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The NH-U9B SE2 continues the legacy of Noctua's classic NH-U9 series of compact premium coolers, which have received more than 100 awards and recommendations from the international press. The new SE2 version lends itself to use in quiet HTPCs or smaller cases and adds support for LGA1156/1155/1150 as well as LGA1366 via the latest SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system. Topped off with Noctua's award-winning NT-H1 thermal compound as well as two premium-grade NF-B9 fans, the NH-U9B SE2 offers a complete quality package for excellent quiet cooling performance.
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Award-winning NH-U9B Heatsink
The NH-U9B SE2 is built around Noctua's premium quality NH-U9B heatsink that combines excellent quiet cooling performance with compact size, making it ideal for use in HTPC systems and smaller cases.
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SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system
Noctua's enthusiast grade SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting provides broad socket compatibility (LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1150, LGA775, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+) and meets the highest demands in safety, performance and ease-of-use.
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2x NF-B9 92mm Premium Fan
Including two of Noctua's award-winning NF-B9 92mm fans with Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise-Adaptors, the NH-U9B SE2 offers full flexibility in fine-tuning the cooler for supreme quietness and maximum performance in push-pull mode.
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NT-H1 thermal compound
Noctua's much-acclaimed NT-H1 is a pro-grade TIM solution that provides minimum thermal resistance, excellent ease-of-use and outstanding reliability.
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Special Edition Premium Kit
Bundled with a tube of NT-H1, two exquisite NF-B9 fans and the new SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system, the NH-U9B SE2 forms a complete premium quality package that's backed up with 6 years manufacturer's warranty and contains everything you need in order to achieve superb quiet cooling performance.
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Intel LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1150, LGA775, LGA2011 on request, Asus X-socket™ & AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate required)
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Height (without fan)
125 mm
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Width (without fan)
95 mm
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Depth (without fan)
71 mm
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Weight (without fan)
460 g
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Height (with fan)
125 mm
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Width (with fan)
95 mm
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Depth (with fan)
95/120* mm
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Weight (with fan)
550/640* g
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Material
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
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Fan compatibility
2x 92x92x25mm
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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%)
1600 RPM
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Rotational speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
1300 RPM
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Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
1000 RPM
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52,6 m³/h
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Acoustical noise
17,6 dB(A)
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Voltage range
12 V
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MTTF
> 150.000 h
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
Even at default fan speeds the Noctua NH D9B SE2 does not generate much noise at all, and to the human ear it is hard to notice from a distance of one meter. Our recording equipment did measure around 22dBa. Moving to low noise and ultra low noise adapters brought further reward with dBa recordings of 16.8dBa and 16.2dBa respectively – clearly our equipment and testing room would need further improvement to measure more accurate dynamics at these settings.
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Test verdict: "Once again Noctua have created a phenomenal cooler which is without a doubt one of the best solutions for this market we have yet to test on KitGuru." (Allan Campbell, KitGuru.net)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
While shorter in stature and overall bulk, the NH-U9B Special Edition delivers decent results. At stock speeds it allows the processor to run a full 10 degrees Celsius warmer than the NH-D14 that in and of itself is an accomplishment considering it ran within 5 degrees Celsius of the TRUE and NH-U12P. [...] This heatsink as delivered, is dead silent. If that's not silent enough, then you can install the Low Noise and Ultra Low Noise Adapters onto the NF-B9 fans to further drop the fan speed and noise. Priced at 55 bucks, this heatsink is not the most inexpensive, but quality components do come with a premium. As a heatsink that uses 92mm fans, it delivers performance
that exceeds that of some of the other heatsinks I have used in the past and compares well with some of the cooling behemoths on the market.
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Test verdict: "Much like its larger brethren, the NH-U9B Special Edition is a high quality heatsink with a ton of technology behind it. From the SSO bearings and Vortex Control Notches on the fans, to the build quality and darn-near universal SecuFirm2 mounting mechanism, to the NT-H1 thermal paste - it is all designed for a purpose. That purpose is to deliver excellent cooling capabilities, while keeping noise to a minimum. This goal, Noctua has been successful in achieving. I was impressed by its ability to hang as close to heatsinks that honestly are the cream of the crop." (Frank Dimmick, OverclockersClub.com)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
Noctua's NH-U9B SE2 has proven to be a decent performer. Its quality and bundled accessories set it apart from the rest of the competition. As usual, Noctua has bundled the cooler with easy to install mounting hardware for almost every current CPU socket along with a pair of excellent 92 mm fans, thermal grease, and tools to make installation a breeze. The included fans are near silent at normal 12V operation but there are also four voltage regulation adapters that, when utilized, drop the fan to 7V, or 5V to further decrease fan noise. Noctua's design also provides airflow for components around the CPU socket to aid in cooling of secondary heat sources. The cooler comes with a durable Nickel plated finish that is both functional and attractive to score in the looks department. Should you run into any problems, Noctua provides a six year warranty on all their coolers.
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Test verdict: "Overall, the Noctua NH-U9B SE2 is a great choice for anyone in need of a fairly compact cooler seeking good cooling capacity while remaining near silent. It costs a few bucks more than other offerings but that can be justified after taking in consideration the quality put into all of Noctua's products." (Steve Harris, TechPowerUp.com)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
After going through the design and test review of the cooler there is no doubt that the cooler performs very well when it is put in its intended milieu. When paired with a processor running at stock speed, the cooler can keep the processor in a safe temperature envelope even without using any fans
Even when the cooler is paired to an over clocked heat guzzling Core i7, it does not disappoint. The cooler was able to keep the processor under 80C. Remember that Linpack test generates massive amounts of thermal energy. Under normal operation the temperature would be much better.
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Test verdict: "If you in the market for a cooler that would help you assemble a nearly silent HPTC you wont find a cooler better than the NH-9UB SE2." (Ali Tayyab, WCCFtech.com)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
The NH-U9B SE2 bundle is exemplary, and the heatsink oozes quality too. The serrated aluminium fins look impressive and are said to reduce turbulence, the Noctua logo is neatly engraved into the top of the heatsink, and the four nickel-plated copper heatpipes attach to a silky-smooth contact plate.
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Test verdict: "Noctua's NH-U9B SE2 oozes quality" (Parm Mann, Hexus.net)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
Niveau performance le NH-U9B s’en tire bien avec un delta T de 32° (Tcpu = 59]) sur notre Xeon E5-2670 de test (dont le TDP réel frôle les 115W). La ventilation étant réglée en automatique, les ventilateurs se font oublier dans le bruit ambiant du boitier.
Ces performances promettent une marge confortable d’OC sur des cpu à plus faibles TDP comme les i5-xxxxK Intel.
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Test verdict: "Un bundle complet, une qualité exceptionnelle, un montage des plus simples et des performances au rendez-vous, ce ventirad de petite taille a tout pour plaire et ravira les utilisateurs exigeant ayant besoin d’un refroidissement fiable et compact. Il trouve d’ailleurs sa place dans mon serveur en tant que ventirad permanent !" (Alessandro Gallo, Passion-Hardware.com)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
I dissipatori dell’azienda Austriaca restano sempre un punto di riferimento, qualità altissima e curati nel minimo dettaglio. Ventole fantastiche, 2 presenti in questa Special Edition dell’NH-U9B (che già sono un valore aggiunto al dissipatore stesso). Il Bundle è completo, dal logo adesivo rigido (stupendo!), i kit di installazione AMD ed Intel, cavi per la personalizzazione della velocità delle ventole e l’ottima pasta termica NT-H1.
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Test verdict: "Buone prestazioni e silenziosità in dimensioni ridotte. Acquisto assolutamente consigliato, garantito!" (Santoro Luigi, HWready.it)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
Desde que tenemos el gran honor de poder probar los disipadores de Noctua, sabemos que son sinónimo de tranquilidad. Los austriacos hacen un trabajo espectacular tanto con el diseño de los disipadores, como el de los ventiladores, esto último infravalorado por su gran importancia. El fabricante nos da 6 años de garantía y eso es confianza en su propio trabajo que deriva en confianza de sus clientes; el rendimiento de este disipador es indiscutible, aunque para equipos donde queramos más OC y bajas temperaturas, tendremos que acudir a modelos más grandes, como las series de 14 y 15, con ventiladores y estructuras más grandes. Pero este modelo está indicados para equipos compactos, como mini-torres o equipos multimedia, todo ello sin descuidar su misión, que es la de enfriar nuestra CPU, y lo hace realmente bien, con una sonoridad excelente. Lo mejor de todo es que no forzamos nuestra CPU, podremos tener aún menos sonoridad, al poder usar los adaptadores que frenan la velocidad de los ventiladores. Un 10 para su sistema de montaje, por supuesto, fácil de instalar, y no menos importante, fácil de quitar.
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Test verdict: "El NH-U9B SE2 de Noctua hace un trabajo espectacular, bajas temperaturas, indicado para sistemas compactos y con una garantía de 6 años (incluidos ventiladores) de funcionamiento inigualable." (David Portero, hard-h2o.com)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
Ten niski tower jest w stanie sprostać i5 2500K@4,7GHz!
Biorąc pod uwagę prosty montaż, dość ciche wentylatory i 6 lat
gwarancji to bezsprzecznie NH-U9B SE2 możemy ocenić na 5/5 oraz przyznać
mu rekomendację w aż trzech kategoriach: jakość,
wydajność, kultura pracy!
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Test verdict: "Noctua NH-U9B SE2 to również bardzo udany cooler." (Marcin
Żyto, Tweaks.pl)
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NH-U9B SE2 Review
We know Noctua for some of the best air coolers out there, but normally their coolers are quite large and are made for full-size PC builds. It is much harder to shrink down an air cooler and still have the same type of performance. Well it looks like Noctua was able to do that with the NH-U9B SE2 cooler. This makes it perfect for a small form factor gaming machine where you still want that great performance and might even be overclocking your processor. Now on the other hand if you wanted this cooler for say a HTPC setup it does come with both a low noise adapter and ultra low noise adapter which will slow the fan speed down making the cooler much more quiet.
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Test verdict: "If you are looking for a smaller air CPU cooler this is definitely one that you should check out." (Bob Buskirk, ThinkComputers.org)
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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).




