heading
Sporting 6 heat pipes and the award-winning, psycho-acoustically optimized NF-P12 120mm fan, the NH-C12P achieves excellent performance and outstanding quietness. The down-facing c-type design doesn't only allow for optimal motherboard and case compatibility, but also provides additional cooling for motherboard components through two Airflow-Gaps. Outfitted with the professional SecuFirm™ mounting system and Noctua's much acclaimed NT-H1 thermal compound, the NH-C12P is a premium-class silent cooler through and through.
Details |
6 heat pipes
6 heat pipes, excellently soldered joints and widely-spaced cooling fins guarantee optimal heat dissipation even at low fan speeds.
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C-type design with Airflow-Gaps
Due to the down-facing design and two large Airflow-Gaps, the NH-C12P provides additional cooling for near-socket motherboard components.
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NF-P12 120mm premium fan
The award-winning NF-P12 has been specifically developed for high-impedance applications such as CPU coolers. Thanks to psychoacoustic optimizations and Noctua's premium-grade SSO-bearing, the NF-P12 achieves exceptional quietness and long-term stability.
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Excellent compatibility
The down-facing c-type design allows for low height as well as excellent motherboard and case compatibility.
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SecuFirm™ multi-socket mounting system
Noctua's professional SecuFirm™ mounting system for LGA 775, AM2, AM2+ and AM3 provides superior reliability and contact pressure. K8 (939, 940, 754) kits are available on request.
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Noctua NT-H1 high-end thermal compound
Noctua's much-acclaimed NT-H1 is an pro-grade TIM solution that provides minimum thermal resistance, excellent ease-of-use and outstanding long-term stability.
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Intel Socket LGA775, AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3, Intel LGA1156/LGA1366 on request
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Height (without fan)
91 mm
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Width (without fan)
126 mm
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Depth (without fan)
152 mm
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Weight (without fan)
550 g
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Height (with fan)
114 mm
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Width (with fan)
126 mm
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Depth (with fan)
152 mm
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Weight (with fan)
730 g
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Material
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints, nickel plated
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Application
Intel all frequencies, AMD all frequencies
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Fan compatibility
120x120x25mm / 120x120x38mm
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Scope of delivery
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6 Years
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Model
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Bearing
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Rotational speed (+/- 10%)
1300 RPM
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Rotational speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
1100 RPM
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Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
900 RPM
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78,5 m³/h
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Acoustical noise
19,8 dB(A)
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Voltage range
12 V
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MTTF
> 150.000 h
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NH-C12P Review
Das gut umgesetzte Montagesystem ist zwar etwas aufwändiger, bietet aber eine sichere Verschraubung des Luxuskühlers auf allen aktuellen Plattformen und wappnet den NH-C12P in Verbindung mit dem lobenswerten Noctua-Support auch für spätere Sockel, wodurch eine Kühler-Neuanschaffung entfällt. Die Qualität des Noctua NH-C12P ist ferner über jeden Zweifel erhaben und so bleibt uns wiederum nur, auch Österreichs Top-Blow-Pendant und sein piekfein aufeinander abgestimmtes Bundle mit unserer ComputerBase-Empfehlung auszuzeichnen.
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Test verdict: "Der Noctua NH-C12P konnte die hohen Erwartungen, die durch die famose Vorstellung seiner NH-U12P-Schwester entstanden, in – für den Top-Blow-Bereich – beachtlicher Weise erfüllen. Die österreichische Entwicklung wartet mit einem für Kühler dieser Bauart exzellenten Leistungscharakter auf und stellt so manchen Tower-Kontrahenten in den Schatten. Seine Lautstärkeeigenschaften überzeugen aufgrund des NF-P12-Premiumlüfters in allen Lebenslagen durch die kaum vorhandenen Motoren- und/oder Vibrationsgeräusche und den sicher geführten Luftumschlag." (Martin Eckardt, Computerbase.de)
