heading
Details |
Award-winning NH-U series
The NH-U14S is the first 140mm model in Noctua's award-winning NH-U series. First introduced in 2005, the NH-U series has become a standard choice for premium quality quiet CPU coolers and won more than 400 awards and recommendations from leading international hardware websites and magazines.
|
Full RAM compatibility on LGA20xx
With its 52mm slim design tailor-made for LGA20xx (LGA2066 & LGA2011), the NH-U14S will not overhang the RAM slots on this platform, thus guaranteeing full compatibility with tall memory modules. On some LGA115x and AMD motherboards, the front fan may overhang the first RAM slot, so standard height RAM (up to 32mm) should be chosen when using the first slot.*
|
Reasonable size for better overall compatibility
Standing 165mm tall, the NH-U14S is short enough to fit most modern high-end cases. Measuring 150mm wide (including fan and fan clips), the NH-U14S provides better compatibility with SLI and CrossFire setups as compared to tower coolers that are wider than 150mm or use fans wider than 150mm.
|
NF-A15 140mm PWM Fan |
Anti-vibration pads and fan-clips for second NF-A15 (optional)
For users who want to achieve even better performance by adding a second, optional NF-A15 fan to create a push/pull setup, the NH-U14S includes fan clips and an extra set of custom-designed anti-vibration pads that allow to off-set the rear fan by 5mm to improve acoustics in dual-fan mode.*
|
SecuFirm2™ mounting system
Noctua's SecuFirm2™ mounting systems have become synonymous with quality, safety and ease of use. Supporting Intel LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156), LGA2011, LGA2066 and AMD (AM4 (since 2019), AM3(+), AM2(+), FM1, FM2(+)), the SecuFirm2™ mounting included with the NH-U14S guarantees perfect contact pressure and maximum convenience on all current sockets.
|
Compatibility with past and future sockets
Complying with the open SecuFirm™ standard, the NH-U14S can be made compatible with the older LGA1366 and LGA775 sockets using the optional NM-I3 mounting kit, which is provided by Noctua free of charge. If technically possible, Noctua will also provide upgrade kits for future sockets.
|
NT-H1 thermal compound
Having received more than 100 awards and recommendations from hardware journalists around the world, Noctua's NT-H1 is a proven professional grade TIM solution that provides minimum thermal resistance, excellent ease of use and outstanding reliability.
|
*In cases with more than 165mm CPU cooler clearance, the fan can be moved upwards to make room for memory modules taller than 32mm. If the rear fan is off-set, it may overhang the first left hand side RAM slot on LGA20xx.
|

|
||
Intel LGA2066, LGA2011-0 & LGA2011-3 (Square ILM), LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150 & AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate required), AM4 (included since 2019, older coolers require NM-AM4-UxS)
|
||
Height (without fan)
165 mm
|
||
Width (without fan)
150 mm
|
||
Depth (without fan)
52 mm
|
||
Weight (without fan)
770 g
|
||
Height (with fan)
165 mm
|
||
Width (with fan)
150 mm
|
||
Depth (with fan)
78 mm
|
||
Weight (with fan)
935 g
|
||
Material
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
|
||
Max. TDP
|
||
Fan compatibility
140x150x25 (with 120mm mounting holes), 140x140x25 (with 120mm mounting holes), 120x120x25
|
||
Scope of delivery
|
||
6 Years
|
|
||
Model
Noctua NF-A15 PWM
|
||
Bearing
|
||
Max. rotational speed (+/- 10%)
1500 RPM
|
||
Max. rotational speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
1200 RPM
|
||
Min. rotational speed (PWM, +/-20%)
300 RPM
|
||
140,2 m³/h
|
||
115,5 m³/h
|
||
Max. acoustical noise
24,6 dB(A)
|
||
Max. acoustical noise with L.N.A.
19,2 dB(A)
|
||
Input power
1,56 W
|
||
Voltage range
12 V
|
||
MTTF
> 150.000 h
|
![]() |

|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
What is there that I can't say that leaves this larger member of the NH-U series of coolers painted in a positive light? Well, to be honest, there isn't anything I can rightly complain about. When you have a cooler that is taking what other manufacturers have tried and failed, leaving them to resort to using a dual tower or a super thick single tower, and still some cannot compete at this level. Noctua has proven to me, once again, why I hold them in such high regard. They took the basic idea everyone has used for years, and with a few tweaks to the fin designs, figuring out the best method of heat pipe dispersal, and equipping the cooler with a 150mm fan that just kicks ass doesn't hurt things one bit either.
