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
Thermal Resistance VS Sound Pressure Level
During our thermal resistance vs. sound pressure level test, we maintain a steady 100W thermal load and assess the overall performance of the coolers by taking multiple temperature and sound pressure level readings within the operating range of the stock cooling fans. The result is a graph that depicts the absolute thermal resistance of the cooler in comparison to the noise generated. For both the sound pressure level and absolute thermal resistance readings, lower figures are better.
Expectedly, the performance chart of the Noctua NH-U12A lands right above that of its larger counterpart, the Noctua NH-U14S. The difference is very small (practically negligible), confirming Noctua’s claims that the NH-U12A can compete head-to-head with performance-oriented 140 mm fan coolers. For example, NH-U12A's performance advantage over a popular and significantly lower-priced tower cooler, the Cooler Master Evo 212, is momentous, partially justifying the retail price difference between the two products.
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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This stupid cooler is way overpriced and outdated.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