Noctua NH-L12 CPU Cooler Review
Noctua is well known for their excellent cooling products, when it comes to the enthusiast end of things Noctua knows what it’s doing that’s for sure. Many of Noctua’s products are aimed at the high-end or enthusiast user who likes to overclock their systems and get the most out of them. Not everybody falls into that category though and they just want a decent cooling solution for their CPU, one that’s quality made and one that’s quiet. I for one prefer both in my systems with quiet being one of the more important things on my list of requirements for a CPU cooler. Making products for enthusiasts usually means big, but Noctua has recently introduced a cooler that’s surprisingly not aimed at the enthusiast market, or at least not the overclockers out there anyway. The Noctua NH-L12 is a low-profile style cooler meant for smaller systems like small form factor or HTPC where space is quite limited. The NH-L12 is meant to keep your CPU cooler but yet keep things running quiet. Let’s continue on…
Product Name: Noctua NH-L12 CPU Cooler
Author: Kristofer Brozio
Sponsor: Noctua
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
The NH-L12 is a low-profile quiet cooler designed for use in small form factor cases and HTPC environments. With its flexible NF-F12 (120mm) / NF-B9 (92mm) dual PWM fan setup, the NH-L12 can be configured either for full performance in dual fan mode or extra-low profile (66mm) with the top fan removed. Bundled with the award-winning NT-H1 thermal compound and Noctua’s SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system, the NH-L12 packs everything a premium quality quiet cooler needs into a highly compact package.
Caution: The NH-L12 is a low-profile quiet cooler designed for use in small form factor cases and HTPC environments. While it provides first rate performance in its class, it is not suitable for overclocking and should be used with care on CPUs with more than 95W TDP (Thermal Design Power). Please consult our TDP guidelines to find out whether the NH-L12 is recommended for your CPU.
120/92mm dual fan design
Thanks to its exquisite dual fan setup consisting of Noctua’s highly optimized NF-F12 (120mm) and NF-B9 (92mm) premium fans, the NH-L12 pushes the bar in terms of low-profile quiet cooling performance.
Extra-low profile in 92mm single-fan mode
The NH-L12 can be used with the NF-B9 92mm fan only in order to reduce the overall height to 66mm. This way, the cooler is suitable for many typical µATX or Mini-ITX enclosures and ideal for whisper-quiet HTPC systems.
PWM support and Low-Noise Adapters
The NH-L12’s NF-F12 and NF-B9 fans support PWM for convenient automatic speed control. In addition, the maximum fan speed can be reduced to 1200/1300rpm using the supplied Low-Noise Adapters for even quieter operation.
SecuFirm2 mounting system
Noctua’s enthusiast grade
SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting provides broad socket compatibility (LGA 2011, LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA775, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1) and meets the highest demands in safety, performance and ease-of-use.
Mini-ITX mounting without backplate
Some Intel based Mini-ITX mainboards don’t allow for the installation of backplates. The NH-L12 thus comes with an extra set of Intel mounting bolts which make it possible to install the cooler without using the SecuFirm2 backplate.
NT-H1 thermal compound
Noctua’s much-acclaimed NT-H1 is a well proven pro-grade TIM solution that provides minimum thermal resistance, excellent ease-of-use and outstanding reliability.
Specs:
- Socket compatibility: Intel LGA2011, LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA775 & AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1 (backplate required)
- Height (without fan): 66 mm
- Width (without fan): 128 mm
- Depth (without fan): 150 mm
- Height (with fan): 93 mm
- Width (with fan): 128 mm
- Depth (with fan): 150 mm
- Weight (without fan): 415 g
- Weight (with fan): 680 g
- Material: Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminum (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
- Fan compatibility: 120x120x25mm & 92x92x25mm
Scope of Delivery
- -1x NF-F12 PWM premium fan
- -1x NF-B9 PWM premium fan
- -2x Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.)
- -Y-Split Cable
- -NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound
- -SecuFirm2 Mounting Kit
- -Mini-ITX Mounting-Kit
- -Noctua Metal Case-Badge
- Warranty: 6 Years
Fan specifications:
- Model: Noctua NF-F12 PWM & Noctua NF-B9 PWM
- Bearing: SSO-Bearing
- Max. Rotational Speed (+/- 10%): 1500 / 1600 RPM
- Max. Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%): 1200 / 1300 RPM
- Min. Rotational Speed (PWM): 300 / 300 RPM
- Max. Airflow: 93,4 / 64,3 m³/h
- Max. Airflow with L.N.A.: 74,3 / 52,6 m³/h
- Max. Acoustical Noise: 22,4 / 17,6 dB(A)
- Max. Acoustical Noise with L.N.A.: 18,6 / 13,1 dB(A)
- Input Power: 0,6 / 0,96 W
- Voltage Range: 12 V
- MTBF: > 150.000 h
Price: $59.95 (from Amazon at time of review)
You can also find the NH-L12 at Acoustic PC: http://www.acousticpc.com/noctua_nh-l12_low_profile_quiet_cpu_cooler.html