With just one fan on the NH-U14S there are only two coolers that were better on our charts, and from what I recall both of these coolers cost more when they were released. In all honestly, we are talking about a measly two degrees across all three of these air coolers, and if you want to spend an extra $25, you can get the second NF-A15 PWM fan and run right with the big dogs on the list.
The one thing you will get with the NH-U14S, that neither the Silver Arrow SB-E nor the Thermaltake Frio Extreme offered, is peaceful silence. Where the other option would dig deeper into your pockets, and also make your ears bleed, Noctua takes them head on and shows you can have the best of both worlds.
The icing on the cake is that you can run just behind the big dogs for less than $80. It seemed for a while there that no company was able to produce a top tier cooler that could take on the twin tower monsters that were such a success, but at the expense of just about everything on the top half of the motherboard. Noctua increased the size of this cooler not to get in the way too much, but allowed enough to be both cost effective and very efficient at removing heat from your CPU. I see absolutely no reason why I can't fully support and recommend the new NH-U14S, as it kicks ass and takes names, and like a ninja, silently takes on the competition, until it is left on the top of the pile after the successful battle.
Noctua may be a little outside the box for some, but they have proven to me that this cooler is where it's at currently, and should be a great selling cooler, once stock does arrive on shelves.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "The NH-U14S is a complete success! It took on the best of the best and can do the same job with much less cooler, and much less noise than anything comparable that I have tested to date." (Chad Sebring, TweakTown.com)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
There's a lot of data to digest here. First, it looks like the very best air cooling has to offer is only really hugging the bottom of what closed loop cooling can do, but that's a bit deceptive. The breaking point is actually when you go beyond a 120mm radiator, and even then it's not certain: Noctua's new NH-U14S, at its fastest, is a better performer than Corsair's H100i at its quietest setting. [...] Almost all of the air coolers are relatively silent under load, while the closed loop coolers produce a tremendous amount of racket if they're not configured for silent running. [...] Also note that the two new Noctua coolers are meeting or beating their old standard, the NH-D14, and they're doing it while being quieter.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "What surprised me was just how well the two new Noctua coolers performed. The NH-U12S is basically at least as good as the stalwart NH-D14, but it's smaller and it's cheaper. Meanwhile, the big brother NH-U14S puts in a solid performance of its own, but losing that top PCI Express port for just a couple more degrees of performance is a major drag. These are both excellent air coolers in their own right, but if you're looking to spend premium cash on an air cooler, I'd go with the NH-U12S and then probably tack a second NF-F12 PWM fan on to the order." (Dustin Sklavos, AnandTech.com)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
Co se
týče výkonu, pak ten dle očekávání
řadí tyto chladiče mezi nejlepší modely,
přičemž vedení si získal především
větší model NH-U14S, který se přinejmenším
vyrovná i velkým chladičům disponujícím
dvěma ventilátory. Díky tomu může pracovat tiše a
zabrat menší prostor. NH-U12S pak můžeme vidět jako
prostorově úspornější náhradu starého
NH-U12P, jemuž se výkonnostně vyrovná. Chladiče Noctua
jsou také investicí do budoucna, protože vzhledem k podpoře
starších modelů ze strany této firmy můžeme
očekávat, že nám vydrží i po příchodu
nových socketů. Budiž to náplastí na bolístku v
podobě vyšší ceny. Po zvážení pro a proti
jsme se rozhodli udělit modelu NH-U14S ocenění TREFA.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "Dnes se podíváme na nabídku firmy Noctua, která v
ní má mimo jiné 2 procesorové chladiče NH-U12S a
NH-U14S, je se lií svou velikostí, ale ne
zpracováním." (Jan Vítek, SvětHardware.cz)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
Da die leistungsspezifischen Anforderungen an Prozessorkühler in den vergangenen Jahren kaum gestiegen sind, haben Kühlerhersteller bei der Pflege ihres Produkt-Portfolios ein vermeintlich leichtes Spiel. Scheinbar ohne die Bemühung gestalterischer Finesse oder revolutionärer Ideen gelingt es, ein empfehlenswertes Produkt abzuliefern. Ganz so einfach macht es sich Noctua bei den vorgestellten NH-U-Kühlern jedoch nicht, denn viele Verbesserungen stecken im Detail.