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NH-C12P Review
Under full load, our test CPU was 9°C cooler with the Noctua than it was with the reference HSF. The Noctua also made little audible noise. This is a great effort considering that we use an overclocked and overvolted quad-core Xeon 3210. The Noctua is a luxury product, and every component of the cooler is of a high quality.
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Test verdict: "Every part of this cooler screams premium and luxury. [...] If VRM cooling is a priority and you have the cash to spare, this is an excellent cooler." (Mark Mackay, Custom PC)
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NH-C12P Review
The tower, 'U' style tower coolers seem to dominate when it comes to effectively cooling a CPU, but the NH-C12P changes that now and we have here something small that will fit in most any case that out performs coolers that are essentially twice its size (at least in height). Noctua proves time and time again that they know what they are doing, be it a fan or a CPU cooler, they know cooling and know how to make a quality product. The NH-C12P continues the Noctua tradition of creating and producing high quality, excellent performing products, I can easily recommend this CPU cooler to anyone looking for a quality product that not only looks great but performs exceedingly well.
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Test verdict: "The Noctua NH-C12P is a great choice for those looking for a small CPU cooler, it offers a nice combination of performance and silence, it could be perfect for an HTPC case or desktop style case. Considering its performance though, the NH-C12P is ideally suited for pretty much any application, and it should be able to handle anything thrown at it." (Kristofer Brozio, DragonSteelMods.com)
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NH-C12P Review
En effet, le NH-C12H déploie une surface d'un peu plus de 2000 cm² contre approximativement 3100 cm² pour le NH-U12P. Ce dernier dispose donc d'une surface d'échange 50% plus grand... Etant donné que les NH-U12P et NH-C12P maintiennent le processeur à une température comparable, on ne peut être qu'impressionné par le travail accompli.
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Test verdict: "Que penser de ce NH-C12P ? Les performances brutes, c'est-à-dire les capacités de refroidissement du processeur, sont excellentes et comparables à celles du récent NH-U12P. Les deux heatpipes supplémentaires permettent donc de compenser la surface d'échange réduite de 33%... Mais le grand point fort du NH-C12P est sa hauteur inférieure à celle d’un NH-U9 moins efficace. Noctua a donc bien conçu son nouveau radiateur." (Pascal Thevenier, TT-Hardware.com)
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NH-C12P Review
The cooler performed very well in all our tests and it beat the AMD stock and Evercool Transformer 4 coolers without any issues.
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Test verdict: "Overall, the Noctua NH-C12P is a smaller cooler which is also ultra-quiet and provides very good cooling. I would highly recommend this CPU cooler for anyone looking to replace their stock heatsink with something that can handle a lot more." (Vikram Chand, BayReviews.com)
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NH-C12P Review
The Noctua NH-C12P has proven to be a worthy competitor. Knocking a good 21 degrees off of the load temperature of the stock cooler, the NH-C12P definitely gives you some extra overclocking headroom. When compared with the Gelid Silent Spirit the Noctua also manages to score slightly better temperatures than this cooler.
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Test verdict: "Overall the Noctua NH-C12P is a worthy replacement for your stock cooler. It’s not going to perform like a water-cooling setup or a more expensive cooler, but it’s an ideal choice for lower temperatures and more overclocking potential." (Rhys Sloman-Brown, Tech-Reviews.co.uk)
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NH-C12P Review
Peki
hangisi? Aynı fiyata, eğer klasik kule tipi kasanız
varsa -yani içine sığıyorsa- NH-U12P daha iyi
soğutma performansı ya da alternatif olarak daha
düşük gürültüye benzer soğutma
performansı demek. Eğer HTPC tipi, yüksekliği
kurtarmayacak bir kasaya sahipseniz ya da bu tip bir şeyler
edinmeyi düşünüyorsanız NH-C12P.
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Test verdict: "Eğer bir HTPC tipi, ufak tefek bir kasaya soğutucu
arıyorsanız aklınızda bulunması gereken
bir seçenek. Özel sessiz fanı düşük
devirde de iyi bir soğutma sağlamanın
yanısıra sessiz olmasını istediğiniz HTPC
tipi sisteminizde varlığını
hissettirmeyecektir." (Haluk Sekendiz, PCLabs.com.tr)
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NH-C12P Review
