Noctua NH-D12L, Low-Height Dual-Tower CPU Cooler (120mm, Brown)

Product Information

Noctua NH-U9S 1-Fan Auto - Dropping the NH-U9S configuration back to its single fan configuration and with auto PWM default. However, this modified fan has atypical mounting holes and therefore cannot be used in the normal 100 mm position on a radiator and/or in a case. Topped off with Noctua's NT-H1 thermal compound, a 6-year manufacturer's warranty, and the famed SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system that already supports Intel's latest LGA1700 socket as well as AMD's upcoming AM5 platform, the NH-D12L is the perfect choice for situations that require serious cooling performance but cannot fit the larger NH-U12A. Because of its asymmetric design, the NH-D12L does not push against the DIMM installed in their slots on Intel LGA1700/LGA1200/LGA115x and AMD AM4/AM5-based motherboards, allowing for simple access to the modules and complete compatibility with DIMMs with tall heatspreaders or RGB lighting. We will be taking a closer look at this fan later, as well as testing the heatsink with this second fan attached later in our review.

Noctua NH-U9S 2-Fans Auto - The prior configuration of this Core i9 12900K Alder Lake Linux system with the cooler using two fans and in the default auto PWM mode. The base is at the other end of the tower, where we see a low-profile top portion, which exposes quite a bit of the heat pipes.In addition, the maximum fan speed can be reduced from 2000 to 1700rpm using the supplied Low-Noise Adaptor for even quieter operation. At the same time, the cooler does not block the RAM slots and does not cause any compatibility conflicts at all. Regardless of the hues, end-users are prepared to look aside since the quality of the coolers themselves is simply too amazing.

Thanks to its single-fan configuration and asymmetrical fin stacks, the NH-D12L provides 100% RAM compatibility on AMD AM4/AM5 and LGA1700/1200 by staying clear of the memory slots. As a rule of thumb, if the fan overhangs the RAM, the maximum CPU cooler height specification of the case must be at least the size of the fan plus the height of the RAM minus 7mm (accounting for the height of the socket and CPU). Inside, the kit is enclosed in a separate box, and the radiator and fan are protected by thick cardboard spacers. This design is usually intended to improve acoustics while increasing cooling efficiency by turbulent flow between the fins.As such, we played a game to guess what would be in the next aisle based on the current aisle we were in. While this is a view of the fins at the back of the tower, it is the same design you will find on all sides of the towers. As mentioned before, the presentation of the product itself is premium, and that quality is evident throughout.

Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. What you will see is Noctua not only staying relevant in a market full of murdered-out color applications and ARGB, sticking their foot back in the door with a tower meant for specific instances, but in reality, this is a cooler for the everyman out there looking for a beefy solution they know they can trust. With all of these accessories, you can mount the Noctua NH-D12L on Intel LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x, LGA2011, and LGA2066 sockets, as well as AMD AM5 and AM4 sockets. Still, Noctua is a little tricky here, because there’s a little to none overclocking potential for this chips. Noctua NH-D12L is notable for its small height, only 145 mm in total while supporting standard 120 mm fans.

We took the plastic protector off the base, applied some MX-4 to the CPU, and set the cooler over its brackets. The NH-D12L ships with a second pair of fan clips that can be used to install a second NF-A12x25r PWM fan either on the front or on the rear fin stack. In my opinion, the base is good, for 4+, but for such money I would like to see a perfect flat mirror finish and not think about myths and legends in the segment of processor coolers. I still appreciate the fact Noctua is one of the few manufacturers that send their products in their own boxes.

This makes it a suitable cooling solution even for more compact cases, which often support coolers up to a maximum height of 150 mm. This enables the clips to be positioned on the side with the rubber grommets to fit into the D12L heatsinks, because the D12L is shorter than most 120mm heatsinks and as such is only compatible with fans of this design. When installing a second 120mm Noctua fan there was some concern around spacing with the ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-E motherboard due to not enough clearance at the back of the heatsink to fit the second fan but there ended up being just enough clearance at the front when positioned immediately above the DDR5 memory modules. My main responsibility as an editorial assistant is maintaining the Library section, which aggregates reviews from other publications and channels.Noctua is back with today’s review, and they have graciously sent over their new NH-D12L dual tower 120mm fan CPU cooler for us to take a look at, along with an additional NF-A12x25r fan just to see if it helps or not. We do not throttle the processor to 230 watts to ensure the same starting conditions for direct comparison with the rivals. This temperature is deducted from the current room temperature and our final delta temperature is provided.