Die Kühlkörper von NH-U12S und NH-U14S lassen wenig Raum zur Optimierung. Hochwertige Materialien stehen sauber verlötet in stabiler Verbindung. Die vollständige Nickel-Legierung verleiht dem metallenen Auftritt eine einheitliche Optik ohne Spielerei. Aus Sicht der Kühlleistung verzichtet man zwar aufgrund der sehr schmalen Bauform auf etwas Potential, dafür sichert Noctua die Kompatibilität auch zu hochbauenden RAM-Riegeln – ein Umstand, den viele High-End-Kühler dieser Tage außer Acht lassen.
Dennoch offenbaren die Kühler im Leistungsvergleich sehr gute Werte. Insbesondere der NH-U14S überzeugt mit ausgesprochen hoher Rohleistung. Dabei harmonieren beide Kühler sowohl mit Einzel- als auch mit Doppelbelüftung.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "In Summe liefern sowohl der NH-U12S als auch der NH-U14S in bester Tradition sehr gute Gesamtpakete, die man so bei der Konkurrenz nur selten findet." (Martin Eckardt, ComputerBase.de)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
Let us start with noise levels, or should I say lack thereof? This cooler is quiet, topping out at 42 dBA in its default, single-fan configuration to place second on our sound-level charts when at full fan speed. When using two NF-A15 PWM fans, the noise level climbs by 3 dBA for 45 dBA at full fan speeds. Cooling performance is exceptional for a single-tower design. It manages to keep up with the much larger Phanteks PH-TC14PE, which is the best-performing air cooler I have tested so far. The NH-U14S's performance proves that a smaller heatsink can go toe to toe with heavyweight coolers--without high RPM fans. The easy install is also a huge plus. I say that about most Noctua coolers, but the SecuFirm 2 mounting system really is exceptional, and the heatsink's design makes it even easier to work with now. Build quality is as always with Noctua's coolers absolutely fantastic--no gaps on the heatpipes and no bent fins; the entire heatsink's overall quality confirms that the NH-U14S is a premium CPU cooler. Noctua has also included some rubber anti-vibration pads with their NF-A15 PWM fans. While not a deal maker, this simple inclusion does cut down on noise and is one of those extras that shows they care about giving the end user a great experience with their products. The option to mount a second fan also lets users improve the overall performance of the NH-U14S; however, it does come at a greater cost. Finally, the warranty of six years is also one of the best warranties available. With a proof of purchase, Noctua will even provide updated mounting hardware throughout its span. This goes far beyond what most of their competition offers.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "The NH-U14S from Noctua is an amazing cooler. Its performance has it take on some of the best-performing air coolers in the industry." (Raymond Lemar, techPowerUp.com)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
Noctua’s NH-U12S and NH-U14S may not be genre-defining coolers, nor do they provide the absolute best performance but they boast class-leading designs which seamlessly fit the demands of today’s enthusiasts. Few, if any other heatsinks have managed to accomplish this but these two entries have proven once again that refined engineering practices can easily beat brute force approaches to cooling. The U12S and U14S aren’t chart toppers but their overall performance beggars belief. Being able to run with some of today’s best air coolers and similarly priced water-based setups is no small feat but to do so with a single fan and barely noticeable acoustics is simply astounding. Noctua’s design is so fine-tuned that switching out fans for higher performing (and louder) models amounts to very little in the way of decreased CPU temperatures. It feels like Noctua’s engineers designed the NF-F12 and NF-A15 first and then said “ok, let’s design two heatsinks to take advantage of these fans”. The end result is a pair of highly adaptable heatsinks that remain blissfully silent while retaining the capability to cool off overclocked CPUs. Aside from raw performance and quiet operation, the U12S and U14S both provide an ease of installation that’s nearly unrivaled. The SecureFirm 2’s individually boxed mounting kits, straightforward instructions and intuitive hardware all work together to create an installation process which will be a time saver for enthusiasts and a game changer for novices. It also provides excellent, even pressure without introducing the possibility of over tightening bolts. This is all accomplished without any notable compatibility issues and installation hiccups.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "With the NH-U12S and NH-U14S Noctua have continued a longstanding tradition of creating excellent heatsinks with a focus on quiet operation." (Anthony Garland, HardwareCanucks)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
Εν
ολίγοις η NH-U14S τα
πήρε όλα σβάρνα
και έφυγε,
αδιαφορώντας
για το αν οι
άλλες ψύκτρες
διαθέτουν
μεγαλύτερο
βάρος,
περισσότερους
ανεμιστήρες
και αν
κοστίζουν
ακριβότερα.