Ved full load nådde den varmeste kjerne (#1) en temp på 59 grader, mens Gigabyte X fikk en temp på 76 grader på samme operasjon. Temperaturen på chipset er også viktig og denne var 38 grader med Noctua NH-C12P og 47 for Gigabyte X. Her er det altså snakk om 10 grader forskjell. Og det i et kabinett som er helt åpent. Her kvitter alle kjølere seg med varm luft fort! Ytelsen er enormt bra. Det er ikke mye mer å si. Viften spinner også med 1400 rpm hele tiden og den høres ikke i det hele tatt på det turtallet. Noctua sender med flere adaptere for å senke viftehastighet hvis man ønsker dette. På en mindre hissig CPU er nok dette et godt valg. Spesielt i et HTPC kabinett. Viften på Gigabyte X spant med et maksturtall på 2700 rpm ved full load og dette ble veldig plagsomt etterhvert.
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Test verdict: "Noctua NH-C12P er en meget god kjøler. Den har en passform som gjør den til en av de mest kompatible kjølerne på markedet i dag. Kjøleytelsen er fenomenal og det er en bra bundle som er med i esken. Kjølepasta, vifteadaptere og fester til de soklene som er aktive i dag. Utformingen gjør at den også kjøler chipset og RAM-brikker noe som bare gjør den enda et hakk bedre. Noctua befinner seg helt på topp av dagens kjølermarked og dette er et produkt som får de varmeste anbefalinger fra en hardwarenerd." (Thor Stokke, Gamereactor.no)
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NH-C12P Review
เป็นอย่างไรกันบ้างครับกับสุดยอด
Heatsink จาก Austria
บินไกลจากฝั่งยุโรปที่มีประสิทธิภาพเรื่องการระบายความร้อนที่ขึ้นชื่อได้
ว่า Cooling
ของเค้านั้นเงียบที่สุดติดอันดับ
Top 5
ซึ่งเป็นที่นิยมและได้รับการยอมรับจากเมืองนอกเป็นอย่างมาก
และในวันนี้ Heatsink
ในรุ่น NH-C12P
ที่ทดสอบให้ชมกันกับ
System ที่ใช้ CPU Intel Core i5 750
โดยได้ทดสอบถึงประสิทธิภาพในการระบายความร้อนของ
CPU
ที่ความเร็วเดิมๆ
2.66Ghz และการ Overclock
ไปที่ควงามเร็ว
3.6Ghz
นั้นสามารถแสดงประสิทธิภาพในการระบายความร้อนได้ดีกว่า
Heatsink Stock ของ Intel Core i5 ขณะ CPU Full Load
ด้วยโปรแกรม LinX
0.6.3 Run 15 Time
ได้เย็นกว่าในระดับ
15c - 20c
องศาเซลเซียสในการทดสอบ
นี่ก็บอกบอกถึงประสิทธิภาพในการระบายความร้อนว่า
Heatsink
ตัวนี้ทำได้อยู่ในระดับใช้ได้เลยทีเดียว
และที่สำคัญนะครับ
อย่าลืมว่า Heatsink
ตัวนี้ใช้พัดลมระบายความร้อนขนาด
12cm.
ที่ใช้รอบในการระบายความร้อนเพียง
1300rpm. เท่านั้น
และเสียงรบกวนในการทำงานในระดับต่ำกว่า
20dBA
เสียงรบกนนั้นเทียบจะไม่ได้ยินเลยจริงๆ
ครับ
ด้วยการออกแบบใบพัดแบบพิเศษ
ช่วยลดเสียงรบกวน
แต่ได้ระบบ Air-Flow
สูง ซึ่ง Noctua
ได้เรียกระบบนี้ว่า
Vortex-Control Notches
อ่านรายละเอียดเพิ่มเติมได้
ที่นี่ ครับ
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Test verdict: "วันนี้ผมก็มีข่าวสารมาแจ้ง
และพร้อมกับผลการทดสอบสำหรับผู้ที่ใช้
Heatsink จาก Noctua
โดยหลายๆ
ท่านอาจจะคุ้นหูกันไปบ้างแล้ว
และหลายๆ
ท่านอาจจะไม่เคยได้ยินชื่อเสียงของยี่ห้อนี้เลยก็เป็นได้
เพราะว่าเป็น
Heatsink
ที่ผลิตออกมาสำหรับเน้นการใช้งานแบบเงียบๆ
เป็นหลัก
เนื้องานค่อนข้างพิถิพิถัน
สาวยงาม
และใบพัดลมนั้นได้ออกแบบมาสำหรับความเงียบโดยเฉพาะ
ถึงรอบจะต่ำ
แต่ได้แรงลมที่มากกว่าพัดลมรุ่นอื่นๆ
ที่รอบเท่าๆ
กัน
และที่สำคัญเรื่องความเงียบนั้น
ต้องยกให้เค้าครับ
Noctua" (Krittanan Nanta, PC-CM.com)
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NH-C12P Review
Today we take a look at the Noctua NH-C12P. A cooler with a shorter profile making it an excellent choice for those wanting top end passive cooling in smaller system cases.
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Test verdict: "Overall, like the previous Noctua products we’ve reviewed, the NH-C12P is just another awesome CPU cooler, which in our opinion keeps Noctua on top of the game." (Farhan Khan, Tech-Lobby.com Video Review)
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- INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION SHEETS (PDF)
- FAQs
- MAINBOARD COMPATIBILITY
- CASE COMPATIBILITY
- CPU COMPATIBILITY
FAQs
I've got 2 adapter cables with the cooler. What's the difference between these cables?
Can I keep using the backplate / mounting system of my previous Noctua cooler for my new one?
Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with Intel LGA2066?
Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with AMD AM4 (Ryzen)?
Can I upgrade my existing Noctua cooler to socket TR4 or SP3?
How should I clean my Noctua cooler?
Can I install a Noctua cooler in my system from Acer, Dell, HP or Lenovo?
My case supports CPU coolers of up to XXXmm height, which model should I choose?
I have difficulties installing the cooler, can you help?
How much torque should be applied when tightening the screws of a Noctua CPU cooler?
Does the cooler offer sufficient clearance for my RAM modules?
Is the cooler compatible with socket AM2+ and AM3?
Can I use Corsair Dominator RAM with the cooler?
Is it possible to mount fans with a greater height than 25mm?
I can’t spread the thermal compound by turning the cooler as described in the manual!
How much clearance for RAM or chipset coolers does the NH-C12P provide?
Does the cooler offer sufficient clearance for my RAM modules?
The fan doesn’t start with the Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (ULNA)!
Can I use Corsair Dominator RAM with the cooler?
In which orientation should top-flow coolers (NH-C series, NH-L12) be installed?
My fan doesn’t spin when I start up the PC - is it faulty?
Can I run Noctua 3-pin fans on 4-pin PWM connectors and use my mainboard’s automatic fan controller?
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
I've got 2 adapter cables with the cooler. What's the difference between these cables?

