Low profile yet still capable of running with two fans at under 100mm! 93mm to be exact. Versatile isn't even the word!
Here's the spec:
| Dimensions (Heatsink): Dimensions(With Fan): FPI: Weight: Inc. Fans: Socket: | 66(H) x 150(W) x 128(D) mm 93(H) x 150(W) x 128(D) mm 13 415g (Heatsink), 680g (With fan) 1x Noctua NF-F12 PWM, 1x Noctua NF-B9 PWM Intel: LGA2011, LGA1366, LGA115x & LGA775 AMD: AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2 |
Accessories: 2x Low Noise Adaptors (L.N.A), 1 x Y splitter cable,
NT-H1 thermal compound, metal Noctua case badge, SecuFirm2™ Mounting Kit, Mini-ITX Mounting-Kit.
Link to Noctua's product page for full details and technical specifications
NT-H1 thermal compound, metal Noctua case badge, SecuFirm2™ Mounting Kit, Mini-ITX Mounting-Kit.
Link to Noctua's product page for full details and technical specifications
Design:
Going through the basic design we have a top-down style cooler with 4x 6mm heatpipes.
| For the base we have a nickel plated copper plate, featuring the SecureFirm2 mounting system AND a system for use on Mini-ITX motherboards that don't allow backplates. Attached to this we have the 4; 6mm nickel plated copper heatpipes that measure in at around 30cm long on the outer pair. 4.5cm of this goes through the base with 12cm of the pipes going through the heatsink fins. |  |
 | Noctua's success with heatsinks definitely lies in the build quality with the fins being almost unbendable in normal circumstances. This allows balanced airflow throughout the heatsink reducing chance of it affecting noise. The fins are around 0.5mm thick leaving 1.5mm between each fin. There are 2 cut-outs in the heatsink for installation with the INCLUDED screwdriver. |
What makes this cooler so good however is not found in its heatpipes or its fins but in its shape. Due to the top-down design, the NH-L12 has the ability to go all out with 2 fans, go in a high profile mode with just the top fan or go with a low profile mode with just the bottom fan.
These photo's (Below) show the NH-L12 with both fans on. To accommodate the motherboard unfortunately the fans are not identical with the top being the NF-F12 PWM and the bottom being the NF-B9 PWM. While I am a big fan of the NF-F12 PWM and have had it as a personal favourite up until the release of the NF-A9x14, I am not that much of a fan of the B9 or coupling unidentical fans together in such a manner. This is more a limitation of the motherboard than anything and so my disappointment is more that this HAS TO happen to fit rather than that it HAS happened.
These photo's (Below) show the NH-L12 with both fans on. To accommodate the motherboard unfortunately the fans are not identical with the top being the NF-F12 PWM and the bottom being the NF-B9 PWM. While I am a big fan of the NF-F12 PWM and have had it as a personal favourite up until the release of the NF-A9x14, I am not that much of a fan of the B9 or coupling unidentical fans together in such a manner. This is more a limitation of the motherboard than anything and so my disappointment is more that this HAS TO happen to fit rather than that it HAS happened.
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Next up we have the cooler in it's high profile mode. This provides you with the hight to deal with high VRM's and any potential ram issues you may come into.
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Lastly we have the low profile mode, the mode this cooler is really designed to be capable off. This lowers the cooler to only 66mm high and still keeps its performance high enough to handle almost any cpu!
I definitely like the fact this cooler can go so low and provide the benefits of top down coolers at the same time. I'm just disappointed that this option leaves you using the NF-B9 over the more favourable NF-F12 and that it leaves the cooler looking kind of weird and unattractive. It is however, a piece of metal and making a piece of metal look pretty is not an easy task even though Noctua seem very capable of doing so on products like the NH-L9i.
I definitely like the fact this cooler can go so low and provide the benefits of top down coolers at the same time. I'm just disappointed that this option leaves you using the NF-B9 over the more favourable NF-F12 and that it leaves the cooler looking kind of weird and unattractive. It is however, a piece of metal and making a piece of metal look pretty is not an easy task even though Noctua seem very capable of doing so on products like the NH-L9i.
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Performance:
Test Bench:
Component:Case Processor Cooler Fans Motherboard Ram Power Supply Storage | Product: (Reviews linked)BitFenix Prodigy Intel Core i5 4570 Silverstone TD02 Silverstone AP123 Gigabyte Z87N-WIFI Corsair Vengeance LP 2x4GB Cooler Master V450S Samsung 840 EVO 120GB | Sponsor:BitFenix HZmedia Silverstone Silverstone Gigabyte HZmedia HZmedia HZmedia |
For testing methodology click this.
Results:
Noctua have a good habit of releasing coolers coupled with good stock fans. Noctua fans that is. Our testing has shown that with the L12 we got a very comfortable delta temperature.
As we test CPU coolers with stock fans and then replace them with NF-F12's to do a heatsink side by side comparison, we only have one temperature average for the NH-L12 but here it is compared to the TD02 by Silverstone coupled with two NF-F12's. As you can see the TD02 has risen slightly in it's temps and thats because its stock fans are spec'd higher than the NF-F12's just a little but were incredibly loud at max speed.
Conclusion:
With it being a Noctua cooler coupled with TWO Noctua fans you can't help but take off the cost of the fans alone and see how cheap the cooler actually is to buy, especially considering its bomb-proof build quality. If I was to rate the product I can see it being a highly rate product.
The NH-L12 is a truly beautiful piece of kit(with both fans on that is) and just like every other product I have reviewed from Noctua, there really isn't a weak spot in quality. It can offer different fan combinations that will suit a variety of different cases which makes the NH-L12 a good option for those people who look at products like their PSU's, coolers, fans and such as being products they continue to use in system after system. Even if you dont plan on going compact now, you may in the future.
To summarise, The NH-L12 performs well, is good value and offers wide compatibility among many variables, what more could you ask for from a CPU cooler?
The NH-L12 is a truly beautiful piece of kit(with both fans on that is) and just like every other product I have reviewed from Noctua, there really isn't a weak spot in quality. It can offer different fan combinations that will suit a variety of different cases which makes the NH-L12 a good option for those people who look at products like their PSU's, coolers, fans and such as being products they continue to use in system after system. Even if you dont plan on going compact now, you may in the future.
To summarise, The NH-L12 performs well, is good value and offers wide compatibility among many variables, what more could you ask for from a CPU cooler?
Verdict:
| Performance: Build Quality: Features & Compatibility: Aesthetics & Packaging: Value For Money: | 30/40* 14/15 14/15 8/10 17/20 | Total: |
*Please note that these ratings are in comparison to the entire CPU AIO Cooling market including both air and water coolers.
Awards:
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