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

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 5,049 ratings

$74.95 with 6 percent savings
List Price: $79.95

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Purchase options and add-ons

Product Dimensions 4.92"L x 2.8"W x 6.22"H
Brand Noctua
Power Connector Type 4-Pin
Voltage 12 Volts
Cooling Method Air
Compatible Devices Desktop
Noise Level 22.4 dB
Material Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
Maximum Rotational Speed 1500 RPM

About this item

  • Classic 120mm slim-tower design combines outstanding cooling performance with excellent case-, RAM- and PCIe-compatibility
  • Does not overhang the RAM or PCIe slots on most current motherboards
  • Highly optimised NF-F12 120mm Focused Flow fan with PWM support and Low-Noise Adaptor for automatic speed control and ultra-quiet operation
  • Includes high-end NT-H1 thermal paste and SecuFirm2 mounting system for easy installation on Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x and AMD AM5 & AM4
  • Renowned Noctua quality backed up by 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, deluxe choice for Intel Core i9, i7, i5, i3 (e.g. 14900K, 14700K, 14600K) and AMD Ryzen (e.g. 7950X3D, 7900X3D, 7800X3D, 7700)
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Noctua NH-U12S, Premium CPU Cooler with NF-F12 120mm Fan (Brown)

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Product Description

NH-U12S Header

The NH-U12S is the latest 12cm model of Noctua’s 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 ensures 100% compatibility with tall RAM modules and at the same time, its fine-tuned design and the class-leading NF-F12 FocusedFlow fan with PWM support for fully automatic speed control allow it to further improve its predecessor’s renowned quiet cooling performance. Topped off with the trusted, pro-grade SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system and Noctua’s proven NT-H1 thermal compound, the NH-U12S is a complete premium quality solution that combines outstanding performance, quiet operation and excellent compatibility.

NH-U12S

NH-U12S RAM

NF-F12

NT-H1

Classic 120mm tower size for excellent overall compatibility

Standing 158mm tall, the NH-U12S is short enough to fit most modern mid- or high-end tower cases. Measuring 125mm wide (including fan and fan clips), the cooler stays clear of the top PCIe slot on standard ATX or Micro-ATX motherboards, ensuring optimum compatibility with multi-GPU setups.

100% RAM compatibility

Thanks to its slim design with only 45mm fin depth, the NH-U12S 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 ensures 100% compatibility with tall heatspreaders or optional memory fans.

NF-F12 120mm Focused Flow fan

Recommended by more than 150 hardware publications and thousands of enthusiasts world-wide, the Noctua's premium quality NF-F12 Focused Flow 120mm fan is renowned to combine superb static pressure, excellent heatsink performance and surprising quietness of operation.

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.

NH-U12S specs
Measurements
  • Height (without fan): 158 mm
  • Width (without fan): 125 mm
  • Depth (without fan): 45 mm
  • Height (with fan): 158 mm
  • Width (with fan): 125 mm
  • Depth (with fan): 71 mm
  • Weight (without fan): 580 g
  • Weight (with fan/s): 755 g
Materials

Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating

Cooler Specifications

Scope of delivery

  • NF-F12 PWM premium fan
  • NA-RC6 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A)
  • NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound
  • SecuFirm2 mounting kit
  • Anti-vibration pads and fan-clips for second NF-F12
  • Noctua metal case-badge

Fan compatibility

120x120x25

NH-U12S Banner

Anti-vibration pads and fan-clips for second NF-F12 (optional)

For users who want to achieve even better performance by adding a second, optional NF-F12 fan to create a push/pull setup, the NH-U12S includes 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.

U12S NH-U12S TR4-SP3 Table NH-U12S DX-4189 Table U12S u12s u12a
NH-U12S NH-U12S TR4-SP3 NH-U12S DX-4677 NH-U12S redux NH-U12S chromax.black NH-U12A
Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
5,049
4.6 out of 5 stars
216
5.0 out of 5 stars
1
4.8 out of 5 stars
3,551
Price $74.95 $89.90 $129.90 $54.95
LGA1851, LGA1700 X X
LGA1200, LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156) X X
LGA20xx Square ILM with NM-i20xx X X with NM-i20xx with NM-i20xx with NM-i20xx
LGA20xx Narrow ILM X X X X X X
LGA4189 X with NM-i4189 with NM-i4189 X X X
LGA4677 X with NM-i4677 X X X
AM5 X X
AM4 X X
TR4, SP3, sTRX4, sWRX8 X X X X X
sTR5, SP6 X with NM-TR5-SP6 with NM-TR5-SP6 X X X