My unlocked Intel CPU is running too hot although my heatsink supports the specified TDP, what's the problem?
- the TDP limits are extended or disabled in the motherboards' BIOS.
- the motherboard applies automatic overclocking by default, e.g. by raising the supply voltage of the CPU and using higher Turbo-Mode multipliers.
- some software creates untypical loads, e.g. Prime95 with AVX2 support and a) and/or b) apply.
This can lead to temperature issues, especially when using smaller coolers or compact cases.
The actual power draw of the processor can be monitored with software provided by the motherboard vendor or with 3rd party tools like HWInfo or HWMonitor.
If you encounter temperature issues (>90°C) and notice a higher than specified power draw, please ensure that no automatic overclocking is applied and limit the TDP to the specified value by choosing appropriate BIOS settings.
For Kaby Lake CPUs, it may also help to lower the CPU clock speed for applications that heavily use the AVX instruction set, which can lead to higher loads and power draw. This option is usually referred to as “AVX offset” and makes it possible to lower the multiplier specifically for AVX based applications without reducing performance when using other instruction sets. Depending on the quality of the CPU and the programs being used, a reduction of 2-3 steps usually gives very good results.
Please contact your motherboard vendor for details if you have trouble finding the appropriate settings in the BIOS.
All our TDP recommendations are based on thorough testing with the default values specified by Intel using popular applications such as Asus Realbench and prime95. Please note, however, that prime95 creates a particularly high load that goes beyond typical application scenarios and this leads to elevated temperatures. We thus recommend using other programs such as Realbench for checking the stability and temperatures of the CPU in realistic scenarios.
Can I keep using the backplate / mounting system of my previous Noctua cooler for my new one?
Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with Intel LGA2066?
Due to the heatsink mounting mechanism being identical on LGA2011 and LGA2066, Noctua’s SecuFirm2™ mounting systems for LGA2011 also support Intel’s upcoming ‘Basin Falls’ X299 HEDT (High End Desktop) platform for ‘Skylake-X’ and ‘Kaby Lake-X’ processors. Most current Noctua coolers already include SecuFirm2™ mounting systems for LGA2011 and can thus be used on LGA2066 motherboards without any upgrades or modifications.
The following models include a mounting-kit for socket LGA2011/2066 and are thus compatible out of the box:
NH-C14S
NH-D14 SE2011
NH-D15
NH-D15S
NH-D9L
NH-L12
NH-L9x65
NH-U12S
NH-U12DX i4
NH-U14S
NH-U9DX i4
NH-U9S
The following models can be made compatible with the LGA2011/LGA2066 sockets free of charge using the NM-I2011 upgrade-kit:
NH-C12P
NH-C12P SE14
NH-C14
NH-D14
NH-D15 SE-AM4
NH-U12S SE-AM4
NH-L9x65 SE-AM4
NH-U12
NH-U12F
NH-U12P
NH-U12P SE1366
NH-U12P SE2
NH-U9
NH-U9B
NH-U9B SE2
NH-U9F
The following models can be made compatible with the LGA2011/LGA2066 sockets using the NM-I2011 upgrade-kit but are not eligible for Noctua‘s free mounting offer, so users have to purchase the kit at local resellers:
NH-U12DO (Note that the A3 version is not compatible!)
NH-U12DX
NH-U12DX 1366
NH-U9DX 1366
NH-U9DO (Note that the A3 version is not compatible!)
The following models are not compatible with the LGA2011/LGA2066 sockets and can not be upgraded:
NH-L9a
NH-L9i
NH-U12DO A3
NH-U9DO A3
Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with AMD AM4 (Ryzen)?
NH-D15 (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D15 SE-AM4
NH-D15S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U14S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U12S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U12S SE-AM4
NH-U9S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D9L (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-C14S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-L12S
NH-L9x65 (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-L9x65 SE-AM4
NH-L9a-AM4
The following models can be made compatible with the AM4 socket free of charge using the NM-AM4 upgrade-kit:
NH-C12P
NH-C12P SE14
NH-C14
NH-C14S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D14
NH-D14 SE2011
NH-D15 (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D15S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D9L (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-L12
NH-L9x65 (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U12
NH-U12F
NH-U12P
NH-U12P SE1366
NH-U12P SE2
NH-U9
NH-U9B
NH-U9B SE2
NH-U9F
The following models can be made compatible with the AM4 socket free of charge using the NM-AM4-UxS upgrade-kit:
NH-U14S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U12S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U9S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
