Noctua NH-U12S, Premium CPU Cooler with NF-F12 120mm Fan (Brown)

I was in the market for a replacement for my Intel i9-9900's stock heatsink fan. I wanted something that would not only outperform the stock HSF, but do it at much lower noise levels. Several days of research later I decided on this product, the NH-U12S. If you're most interested in the end of the story, yes, not only is it whisper quiet, I also realized a 15°C decrease in temperatures over the stock Intel HSF with my rendering workloads. Folks, there is a reason Noctua is the brand of choice for so many people: the Noctua customer experience, from product selection to installation and operation, is high-quality. Their Web site took all of the guesswork out of selecting the right product for my CPU, and their numerous hardware compatibility checkers ensured it would fit perfectly on my motherboard and in my case. The product itself and its included mounting hardware are sturdy, thoughtfully designed, and well-documented. I was able to install the SecuFirm mounting system quite easily, even without removing the motherboard. Installing the U12S on top of it was just as simple. A cautionary note, though: if you're in a cramped case with a micro-ATX motherboard, it might be a little tricky to reattach the fan to the heatsink once everything's mounted. If you're installing the HSF before mounting the motherboard in a case, though, you should be completely fine. As I said at the start, the results speak for themselves. On my system, the NH-U12S outperforms the stock Intel HSF by an impressive margin, and all while doing it much more quietly. The product itself delivers, but the complete experience made me an immediate Noctua fan.

M. J. Redd · 2021-10-17 · via amazon

I've been looking over the past few months for the perfect cpu cooler, and I think I may have found it with the NH-U12s. At first I got a great deal on an H100 from corsair, but it didn't fit well in my case (corsair 300R at the time)(Now a Fractal Design R4 W/ Window), and I thought the tubes looked ugly. So I sold it and bought a H80i. I also had an Antec 620 laying around as well. (Note. All my coolers prior the NH-U12s used Artic Silver 5 as the Thermal compound) H80i cooled decently, the tubes were really thick and hard to adjust it look nice; plus it was very, very loud (Even with one Noctua 120mm fan and link software on quiet mode) and corsair link software was a big headache, worked once in a while. The pump noise on the H80i was really loud as well. Eventually had to RMA it, and sold the new replacement to buy the Noctua NH-U12s. Corsair does have great support though, so I can't say stay away from them. I love their support team. The Antec 620 was nice, especially visually with those long flexible tubes, however it also had a buzzing noise from the pump. Also, the NF-F12 fan I already owned didn't work off the pump header (3-pin) because the NF-F12 has a 4 pin PWM. So I used a system fan header on my motherboard which ran it at a higher (louder) rpm then I'd like. It got so loud I eventually used the Low Noise Adapter. The stock fan for the 620 was relatively loud as well. I just wanted something really quiet and nice to look at. So doing my research, and having a bad experience with water cooling pumps, I decided to look into Air cooling. Loud on the Antec 620 (3770K @ 4.0Ghz, were from 70-80 degrees (in a push pull configuration with a NF-F12 and stock Antec fan) I was debating between this one, the NH-U14s, and the NH-D14. I was leaning towards the D14, because it includes two noctua fans, was only $15-$20 more and it cooled better. However, it only offers marginally better cooling compared to the newer u12s and u14s. And in-case you guys haven't figured out yet, I'm huge onto physically looks on my computer components, because I have a window I like to see my components. If I bought the D14, I wouldn't be able to see basically the whole top of my build. The reason I didn't get the NH-U14s, was because the NH-U12s included another NF-F12 fan, (and I had one in my build already, so it would work well in push pull). Plus the NH-U12s was cheaper lol. I also did some research on this vs a Coolermaster 212 Evo, but the noctua offers a 6 year warranty (which I heard great things about), Noctua includes an amazing pacakge with all the accessories including the thermal compound, along with amazingly quiet fans already included, so that's what sold me. (plus the cooler looks better with nickel plating compared to the bare copper on the CM coolers.) Installation was a breeze, instructions are very straight-forward. Only thing I had problem with was mounting the cooler on the steel frame, I had to use an electric screw driver for the spring-loaded screws to tighten the cooler without the screws coming off. Which wasn't too bad, maybe 5-10 minutes. System: Gigabyte Z77-UD5H, Intel Core i7 3770K (Note. All temps are with 2 NF-F12 fans in push pull) Idle temps ranged in the 30-36 for both 4.0ghz and 4.3ghz 3770K Load @ 4.0Ghz: temps ranged from 58-65 c on Prime95. 3770K Load @ 4.3Ghz: temps ranged from 64-69 c on Prime95. Playing games such as Metro last light with a MSI GTX 660, temps on the cpu @4.3Ghz were from 50-57 c which is pretty good. Obviously, I can go a bit higher of a OC, but I don't do anything that requires the extra horsepower. On a Gigabyte Z77-UD5H Mobo, the NF-F12 fans (both connected to CPU fan header) never ramp up to the max RPM's, even at full loud. So the temps I recorded, the fans were still super silent. In fact, I don't think the RPM's on both fans changed at all. So overall, I would definitely recommend this cooler. Out of all the CPU coolers I have tried, included closed loop water cooling systems, the NH-U12s is the most quiet and performs exceptionally well.

