Noctua Launches NH-L9x65 Low-profile CPU Cooler and NF-A6x25 PWM Fan

[btarunr]

Continuing its recent focus on premium grade cooling components for compact systems such as ITX based gaming or Home Theater PCs, Noctua today released its new NH-L9x65 low-profile cooler and a 4-pin PWM version of its popular NF-A6x25 60mm fan. While the latter adds PWM support for automatic speed control to the proven NF-A6x25 design, the NH-L9x65 is a taller, performance-enhanced version of Noctua's award-winning NH-L9 low-profile coolers.

"Our NH-L9 coolers have become a default choice for customers seeking premium grade quiet coolers in the sub-40mm class, but with a height of only 37mm, their performance is inevitably limited", explains Mag. Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO), "The new NH-L9x65 provides the increased performance necessary to cool high end CPUs quietly while still offering excellent case and component compatibility."



Due to its compact heatsink and the renowned 14mm thin NF-A9x14 PWM fan, the NH-L9x65 stands only 65mm tall (the same height as low-profile expansion cards), which makes it ideal for use in compact HTPCs or Small Form Factor cases that offer limited clearance for CPU coolers. With 65 instead of 37mm height and four instead of two heatpipes, the NH-L9x65 is more powerful than its smaller siblings yet retains their 95x95mm footprint, which guarantees 100% RAM and PCIe compatibility on Intel based ITX mainboards and makes the cooler more convenient to work with as it doesn't overhang near-socket connectors.

Topped off with the professional SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system for Intel and AMD, Noctua's renowned NT-H1 thermal compound and 6 years manufacturer's warranty, the NH-L9x65 fuses everything users have come to expect from Noctua's larger coolers into a compact premium package for space restricted systems.

"With the trend towards highly compact, ITX based builds, 60mm fans are in demand again", says Mag. Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO), "Since more and more ITX mainboards offer PWM speed control on the case fan header or even multiple PWM headers, we're now providing a 4-pin PWM version of our popular, award-winning NF-A6x25 model."

The new PWM version of the NF-A6x25 sports Noctua's custom designed NE-FD1 IC for fully automatic speed control via 4-pin fan headers and comes with a Low-Noise-Adaptor to reduce the maximum speed during PWM control from 3000 to 2300rpm. Its superb running smoothness, SSO2 bearing and Noctua's trusted premium quality make it an elite 60mm choice for the highest demands.

Prices and availability
The new models are currently shipping and will be available shortly. The manufacturer suggested retail prices are as follows:

• NH-L9x65: EUR 44.90 / USD 52.90
• NF-A6x25 PWM: EUR 14.90 / USD 17.90

For more information, visit the product pages of the NH-L9x65 and NF-A6x25 PWM.

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[PLAfiller]

Nice combo: bigger HS with a slimmer fan to fit into the LP class. Awesome as usual. Wish they had a budget line sometimes, but hey they wouldn't be a premium manifacturer anymore if they had.

 

[thekaidis]

Looks like the L9x65 will work with 25mm-thick 92mm fans as well. Good design.

 

[alwayssts]

Certainly looks nice, but I continue to wonder:

How many enthusiast-level cases would require such a low-profile but still accept a full height card? Likewise, how many people would want/need/buy something like this without the space for a full-height card?

I suppose there are a few rare m-itx examples of which I am not acutely aware that are oddly contorted for such a situation, and in others possibilities of weird riser adapters (if one is so brave to attempt to find such an adapter get it to work), but still.

I understand we're (still) in a transitional period where low-profile/small cases are becoming more and more practical (especially as integrated gpus become more decent), but it still begs the question...who is this for?

That said, still a big fan of Noctua's unique designs. Just like Lian-li and when I built this setup, they make something that will work for whatever (granted becoming less-so) esoteric situation you require, and do so with quality (not to mention beige).

 

[thekaidis]

Certainly looks nice, but I continue to wonder:

How many enthusiast-level cases would require such a low-profile but still accept a full height card? Likewise, how many people would want/need/buy something like this without the space for a full-height card?

I suppose there are a few rare m-itx examples of which I am not acutely aware that are oddly contorted for such a situation, and in others possibilities of weird riser adapters (if one is so brave to attempt to find such an adapter get it to work), but still.

I understand we're (still) in a transitional period where low-profile/small cases are becoming more and more practical (especially as integrated gpus become more decent), but it still begs the question...who is this for?

That said, still a big fan of Noctua's unique designs. Just like Lian-li and when I built this setup, they make something that will work for whatever (granted becoming less-so) esoteric situation you require, and do so with quality (not to mention beige).

There's a lot of non-gaming applications for this sort of thing. Or, say, when the power supply is mounted directly over the board (a la Silverstone SG05 or CM Elite 110)

 

[Aibohphobia]

Certainly looks nice, but I continue to wonder:

How many enthusiast-level cases would require such a low-profile but still accept a full height card? Likewise, how many people would want/need/buy something like this without the space for a full-height card?

Steamboxes come to mind since they're usually very height constrained for the CPU heatsink.

 

[Caring1]

I'd say it would suit a lan box or overclocked iTX setup, the downward flow of air would help keep the VRM section cool as well, much better than an AIO only set up.

 

[dom99]

This will be a good fit for silverstones rvz01 or rvz02 type cases

 

[sumludus]

AsRock's Mini-ITX motherboards come with chips on the rear, preventing several beefier coolers from being attached. Doesn't matter how much vertical room you have in your case if you can't get the backplate on.

At only 340 grams sans fan, this should be light enough to use without the backplate. Right now I'm using a Big Shuriken 2 without one, and I'm curious how this would fare against it. It has 4 pipes vs 6 and a smaller fan, but much larger fins.