The following models can be made compatible with the AM4 socket free of charge using the NM-AM4-L9aL9i upgrade-kit:
NH-L9a
NH-L9i
The following models can be made compatible with the AM4 socket using the NM-AM4 upgrade-kit but are not eligible for Noctua‘s free mounting offer, so users have to purchase the kit at local resellers:
NH-U12DO (Note that the A3 version is not compatible!)
NH-U12DX
NH-U12DX 1366
NH-U12DX i4
NH-U9DX i4
NH-U9DX 1366
NH-U9DO (Note that the A3 version is not compatible!)
The following models are not compatible with the AM4 socket and can not be upgraded:
NH-U14S TR4-SP3
NH-U12S TR4-SP3
NH-U9 TR4-SP3
NH-U12DO A3
NH-U9 DO A3
Can I upgrade my existing Noctua cooler to socket TR4 or SP3?
How should I clean my Noctua cooler?
Thermal paste residues: Whenever you take off the heatsink from the CPU, we recommend to clean the CPU as well as the base of the cooler before re-applying thermal paste and re-installing the cooler. You can either just wipe the base and the CPU clean with a dry, lint-free tissue or, for more thorough cleaning, use a lint-free tissue moistened with either a mild solution of washing-up liquid or isopropyl alcohol. Do not put the cooler or CPU under running water. Note that both the base of the heatsink and the CPU should be dry, free from residues of thermal compound and free from grease before re-applying thermal paste and re-installing the cooler.
What Thermal Design Power (TDP) is this cooler recommended for and how much Watt (W) of heat can it dissipate?
Can I install a Noctua cooler in my system from Acer, Dell, HP or Lenovo?
Systems from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major brands often use motherboards which differ slightly from the specifications issued by Intel and AMD. While those changes are usually subtle, they can lead to compatibility issues with coolers that were built to comply with these specifications.
Even in case the cooler is mechanically compatible and can be installed, other issues can occur, e.g. proprietary fan connectors, BIOS errors due to a low fan speed, shutdowns, etc. Some of these problems can be avoided with some technical knowledge, but especially BIOS related issues can often not be resolved.
Due to the large number of possible issues that cannot be resolved with different mounting parts alone, Noctua does not officially support systems from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major brands.
My case supports CPU coolers of up to XXXmm height, which model should I choose?
I have difficulties installing the cooler, can you help?
How much torque should be applied when tightening the screws of a Noctua CPU cooler?
Screw type | Max. torque |
---|---|
NM-SSC1 screws for fixing the fastening brackets to the base of the heatsink | 0.5 Nm |
NM-ITS1 thumb screws for fixing Intel mounting bars | 0.5 Nm |
NM-ALS1 screws for fixing AMD mounting bars | 0.6 Nm |
Spring-loaded screws for fixing the heatsink to the mounting bars | 0.6 Nm |
How can I determine if the motherboard’s UEFI BIOS is overclocking my processor by default and deactivate this automatic overclocking?
Most motherboard vendors allow their overclocking-enabled products (e.g. those with Intels X- or Z-series chipsets) to run the processor at increased clock speeds by default, without requiring any user action at all. Since TDP (Thermal Design Power) limits are usually also disabled by default, this leads to the CPU exceeding the rated TDP to a varying degree, depending on the used applications and their workloads. Due to the increased heat output of the CPU, you may see higher CPU temperatures than expected.
In order to find out if your motherboard is overclocking your processor by default, please enter the UEFI BIOS and select the “advanced” or “overclocking” menu. There you should be able to find options such as “MultiCore Enhancement” (options: enabled/disabled), “CPU Ratio Apply Mode” (options: all/per core) or similar. To disable the automatic overclocking, adjust the settings either to “disabled” or “per core” and make sure that the individual multipliers match the original specifications.
In doubt, please contact your motherboard vendor for detailed instructions on how to disable this feature.
Why is my Ryzen 3000 processor getting so hot? Why are Ryzen 3000 CPUs running hotter than previous generation Ryzen CPUs with the same TDP rating? Is there anything wrong with my cooler?
The latest Ryzen 3000 processors (except APU models) differ from previous Ryzen generations in that they are no longer based on a single, large chip but use a multi-chip approach with smaller chips instead. Depending on the exact model there can be one (6 and 8-core models) or two (12 and 16-core models) actual CPU-Dies (CCD) on the package. Each processor also uses an I/O-Die (IOD), which contains things like the memory controller, PCIe controller, connections to the motherboard chipset and other functions.

