Noctua NH-U12S Ultra-Quiet Slim CPU Cooler with NF-F12 fan
Featuring a slimmer NH-U heatsink, these new coolers from Noctua are ideal if access to the system’s RAM is required. Even with two fans installed, access is still possible without any dismantling.
Features
- Award-winning NH-U series
- Full RAM compatibility on LGA2011 & LGA2066
- NF-F12 120mm PWM Fan
- Compatibility with past and future sockets
- Six year warranty
- NT-H1 thermal compound
- Compatible with most Intel and AMD sockets
Noctua’s latest coolers feature their 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 fans with PWM support provide fully automatic speed control allowing 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 a six years manufacturer’s warranty, these slim tower coolers are a complete premium quality solution that combines outstanding performance, quiet operation and excellent compatibility.
Award-winning tower series
The NH-U12S is the latest version of Noctua’s award-winning NH-U12 coolers. First introduced in 2005, the NH-U series has become a standard choice for premium quality quiet CPU coolers and has won more than 400 awards and recommendations from leading international hardware websites and magazines.
100% RAM compatibility
Thanks to its slim design with only 45mm fin depth, the coolers will not overhang the RAM slots even with two fans installed. This gives the user full access to the memory modules on all current CPU sockets and guarantees 100% compatibility with tall heatspreaders or optional memory fans.
PLEASE NOTE: Some AMD mainboards violate the 96x114mm keep-out zone specified by AMD, so the NH-U12S can only be used with RAM modules of up to 40mm height on these boards. Please consult the compatibility list for details.
Classic 120mm tower size for excellent overall compatibility
Standing 158mm tall the coolers are short enough to fit most modern mid-end or high-end tower cases. Measuring 125mm wide (including fan and fan clips), the coolers stay clear of the top PCIe slot on standard ATX or Micro-ATX motherboards, ensuring best compatibility with SLI and CrossFire setups.
Premium quality fans
Recommended by more than 150 hardware publications and thousands of enthusiasts world-wide, the Noctua’s premium quality fans are renowned to combine superb static pressure, excellent heatsink performance and surprising quietness of operation.
PWM support and Low-Noise Adaptor
Both fans supplied with the coolers support PWM for convenient automatic speed control through the mainboard. In addition, the maximum fan speed can be reduced using the supplied Low-Noise Adaptor for even quieter operation.
Anti-vibration pads and fan-clips for second fan (optional)
For users who want to achieve even better performance by adding a second optional NF-F12 and NF-A15, fans are available to create a push/pull setup. The coolers include fan clips and an extra set of custom-designed anti-vibration pads that allow to off-set the rear fan by 5mm to improve acoustics in dual-fan mode.
SecuFirm2 mounting system
Noctua’s SecuFirm2 mounting systems have become synonymous with quality, safety and ease of use. Supporting Intel LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1155, LGA1156), LGA2011, LGA2066 and AMD (AM4, AM3+, AM2+, FM1, FM2), the SecuFirm2 mounting included with the coolers guarantees perfect contact pressure and maximum convenience on all current sockets.
Compatibility with past and future sockets
Complying with the open SecuFirm standard, the coolers can be made compatible with the older LGA1366 and LGA775 sockets using the optional NM-I3 mounting kit, which is provided by Noctua free of charge. If technically possible, Noctua will also provide upgrade kits for future sockets.
NT-H1 thermal compound
Having received more than 100 awards and recommendations from hardware journalists around the world, Noctua’s NT-H1 is a proven professional grade TIM solution that provides minimum thermal resistance, excellent ease of use and outstanding reliability.
6 years warranty
Noctua products are renowned for their impeccable quality and outstanding longevity. Like all Noctua fans, the supplied NF-F12 and NF-A15 feature an MTBF rating of more than 150,000 hours and the entire package comes with a full six years manufacturer’s warranty.