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Noctua NH-U12S, Premium CPU Cooler with NF-F12 120mm Fan (Brown)
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Price-6% $74.95
List:$79.95
-8% $54.95
List:$59.95
$89.95$49.95$129.95$69.95
Delivery
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Customer Ratings
Noise level
4.8
4.8
4.8
4.7
4.7
Mounting system
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.9
4.5
Easy to install
4.6
4.7
4.7
4.7
4.5
Value for money
4.7
4.6
4.5
Sold By
Noctua Cooling Solutions
Noctua Cooling Solutions
Noctua Cooling Solutions
MITXPC
Noctua Cooling Solutions
Noctua Cooling Solutions
cooling method
Air
Air
Air
Air
Air
Air
power connector type
4-Pin
4-Pin
4-Pin
4-Pin
4-Pin
4-Pin
compatible devices
Desktop
Desktop
Desktop
Desktop
Desktop
Desktop
max rotational speed
1500 rpm
1700 rpm
2000 rpm
2500 rpm
2000 rpm
2000 rpm
noise level
22.4 decibels
25.1 decibels
22.6 decibels
25.8 decibels
22.6 decibels
22.8 decibels
material
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
Nickel plated Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins)
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
Aluminum
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
voltage
12 volts
12 volts
12 volts of alternating current
12 volts of direct current
12 volts
12 volts

Product information

Technical Details

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Additional Information

Warranty & Support

Amazon.com Return Policy:You may return any new computer purchased from Amazon.com that is "dead on arrival," arrives in damaged condition, or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Amazon.com reserves the right to test "dead on arrival" returns and impose a customer fee equal to 15 percent of the product sales price if the customer misrepresents the condition of the product. Any returned computer that is damaged through customer misuse, is missing parts, or is in unsellable condition due to customer tampering will result in the customer being charged a higher restocking fee based on the condition of the product. Amazon.com will not accept returns of any desktop or notebook computer more than 30 days after you receive the shipment. New, used, and refurbished products purchased from Marketplace vendors are subject to the returns policy of the individual vendor.
Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here

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

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


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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
5,049 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the quality, noise, ease of installation, and performance of the electronic component fan. For example, they mention it performs exceptionally well, is super quiet, and easy to install. Some appreciate the value, appearance, and parts. That said, opinions are mixed on size.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

489 customers mention461 positive28 negative

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the electronic component fan. They mention that it performs exceptionally, is the best on the market, and is well worth the investment. Customers also appreciate the quality and attention to detail. They say that it's well built and quiet, and that it keeps everything else cool.

"...The quality is great, the noise level is perfect and my processor stays cool on air power alone. I have never trusted liquid cooling and never will." Read more

"...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." Read more

"I have been buying these for over 10 years. Excellent performance and a good value." Read more

"...They've done everything they can to make it hard to fail...." Read more

349 customers mention327 positive22 negative

Customers are satisfied with the noise level of the electronic component fan. They mention that it works very quietly and efficiently, and that it only makes sound when they have a load on the processor.

"...The quality is great, the noise level is perfect and my processor stays cool on air power alone. I have never trusted liquid cooling and never will." Read more

"...again how easy it is to install, doesn't get in the way of anything, silent, and performance are amazing...." Read more

"...The fan moves air well and is really quiet...." Read more

"...Runs silent even when under load.Should have bought long time ago. Bit pricey but quality worth every penny...." Read more

266 customers mention249 positive17 negative

Customers find the installation of the electronic component fan to be easy. They mention that the heatsink mount wasn't that difficult to install, the instructions are crystal clear, and the fan mounts are premium. The installation took approximately 30 minutes.

"...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..." Read more

"...Installation is pretty straightforward, and I had to press a little hard to get the mounting components to screw together...." Read more

"...Now with Noctua, mounting was a breeze, cooler sits firmly in the place, comes perfectly packaged with..." Read more

"...I bought this unit because of the reviews here.The directions are excellent, you can actually read them and the photos are clear and..." Read more

228 customers mention220 positive8 negative

Customers are satisfied with the performance of the electronic component fan. They mention that it performs incredibly well, is quiet, and effective. Some say that it works great with the i7-9700k and has not failed. Overall, most are happy with the quality and functionality of the product.