Κατάφερε και
έβαλε τα
γυαλιά ακόμη
και στην NH-D14 η
οποία
υποτίθεται ότι
ανήκει σε
μεγαλύτερη
σειρά, αλλά
δυστυχώς έχει
αρχίσει και
δείχνει τα
χρονάκια της
και καλά θα
κάνει η Noctua να την
ανανεώσει/βελτιώσει
σύντομα, μιας
και δεν πρέπει
να αφήνεις
τέτοιους
θρύλους να
σβήνουν άδοξα
στο τέλος. Αν
θέλετε να
ξεμπερδεύετε
μια και καλή με
το θέμα της ψύξης
του
υπερ-χρονισμένου
επεξεργαστή
σας και δε
βρίσκεται
βολικές τις
ωτοασπίδες,
τότε
προμηθευτείτε
μια NH-U14S με έναν
επιπλέον
ανεμιστήρα και
θα ξεχάσετε το
θέμα ψύξη για
πολύ μεγάλο
διάστημα. Όσον
αφορά τώρα τη
"μικρή" NH-U12S, σε καμιά
περίπτωση δεν
μπορεί να
σταθεί δίπλα
στη μεγάλη της
αδερφή από
πλευρά
επιδόσεων,
αλλά παρόλα
αυτά κατάφερε
και άντεξε το
πλήρες φορτίο
του Jalapeno,
σημειώνοντας
αξιοπρεπείς
θερμοκρασίες.
Το κύριο
μειονέκτημα της
αποτελεί η
μικρή διαφορά
τιμής που τη
χωρίζει από τη
μεγαλύτερη NH-U14S,
αλλά ούτως η
άλλος παίζει
σε εντελώς
διαφορετική
κατηγορία και
στο κάτω κάτω
θα την επιλέξει
κάποιος που
δεν μπορεί να
χρησιμοποιήσει
μεγαλύτερων
διαστάσεων
ψύκτρα. Για τα
κυβικά της
πάντως
αποδίδει
αρκετά καλά
και ο θόρυβος
που παράγει σε
γενικές
γραμμές είναι
χαμηλός. Πάντως
σε αυτές τις
διαστάσεις
υπάρχουν και
άλλες
προτάσεις,
πολύ πιο
οικονομικές
αλλά και με
κατά πολύ
χαμηλότερη
ποιότητα
κατασκευής
και αρκετά πιο
θορυβώδεις.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "Νομίζω ότι δε
χρειάζεται να
πω (γράψω
καλύτερα)
πολλά μιας και
οι αριθμοί και
τα γραφήματα των
προηγούμενων
σελίδων τα
αποκάλυψαν
όλα. Η Noctua για άλλη
μια φορά έδειξε
γιατί είναι μια
από τις
κορυφαίες
εταιρίες
κατασκευής
λύσεων ψύξης
για
επεξεργαστές.
Πρόκειται
άλλωστε για
μια εταιρία που
δεν
ασχολείται με
τίποτε άλλο
παρά μόνο με
αυτό τον τομέα,
οπότε η
τεχνογνωσία
και η εμπειρία
που έχει
αποκτήσει
είναι τεράστια.