Review
Bit-tech.net
…if noise is your primary consideration, then the NH-U12S is almost certainly worth the asking price, with an added bonus that it’s compact too. As such, while it loses cooling points, it deserves an award for being brilliantly made as well as being perfect for super quiet, overclocked LGA115X systems. (Product reviewed: NH-U12S)
| Specifications | NH-U12S |
|---|---|
| Socket compatibility | Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156 and AMD AM5, AM4 |
| Maximum TDP | All |
| Height (without fan) | 158 mm |
| Width (without fan) | 125 mm |
| Depth (without fan) | 42 mm |
| Height (with fan) | 158 mm |
| Width (with fan) | 125 mm |
| Depth (with fan) | 71 mm |
| Weight (without fan) | 580 g |
| Weight (with fan) | 755 g |
| Material | Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating |
| Scope of Delivery | Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.), NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound, SecuFirm2 Mounting Kit, Anti-vibration pads and fan-clips for second fan (optional), Noctua Metal Case-Badge |
| Fan specifications | |
| Model | Noctua NF-F12 PWM |
| Bearing | SSO2 |
| Max. Rotational Speed (±10%) | 1500 RPM |
| Max. Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (±10%) | 1200 RPM |
| Min. Rotational Speed (PWM) | 300 RPM |
| Max. Airflow | 54.9 CFM |
| Max. Airflow with L.N.A. | 43.7 CFM |
| Max. Acoustical Noise | 22.4 dB(A) |
| Max. Acoustical Noise with L.N.A. | 18.6 dB(A) |
| Noise level (min) | 10 dBA |
| Input Power | 0.6 W |
| Voltage Range | 12 V |
| MTBF | 150,000 hours |
| RGB | No |
| Warranty | 72 months |
| EAN barcode | 4716123314943 |
| Specifications | NH-U12S |
|---|---|
| Socket compatibility | Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156 and AMD AM5, AM4 |
| Maximum TDP | All |
| Height (without fan) | 158 mm |
| Width (without fan) | 125 mm |
| Depth (without fan) | 42 mm |
| Height (with fan) | 158 mm |
| Width (with fan) | 125 mm |
| Depth (with fan) | 71 mm |
| Weight (without fan) | 580 g |
| Weight (with fan) | 755 g |
| Material | Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating |
| Scope of Delivery | Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.), NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound, SecuFirm2 Mounting Kit, Anti-vibration pads and fan-clips for second fan (optional), Noctua Metal Case-Badge |
| Fan specifications | |
| Model | Noctua NF-F12 PWM |
| Bearing | SSO2 |
| Max. Rotational Speed (±10%) | 1500 RPM |
| Max. Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (±10%) | 1200 RPM |
| Min. Rotational Speed (PWM) | 300 RPM |
| Max. Airflow | 54.9 CFM |
| Max. Airflow with L.N.A. | 43.7 CFM |
| Max. Acoustical Noise | 22.4 dB(A) |
| Max. Acoustical Noise with L.N.A. | 18.6 dB(A) |
| Noise level (min) | 10 dBA |
| Input Power | 0.6 W |
| Voltage Range | 12 V |
| MTBF | 150,000 hours |
| RGB | No |
| Warranty | 72 months |
| EAN barcode | 4716123314943 |
Customer Reviews
Great cooler!
This is not the cheapest air cooler on the market, but Noctua products are excellent quality.
I put this cooler on an overclocked 4770K and it keeps the CPU around 28-32 Celsius at idle. I have a middle of the range OC at 4.4, and when ripping DVD’s and CD’s, it’s never gone much above 50 Celsius.
All the while, the fan has been totally silent to the point I had to open the case to double check it was spinning at one point.
The other positive is that it doesn’t get in the way of tall memory modules.
You won’t regret an investment like this.
Better Than an AIO WaterCooler!
I upgraded my PC using an i7-4770k CPU running at 4.3GHz with a Z87 chipset motherboard. This went into the existing Antec P182 case and for CPU cooling I used a CoolerMaster Seidon 120M AIO watercooler (not supplied by QuietPC) with twin Noctua NF-F12 PWM fans in push/pull arrangement to quieten the CoolerMaster fan noise that I had read was very loud when this unit was running at maximum. After a month the waterblock pump started to rattle. The unit was replaced under warranty, but in a similar time the second 120M started to rattle.
By now I had enough of watercooling and its problems, so after research decided to replace it with the NH-U12S cooler, to which I added one of the Noctua NF-F12 fans I already had. I could not fit a larger aircooler because my case will only accommodate a unit up to 160mm high. I was somewhat concerned the NH-U12S would not be adequate for my overclock and would also probably be noisy. How wrong I was! The PC is used mainly for simulation software. I have found that in the flight sim FSX and Train Simulator 2014 the CPU temps are now reduced by 4 - 6C (max 74C and 66C respectively) and in the car racing sim rFactor2 it is are very similar to the watercooling (max 77C). Not only that, but the fans do not run up to such a high speed under these loads as they did with the AIO, so now I even have a quieter PC!
If you have restricted space available in your case (and even if you don’t), I highly recommend this CPU cooler.
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