- Review -

02.11.2018 ServeTheHome.com

Now that we have tested three different Noctua TR4-SP3 coolers for AMD EPYC and Threadripper we see the Noctua NH-U12S TR4-SP3 as the Goldilocks cooler. It is not too big like we found the NH-U14S to be in some situations. It is not too small like we found in the NH-U9 that is designed for constrained 4U scenarios. Instead, it is the middle ground providing slightly better cooling performance than the NH-U9 while still requiring a single fan and having an easier to deploy form factor than the NH-U14S. Noctua has done an outstanding job with the fans used on these coolers, as is the company’s hallmark. At around $70 for a hunk of metal and a fan, you are paying for that quality. Another way to look at it is that this is less expensive than a water cooling solution normally used on Threadripper workstations. These are also much quieter than typical AMD EPYC server cooling solutions. Overall, we really like the dimensions and performance of the Noctua NH-U12S TR4-SP3 cooler, and can easily recommend it for workstation style deployments.

"Our Noctua NH-U12S TR4-SP3 review finds an AMD EPYC and Threadripper air cooler that has excellent performance, fit, and finish making it a great option for workstations and servers housed in workstation cases." (William Harmon, ServeTheHome.com)