Αν
συνδυάσουμε
τα παραπάνω με την
κορυφαία
ποιότητα
κατασκευής
που
χαρακτηρίζει
όλα τα προϊόντα
της, τότε το
αποτέλεσμα δεν
μπορεί να είναι
τίποτα
λιγότερο από
εξαιρετικό." (Aristides
Mpitziopoulos, TheLab.gr)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
At stock we can see the NH-U14S does amazingly well, battling its way past the Seidon 240M, which is a 240mm AIO water cooling system. It also manages to grab an extra degree over its 120mm sibling the Noctua NH-U12S. [...] Overclocking was where we brought in some push-pull results for you guys to see. With the default single fan and PWM profile we saw a 38.3 delta which meant it was the best air cooler on our records by quite some margin. With a single fan at 100% speed (1500 RPM) we were able to take down a PWM operated Antec Kuhler 1220 240mm AIO system – impressive indeed. Push-pull scaled equally well shaving off another 2 degrees delta at PWM. With maximum fan speed in push-pull we saw results encroaching on the Swiftech H220 at PWM speeds.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "If you are looking for an Air CPU cooler that can offer you 100% RAM compatibility, best-in-class performance, silence, top-of-the-line build quality and a relatively affordable price point then you can’t really go wrong with the Noctua NH-U14S. Any PC enthusiast would be over the moon to be able to put this CPU cooler in their rig, and understandably so. With all that said Noctua’s NH-U14S is an eTeknix Editor’s Choice award winner." (Ryan Martin, eTeknix.com)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
The NH-U14S is the heatsink featured in this review, and it did surprisingly well. One would expect that it would not be able to keep up: not only cooling less well than the D15 but falling behind the DF14, the Megahalems and the Genesis as well. Instead, this little one tower heatsink surpassed all our expectations and beat out three top heatsinks, with the stock U14S only falling behind the stock D15 by 2.1 °C (59.3 vs 61.4). If we look at the single-fan options the U14S is only 1.4 °C behind the D15S (60.0 vs 61.4). How does it do its magic? Who knows? It is a fine heatsink that won’t interfere with tall RAM. You could improve the cooling by little more than a degree by buying an NF-A15 and putting it on the back side of the heatsink as a pull fan. But the Noctua engineers think gains to be had over the single fan is not worth the cost. However we are all about limit pushing here, so Noctua includes a second set of fan clips with the NH-U14S kit.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "How can you expect a single-tower heatsink to keep up with dual-tower competitors, especially doing Linpack with AVX2 at 5 GHz? First, the double-fan setup (1500 as push, 1200 as pull) finished only 1.5 °C behind the leading D15 combination. This is an amazing result." (Ed Hume, overclockers.com)
|
|
|||||||
NH-U14S Review
Just like that we have a new performance king. The NH-U14S is able to take the top spot in both of our performance tests. It beat out the much larger and dual fan Dark Rock Pro 2 while only using one fan in a much smaller size. Noctua has a winner on its hands so far but let’s look a little closer and see if all this performance comes at the expense of our ears. [...] Let’s get one thing out of the way. Noctua has never been a value brand. The premium price tag of the NH-U14S is backed up by extra attention to detail in the installation process and added accessories, but the crowning jewel is its top tier performance. The included fan is also engineered to be quiet without sacrificing performance which is always a great plus. It is nuances such as these that separate Noctua from the rest of the pack and contribute to the premium feel of its coolers.
The NH-U14S is not an inexpensive cooler but this is a case where you absolutely pay top dollar for what you get. In a world where you have air cooler prices encroaching on All-in-One water cooling prices, with the NH-U14S you also have air cooling performance encroaching on AIO water cooling performance.
|
|||||||
Test verdict: "The Noctua NH-U14S impressed us with each test we subjected it to. The NH-U14S is an elegant powerhouse that’s able to handle high heat loads while operating in a quiet envelope. Noctua has a winner on the hands with the NH-U14S [...]. With its game changing performance and low noise output we are happy to award the Noctua NH-U14S the [H]ardOCP Editor’s Choice Gold Award." (Marc Adams, [H]ardOCP)
|
NM-I3 Mounting-Kit
- The NM-I3 SecuFirm2™ Mounting-Kit makes Noctua CPU coolers compatible with Intel's LGA775 & LGA1366 sockets.

NM-AM4-UxS mounting-kit
- The NM-AM4-UxS SecuFirm2™ mounting-kit makes Noctua NH-U14S, NH-U12S and NH-U9S CPU coolers compatible with AMD's AM4 socket.

