The Noctua NH-L12 is a great product that many will overlook or misunderstand. While its performance does not lead the pack, it does offer a small size and versatility. It is the smallest cooler I have reviewed thus far in terms of height and weight and offers backplate-less mounting for mini-ITX systems. The build quality is, as is usual with Noctua products, simply fantastic. Then there is, of course, the six-year warranty during which Noctua will send users updated mounting hardware for new sockets with proof of purchase. This makes buying a Noctua product cost more up front, but you get a lot in return, which many users may overlook. The Noctua NH-L12 really is a cooler that is meant for CPUs with lower TDPs. It offers good cooling while providing a nearly silent experience. The NH-L12 is a good fit for today's mainstream processors, like the Intel i5 and i3 series, or similar products. Seeing its value may not be easy, but look no further if you are looking for a nearly silent cooler of exceptional build quality that supports all sockets.

The only cons I can see are the price and the limitations that come with a small heatsink. The Noctua NH-L12 simply cannot handle high-end processors under heavy overclocks, especially in its single-fan configuration. At an MSRP of $69.99, the cooler is expensive, and while the NH-L12 will do fine with LGA2011 processors like the 3930K and 3960X under stock, it falls flat if those processors are overclocked. During my testing at a room temperature of 20°C, the cooler just missed the thermal throttle point by 1°C while the system was overclocked. Overclockers will, as such, want to look at one of the NH-L12's larger siblings, like the NH-D14, to meet their needs, since the cooler is simply not meant to be used on heavily overclocked CPUs.

Overall, the Noctua NH-L12 is an exceptional cooler when used for the right purpose. It offers a silent option that performs well on systems with processors of the AMD FX 4000 and 6000 series or Intel's i3 and i5 line-up. It is also backed by fantastic support and has a low-profile option for truly small systems, which makes the Noctua NH-L12 a great option if you are in need of a small and quiet cooler of the best possible quality.