heading
The NH-U12F is the newest version of the NH-U12, which won over 100 awards and recommendations from leading international web sites and magazines. The NH-U12F can be rotated by 90° on all sockets, boasts full compatibility with AMD's new AM2 socket and comes equipped with a Noctua NF-S12 120mm fan, which has a minimum noise rating of only 8dB(A). Thanks to the 4 Dual-Heat-Pipes, 38 aluminium cooling fins with a total surface area of more than 5000cm² and soldered joints for optimal heat-transfer, the Noctua NH-U12F achieves superior cooling performance at minimum noise levels.

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Intel Socket LGA 775, AMD K8 (754, 939, 940) & AM2; Intel Xeon on request
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Height (without fan)
155 mm
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Width (without fan)
126 mm
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Depth (without fan)
70 mm
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Weight (without fan)
640 g
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Height (with fan)
155 mm
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Width (with fan)
126 mm
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Depth (with fan)
95 mm
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Weight (with fan)
790 g
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Material
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints
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Application
Intel all frequencies, AMD all frequencies
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Scope of delivery
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6 years
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Bearing
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Blade geometry
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Rotational speed (+/- 10%)
1200 RPM
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Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
800 RPM
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Acoustical noise
17 dB(A)
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Voltage range
4-13 V
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MTTF
> 150.000 h
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NH-U12F Review
Kao što smo i očekivali, do značajnijih razlika
između coolera (ako izuzmemo Intelov) došlo je tek nakon
overclockinga popularnog Q6600 G0 procesor na 3.6GHz pa je stock
HSF tu otpao iz igre, dok je Noctua NH-U12F postigao sasvim solidne
rezultate.
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Test verdict: "Noctua je bez ikakve sumnje ponudila jedan od najboljih coolera
koji za hlađenje koji koriste zrak. Osim što je cooler
uspio da temperaturu testnog četverojezgrenog procesora
zadrži u prihvatljivim granicama, nivo buke je također
bio u prihvatljivim granicama, čak i za entuzijaste koji su
obično spremni "žrtvovati tišinu" za koji MHz
više. U recenziji smo već spomenuli da je na NH-U12F
moguće dodati i dodatni ventilator te ostvariti tzv. push-pull
kombinaciju u kojoj jedan ventilator puše prema hladnjaku, dok
drugi odvlači topli zrak, što u praksi znači
još bolje performanse prilikom hlađenja." (Enis Šahinović, HardwareBase.net)
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NH-U12F Review
Tu wyraźnym liderem okazuje się Noctua NH-U12F,
która oferuje świetną wydajność przy
naprawdę niskim poziomie hałasu. Przy wentylatorze
pracującym z prędkością 700RPM okazuje się
ona praktycznie bezgłośna. Drugim z
wyróżniających się produktów w tej
klasyfikacji jest radiator SilverStone a, który
współpracował podczas testów z wentylatorem
Noctua S12-1200, identycznym jak w przypadku coolera NH-U12F -
hałas towarzyszący pracy Nitrogona NT-06 i Noctuy NH-U12F
w tym przypadku jest więc identyczny.
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Test verdict: "Najwydajniejszym chłodzeniem dzisiejszego porównania
została Noctua NH-U12F, która może się
poszczycić również bardzo cichą pracą i
łatwym montażem a bogate wyposażenie dodatkowo
zwiększa jego atrakcyjność." (Marcin Wilczak, FrazPC.pl)
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NH-U12F Review
Im Praxistest zeigt sich der NH-U12F zu Scythes Mugen trotz etwas kleineren Maßen ebenbürtig und bietet neben der Option, einen zweiten 120mm Lüfter zu montieren, noch Reserven für absolut geräuschlosen Betrieb. Da die Ausstattung bei Noctua besser ist und die zusätzliche Halteklammern, ausführliches Handbuch in Farbe, Anti-Vibrationsstreifen und ein mitgelieferter Widerstand, der die Lüfterdrehzahl unabhängig von Software/Lüftersteuerung reduziert, geben wir dem NH-U12F trotz höheren Preises den Vorzug und somit eine uneingeschränkte Empfehlung und damit auch einen Award.
