board......from the earlier D12L reviews elsewhere on the web I knew not to expect miracles, but it's still an interesting cooler.

For more than a year I've been looking for <148mm 120 tower to best a dual-fan C14S. There's not a lot of competition in this segment, only others being the Silver Arrow 130 and Silver Soul 135. I already tested the SS135 and the only advantage over C14S is the ability to run a solid/windowed panel - but I might still get a D12L on Amazon to test. Maybe the extra heatsink mass does something.

Like with the SS135, I just wish there were black round-corner 120mm fans, but there's no standardization.

 

[thegnome]

Ideal option for the NR200(p)?

 

[Zareek]

I'd love to see the results without the AiOs. I feel like most people decide they are going traditional air cooler, water or AiO and want to compare apples to apples. I can see having some AiOs to compare, but comparing air to air with all the results currently there is a bit of a pain.

 

[mechtech]

I like my old noctua cooler because it blows downwards. It does not have the cpu cooling performance of some of the tower coolers, but for those couple C extra on the CPU, I get VRM and RAM cooling, which is a good balance in my opinion. One downside is it usually covers the ram and if it has heatsinks then the cooler has to come off.

2000 rpm seems a bit high. Might be into diminishing returns of noise vs cooling. I have found usually that a 1500 rpm 120mm CPU fan more than enough.......with a good cooler.

Edit - hmmm now that I think about it, maybe it would be a good idea to test VRMs and RAM Temps also when doing cpu cooler testing. It may show possible benefits from using a downdraft type cpu cooler.

NH-C12P SE14

Building on the proven basis of the successful NH-C12P, which has received more than 100 awards and recommendations from the international press, the NH-C12P SE14 now comes with Noctua's new NF-P14 140mm fan for further improved quiet cooling performance as well as the new SecuFirm2™...

noctua.at

Noctua NH-C12P SE14 Review

Noctua has taken the high performance NH-C12P, which already offers excellent performance, and added a 140 mm fan. Noise level are still at a minimum and push the envelope in silent high performance cooling for modern processors. They all say size matters - let's see if that holds true with the...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[wheresmycar]

Opening line AMENDMENT: "With a reputation forged by amazing performance, exceptional quality, ultra-low noise levels and the continuation of yucki-doodle-doo choice of colours, Noctua remains a premier manufacturer of PC-cooling products."

 

[konga]

Ideal option for the NR200(p)?

The Fuma 2 fits in the NR200 (just barely), so I'd still go with that. Consumer SFF cases that don't fit the Fuma 2 but will fit this are uncommon. (Are there any popular ones, actually?) This seems like a product targeted specifically at 4U chasses only.

 

[tabascosauz]

The Fuma 2 fits in the NR200 (just barely), so I'd still go with that. Consumer SFF cases that don't fit the Fuma 2 but will fit this are uncommon. (Are there any popular ones, actually?) This seems like a product targeted specifically at 4U chasses only.

Fuma 2 does not fit the NR200P without pushing on the glass panel. The vented panel isn't the problem, fits even a U12A fine.

edit: seems to be some tolerance differences there. Runs the risk of contacting the glass.

 

[Crackong]

Ideal option for the NR200(p)?

My NR200P fits a U12A
The only thing I have to do is put some 2mm thick adhesive between the glass panel and the case, so to give the extra clearance it needed.

 

[usiname]

Too expensive for the performance it offers. If the space is not problem Dark Rock Pro 4 is better and if you are space limited for sure there is better cooler for same or less money with better performance. This cooler should be less than $80

 

[Ruined Mind]

2000 rpm seems a bit high. Might be into diminishing returns of noise vs cooling. I have found usually that a 1500 rpm 120mm CPU fan more than enough.......with a good cooler.

Noctua's website shows an 80mm fan with 2200 RPM and 17.7 dB/A, and a 120mm fan with 1500 RPM and 22.4 dB/A.

Should I fully trust the claimed dB/A ratings, and ignore the RPM speeds, if all other specifications are fine, and I want the final decision to be based on sound levels?

