- Review -
NH-L9i
We tested the Noctua against an Intel stock cooler using the Gigabyte GA-H77N-WiFi and the Rosewill RS-MI-01. The power supply hangs directly over the CPU fan, with an exhaust fan pointed directly at it, thus creating a less-than optimal cooling environment. Short of stuffing the case with dust, this is a fairly worst-case scenario. We tested our Core i7-3770K at idle, at load (after looping Cinebench 3x) and after 10 minutes of running Prime 95 for peak temperatures.
At idle, with the case closed, both coolers hit 33C. That's not surprising; Intel's stock cooler is more than capable of handling the chip's minimal power output. Under load, a significant differential opened up between the two, with the stock cooler hitting 89C and the Noctua DH-9i topping out at 72'C. The gap is similar after 10 minutes in Prime 95. The Intel Core i7-3770K with a stock cooler actually hits 104'C, a hair under its automatic throttle temperature. The Noctua, in contrast, keeps the chip under 90 degrees Celsius.
"If you need a low-profile cooler, the Noctua NH-L9i is a great one." (Joel Hruska, PCMag.com)
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