- Review -

09.03.2022 Anandtech.com

Using a passive CPU cooler does have disadvantages, the most important being the (relatively) low thermal performance. The Noctua NH-P1 overcomes that issue, with the cooler offering passable thermal performance for most modern desktop PC processors. Its steady-state thermal resistance is comparable to that of a basic stock CPU cooler but its thermal inertia is colossal, meaning that it can maintain good operating temperatures under typical operational circumstances, as the processor will only be facing near-maximum loads for short periods of time. This massive thermal inertia comes from the respectively huge mass of the NH-P1, which limits the compatibility of the cooler and greatly increases its manufacturing cost. [...] It is also possible to add an optional 120 mm fan on the Noctua NH-P1. Most would think that using a fan defeats the purpose of having a passive CPU cooler in the first place but, on the other hand, most modern motherboards allow for the programming of meticulous cooling profiles. It would be very realistic to have a top-tier CPU and have the cooling fan operate only when, say, the temperature rises above 80 °C, even if as just a backup. In terms of quality, Noctua never disappoints. If anything, their products usually are the benchmark for how top-tier designers and manufacturers should practice their business. The NH-P1 is very well-designed mechanically, excellently assembled, and is built from premium materials, all as we'd expect from a high-end Noctua product.

"Ultimately, it is clear that Noctua does not have the mainstream market in mind, but rather is going after advanced users who understand and accept the implications of using a passive cooler. In that respect the NH-P1 is very much a niche product, but it's also a product that fills that niche well. Building quiet PC systems has always been a popular design choice, and to that end Noctua's NH-P1 should find itself right at home in the silent PC community." (E. Fylladitakis, Anandtech.com)