- Review -

15.11.2013 Hardware-360

As with all Noctua products, the NH-L9a and NH-L9i are both covered with a 6-year warranty which softens the blow of the high price tag somewhat since users can get that NF-A9x14 fan replaced for free should it break within that time period. The bundle also includes a full-size NT-H1 thermal compound so users can mount and re-mount their NH-L9 cooler through several system upgrades. If you are looking for a stock cooler replacement, the NH-L9 does a decent job considering the size but where it really shines is inside an HTPC setup, where it can do its task without hindering the installation or operation of other components. Typical heat sinks are simply too big to fit in some small form factor cases and if they do the noise trade off is not in the same league as the silence the NF-A9x14 mounted NH-L9 offer, even at 2500 RPM.

"The Noctua L9 coolers may be small in size but they are excellent for their primary purpose of silence and issue-free clearance. Quality and design is typical Noctua, engineered with precision and of impeccable caliber." (Ron Perillo, Hardware-360)