Noctua NH-U12S CPU Cooler Review
Overview
Today at pcG we are looking at the Noctua NH-U12S
The Noctua NH-U12S is the latest model in their U-series single tower CPU cooler range. The cooler is 158mm tall and 125mm wide (including 120mm fan and clips) and also features 100% RAM compatibility. The Noctua NH-U12S also features the SecuFirm2 mounting system which is unparalleled when it comes to installing CPU coolers in my opinion. The Noctua NH-U12S is very versatile and is compatible with the following sockets: Intel LGA2011-0 & LGA2011-3(Square ILM), LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150 & AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate required). So let’s see if Noctua can continue to uphold their great reputation and get on with the review…
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‘The NH-U12S is the latest 12cm model of Noctua’s classic U-series single tower CPU coolers, which have received more than 400 awards and recommendations from the international press. The S-version’s 45mm slim shape guarantees 100% compatibility with tall RAM modules and at the same time, its fine-tuned design and the class-leading NF-F12 FocusedFlow™ fan with PWM support for fully automatic speed control allow it to further improve its predecessor’s renowned quiet cooling performance. Topped off with the trusted, pro-grade SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system, Noctua’s proven NT-H1 thermal compound and full 6 years manufacturer’s warranty, the NH-U12S is a complete premium quality solution that combines outstanding performance, quiet operation and excellent compatibility.’ |
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Every time I see a Noctua product I get a good feeling, here we have a company that knows how to package a product, let’s get over the fact that they like their shades of brown! The front of the box is white and brown in true Noctua fashion and this is the colour theme throughout all the packaging. In the top left corner we find the NH-U12S product name for this particular Noctua item. The front of the box highlights some of the particular features of the Noctua Nh-U12S and in the bottom right hand corner we have the Noctua owl logo. It is nice to find that the product name and Noctua owl logo are embossed throughout the packaging, this small touch can set a product apart from another. 🙂
The back of the box features a description (see above italics) of the Noctua NH-U12S in eight different languages.
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The left side of the box has eight small images with explanations pertaining to the features which are highlighted on the front of the box. It does add two new features though which are the fact that the Noctua NH-U12S has PWM support a Low-Noise Adapter and Anti-vibration pads and fan-clips for a second NF-F12 fan.
The top of the box is pretty much identical to the front of the box, albeit here we have a Noctua URL and a shiny silver sticker telling us that this product is one of the ‘award-winning NH-U12 series’.
On the right side of the box we have three sets of specifications for the Noctua NH-U12S which are the fan specs, heatsink specs and the contents of the box (see Specifications/Features below for more detail). Also, there is a small diagram in the bottom left hand corner of the Noctua NH-U12S and its dimensions.
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I just love it when I open a Noctua box (now there’s something you don’t hear everyday!). Seriously though, who puts this much effort into packaging CPU coolers? I would like to know. When you open the box of the Noctua NH-U12S you are presented with three smaller sturdy cardboard boxes. One contains the Intel SecuFirm2 Mounting System, another the AMD SecuFirm2 Mounting System and the last long box contains the Accessories (NT-H1 thermal compound, Low-Noise Adaptor L.N.A., Screwdriver and Installation-kit for second NF-F12 fan (optional)). Each box is immaculately folded and printed with simple black wording and diagrams, it doesn’t get much better than this. 🙂
Below the three boxes we find another sheet of cardboard which protects the Noctua NH-U12S tower cooler and fan, even this piece of cardboard has been stamped to say ‘NH-U12S’. The main product itself is firmly protected in some more immaculately folded cardboard. You can tell how much a company loves their product by how well they present it and if this is anything to go by then Noctua must be head over heels in love with theirs…
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At the time of writing, the Noctua NH-U12S is retailing on Amazon
Specifications/Features
courtesy of Noctua
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* Additional details available here
First Impressions
First impressions of the Noctua NH-U12S are very good, the tower cooler feels very sturdy and well built. This especially goes for the vertical fin stack which seems to be thicker than others I have come across that have been a little on the flimsy side. The NH-U12S is pretty heavy coming in at 580g without fan and 755g with the fan and I put this down to the use of quality materials amongst other things. The colour scheme of the Noctua NF-F12 fan has always been under discussion and no more than here at pcG, Noctua like their shades of brown, live with it!