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Test verdict: "Dass der NH-U12F noch immer nicht zum alten Eisen gehört, hat er in unserem Test erneut bewiesen. Da 50 € in Anbetracht der Kühlleistung und des Lieferumfangs durchaus fair sind prämieren wir ihn mit dem Value Award." (Thomas Lint, o.v.e.r.clockers.at)
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NH-U12F Review
As you can see the Noctua NH-U12F outperformed the other two coolers. At idle the temperature of the processor rose only 1.6°C above the room temperature with the NH-U12F. During load the processor got 10°C less hot with the NH-U12F than with the stock Intel HSF.
Besides cooling much better, the NH-U12F was also a lot more silent than both other coolers. [...] Much to my surprise the Ultra Low Noise Adapter barely increased the temperatures. The processor only got 1° hotter with the U.L.N.A. and that's almost negligible if you take the higher room temperature into account. It seems the NH-U12F needs very little airflow to keep the temperatures low.
The temperatures without the fan are also still OK. In fact, when you compare the results from this chart with the first chart in which I compared this cooler to the standard Intel heatsink you can see that the NH-U12F without active cooling gets 2°C less hot than the actively cooled Intel heatsink!
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Test verdict: "I'm very impressed with the Noctua NH-U12F. The cooler is really big and heavy but it's build quality is excellent and it keeps the processor very cool. Additionally, the noise levels of the Noctua NH-U12F fan are exceptionally low and the package also includes anti-vibration pads and an Ultra Low Noise Adapter to further decrease the noise levels." (Thomas De Maesschalck, DarkVision Hardware)
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NH-U12F Review
For standard clock rates, this cooler hangs with best and is probably the quietest CPU fan this test bench has ever heard. When the U.N.L.A. is attached, the fan produces almost no noise above the base line of the system. Even though it had half as much airflow, the temperatures remained the same for the stock speeds. This is a huge indication of how much capacity this cooler has. In regards to the chipset cooler, it is definitely doing its job. The motherboard temperatures did not rise above +1C from room temperature the entire time.
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Test verdict: "When weighing the performance versus the noise production, the NH-U12F and NC-U6 really shine. The fan technology is amazing, the mounting systems are simple, and the cooler has extreme flexibility between audio contentment and all out performance. Hence, both the NH-U12F and the NC-U6 from Noctua earn lots of admiration from this crew." (Chris Hunter, FastSilicon.com)
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NH-U12F Review
Sowohl der Kühler
von Noctua als auch von Scythe
unterbieten sogar die 55-Grad-
Grenze (Nocta 51,3, Scythe 53)
und arbeiten somit fast 15 Grad
kühler als mit dem Intel Pentium
4 550.
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Test verdict: "Die getesteten CPU-Kühler unterscheiden
sich vom Funktionsprinzip
kaum voneinander, denn
alle besitzen eine Heatpipe, die
die Hitze des Prozessors an die
großflächigen Kühllamellen abgibt.
Besonders gut gelöst hat
dies der Hersteller Noctua. Neben
der zwar etwas umständlichen
Schraubbefestigung, die
dafür aber bombenfest sitzt, ist
auch die Lautstärke des verbauten
120-Millimeter-Lüfters (17
dB/A) positiv. Dieser ist kaum
zu hören und kühlt unseren
'Hitzkopf' auf sehr gute 66,9
Grad." (Fabian Schusdziara, PC Praxis)
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NH-U12F Review
Very impressive, the Noctua NH-U12F can take the lead of all the heatsinks tested here. Especially when heat load is not extremely high it gains quite a nice margin compared to the other heatsinks.
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Test verdict: "Noctua's NH-U12F is a great cooler that can compete with products from much bigger well-known companies. Noctua put excellent engineering into the product, for example when you look at the installation process you can see many little details that make installation easier or safer. The manual's layout is one of the best I have ever seen.