You can either buy from our local sales partners or directly from us via our official Amazon and eBay stores:
- INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION SHEETS (PDF)
- FAQs
- MAINBOARD COMPATIBILITY
- CASE COMPATIBILITY
- CPU COMPATIBILITY
FAQs
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
Can I install a Noctua cooler in my system from Acer, Dell, HP or Lenovo?
Which sockets are supported or can be supported using upgrade kits?
How should I clean my Noctua cooler?
Can I upgrade my existing Noctua cooler to socket TR4 or SP3?
I’ve used all the NT-H1 thermal compound that came with the cooler, can you send me more?
Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with AMD AM4 (Ryzen)?
Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with Intel LGA2066?
Can I keep using the backplate / mounting system of my previous Noctua cooler for my new one?
My case supports CPU coolers of up to XXXmm height, which model should I choose?
I have difficulties installing the cooler, can you help?
I'm experiencing fan speed issues with my motherboard from Supermicro, what can I do?
I get a CPU fan error using my Noctua PWM fan, is it faulty?
My Noctua PWM fan runs at a much higher minimum speed than advertised, what is wrong?
My Noctua PWM fan starts to spin when the PC boots but then stops, what is wrong?
I get a CPU fan error despite the fan is running!
My Intel CPU is running too hot although my heatsink supports the specified TDP, what's the problem?
How much torque should be applied when tightening the screws of a Noctua CPU cooler?
Is the cooler compatible with the LGA1151 socket?
Which Noctua coolers are compatible with LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156)?
How to remove the base protection cover?
Does the package include a backplate for AMD AM2(+)/AM3(+)/FM1/FM2(+)?
Can the cooler be installed turned by 90° on AMD sockets?
I can't open the socket due to the mounting bars!
How can I determine which backplate revision I’ve got?
Is the cooler compatible with AMD FM2+?
Should I take the cooler off before transporting my system?
How big is the NH-U14S and how much clearance does it provide for RAM and chipset coolers?
Does the mounting-system support LGA2011 based Xeon CPUs?
Why is the cooler’s contact surface slightly convex?
Why doesn't the base of Noctua coolers have a polished, mirror like finish?
The supplied y-cable is missing a wire at one of the two connectors, is it faulty?
Is the cooler compatible with LGA775 and LGA1366?
How can I check if my Noctua CPU cooler already includes AM4 mounting parts?
Is it possible to use the cooler with vertical graphic cards?
How can I check whether my case is wide/high enough for the cooler?
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
Can I install a Noctua cooler in my system from Acer, Dell, HP or Lenovo?
Systems from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major brands often use motherboards which differ slightly from the specifications issued by Intel and AMD. While those changes are usually subtle, they can lead to compatibility issues with coolers that were built to comply with these specifications.
Even in case the cooler is mechanically compatible and can be installed, other issues can occur, e.g. proprietary fan connectors, BIOS errors due to a low fan speed, shutdowns, etc. Some of these problems can be avoided with some technical knowledge, but especially BIOS related issues can often not be resolved.
Due to the large number of possible issues that cannot be resolved with different mounting parts alone, Noctua does not officially support systems from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major brands.
What Thermal Design Power (TDP) is this cooler recommended for and how much Watt (W) of heat can it dissipate?
Which sockets are supported or can be supported using upgrade kits?
How should I clean my Noctua cooler?
Thermal paste residues: Whenever you take off the heatsink from the CPU, we recommend to clean the CPU as well as the base of the cooler before re-applying thermal paste and re-installing the cooler. You can either just wipe the base and the CPU clean with a dry, lint-free tissue or, for more thorough cleaning, use a lint-free tissue moistened with either a mild solution of washing-up liquid or isopropyl alcohol. Do not put the cooler or CPU under running water. Note that both the base of the heatsink and the CPU should be dry, free from residues of thermal compound and free from grease before re-applying thermal paste and re-installing the cooler.
Can I upgrade my existing Noctua cooler to socket TR4 or SP3?
I’ve used all the NT-H1 thermal compound that came with the cooler, can you send me more?
Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with AMD AM4 (Ryzen)?