Do you have a question concerning one of our products? Please use this form to pose a question!
You can either buy from our local sales partners or directly from us via our official Amazon and eBay stores:
- INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION SHEETS (PDF)
- FAQs
- MAINBOARD COMPATIBILITY
- CASE COMPATIBILITY
- CPU COMPATIBILITY
FAQs
Can the cooler be installed turned by 90° on AMD sockets?
Is it possible to use the cooler with vertical graphic cards?
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?
My Intel CPU is running too hot although my heatsink supports the specified TDP, what's the problem?
Can I run Noctua 3-pin fans on 4-pin PWM connectors and use my mainboard’s automatic fan controller?
My fan doesn’t spin when I start up the PC - is it faulty?
Is it possible to mount fans with a greater height than 25mm?
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?
Is it possible to cool my CPU without a fan (passive) using Noctua coolers?
How to install the fan using the supplied steel clips?
What can I do if the fan blocks my RAM or chipset cooler?
Can I use Noctua fans on my fan controller?
Help, the base of the cooler doesn’t make contact with the CPU / there is no contact pressure!
Is the cooler compatible with LGA1366 mainboards for Xeon 5500?
My mainboard has more than one set of mounting holes. Which one should I use?
The fan doesn’t start with the Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (ULNA)!
Is the mounting system compatible with LGA1155?
Is the cooler compatible with AMD AM3+ and FM1?
Is the cooler compatible with the Intel LGA2011 socket and Asus X-socket™?
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
Can the cooler be installed turned by 90° on AMD sockets?
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).