The Noctua NH-U12F will fit all common sockets on the market today, all required installation clips are included, so even if you change sockets any time soon you can continue using your cooler." (techPowerUp!)
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NH-U12F Review
Po ~30 minutowym wygrzewaniu procesora wyniki ciągle na bardzo dobrym poziomie.
Freezer 64 Pro dorównuje co prawda Noctui, pamiętajmy jednak, że
jest to zupełnie inna klasa produktu. O wiele głośniejszy –
ponad 2200RPM i gorszy jakościowo. Wychładzanie – jeden z
najważniejszych parametrów. Bardzo istotne jest z jaką
wydajnością radiator potrafi rozproszyć nagromadzoną energię
cieplną i schłodzić rdzeń/rdzenie CPU. Także i tu Noctua nie
zawodzi. Przez około ~1 minutę, zarówno w trybie standardowym jak i
U.L.N.A, NH-U12F jest w stanie zmniejszyć temperaturę o jedenaście
stopni. I wszystko to w otoczce głuchej ciszy ;).
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Test verdict: "W przypadku NH-U12F do czynienia mamy nie tylko z bardzo dobrą
wydajnością, ale także z minimalnym wręcz poziomem generowanego
hałasu. Z pewnością produkt ten zadowoli wszystkich nadwrażliwych
na szmery dochodzące z wnętrza komputera. Także dla tych,
którym słoń nadepnął na ucho mogę bez wahania
polecić ten model, dzięki bardzo dobrym parametrom pracy oraz bogatemu
wyposażeniu." (Jerzy Wasiela, IN4.pl)
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NH-U12F Review
In the end the Noctua NH-U12F is a carefully balanced system of heatpipe tower and fan, which performs the designed task of cooling with silence extremely well. It is also a decent performance cooler, reaching overclock levels near the best tested.
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Test verdict: "Subjectively, we could hear no noise at all from the mounted Noctua cooler. For those whose first consideration is ultra-low system noise, the Noctua should certainly be on the short list of heatpipe towers worth considering." (Wesley Fink, Anandtech.com)
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NH-U12F Review
Where the NH-U12F really set itself apart from the others was on the noise front - there was virtually no fan noise that we could make out above background noise levels.
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Test verdict: "the Noctua NH-U12F is what I'd personally go for at the moment" (Simon Briers, Bit-Tech.net)
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- INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION SHEETS (PDF)
- FAQs
- MAINBOARD COMPATIBILITY
- CASE COMPATIBILITY
- CPU COMPATIBILITY
FAQs
Is it possible to mount fans with a greater height than 25mm?
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?
Can I keep using the backplate / mounting system of my previous Noctua cooler for my new one?
Is it possible to run two fans at a time?
Should the fan be mounted sucking away from the heat-sink or blowing onto the heat-sink?
On which side of the heat-sink should the fan be installed?
How much space between mainboard and power supply is required when the NH-U12 is installed upright?
Is it possible to cool my CPU without a fan (passive) using Noctua coolers?
How to install the fan using the supplied steel clips?
Which mainboards are compatible with the NH-U12F?
Can I use Noctua fans on my fan controller?
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?
Is it possible to mount fans with a greater height than 25mm?

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.
Can I keep using the backplate / mounting system of my previous Noctua cooler for my new one?
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.
Is it possible to run two fans at a time?
Should the fan be mounted sucking away from the heat-sink or blowing onto the heat-sink?

If you're using two fans, please install them so that one blows onto the heat-sink and the other sucks the air away from the other side.
On which side of the heat-sink should the fan be installed?

How much space between mainboard and power supply is required when the NH-U12 is installed upright?



Is it possible to cool my CPU without a fan (passive) using Noctua coolers?
How to install the fan using the supplied steel clips?

Then hook the endings of the clips into the mounting holes of the fan:

Which mainboards are compatible with the NH-U12F?
Can I use Noctua fans on my fan controller?
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?
Do you have a question concerning one of our products? Please use this form to pose a question!