The front of the Noctua NH-U12S has the fan already fitted with the two wire clips that fit over the back of the fins. Each corner of the fan is fitted with anti-vibration pads which is where the wire clips connect the NF-F12 fan to the tower cooler. The fan cable which is covered with a flexible black sleeve comes out of the bottom of the fan and is of a good length.
The back of the Noctua NH-U12s gives you a good view of the fins that make up the tower cooler of which there are 50 in total (I did count them yes). Also, here we can see the two spring loaded screws that make up part of the Noctua SecuFirm2 mounting system.
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The sides of the Noctua NH-U12S are both identical and it is from this angle that we can get a good view of the fan clips and fins. As I said earlier the fins are made of a more sturdy metal than on most other coolers I have handled, they feel like they have less of a tendency to bend or snag at the slightest opportunity. This is also good as they do form the contour that the wire clips from the fan attaches to, the wire clip system may look simple but is way more effective than other methods I have come across.
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Looking at the top of the Noctua NH-U12S we can clearly see the capping fin of the heatsink, this has a well polished aluminium finish and has an embossed Noctua logo in the centre. The Noctua NH-U12S is asymmetrically built and on each side of the top you can see the ends of the five nickel plated copper heat-pipes. The shape of the top does also reflect the shape of the owl logo with the metal fins taking on the furrowed brow look of the owl, this was picked up by another pcG reviewer in the past and who knows if this is intentional or not?
From beneath we can get a good view of heat-pipes which sit above the highly polished base of the Noctua NH-U12S. Also, you can see the hollowed out screws that will eventually connect to the Noctua’s mounting bracket studs.
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So far I am really impressed by the Noctua NH-U12S CPU cooler, It feels sturdy and looks very well designed (forget about the fan colour Ed!). But obviously the main purpose of this piece of kit is to keep the CPU cool, it if doesn’t do that then who cares what it looks like, when we run our regular benchmarks we will see how the NH-U12S performs…
Hardware Installation
| Case |
Cooler Master HAF XB
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Power Supply |
Corsair Professional Series AX 760i
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| Motherboard |
ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer
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CPU |
Intel Core i5-4690K
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| CPU Cooler |
Noctua NH-U12S
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RAM |
HyperX Savage 2400MHz 8GB Kit
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| Graphics Card |
XFX AMD Radeon R9 290X DD Black Edition
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SSD |
HyperX FURY 120GB
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The first thing we needed to do before installing the Noctua NH-U-12S was to source the correct parts required for our Socket 1150 installation on our TestRig’s motherboard the ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer. Thanks to Noctua this could not be easier as all the component boxes are very clearly labelled. Just use all the parts in the Intel box apart from the stand-offs which are for an Intel LGA 2011 installation. Please see the photo below for all the parts in the Intel box but remember that we are not using the stand-offs in our installation.
The next step was to fit the back plate assembly and secure it to our motherboard, to do this you need to use the following parts (back-plate, x4 nylon spacers, x4 nuts & x2 pressure plates). Place the back-plate on the back of the motherboard with the screws going into the corresponding holes and place the nylon washers onto the screws from the other side. Next add the two metal pressure plates and secure with the four metal nuts, keep in mind to always have your hand pressing the back-plate against the motherboard from the back to avoid everything falling apart during assembly. It can be a bit fiddly but once you work out your hand placement the job can be done very quickly without a lot of effort. The Noctua SecuFirm2 mounting system is by far the best I have come across in my time.
