Noctua NH-U12A

So let's summarise the results. The NH-U12A delivers slightly better thermal performance when compared to a 240ml liquid cooler like the Kraken X52, a...

So this is the overall best air cooler I've tested, and one of the best coolers I've reviewed, period.

> Users who want the absolute best performance/noise efficiency in the 120mm class and don’t mind investing a bit more should go with the premium class NH-U12A: With an NSPR of 169 points and its dual state-of-the-art NF-A12x25 PWM fans running around 2.5dB(A) quieter than the NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM fan of the NH-U12S redux, the NH-U12A provides a significantly higher level of performance/noise efficiency that can rival many 140mm coolers. > Unlike the NH-U12S redux, the NH-U12A and regular NH-U12S feature Noctua’s premium grade soldered interface between the heatpipes and the fins. They also include Low-Noise Adaptors and a tube of NT-H1 thermal paste for several applications whereas the NH-U12S redux comes with NT-H1 pre-applied.

My Ryzen 5 5600x was consistently hitting 90-degree temps on AMD's stock cooler, even in undemanding games. But with this beefy Noctua cooler, I haven't seen so much as a peak into 75 degrees, even on my most CPU-intensive titles. So it does its job beautifully, and it's incredibly quiet to boot (ev...

Don't buy an ultra-high-end CPU and then pair it with a bargain-basement cooler. The 212 is a great value, but I wouldn't pair the 5950X with anything less than an NH-U12A, NH-U14S, or an equivalently performing cooler from another manufacturer. Even these coolers will cap the stock turbo performance, but it's a game of diminishing returns and they're far enough along the curve.

First off, I can’t get over how massive it is, to where I wonder about the structural integrity of the motherboard. It actually has a warning that basically says be careful about transferring your pc with the air cooler attached bc there’s no telling what could happen. I imagine if someone were movi...

Overall with NH U12A, this CPU still perform well and 5-6% better than 12900K. CB R23 - MC 28849 SC 2109. Most application and games CPU clocks at 5.2 GHz and stay there under load comparing with 4.9 GHz on 12900K. In some CPU intensive game (Horizon zero dawn) the package power while gaming hover around 135-150W (80-85C) but in other games it usually hover around 100-120W or less.

Got this to replace a broken Kraken M22 AIO. It's somehow both quieter than and more efficient than my old AIO. These fans are silent, even without the included low noise adapters, and I've never seen my CPU (Ryzen 5 5600x) temperature go above 60°C even while playing resource intensive games. The o...

I'm using a NH-U12A and never see temperatures in gaming above 70°c. Just adding another data point because the top comment thinks everybody using this CPU has to have a water cooler, which is nonsense.

With parts supplied you can only mount the fan horzontal not vertical. You have to have (1)NM-IMB2 and a (1)NM-IMB3 bracket to do a vertical mount. You also need to grind the corners on one of the brackets to make it fit. The bracket corners bump up against the board heat sink. So the brackets will ...