NoctuaNH-U12S chromax.black, 120mm Single-Tower CPU Cooler (Black)

I was looking for a replacement to the AMD stock cooler, which in itself is fine but I wanted something quieter and more effective when gaming. Having heard about Noctua's excellent reputation I decided to pull the trigger on a Chromax u12S.For starters, the packaging is excellent and comes with a lot of the accessories you'd need (but perhaps not all, more on that later). It comes with a tube of NH-H1 thermal paste for usage in more than one system, a low-noise adapter, anti-vibration pads for the fans, the NF-F12 fan, clips for a second fan, and mounting hardware for both AMD and Intel motherboards.Pulling the cooler out the box, the build quality is stunning, the cooler is all matte black and every surface is colour matches (something not all cooler manufacturers bother to do).Installation with my x470 Gaming Plus Max motherboard was really easy, using the existing backplate. Simply add the four stand-offs, and screw in the four screws with the two mounting brackets. Add the thermal paste, put the cooler on, screw it down and slip on the fan, very very straightforward.Performance-wise this is more than adequate for a Ryzen 5 3600x, with idle temps around 30-33 degrees and gaming temps of around 50-55 degrees (depending on the circumstance). This is in a Fractal Meshify 2 Compact with good airflow, for reference.This cooler performs fantastically, and eliminates the incredibly annoying Ryzen fan ramp-up when doing simple tasks like opening chrome. The fan is basically silent at idle, and when gaming it is still super quiet. It only really gets loud towards the higher end of its RPM range i.e. 1300-1500rpm.It is on the pricier side, hence why I have only rated it 4/5 stars for value for money, however I do realise that you are buying Noctua's excellent customer service e.g. they will provide future bracket hardware for mounting new CPU's free of charge (if engineering it is possible), which is simply awesome.The downsides of this cooler are basically nit-picks, but nonetheless I feel its important to share them. Some of the Chromax black coating comes off fairly easily e.g. on my unit the fan clips have scratched some of it off, but not a lot. Secondly, and rather bemusingly (given the chromax variant costs more than the regular one), the regular U12S comes with a fan y splitter in the box, but this unit does not. Therefore, I had to purchase a separate y splitter for this unit to add both fans to the same CPU fan header.Overall though, I would 100% recommend this CPU cooler. Top-notch build quality, excellent thermals and quiet operation from a brand that provides excellent customer service and seems to care about its customers.

The media could not be loaded. This is an upgrade from an Intel stock cooler I have been stuck with for 3 years, and I will lay down the facts of this cooler!Things to make sure you have before buying this cooler: The only thing you need is Ethanol or Isopropyl. I recommend at least 90%, which is what I used. You can buy 1L of 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol for £5.Noise: It is so quiet. The noise levels are very low; it’s very quiet. At maximum 1500 RPM, it’s noticeable but nowhere near noisy. The noise in the video I attached was actually my GPU, which needs an upgrade (GTX 1650).Accessories: The included mounting kits are great. If you, for some reason, struggle with manuals, Noctua has videos for installing this cooler for different boards. It was pretty easy; just make sure you follow carefully and don’t rush anything. The included screws were very well made and did the job; they even included an Allen key with a screw on the end, so don’t panic if you don’t have a screwdriver on hand. Also included is their thermal paste! They have very good thermal paste, and it spreads very well. Make sure you put no more than a pea-sized amount in the center of your CPU. Way too much and too little can both result in overheating.How cool is my CPU?: Before my CPU was hitting 91° MAX while gaming on an Intel stock cooler. I have stress tested this CPU on 100% and it barely hit 60°. This is a HUGE difference; however, please note that this will vary from user to user, for variables like Case Airflow, fans, proper installation, usage, etc.The Specs: It works fantastic. I have it on an i5-9400F, my motherboard is a Micro ATX ASUS PRIME H310M-R R2.0. Make sure your case is big enough, mainly due to the fact that if your RAM blocks the fan, and so the fan sticks out a bit, make sure there is clearance. I have a mid-tower case, and it fits just fine.Is it worth it?: It’s on the pricier side; however, it was easy to install and works fantastic. If for some reason you don’t have the correct fittings for your motherboard, simply contact Noctua and they will send out what you need for free, no charge. So yes, it was absolutely worth it.

The NH-U12S CPU cooler is very well packaged and presented, and comes complete with everything needed to make installation effortless. Noctua consistently produces excellent products, and this is no exception.Opening the substantial packaging immediately gives you a sense of confidence in the product. Everything feels solid and well made, and the fit and finish is superb.Installation is simple. The instructions are clear, concise, and very thorough. The mounting hardware is substantial and makes a positive connection to the motherboard. As long as you follow the instructions systematically, installation should be easily accomplished. Installing this cooler was simple, and no clearance issues occur with the cooler mounted horizontally or vertically. Compared to stock air coolers, average operating temperatures are approximately 20°C lower; adding a second fan [not included] to operate in push-pull configuration improves this, reducing the temperature by an additional 3-5°C.The Chromax Black range of Noctua components look beautiful, and are also a little more 'aggressive' in terms of cooling performance. A slighter higher noise level is accepted in order to achieve better cooling. Noctua are noted for the quiet dependability of their fans; the faster Chromax fans are still barely audible in use, and their cooling performance is second to none.The NH-U12S has performed flawlessly since it was installed, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.