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The next step was to apply a small pea (imagine minted Petit Pois not Marrowfat) sized blob of Arctic Cooling MX-4
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The last step was to connect the Noctua NH-U12S PWM controlled fan into the CPU_FAN1 header on the ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer motherboard, and that was that, we were all set up!
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As you can see from the images above the Noctua NH-U12S looks pretty impressive on our Test Rig motherboard, the faux wooden and metal windmill towering above the electronic landscape (easy now!). As you can see there are no clearance issues around the CPU with plenty of breathing space for the RAM as well.
Testing Methodology/Setup
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For CPU Cooler testing, we here at pcGameware run Prime95 for a 15 minute period. During this period the temperature is monitored with CoreTemp and the cooling performance recorded (the max recorded is the average for all cores). Between each stress test we allow a 15 minute cool-down to allow for more accurate results. To adjust the fan speed we simply use the UEFI. A close eye is also kept on the ambient temperature, with the maximum being recorded for each run, this allows us to calculate the Delta temperature (Core – Ambient = Delta). Each run was performed with the Intel Core i5-4690K CPU at the following frequencies: 3.5GHz (Stock) and 4.0GHz (using the ASROCK OC Tweaker, shown in the picture below), all results have been recorded with CPU-Z. |
* Please note: To ascertain the maximum and minimum noise levels produced by our CPU test coolers. The dBA is recorded at a distance of 1 metre from the cooler, with all case fans unplugged to isolate the sound in question.
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Processor speed is set using the OC Tweaker tab of the UEFI, “Disabled” for stock speeds (3.5GHz) and “Turbo 4.0GHz” for the minor overclock tests. It should be noted that changing the OC settings resets the Fan Speeds, so these are checked on the next reboot and reset to “Full Speed” (see below).
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All the fans installed in the system are set to 100% speed using the displayed settings, this is simple with the ASROCK UEFI with the option of “Full Speed” being available for all system fans.
 CPU-Z – Noctua NH-U12S – 3.5GHz (fans @ 100%) |
 CPU-Z – Noctua NH-U12S – 4.0GHz (fans @ 100%) |
Hardware Performance
As stated above, to make our performance tests easier to follow and to get the most accurate recordings, all of the following tests have been carried out with case fans set at 100% and the Noctua’s NH-U12S fan also set at 100%.
- Intel Core i5-4690K – 3.5GHz (stock)
 Raijintek Themis Evo – Prime95 – 3.5GHz (fans @ 100%) |
 Noctua NH-U12S – Prime95 – 3.5GHz (fans @ 100%) |
 Noctua NH-U9S – Prime95 – 3.5GHz (fans @ 100%) |
| CPU Cooler | Air/Liquid | Fan Speed | Ambient Temperature | Max CPU Temperature (core average) | Delta Temperature | Noise Level |
| NZXT Kraken X61 | Liquid | 100% | 24.50 | 40.75 | 16.25 | 51dB |
| Deepcool Gamer Storm Maelstrom 240 | Liquid | 100% | 24.00 | 43.50 | 19.50 | 50dB |
| Noctua NH-D15 | Air | 100% | 25.00 | 44.75 | 19.75 | 44dB |
| Raijintek Triton | Liquid | 100% | 24.00 | 44.25 | 20.25 | 46dB |
| Fractal Design Kelvin T12 | Liquid | 100% | 25.00 | 46.00 | 21.00 | 40dB |
| Reeven Okeanos | Air | 100% | 22.00 | 43.75 | 21.75 | 45dB |