"I have had in my pc for about 4 to 5 years now. Works great...." Read more

"...The Antec 620 was nice, especially visually with those long flexible tubes, however it also had a buzzing noise from the pump...." Read more

"I bought this one almost 3 years ago, still working with no issues. I had the 3400g but when upgrading to the 5900x couldn't handle all the heat...." Read more

"...are no red or blue led lights but this thing installs, fits and works so well I don't care what it looks like...." Read more

103 customers mention82 positive21 negative

Customers like the value of the electronic component fan. They mention that it's well worth the price, provides the best performance for the price and is one of the best available on the market. Some say that the fan is very efficient.

"...Excellent performance and a good value." Read more

"...4.4 is really all I need though, if that.Worth every penny in my book." Read more

"...It is a little on the expensive side but worth every penny. This was my first experience with Noctua and won't be my last." Read more

"...Price is worth it, quality is worth it. And the work to put it in is easy." Read more

61 customers mention46 positive15 negative

Customers like the appearance of the electronic component fan. They say the hardware is sturdy, thoughtfully designed, and well-documented. They also appreciate the artful engineering on the fan blades to dampen resonance and break down the turbulence. The color scheme ends up looking pretty nice, and the heatsink looks really sexy in person. Overall, customers are satisfied with the high quality construction and the efficient design.

"...Thus the 6-year warranty and the quiet. Very artful engineering on the fan blades to dampen resonance and break down the turbulance that causes..." Read more

"...product itself and its included mounting hardware are sturdy, thoughtfully designed, and well-documented...." Read more

"...I am very happy with the NH-U12S. It looks great. It's built solid and of high quality. The packaging is designed well...." Read more

"...(Now a Fractal Design R4 W/ Window), and I thought the tubes looked ugly. So I sold it and bought a H80i...." Read more

40 customers mention33 positive7 negative

Customers like the parts of the electronic component fan. They mention that it comes with extra parts and accessories that allow them to configure it in a push-pull configuration. Some appreciate the extra fan clips and noise reduction pads. They also mention that the cooler comes with mounting kits for Intel and AMD CPUs, and the second fan mounting bracket.

"...Comes with a handy wiring extender, should you need it, enclosed in a sleeve...." Read more

"...good comprehensive manual, even screwdriver is included for your convenience, every small part snaps into place with perfect precision...." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...that they built a cooler that works well and is very quiet but the extra cables, adapters and mounting options marry quality and function with..." Read more

103 customers mention62 positive41 negative

Customers are mixed about the size of the electronic component fan. Some mention that it fits tightly, while others say that it's very large and barely fits in their full size case.

"...Now with Noctua, mounting was a breeze, cooler sits firmly in the place, comes perfectly packaged with..." Read more

"...Downside: this thing is MASSIVE...." Read more

"...It is thinner than the cooler master and fit perfectly not interfering with anything. The fans are very nice and have 4 PINS!!!..." Read more

"...Firmly mounts to the brackets and brackets mount to the AMD / ASUS factory backplate already on the motherboard...." Read more

Perfect solution for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X - Temps in review
5 Stars
Perfect solution for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X - Temps in review
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: ~60cEVO 212: ~43cNH-U12S: ~40cSounds good yes ? it gets better.Prime95 stress test - 45mins (Small FFTs - maximum power / heat):Stock fan: ~88cEVO 212: ~71cNH-U12S: ~59cThat'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.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
I never really heard of Noctua until I built this current machine, but I am a firm believer in their products now. The quality is great, the noise level is perfect and my processor stays cool on air power alone. I have never trusted liquid cooling and never will.
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024
I've had this for a while now and am in awe of how amazing this cooler is. I was skeptical and now am a believer. Converted from an AIO to this and am happy for the decision.
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
I have had in my pc for about 4 to 5 years now. Works great. I even upgrade to a new motherboard and processor and was able to swap it over with the pieces that were in the box it came with.
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2014
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.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2021
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.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect solution for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X - Temps in review
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2021
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.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
I bought this one almost 3 years ago, still working with no issues. I had the 3400g but when upgrading to the 5900x couldn't handle all the heat. Perhaps someone with AC turned on or better room temperature could make this work with the new processor but not for me when hitting 30+ degs. I had to change to AIO solution.
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
I have been buying these for over 10 years. Excellent performance and a good value.