NH-D15 (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D15 SE-AM4
NH-D15S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U14S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U12S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U12S SE-AM4
NH-U9S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D9L (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-C14S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-L12S
NH-L9x65 (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-L9x65 SE-AM4
NH-L9a-AM4
The following models can be made compatible with the AM4 socket free of charge using the NM-AM4 upgrade-kit:
NH-C12P
NH-C12P SE14
NH-C14
NH-C14S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D14
NH-D14 SE2011
NH-D15 (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D15S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-D9L (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-L12
NH-L9x65 (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U12
NH-U12F
NH-U12P
NH-U12P SE1366
NH-U12P SE2
NH-U9
NH-U9B
NH-U9B SE2
NH-U9F
The following models can be made compatible with the AM4 socket free of charge using the NM-AM4-UxS upgrade-kit:
NH-U14S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U12S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
NH-U9S (AM4 mounting included since 2019, only older coolers require upgrade kit)
The following models can be made compatible with the AM4 socket free of charge using the NM-AM4-L9aL9i upgrade-kit:
NH-L9a
NH-L9i
The following models can be made compatible with the AM4 socket using the NM-AM4 upgrade-kit but are not eligible for Noctua‘s free mounting offer, so users have to purchase the kit at local resellers:
NH-U12DO (Note that the A3 version is not compatible!)
NH-U12DX
NH-U12DX 1366
NH-U12DX i4
NH-U9DX i4
NH-U9DX 1366
NH-U9DO (Note that the A3 version is not compatible!)
The following models are not compatible with the AM4 socket and can not be upgraded:
NH-U14S TR4-SP3
NH-U12S TR4-SP3
NH-U9 TR4-SP3
NH-U12DO A3
NH-U9 DO A3
Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with Intel LGA2066?
Due to the heatsink mounting mechanism being identical on LGA2011 and LGA2066, Noctua’s SecuFirm2™ mounting systems for LGA2011 also support Intel’s upcoming ‘Basin Falls’ X299 HEDT (High End Desktop) platform for ‘Skylake-X’ and ‘Kaby Lake-X’ processors. Most current Noctua coolers already include SecuFirm2™ mounting systems for LGA2011 and can thus be used on LGA2066 motherboards without any upgrades or modifications.
The following models include a mounting-kit for socket LGA2011/2066 and are thus compatible out of the box:
NH-C14S
NH-D14 SE2011
NH-D15
NH-D15S
NH-D9L
NH-L12
NH-L9x65
NH-U12S
NH-U12DX i4
NH-U14S
NH-U9DX i4
NH-U9S
The following models can be made compatible with the LGA2011/LGA2066 sockets free of charge using the NM-I2011 upgrade-kit:
NH-C12P
NH-C12P SE14
NH-C14
NH-D14
NH-D15 SE-AM4
NH-U12S SE-AM4
NH-L9x65 SE-AM4
NH-U12
NH-U12F
NH-U12P
NH-U12P SE1366
NH-U12P SE2
NH-U9
NH-U9B
NH-U9B SE2
NH-U9F
The following models can be made compatible with the LGA2011/LGA2066 sockets using the NM-I2011 upgrade-kit but are not eligible for Noctua‘s free mounting offer, so users have to purchase the kit at local resellers:
NH-U12DO (Note that the A3 version is not compatible!)
NH-U12DX
NH-U12DX 1366
NH-U9DX 1366
NH-U9DO (Note that the A3 version is not compatible!)
The following models are not compatible with the LGA2011/LGA2066 sockets and can not be upgraded:
NH-L9a
NH-L9i
NH-U12DO A3
NH-U9DO A3
Can I keep using the backplate / mounting system of my previous Noctua cooler for my new one?
My case supports CPU coolers of up to XXXmm height, which model should I choose?
I have difficulties installing the cooler, can you help?
I'm experiencing fan speed issues with my motherboard from Supermicro, what can I do?
The BIOS of many motherboard models from Supermicro expects a certain minimum fan speed (usually 600 or 700rpm), which is higher than the minimum fan speed that can be achieved with Noctua's PWM fan models. The BIOS may interpret the low minimum RPM of Noctua fans as a fan error and thus try to run the fan at 100% for a short period before going back to automatic control. This can result in oscillating fan speeds and fan speed warnings in the BIOS or the fan management console.