Aura · 2014-02-11 · via amazon

Got this to replace an EVO 212 - had it for a while, one of the fan brackets broke during cleanup, swapped back to stock while researching options, and this one just stuck out above all others. Plus, wanted to OC a bit, and the EVO couldn't really handle it. Where to begin? Everything is about this cooler is perfect. But, I'll break it down anyway. - Packaging: Everything is neatly packed inside and well secured. Everything you can possibly need is in there. - Installation: I'd like to take a moment to point out that have been building system for over 20 years now, been through hundreds of fans and mounts, I've installed fans that took a good couple of hours to get installed properly and made you wish you had 4 more hands (Zalmans back in early 2000's anyone?), and I've installed some that made you wish who ever designed that mounting solution would design EVERYTHING! The U12S is one of those wonders. I consider the EVO very simple to install, this one makes the EVO installation looks like a pain. Seriously, from the moment I remove the stock fan, cleaned up the CPU to the moment is was up and running with the new cooler - not even 5 minutes. Kept looking to see if I missed something. - Noise level: while I can give you numbers here, what I can tell you that at full speed (~1600RPM), you have to put your ear to it to hear anything, dead silent. - Clearance: Doesn't require you to remove you RAM or anything else to install and doesn't touch the RAM when the fan is installed. - Performance (compared to stock fan - pics included [sorry, don't have pics for the EVO, only test results I wrote down a little while ago]): Night and day! Room temp: ~22c (70f) Idle temps: Stock fan: ~60c EVO 212: ~43c NH-U12S: ~40c Sounds good yes ? it gets better. Prime95 stress test - 45mins (Small FFTs - maximum power / heat): Stock fan: ~88c EVO 212: ~71c NH-U12S: ~59c That's 29c degrees difference from stock, which is crazy. I fully expected to see a big gap between the two, but that is a lot better than expected. The EVO is also far behind. OC test - 4.4Ghz @ 1.14v - Prime95 stress test - 2 hours: Stock fan: system blue screened in about 30 seconds (fully expected that one). EVO 212: hit 90c and cpu was throttled down. NH-U12S: ~77c stable. - Price: Acceptable, you definitely get what you pay for here. If I had to try really hard to find a con here I'd say: - Fan color: Noctua and that brown.. sigh. But, you buy a cooler for it to cool your CPU, not for you to look at it all day, so it doesn't get dinged for that in my book. (people who reduce stars for fan color - really?) Summary: This is one of the best overall air cooler I've ever worked with, I just have to mention again how easy it is to install, doesn't get in the way of anything, silent, and performance are amazing. For the price, I doubt there is anything out there on that level.

Tomer P · 2021-08-14 · via amazon

This is a great cooler, but make sure you have room for it. I had a standard ATX case with a side intake fan, and there wasn't enough room to install this without removing that side fan. I ended up upgrading to an EATX case instead, and there's plenty of headroom for it now. Also check your RAM slot positioning. The fan can be installed in both a push or pull configuration (or get two and have both to really move air through it), but you might be tight on space around the CPU depending on how you choose to orient the fan. At least it's movable. There is an issue with some Noctua fans when paired with Gigabyte motherboards where the fan will run slower than it should or stop completely. I experienced this, but it seems to have been triggered by using the Gigabyte System Information Viewer application, a tool designed specifically to monitor and adjust fan speeds, and leaving that application open for a while seems to trigger the Noctua fan to stop. Impressively, even with the fan off, my Ryzen 3900XT did not get over 95C and did not shut down, meaning the heat spreader Noctua includes did enough cooling on its own that I didn't notice the issue until I looked through the side of the case and saw the fan not moving. Installation is pretty straightforward, and I had to press a little hard to get the mounting components to screw together. I think this is a testament to how well designed it is that you have just enough to bring the parts together without anything extra poking out further than it should, but I wouldn't have minded if the screw threads were a little longer. I'm sure the motherboard is meant to take that much pressure around the CPU, but it made me a little anxious pressing down hard on it to mount the fan regardless. The fan moves air well and is really quiet. The color scheme isn't my favorite, but I don't have to stare at it all the time either, and could maybe paint it if I really cared that much. I've been satisfied with the cooler and would definitely consider Noctua again in the future.

M.B. · 2021-03-10 · via amazon

I had to replace a big cooler master cooler that would not stay seated properly on the chip properly (intel 4770) when the case was upright. It was so big its weight would pull it slightly off the chip face. It also had trouble fitting into the case and the front fan rested on the memory. It was a bad situation. I took it off and put it back a couple times to make sure it was installed properly but was just a clumsy design. When the case was laying down it work OK and cooled OK but it was not going to work for me. I bought this unit because of the reviews here. The directions are excellent, you can actually read them and the photos are clear and unambiguous, unlike other makers where you look at them with a magnifying glass and say huh? These were printed on quality magazine paper with color images. Not that cheap transparent foreign paper that has print on both sides in 20 languages. This was an EASY install. It is thinner than the cooler master and fit perfectly not interfering with anything. The fans are very nice and have 4 PINS!!! for PWM control (I bought the second fan) and they plug into the motherboard so you can smartly control them via software. The clips look cheap but hold the fan very firmly in place and are easy to take off and install. The hardware is not just thrown in a bag, it is boxed and separated by cpu maker...installing it on an intel?...you can just toss the amd box or visa versa and you have just what you need along with the proper instructions. It includes splitter cables and extensions when you get the spare fan as well as a special cable to lower peak rpm for noise if you should need it but these are well engineered fans and I doubt you need this. Performance... it is as good if not better than the much bigger cooler master. With both fans it has no problem keeping my machine where it needs to be. Don't expect liquid cooling performance but for a top of the line air cooler that is very quiet this is the part you want. Excellent design and very well made, with thoughtful instructions and packaging. I have not seen this in ANY other maker. The only negative I have with the is that the poopie color choice. It is not the prettiest thing in my case and there are no red or blue led lights but this thing installs, fits and works so well I don't care what it looks like. My next build will be all noctua, maybe the brown will grow on me. You will not regret this purchase.

J. Fraser · 2014-02-20 · via amazon

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VALUE SCORE

Price

$20

Price

$20