Louqe and Noctua Present NH-L12 Special Edition CPU Cooler for the Ghost S1 Case

[btarunr]

Louqe and Noctua today presented the new NH-L12 Ghost S1 edition CPU cooler. Coming with a single 92 mm fan and Noctua's second-generation NT-H2 thermal compound, as well as the latest SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system, the NH-L12 Ghost S1 edition has been customised to be an ideal companion for quiet high-end builds in Louqe's award-winning Ghost S1 enclosure.

"We've tested pretty much every low-profile cooler on the market in the Ghost S1 and even tried to create a complete custom solution in collaboration with Noctua, but nothing worked as well as our long-term favourite, the NH-L12," explains Patrik Michalski (Louqe CEO). "That's why we've ended up creating a customised special edition of this cooler that will be the ideal choice for all Ghost S1 users who are looking for the best possible air cooling solution."



Having received more than 200 awards and recommendations from international hardware websites and magazines, the original NH-L12 was one of the most successful low-profile CPU coolers ever built. It also proved to be an ideal choice for low-noise setups in the Ghost S1 chassis when its top 120 mm fan was removed.

"Ever since the original NH-L12 was superseded by the NH-L12S, we've seen Ghost S1 users go miles and beyond to get hold of remaining stock or used NH-L12 coolers because the newer S-version is just a bit too tall for this case," explains Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "The Ghost S1 is one of the most popular choices for premium-grade ITX builds at the moment, so we're glad to bring back the original L12 in a version that is specifically customised for this great case."

With its single NF-B9 PWM 92 mm fan, the new Ghost S1 edition is tailored for use in this case and has been updated with the latest SecuFirm2 mounting hardware for all current mainstream sockets, including Intel LGA1200, LGA115x and AMD AM4. Topped off with Noctua's further improved, second-generation NT-H2 thermal compound and a full 6-year manufacturer's warranty, the NH-L12 Ghost S1 edition is the ideal choice for premium-grade quiet builds in the Louqe Ghost S1 chassis.

Price and availability
The manufacturer's suggested retail price is EUR/USD 54.90. The cooler is available as of today via Noctua's official Amazon and eBay stores.

For more information, visit the product page.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Yrd]

After seeing this news, I looked in my closet and I have one of the original LH-12. I think I paid about $75 for that. This one is about $20 less, the cost of the missing 120mm fan.

I bought this case a few months back, because it constantly goes out of stock. It's just sitting boxed up until I get next gen hardware. Lucky for me, I already own the the best fitting cooler. Hadn't even looked for compatible stuff yet. I hope they offer original owners a way to get updated mounting hardware, as they have done for other coolers in the past.

 

[MAXLD]

After seeing this news, I looked in my closet and I have one of the original LH-12. I think I paid about $75 for that. This one is about $20 less, the cost of the missing 120mm fan.

I bought this case a few months back, because it constantly goes out of stock. It's just sitting boxed up until I get next gen hardware. Lucky for me, I already own the the best fitting cooler. Hadn't even looked for compatible stuff yet. I hope they offer original owners a way to get updated mounting hardware, as they have done for other coolers in the past.

Yep, pretty much.

https://noctua.at/en/productfaqs/productfaq/view/id/169/

If you're planing for AM4, you just need to fill the NM-AM4 upgrade kit form. As for Intel, you're good, the original Intel mount should still work.


Even my previous and good old Noctua NH-U12F from 2007 can be upgraded to be used on current AMD / Intel sockets. That's a freaking 13 year old cooler right there, still getting free support.

 

[asdkj1740]

should have chosen a9pwm instead, at least the rpm is higher.

 

[jeremyshaw]

should have chosen a9pwm instead, at least the rpm is higher.

Yeah, that is strange. Even Noctua's own product page notes the B9PWM as discontinued and replaced by the A9 PWM, so I'm curious if this was a copy-paste mistake or are they really dragging out and older and theoretically interior fan for this?

 

[Chrispy_]

I was completely oblivious to the existence of the Ghost S1. I'm an NCase M1 backer and defected to Streacom's DA2 about 15 months ago.

This is finally getting close to the design I hacked together as a student 20 years ago, but mass-produced with quality machining (and making use of mITX that didn't exist back then); Zero space wasted and all component cooling fans touching the side of the case to act as a direct fresh-air intake to everything that matters.

This noctua looks great but I can't help but feel the optimum cooler for an S1 is direct-mount top-blower with a fan on top, similar to the AMD Wraith MAX but larger, and less plastic/RGB. These heatpipe designs waste a lot of potential surface area and heat transfer by separating the cooling fins from the IHS baseplate.

