- Review -

29.04.2016 OverclockersClub.com

The NH-C14S takes the already great design of the NH-C14 and refines it to a new level. What does the NH-C14S bring to the table? It gets the job done with a single, more powerful fan, and the new offset of the fin stack provides clearance for the first PCIe slot on your motherboard. The C-type design gives you a much lower profile that lets you build your system in most HTPC-style cases. You still get the options of using either Low Profile mode or High Clearance mode. And of course, all that air the NF-A14 moves through the cooler gets directed down across the RAM modules, VRM, and other motherboard components. That amounts to extra cooling for free. The SecuFirm2™ mounting system is just the greatest thing. Installing a cooler really can't be much easier. It really needs to be an industry standard in my opinion. Typically, the thermal demands of an average HTPC system are not excessive, so a small cooler can get the job done. If you are building a more intense system, maybe an HTPC that will be hammering on the CPU, or gaming rig in a smaller case, then you will need a cooler that is up to the task. Performance of the NH-C14S is right in line with a cooler this size, so if you are building a system in a shallow case and need the cooling capacity that, for example, an overclocked 4770K might require, then you are in luck. Of course, you will want to make sure that you have adequate air flow through the case. The cooler may be able to handle the heat, but you still have to get the heat out of the case. Noctua just has it all covered. From the packaging to the last turn of the screwdriver, it is like I said at the beginning, you aren't just getting a cooler, you are getting an experience. Fit and finish are top-notch, as usual with Noctua. The center support rod seems to do a fine job of providing rigidity to the cooler. It feels rock solid. The single NF-A14 140mm PWM fan is right at home on the NH-C14S, quietly doing its job. The NH-C14S is a premium, top-flow cooler that is highly capable of handing normal everyday use, and it has proven that it can stand up to the demands of overclocking. With a six-year warranty, the NH-C14S retails for $79.99 and would be right at home in your HTPC build.

"Noctua just has it all covered. From the packaging to the last turn of the screwdriver, it is like I said at the beginning, you aren't just getting a cooler, you are getting an experience." (Chris Dawalt, OverclockersClub.com)