Noctua NH-U12P: Top Performance AND Silence
by Wesley Fink on March 20, 2008 8:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Cooling at Stock Speed
Some users will never overclock their CPU, but they still want to run the coolest CPU temperatures possible to enhance stability and extend CPU life. We compile all temperature benchmarks with CoreTemp, a public domain utility that is quite stable with reproducible results on the Intel platform.
Performance at stock idle with the Noctua NH-U12P matches the best we have ever measured at AnandTech. When we tested with two of the new NF-P12 fans in a push-pull configuration performance actually dropped to ambient room temperature. This is an amazing level of performance, and it is the best result we have ever seen with any normal cooler under any conditions.
Where the very good Intel stock air-cooler keeps the X6800 at 31C at idle, the push-pull NH-U12P reduces that to 21C. This compares to the top Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme at 24C, Corsair water at 24C, Swiftech water at 27C, and ZEROtherm Nirvana at 23C. In comparing results, please keep in mind the test results from the new cooling bed using CoreTemp are not directly comparable to earlier cooling results.
It is more difficult to simulate all the various stress conditions a computer may encounter in different operating environments. For most home users, contemporary gaming is one of the most demanding CPU (and system) applications. Therefore, our stress test simulates running a demanding contemporary game. We loop the Far Cry River demo for 30 minutes and capture the CPU temperature with CoreTemp's "logging" option. We report the highest temperature during the load test. Momentary spikes are ignored, as we report a sustained high-level temp that you are likely to encounter in this type of scenario. This test configuration roughly equates to an 80% CPU load test using Intel TAT, another respected program for thermal measurements.
Let's compare cooling efficiency of the Noctua NH-U12P under load conditions at stock speed to the retail HSF and other recently retested CPU coolers.
The NH-U12P turns in an outstanding performance under load at stock speeds. CoreTemp results are 35C, which again represents the best air-cooling result so far at AnandTech. Performance with two fans in a push-pull configuration is even more impressive, yielding 32C under load. This exceeds our previous best load results at stock by 4C, which is impressive considering the competitors. This is a 15C to 18C improvement in cooling under load compared to the stock Intel fan, which reaches 50C under load at stock speed in our cooling test bed.
Cooling results with the Noctua NH-U12P at stock idle and load are record setting. Test results are the best we have ever seen - matching the top Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme - or coming in a bit better - with the stock single fan. With two fans, the NH-U12P outperforms anything we have ever tested at stock speed.
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n7 - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
I can't believe no one here knows Thermaltake sells additional clips for fans for their coolers.You don't have to do any ghetto zip tie mods either.
Simply purchase an extra set of clips, install two Noctuas, & you have what i run:
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9930/img2383cop...">http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9930/img2383cop...
I am a huge Noctua fanboi too.
I own over 15 of their fans, as they just exude quality with their lovely sleeved cables, nice design & color, & low RPM adaptors, nevermind the packaging.
But as much as i like Noctua, they don't make the best CPU heatsinks. Not yet anyway.
So i use a TRUE + their fans.
Syzygies - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
It's Thermalright, not Thermaltake. What isn't clear is that buying additional clips also buys you additional gel strips. That's the only part one can actually use, as the Thermalright clip holes are sized for one fan clip, not two. Been there. Zip ties are wonderful, they're my universal modeling clay.Sargon - Monday, March 24, 2008 - link
Yes, buying the additional clips will get you additional gel strips. You do not use the same holes but the ones next two it. In other words you just place the second clips over one cooling fin.The reason I actually posted is that I just replaced a Scythe Ultra Kaze (3000rpm) with two of these Noctura fans om my Thermalright 120 Extreme (push/pull). Not only is the setup very quite it works very well due to the air pressure these fans produce.
n7 - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
Sorry, i'm asleep :(I have a TT case...but run a TRUE.
FWIW, i'd rate the Noctua cooler + fan as a better overall package.
But for those wanting the best, a TRUE + a couple P12 fans is a bit better...though you might have the lap the TRUE (poor TR QC IMO vs. excellence from Noctua in that regard).
And yes, i know the holes are technically designed for just one set of clips, but i didn't find it impossible to clip in a second set by any means.
KainAT - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
I think many users know that they sold that separately.But if you dont buy the clips when you buy your heatsink or any other hardware you may need to pay extra for the shipping and just for a par of clips.
Thermalright could give 1 USD on price for the cooler including 2 pairs if they want, but this is the important part of the noctua service as I see.
Also, gheto is not really difficult.
On the other hand, Thermalright has 2 holes for thwe clips and the other ones even they can be used for clips are not really meant for it as you can see.
Anyway. Im not defending Noctua or anything here. Im big Thermalright user so I have no problems there.
Finally, for the reviewer: When you said about the Noctua inluding the fan which is another cost, you may also want to say that thay also include the NT-H1 Thermalpaste and also has a value for the user.
Regards.
Kain.
Ytterbium - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
Could you test the Thermalright IFX-14, this looks like an interesting designWesley Fink - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
The early versions of the IFX-14 were not competitive with the other top coolers from Thermalright. Thermalright has promised us a revised version for months now but we have yet to receive it.In our converstaions with Thermalright we have been clear that we can't recommend the IFX-14 unless it actaully outperforms the U120 eXtreme since the IFX-14 costs a good deal more. Perhaps your question will light a fire.
KainAT - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
Im in this with you.For the ones who really want to know the performance, I already did the tests,. and yes, the TRUE wins by 2-3 degrees depending on wattage created when OCing. The more heat you create, the more difference (which ios ionly 1 degree or 2 aprox).
What you can do to have 2 fans on TRUE is simple. One clip for one side and one clip to another.
I have some photos for you here:
http://bandwidth.se/view/6253">http://bandwidth.se/view/6253
http://bandwidth.se/view/6254">http://bandwidth.se/view/6254
I think the analisys on this working on TRUE is not the most properly because the article is from Noctua, not thermalright.
Anyway, the analysys later would be very good :)
varneraa - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
Given how close the 120-Extreme is in performance to the stock noctua unit, I wonder how a 120-Extreme with push-pull fans would do?poohbear - Friday, March 21, 2008 - link
i know, i hate it when reviewers just omit these questions that they KNOW everybody will be asking. c'mon anandtech, why give us a review of a TRUE without a push/pull config and test the other heatsink with it?