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Ricardo Torres
5.0 out of 5 stars Buenísimo! Mejor compra no pude haber hecho.
Reviewed in Mexico on August 21, 2021
Siempre escuché la buena reputación de Noctua, pero estoy sorprendido. De entrada, el producto llega super bien empacado, y en la caja encuentras absolutamente todo para instalarlo: instructivos para cada tipo de socket, tornillería, brackets, pasta térmica, llave y desarmador, hules anti-vibración de repuesto, y más. No necesitas NADA más. La instalación se realizó en 15 mins siguiendo el instructivo para mi LGA1151. Una vez encendido el equipo, me sorpendí mas: es real que no hacen absolutamente nada de ruido. Hasta cierto punto creí que algo había conectado mal, porque es sumamente silencioso. Modifiqué la curva del ventilador, y aún así estando al 100% es imperceptible. Finalmente, el funcionamiento fue esperado: 20°C menos que el cooler anterior (tengo un i5-9600k, el cooler que usaba antes era el stock de un i3-9100f).
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Ricardo Torres
5.0 out of 5 stars Buenísimo! Mejor compra no pude haber hecho.
Reviewed in Mexico on August 21, 2021
Siempre escuché la buena reputación de Noctua, pero estoy sorprendido. De entrada, el producto llega super bien empacado, y en la caja encuentras absolutamente todo para instalarlo: instructivos para cada tipo de socket, tornillería, brackets, pasta térmica, llave y desarmador, hules anti-vibración de repuesto, y más. No necesitas NADA más. La instalación se realizó en 15 mins siguiendo el instructivo para mi LGA1151. Una vez encendido el equipo, me sorpendí mas: es real que no hacen absolutamente nada de ruido. Hasta cierto punto creí que algo había conectado mal, porque es sumamente silencioso. Modifiqué la curva del ventilador, y aún así estando al 100% es imperceptible. Finalmente, el funcionamiento fue esperado: 20°C menos que el cooler anterior (tengo un i5-9600k, el cooler que usaba antes era el stock de un i3-9100f).
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Bernie
5.0 out of 5 stars Silence et température maitrisée
Reviewed in France on April 1, 2024
Acheté pour remplacer le ventirad stock Intel, la différence est notable (heureusement, vu la différence de prix !). La température, à pleine charge du processeur, a diminué de près de 15° en moyenne, avec un gain de silence plus qu'appréciable. Du haut de gamme, sans aucun doute.
Robert Ar
5.0 out of 5 stars Ein leiser und effizienter Kühler für meinen PC
Reviewed in Germany on January 26, 2024
Ich bin sehr zufrieden mit diesem Kühler. Er ist leise, effizient und einfach zu installieren. Er hält meinen CPU kühl und stabil, auch bei hoher Belastung.

Der Kühler ist sehr gut verarbeitet und hat eine hohe Qualität. Er hat einen leistungsstarken und geräuscharmen Lüfter, der sich automatisch an die Temperatur anpasst. Er hat auch eine gute Kompatibilität mit verschiedenen Sockeln und Gehäusen. Er ist nicht zu groß oder zu schwer, er passt perfekt in meinen PC.

Der Kühler ist auch sehr einfach zu installieren und zu warten. Er hat eine klare Anleitung und ein gutes Zubehör. Er hat auch eine lange Garantie und einen guten Kundenservice.

Ich kann diesen Kühler jedem empfehlen, der einen leisen und effizienten Kühler für seinen PC sucht. Er ist jeden Cent wert. Ich gebe ihm fünf Sterne, weil er keine Probleme macht.
Maciej O.
3.0 out of 5 stars Bardzo słaba opłacalność
Reviewed in Poland on August 10, 2023
Niestety wentylator jest już obecnie bardzo przestarzały- oprócz loga i kolorystyki nie ma nic wspólnego ze świetnym A12. Zakładałem, że dopłacając połowę ceny konkurencji otrzymam nie tylko jakość wykonania i akcesoria ale też perfekcyjną kulturę pracy, niestety pod tym względem okazało się że to topowy poziom ale sprzed kilku lat. Tańszy i niskoprofilowy NH-L12S ma lepszy wentylator mimo, że to model slim. Noctua warto chyba rozważać tylko przy wyższych modelach, które są drogie ale nie mają odpowiedników.
Billy
4.0 out of 5 stars Le silence est d'or
Reviewed in Belgium on February 13, 2023
Aucun point négatif si ce n'est que le prix.