Is it possible to use the cooler with vertical graphic cards?
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 |
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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.
My Intel CPU is running too hot although my heatsink supports the specified TDP, what's the problem?
Current processors from Intel, especially the unlocked models with the suffixes C, K, X or XE (e.g. Core i7-8700K, Core i9-7900X oder Core i9-9900K) can dissipate noticeably more heat than indicated by the TDP specification.
While many motherboard models stick to the recommended power levels and clock speeds settings from Intel, there are models where the UEFI BIOS is configured in such a way that:
- the TDP limits are extended or disabled.
- the motherboard applies automatic overclocking by default, e.g. by raising the supply voltage of the CPU and using higher Turbo-Mode multipliers.
Depending on the load scenario and CPU configuration settings, the actual power draw can be 1.5-3 times as high the stated TDP value. This can lead to temperature issues, especially when using smaller coolers, compact cases or cases with poor airflow, when some applications create very high loads, e.g. Prime95 with AVX2 support, 3D-rendering or simulation software.
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. You might also want to limit the TDP to either the specified value by Intel or a value that is 5-10W below the value previously read out from the CPU. This can be done in BIOS by setting the “Long Term Duration Power” manually instead of “Auto”.
Furthermore, 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.
The option to set an AVX-offset value is usually available for the following CPU generations:
- LGA1151:7th, 8th and 9th generation (Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake)
- LGA2011-3: 6th generation (Broadwell-E)
- LGA2066: 7th and 8th generation (Skylake-X)
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 most 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.
Please also note that CPUs that use thermal paste instead of soldering between the DIE and the heatspreader generally run hotter. Due to the thermal bottleneck created by the thermal paste, temperatures can be high even at the specified TDP.
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 run Noctua 3-pin fans on 4-pin PWM connectors and use my mainboard’s automatic fan controller?


My fan doesn’t spin when I start up the PC - is it faulty?
Is it possible to mount fans with a greater height than 25mm?

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?

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:

What can I do if the fan blocks my RAM or chipset cooler?

Can I use Noctua fans on my fan controller?
Help, the base of the cooler doesn’t make contact with the CPU / there is no contact pressure!

Is the cooler compatible with LGA1366 mainboards for Xeon 5500?

My mainboard has more than one set of mounting holes. Which one should I use?

The fan doesn’t start with the Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (ULNA)!
Is the mounting system compatible with LGA1155?
Is the cooler compatible with AMD AM3+ and FM1?
Is the cooler compatible with the Intel LGA2011 socket and Asus X-socket™?
Please also note that the cooler is fully compatible with Asus Rampage IV series LGA2011 motherboards that feature Asus X-socket™. Asus X-socket™ models use an interchangeable backplate that makes it possible to install LGA1366 heatsinks, so the cooler is fully compatible with these mainboards out of the box and does not require any upgrades to be installed.

In order to install the cooler on Asus X-socket™ mainboards, please first remove the mainboard’s LGA2011 backplate and install the LGA1366 backplate supplied with the mainboard instead (see the mainboard manual for detailed instructions). Then install the Noctua cooler as described in the supplied installation manual for LGA1366. In case you’ve lost the printed installation manual, you can download it here.
The cooler's fans always run at full speed and can not be controlled by my motherboard, what's the problem?
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
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