| SilverStone Tundra TD03-E | Liquid | 100% | 25.50 | 49.25 | 23.75 | 51dB |
| Corsair H105 | Liquid | 100% | 23.00 | 46.75 | 23.75 | 60dB |
| Reeven Justice | Air | 100% | 21.50 | 46.50 | 25.00 | 39dB |
| Reeven Hans | Air | 100% | 26.00 | 51.50 | 25.50 | 34dB |
| Raijintek Themis Evo | Air | 100% | 21.50 | 47.50 | 26.00 | 37dB |
| Noctua NH-U12S | Air | 100% | 24.00 | 50.00 | 26.00 | 37dB |
| Noctua NH-U9S | Air | 100% | 24.00 | 50.00 | 26.00 | 38dB |
| Scythe Mugen Max | Air | 100% | 22.00 | 48.50 | 26.50 | 36dB |
| Reeven Ouranos | Air | 100% | 22.00 | 48.50 | 26.50 | 43dB |
| Prolimatech Basic 81 | Air | 100% | 22.00 | 50.75 | 28.75 | 43dB |
| Raijintek Themis | Air | 100% | 21.50 | 52.25 | 30.75 | 47dB |
| Cryorig C1 | Air | 100% | 23.00 | 56.25 | 33.25 | 42dB |
| Noctua NH-D9L | Air | 100% | 25.00 | 55.75 | 30.75 | 33dB |
| Noctua NH-L9x65 | Air | 100% | 23.00 | 61.75 | 38.75 | 43dB |
| SilverStone Argon AR06 | Air | 100% | 23.50 | 79.50 | 56.00 | 28dB |
As you can see in the CPU Cooler chart the Noctua NH-U12S sits bang in the middle of the table but if the liquid coolers were removed then it would be in the upper half. The Noctua NH-U12S cooler keeps our Intel Core i5-4690K at 50 degrees Celsius in our Prime 95 torture test which considering the ambient temperature of the room was 24 degrees Celsius is pretty good. The Delta temperature of the Noctua NH-U12S being only 1 degree Celsius higher than the two Reeven coolers just above it. You may notice that the Noctua NH-U12S fares the same as the Noctua NH-U9S with only a tiny acoustic level separating them. Now to try a little overclocking and and add a bit more voltage…
- Intel Core i5-4690K – 4.0GHz (OC Tweaker)
 Reeven Ouranos – Prime95 – 4.0GHz (fans @ 100%) |
 Noctua NH-U12S – Prime95 – 4.0GHz (fans @ 100%) |
 Raijintek Themis Evo – Prime95 – 4.0GHz (fans @ 100%) |
| CPU Cooler | Air/Liquid | Fan Speed | Ambient Temperature | Max CPU Temperature (core average) | Delta Temperature | Noise Level |
| NZXT Kraken X61 | Liquid | 100% | 24.00 | 48.00 | 24.00 | 51dB |
| Fractal Design Kelvin T12 | Liquid | 100% | 26.50 | 53.75 | 27.25 | 40dB |
| Raijintek Tritonn | Liquid | 100% | 24.00 | 51.25 | 27.25 | 46dB |
| Deepcool Gamer Storm Maelstrom 240 | Liquid | 100% | 24.50 | 52.50 | 28.00 | 50dB |
| Reeven Okeanos | Air | 100% | 23.50 | 51.75 | 28.25 | 45dB |
| Noctua NH-D15 | Air | 100% | 24.00 | 52.50 | 28.50 | 44dB |
| Corsair H105 | Liquid | 100% | 23.00 | 53.50 | 30.50 | 60dB |
| Scythe Mugen Max | Air | 100% | 22.00 | 54.75 | 32.75 | 36dB |
| SilverStone Tundra TD03-E | Liquid | 100% | 26.00 | 58.75 | 32.75 | 51dB |
| Reeven Justice | Air | 100% | 22.00 | 55.25 | 33.25 | 39dB |
| Reeven Hans | Air | 100% | 25.00 | 59.25 | 34.25 | 34dB |
| Reeven Ouranos | Air | 100% | 24.00 | 58.25 | 34.25 | 43dB |
| Noctua NH-U12S | Air | 100% | 24.00 | 58.75 | 34.75 | 37dB |
| Raijintek Themis Evo | Air | 100% | 21.50 | 58.00 | 36.50 | 37dB |
| Noctua NH-U9S | Air | 100% | 23.50 | 60.25 | 36.75 | 38dB |
| Prolimatech Basic 81 | Air | 100% | 22.00 | 59.50 | 37.50 | 43dB |
| Raijintek Themis | Air | 100% | 21.00 | 59.50 | 38.50 | 47dB |
| Noctua NH-D9L | Air | 100% | 24.50 | 67.00 | 42.50 | 33dB |
| Cryorig C1 | Air | 100% | 23.00 | 65.75 | 42.75 | 42dB |
| Noctua NH-L9x65 | Air | 100% | 23.00 | 73.50 | 50.50 | 43dB |
| SilverStone Argon AR06 | Air | 100% | 23.50 | 92.50 | 69.00 | 28dB |