 

[AsRock]

Looks like you could use a 120mm fan with it too, although with that case they show with it don't have enough venting space for the 120mm

 

[jeremyshaw]

I was completely oblivious to the existence of the Ghost S1. I'm an NCase M1 backer and defected to Streacom's DA2 about 15 months ago.

This is finally getting close to the design I hacked together as a student 20 years ago, but mass-produced with quality machining (and making use of mITX that didn't exist back then); Zero space wasted and all component cooling fans touching the side of the case to act as a direct fresh-air intake to everything that matters.

This noctua looks great but I can't help but feel the optimum cooler for an S1 is direct-mount top-blower with a fan on top, similar to the AMD Wraith MAX but larger, and less plastic/RGB. These heatpipe designs waste a lot of potential surface area and heat transfer by separating the cooling fins from the IHS baseplate.

Top mount has problems with balancing z-height clearance off of the motherboard and clearance from the sidepanel. By the latter, I don't mean absolute fit. As anyone who has done so can attest, running a fan right up against the side panel results in a LOT of noise.

So where the fan and heatsink are arranged here, is somewhat balanced. Not ideal, but still reasonably balancing the two issues above.

 

[londiste]

Have to wonder, would a slim 120mm fan be better on that heatsink than the included normal 92mm fan

 

[watzupken]

Have to wonder, would a slim 120mm fan be better on that heatsink than the included normal 92mm fan

The orignal version uses a slim 120mm fan if I am not mistaken. Having said that, a bigger fan is still better (despite a slim one) for cooling in this case. The heatsink is in the first place made for a 120mm fan, so with the extra heatsink not being covered by the fan, it will limit cooling capability.

 

[Yrd]

Have to wonder, would a slim 120mm fan be better on that heatsink than the included normal 92mm fan

I have seen slim 120 fans on the underside of this cooler, it does work. But, not in this case. Look at the last two pics, there's no fitting a bigger fan with the ram or the case side panel in place.

 

[Diverge]

I have seen slim 120 fans on the underside of this cooler, it does work. But, not in this case. Look at the last two pics, there's no fitting a bigger fan with the ram or the case side panel in place.

I've got a 120 x 25mm under my NH-L12 in a Ghost S1:

http://imgur.com/J1EFNpm

 

[Chrispy_]

I've got a 120 x 25mm under my NH-L12 in a Ghost S1:

http://imgur.com/J1EFNpm

I wish they still made half-height RAM like that. It's the direction the industry *SHOULD* have moved in, rather than the direction it did move it (double-height, pointless heatsinks, RGBLED nonsense).

Is it any coincidence that the first company to bring overly high, out-of-spec heatsinks to the mass market was also the dominant AIO reseller at the time? Was there a hidden agenda there to drive people away from tower coolers by creating incompatible RAM?

 

[Yrd]

I've got a 120 x 25mm under my NH-L12 in a Ghost S1:

http://imgur.com/J1EFNpm

I wish they still made half-height RAM like that. It's the direction the industry *SHOULD* have moved in, rather than the direction it did move it (double-height, pointless heatsinks, RGBLED nonsense).

Is it any coincidence that the first company to bring overly high, out-of-spec heatsinks to the mass market was also the dominant AIO reseller at the time? Was there a hidden agenda there to drive people away from tower coolers by creating incompatible RAM?

Am I seeing two different sides being bent to fit that MB? Or is it just a trick in the pic? I don't see ram like that anymore, true. But even then, it looks like your problem was the VRM heatsink. Both pics make it look lopsided on two different angles. But the ram looks fine. A 15mm fan might fit with current ram sticks.

I can't test any of this out yet other than attaching a 15mm fan, as those are the only parts I have right now. Waiting on ampere.

 

[Chrispy_]

Am I seeing two different sides being bent to fit that MB? Or is it just a trick in the pic? I don't see ram like that anymore, true. But even then, it looks like your problem was the VRM heatsink. Both pics make it look lopsided on two different angles. But the ram looks fine. A 15mm fan might fit with current ram sticks.

I can't test any of this out yet other than attaching a 15mm fan, as those are the only parts I have right now. Waiting on ampere.

His bottom left picture is the key here - the half-height RAM allows the 120mm fan to overhang the DIMM slots without interference.

I can't find any half-height DDR4. That's one of the few roadblocks to me buying a Ghost S1, actually. This is the most recent stuff I have on hand (literally) - It's DDR3-1600

 

[londiste]

VLP DDR4 is mostly a server thing but it does exist. It's mostly ECC though so should work with AMD but results may vary for Intel systems. 8GB modules are easy enough to find, 16GB modules are PITA.