 

[A Computer Guy]

Ideal option for the NR200(p)?

I have a Noctua NH-C14S in my NR200 and it fits perfectly. I mean perfectly.
Since the fan is already so close to the side panel (if mounted on top of the heatsink) I mount the fan to the side bracket instead so I don't have to hassle with the mounting the fan with the clips to the heatsink.
This way the included fan draws air right from the side vented panel into the heatsink and drafts onto the motherboard also cooling the VRM's and RAM. You will have to remove the fan grill however for the rear top fan to get a 1-2 mm clearance so it isn't pressing on the side of the heatsink but it will draw the heat right out.

I did get annoyed with the rear top fan mounting eventually sagging on the NR200(P) from the rubber mounting system. Once it sags it will vibrate against the NH-C14S heat sink. The solution is to take apart the top cover to use very thin zip ties instead to secure the top fans to the top cover. You can also swap out the stock fans for slim fans instead for a bit more clearance with the heatsink and wires too. I really wish Cooler Master used standard screw mounting for the top fans instead.

 

[DenFox]

Ideal option for the NR200(p)?

I have this case with a SilentiumPC Fera 5 Dual, it fits without any problem.
It impressed me, it's an awesome cpu cooler, very cheap and efficient, you could check it in this review, it's in the graphs.
I'm very happy with it.

 

[Chrispy_]

It seems like this makes the old NH-U14S redundant, whilst also adding 5mm more clearance.
I do think the additional cost of the Sterox-bladed fan and beige-brown colours will put a lot of people off though.

I have a lot of respect for Noctua and still use their heatsinks regularly, but the rest of the market is catching up in quality/performance/mounting system whilst also doing so at a far more competitive price.
If you're struggling for height clearance over the socket and have $90 to burn, there are a bunch of decent 240mm AIOs that will outperform this. Paying a premium for air cooling seems like a step backwards (even though it's my preference).

 

[jonup]

@crazyeyesreaper Sorry to highjack the thread, but out of curiousity, is it possible to test some of the new crop of Thermalright coolers, esp. the higher end one? I understand that TR seem not to be sending review samples, but their coolers are fairly unexpensive so it shouldn't be cost prohibitive. Thanks!

 

[Colddecked]

Too expensive for the performance it offers. If the space is not problem Dark Rock Pro 4 is better and if you are space limited for sure there is better cooler for same or less money with better performance. This cooler should be less than $80

Its not a value proposition cooler. It's a niche/special purpose cooler for SFFs. No one is going to buy it because its a good value.

So funny how Noctua could easily have made this Chromax but said nah you're going to buy this anyways.

 

[efikkan]

Any tips on good HTPC cases which would fit something like this one?

It seems like this makes the old NH-U14S redundant, whilst also adding 5mm more clearance.

That's a typo, right? NH-U14S is a much bigger and powerful cooler.

I do think the additional cost of the Sterox-bladed fan and beige-brown colours will put a lot of people off though.

I do think the "ugly" colors are beneficial to weed out those with silly priorities
If you know any brand which can match Noctua in quality, cooling and noise profile, let me know.

If you're struggling for height clearance over the socket and have $90 to burn, there are a bunch of decent 240mm AIOs that will outperform this. Paying a premium for air cooling seems like a step backwards (even though it's my preference).

But are there many cases where they actually will outperform though? For a large radiator to make any sense it still needs to be placed somewhere with good airflow (both intake and exhaust). Nearly all reviews are conducted on open benches, so that is not representative for real world scenarios.

If anything, people in general are paying too much for their CPU cooler while ignoring case airflow, as the sustained cooling of your CPU cooler will always be limited by the case cooling. So if price is concerned, people should probably spend ~$35-40 on something like a Hyper 212* and the rest in Noctua case fans.
*) or comparable for smaller cases.

 

[Colddecked]

I do think the "ugly" colors are beneficial to weed out those with silly priorities
If you know any brand which can match Noctua in quality, cooling and noise profile, let me know.

At this point all I can say is the Noctua color scheme is iconic.

