Finished Looks

Noctua's NH-L9x65 is hilariously tiny compared to their last cooler I reviewed, the NH-D15. That said, the Noctua color scheme doesn't really fit in all that well with the red and black theme of the test system's motherboard. Still, I will admit I do prefer this over some of the more over-the-top creations that have come out in recent years.


Since the cooler isn't going to fit most color themes, it needs another edge, and that would be its top-notch quality. After all, quality and performance should be a bit more important than looks, and Noctua has always delivered on both.


Clearance around the socket is perfect, with no real issues to report. The NH-L9x65 easily clears all heatsinks and offers perfect access to the EPS 8-pin power connector.


Memory and expansion slot clearance is definitely a strong point for the NH-L9x65. It offers perfect clearance all around. Add to that its low height and it is perfect for small form-factor systems.