Installation

Noctua's patented SecuFirm2 back plate can be used for all modern Intel sockets. There are three hole patterns as listed on the backside of the plate. To begin installation of the cooler simply insert the bolts through the holes that correspond to which socket you are using it on. In this review we are using a 1156 Socket so we will be using B. Since Sockets 1156 and 1366 have a CPU socket back plate installed already you need to remove the inner rubber piece to allow the bracket to sit properly on the back of the motherboard. If you are using this on Socket 775 this step is not necessary. Be sure to align the two screw cutouts properly so that they correspond to the CPU socket's back plate if you are using the cooler on 1156 Sockets or the back plate will not seat properly. This is a very important step to prevent possible CPU damage.


Once the back plate is installed properly, flip the motherboard over and install the four black spacers onto the back plates posts. Next up, place the mounting brackets over the posts and secure them with the four thumbscrews provided. The included Phillips screwdriver can be used to tighten the thumbscrews up before the next step.


While there are many methods to apply thermal grease onto a CPU, i find the line method works best. Place a small amount of thermal grease on the IHS of the CPU about the size of a grain of rice. Using the included Phillips screwdriver, secure the cooler to the mounting assembly. A quick removal of the cooler shows the thermal grease spreads nice and evenly across the IHS of the CPU as well as the base of the cooler. This means that the base is nice and flat, just what we wanted to see.

Finished look

Fully installed, the cooler is clearly one of the larger ones on the market while it is not as big as "twin tower" designs. The massive 140 mm fan up top provides good airflow for components around the CPU socket such as memory modules, chip-sets, and voltage regulation circuitry while keeping the CPU cool is its main objective. With an overall height of 114 mm with the fan installed, the NH-C12P SE14 is shorter than most "tower" designs and should not cause any difficulties installing in cases that are tight on space, however, this is not a low profile cooler and will most likely not work in small form factor builds.


One thing to look out for though, the cooler does come close to the memory slots so if you are using modules with tall heat spreaders such as Kingston HyperX T1's or Corsair Dominator GTX sticks you may encounter clearance issues. The Mushkin Ridgeback's used in this review had plenty of room to spare however.