Because of this design change and the switch to a smaller 7nm manufacturing process, the heat distribution of the overall processor is much different from older 14nm and 12nm based single-chip Ryzen processors with a similar power draw.
Depending on the exact CPU model, its specified TDP value and possibly extended power limits (precision boost overdrive), a single CPU-die can create a heatload of up to 130W easily, whereas the I/O-die usually creates a heatload of about 10W. Due to the small size of the CPU-die, the heat density (W/mm²) of this chip is very high. For example, a 120W heatload at a chip-size of 74mm² results in a heat-density of 1.62W/mm², whereas the same heatload on an older Ryzen processor with a chip-size of 212mm² gives a heat-density of just 0.57W/mm².
This large difference in heat-density is the reason why newer Ryzen 3000 processors become much warmer at similar heatloads than their predecessors.
Furthermore, Ryzen 3000 CPUs are using the rated temperature headroom (up to 95°C) quite aggressively in order to reach higher boost clocks. As a result, it is absolutely no problem and not alarming if the processor runs into this temperature limit. The clock speed and supply voltage will be adjusted automatically by the processor itself in order to remain within AMD’s specifications and to prevent overheating.
Due to the higher heat density, higher thermal limits and more aggressive boost clock usage, it is perfectly normal that Ryzen 3000 CPUs are reaching higher temperatures than previous generation Ryzen CPUs with the same TDP rating. Higher CPU temperatures are normal for Ryzen 3000 processors and not a sign of that there is anything wrong with the CPU cooler.
How can I check whether my AMD mainboard has a standard AMD backplate that’s compatible with the SecuFirm2™ mounting system and how should I proceed with the installation?
In order to proceed with the installation of your Noctua cooler, please remove the four screws and the retention module but keep the backplate in place so that you can see the screw threads from the top side of the motherboard (see third picture below). You can then proceed with the installation of the SecuFirm2™ mounting kit as described in the manual (see fourth picture below).




Does the cooler offer sufficient clearance for my RAM modules?

Is the cooler compatible with socket AM2+ and AM3?
Can I use Corsair Dominator RAM with the cooler?

Is it possible to mount fans with a greater height than 25mm?

I can’t spread the thermal compound by turning the cooler as described in the manual!
How much clearance for RAM or chipset coolers does the NH-C12P provide?

Does the cooler offer sufficient clearance for my RAM modules?

The fan doesn’t start with the Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (ULNA)!
Can I use Corsair Dominator RAM with the cooler?

In which orientation should top-flow coolers (NH-C series, NH-L12) be installed?

My fan doesn’t spin when I start up the PC - is it faulty?
Can I run Noctua 3-pin fans on 4-pin PWM connectors and use my mainboard’s automatic fan controller?


Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
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