 

[Chrispy_]

That's a typo, right? NH-U14S is a much bigger and powerful cooler.

Not a typo; A mistake. I remember the NH-U14 being wide and short, so when I looked up dimensions it was 165x150, I mistakenly assumed 150 was the height.
But no, the height is 165mm. Still very short for a 140mm tower, but not as short as this NH_D12L

If you know any brand which can match Noctua in quality, cooling and noise profile, let me know.

I mean that's not hard, look at the charts for performance, performance/$, and noise-normalised performance: Noctua are not outright winners in any of those metrics - so you can get better performing coolers, cheaper coolers, and quieter coolers than Noctua. What Noctua offer is a good balance of everything, great mounting hardware and free mounting kit upgrades. The D15 isn't the best large air cooler any more, the U12S and U12A aren't the best 120mm towers any more and this isn't the best compact cooler either. Whilst you can't go wrong with a Noctua you can usually get similar performance for less money.

But are there many cases where [AIOs] actually will outperform though? For a large radiator to make any sense it still needs to be placed somewhere with good airflow (both intake and exhaust). Nearly all reviews are conducted on open benches, so that is not representative for real world scenarios.

I mean, if you don't have good case airflow (both intake and exhaust) it doesn't matter whether you use AIO or an air cooler - you're screwed either way. If anything, I'd rather use an AIO in a case with extremely limited airflow because at least with an AIO you can have the radiator as an exhaust so that the CPU's heat never gets put back into the case. It won't be the best cooling for your CPU but in hotbox/cramped case with limited airflow the single most important thing you have to do is get heat out of the case. The rest of the components can fend for themselves as long as the case itself isn't turned into an oven by a CPU or GPU cooler that's dumping hot exhaust into the case!

 

[efikkan]

Not a typo; A mistake. I remember the NH-U14 being wide and short, so when I looked up dimensions it was 165x150, I mistakenly assumed 150 was the height.
But no, the height is 165mm. Still very short for a 140mm tower, but not as short as this NH_D12L

Still, NH-D12L doesn't make NH-U14S obsolete, as you claimed.
NH-U14S is a much more capable cooler, not only due to higher cooling capacity, that extra heat pipe also makes it more capable to dissipate bursts of heat quickly. It provides an excellent balance between cooling and noise, possibly one of the best in Noctua's lineup. It's no accident that this cooler is the basis for Noctua's workstation coolers too, instead of the D15 family.

I mean that's not hard, look at the charts for performance, performance/$, and noise-normalised performance: Noctua are not outright winners in any of those metrics - so you can get better performing coolers, cheaper coolers, and quieter coolers than Noctua. What Noctua offer is a good balance of everything, great mounting hardware and free mounting kit upgrades.

Exactly, and isn't this what most "enthusiasts" who don't OC want?
A PC which is very quiet under normal use, and reasonably quiet but cool under high load? (either gaming or work)
Other brands like BeQuiet are decent, but they fall short of Noctua under load.

 

[DaveBSC]

Definitely would love to see Frost Commander 140 reviewed, I don't think there's a single professional English language review. The price is about 1/3 cheaper than D15 and Dark Rock P4, and if it can match them, shouldn't people know that?

 

[Chrispy_]

Still, NH-D12L doesn't make NH-U14S obsolete, as you claimed.

I claimed I made a mistake in thinking the U14S was 150mm tall; I thought that at 145mm the dual-tower D12L would have way more surface area than the 150mm tall U14S.

The whole premise fell apart when I checked the actual dimensions and it turns out the U14S probably matches the D12L for surface area but has a larger fan and lower air resistance from the single tower. The additional heatpipe isn't a consideration if heatpipes/surface area are matched.

 

[Colddecked]

Definitely would love to see Frost Commander 140 reviewed, I don't think there's a single professional English language review. The price is about 1/3 cheaper than D15 and Dark Rock P4, and if it can match them, shouldn't people know that?

That's really on Thermalright's marketing department.

 

[DaveBSC]

Or TPU could do what Gamers Nexus does, get one and see if it's any good. Why does TR public relations have to approve or not approve?