In the 4.0GHz test we can see that the Noctua NH-U12S still keeps the CPU temperature in check (at below 60 degrees) with a maximum average core temperature of 57.5 degrees Celsius. But, as you can see this time the Noctua NH-U12S has moved up above the Raijintek Themis Evo to sit directly below the three Reeven coolers. So feel free to overclock your CPU and chill out with a fun ol’ session of Prime95 knowing that your Noctua NH-U12S tower cooler is looking after the heart of your Gaming Rig. 🙂
Acoustically the Noctua NH-U12S is very quiet even at its full rotational speed of 1500RPM. This is very good news for anybody worried about in-game noise pollution. The highest I could record using our test equipment was 37dBA and considering that anything below (according to our test gear anyway) 35dBA is pretty much silent, or as close as you will get to silence in my testing area.
Final Thoughts
The Noctua NH-U12S
The Noctua NH-U12S arrived at pcG in a very smart designed and strong box in Noctua’s signature colour scheme (the editor is not a fan (excuse the pun)). As always with Noctua the NH-U12S was packaged well inside and out with a lot of thought going in to even the smallest details. When I talk about small details I am referring to the effort that Noctua has gone to make sure you love their product before you even get your hands on it. The accessories are beautifully presented in individual boxes which are clearly marked to avoid confusion and the Noctua-NH12S itself is packaged by someone who clearly has an origami degree. I will never tire of the effort Noctua put into presenting their products to us. 🙂
Once out of the box you can feel how well made the Noctua NH-U12S actually is, the fins alone seem to be made from a stronger aluminium than most other heatsink I have come across. The whole thing feels very solid and you already get the feeling that this cooler is going to do its job well! The Noctua NH-U12S features the Secufirm2 mounting system which is in my opinion one of the best out there. The NH-U12S come complete with a NF-F12 PWM controlled fan which has a maximum rotational speed of 1500RPM. Fitting the cooler could not be easier and this is down the the SecuFirm2 mounting system that I mentioned just now. The screws can only be tightened to a certain point (still be gentle mind please!) so there is no need to worry about over or under tightening them, very useful for the heavy handed out there.
The performance of the Noctua NH-U12S is very good and as you can see from the charts above the cooler does a good job of what is it designed to do… keeping your CPU cool of course! In our performance charts the NH-U12S sits just under the Reeven coolers but only by less than 0.50 degrees Celsius which is hardly worth quibbling over. The fact that the NH-U12S kept the average CPU temperature at 50 degrees Celsius in our Prime95 torture test when running at 3.5GHz and below 60 degrees Celsius at 4.0GHz is an impressive performance for a cooler of this size. The Noctua NH-U12S also comes out trumps in the acoustic department only registering a maximum dBA of 37 with the 120mm fan running at 100%. All in all the numbers are pretty good.
The Noctua NH-U12S is well built, well designed and quite frankly a CPU tower cooler that just does its job beyond well! If you want to have quality products as part of your Gaming Rig and you like the colour brown then you will not go far wrong by mounting this Austrian Gem…
Verdict
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Where possible we always use Amazon’s price for Value… |
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Many thanks to Noctua for providing this sample for review
