The Noctua NH-U12A CPU Cooler Review: Big Performance in a Small Space
by E. Fylladitakis on July 11, 2019 12:30 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Noctua
- CPU cooler
Testing Results, Maximum Fan Speed (12 Volts)
Starting things off, let's take a look at the NH-U12A performance with the fans at their full speed (12 V).
| Core Temperature, Constant Thermal Load (Max Fan Speed) |
Noctua claims that the NH-U12A can compete directly against 140 mm coolers. Although it is not really quite as good as advanced 140 mm coolers – at least when compared to the likes of the NH-U14S and the Phanteks PH-TC14PE – the thermal performance of the NH-U12A definitely is excellent for a 120 mm cooler. Which, in turn, is good enough to just touch the performance of simpler or silence-oriented 140 mm cooler designs, such as the Thermalright True Spirit.
The Noctua NH-U12A performs exceptionally well at the lower end of the load spectrum, outperforming even several 140 mm coolers at loads lower than 80 Watts. The gap widens as the load increases but the thermal performance of the NH-U12A always remains respectable. It is noteworthy to mention that the high thermal performance is complemented by respectable acoustics performance; even with the cooler's fans spinning at their maximum speed, the NH-U12A is audible but not too loud.
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Soulkeeper - Friday, July 12, 2019 - link
What was the RPM on the fans ?Did they manage to spin at their rated 2000rpm during the testing ?
Ryan Smith - Friday, July 12, 2019 - link
https://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph14621/111...We reached 1920 RPM, which is well within the manufacturer's margin of error for the fans.
sonny73n - Friday, July 12, 2019 - link
This stupid cooler is way overpriced and outdated. Nickel does not transfer heat better than copper. Why 2 fans? They’re only mere 2 inches apart, why not slap another 2 fans on it? Why Noctua always like to make heavy and big coolers? I’ll never support self-proclaimed “engineers” who has no clues about how to make better products.Korguz - Friday, July 12, 2019 - link
ok sonny73n if you think you can design something better for less.. then go do it...D@ Br@b($)! - Saturday, July 13, 2019 - link
He doesn't have to. There are already coolers with similar performance for less money.keyserr - Friday, July 12, 2019 - link
I would like a section for performance @ normalised sound, maybe at 32db, 33db, 34db etc because 7volts gives different rpms and noise.Arbie - Friday, July 12, 2019 - link
Scythe Mugen 5 for me too. When I last found comparisons of this against eg Noctua it offered equivalent results for much less money, and has been working great for me.But I'll probably just go with the Wraith cooler that will come with a top Ryzen 3000 chip. That does depend on 3950X tests when they surface, but current indications are that better cooling won't increase clocks.
This new AMD lineup will go a long way towards making high-end air - and of course any water loops - unnecessary. Those vendors must be getting nervous.
Qasar - Saturday, July 13, 2019 - link
" This new AMD lineup will go a long way towards making high-end air - and of course any water loops - unnecessary. Those vendors must be getting nervous. " how so ??Arbie - Thursday, July 18, 2019 - link
Because, as I indicated, increasing the cooling on Ryzen 3000 CPUs does not appear to increase their boost clocks. I had certainly hoped otherwise. Beyond that, very few people will manually overclock Ryzen 3000 because that achieves nothing over PBO, except to waste power all the time.So why go to premium air? And why even consider water? Except on Intel, but any vendor dependent on sales of those chips ought to be very nervous - as I said. The niche markets involved are getting smaller (for air) and much smaller (for water).
D@ Br@b($)! - Saturday, July 13, 2019 - link
+1