Unfortunately there is usually no option to set a lower minimum value in the BIOS that would suit the low minimum speed of Noctua PWM fans. The issue can thus only be resolved by either disabling automatic fan speed control in BIOS, which will cause the fans to run at a constant speed, by using 3rd party tools like IPMItool or IPMIutil, or by requesting a modified BIOS file from Supermicro, which takes the minimum fan speed of Noctua fans into account (charges might apply). Please note that any modifications performed with 3rd party tools are done at your own risk and that Noctua can not be held responsible for any possible issues.
I get a CPU fan error using my Noctua PWM fan, is it faulty?
My Noctua PWM fan runs at a much higher minimum speed than advertised, what is wrong?
- Many mainboards do not go below 40%, 50% or even 60% PWM duty cycle on case fan headers. Please refer to your mainboard manual to verify whether the fan header actually goes down to 20% duty cycle. If that's not the case, in some cases you can use the fan speed control software supplied with your mainboard to overcome these limitations and reduce the fan speed even further. However, 3rd party tools like SpeedFan offer greater flexibility and better options to work around the limitations imposed by the mainboard vendors.
- Some mainboards feature 4-pin fan headers that actually don‘t use a PWM signal on Pin 4 to control the fan speed but rather reduce the voltage on Pin 2 (like a standard 3-pin fan header). As the fan speed at minimum voltage is usually higher than the speed at 20% PWM duty cycle, the fan can not reach as low minimum speeds under voltage control as under PWM control. Please refer to your mainboard manual to check whether or not your mainboard has 4-pin fan headers that control the fan speed by reducing voltage on Pin 2 rather than by changing the PWM duty cycle on Pin 4:
Note that mainboard manufacturers use different terms to indicate that Pin 4 is not being used for PWM control (e.g. “+5V”, “VCC” or “NC”), but if one of these terms is used, you can be sure that the fan header does not support PWM. If Pin 4 is described as “Speed Control” or “PWM” or the like, you can be sure that the fan header supports PWM.
Unfortunately, the description of Pin 2 is not always a clear indication as some manufacturers use terms such as “Fan PWR” or “Power” for both types of fan headers. However, if Pin 2 is described as “Speed Control”, you can also be sure that the fan header does not support PWM based speed control. If Pin 2 is described as “+12V”, this is a clear indication that the fan header supports PWM.
Please also note that in some cases, the descriptions of the pin layouts in the mainboard manuals may not be correct and some models actually allow you to switch the fan headers from voltage control mode to PWM control mode in the BIOS even though the pin descriptions do not indicate PWM support. We thus recommend to look for these options in the BIOS before taking other measures. In case of doubt, please contact your mainboard manufacturer.
If your mainboard features other 4-pin fan headers that use PWM for speed control, you can run multiple fans from these headers using Y-split cables. Make sure not to exceed the specified maximum power draw of the fan headers (usually 10-12W) though.
My Noctua PWM fan starts to spin when the PC boots but then stops, what is wrong?

Note that mainboard manufacturers use different terms to indicate that Pin 4 is not being used for PWM control (e.g. “+5V”, “VCC” or “NC”), but if one of these terms is used, you can be sure that the fan header does not support PWM. If Pin 4 is described as “Speed Control” or “PWM” or the like, you can be sure that the fan header supports PWM.
Unfortunately, the description of Pin 2 is not always a clear indication as some manufacturers use terms such as “Fan PWR” or “Power” for both types of fan headers. However, if Pin 2 is described as “Speed Control”, you can also be sure that the fan header does not support PWM based speed control. If Pin 2 is described as “+12V”, this is a clear indication that the fan header supports PWM.
Please also note that in some cases, the descriptions of the pin layouts in the mainboard manuals may not be correct and some models actually allow you to switch the fan headers from voltage control mode to PWM control mode in the BIOS even though the pin descriptions do not indicate PWM support. We thus recommend to look for these options in the BIOS before taking other measures. In case of doubt, please contact your mainboard manufacturer.
To resolve the issue, you can:
Choose a higher fan speed profile in the BIOS (e.g. „normal“ instead of „silent“, etc.) or deactivate automatic fan speed control and use a Low-Noise Adaptor instead.
Use the mainboard‘s fan speed control software or 3rd party tools like Speedfan to regulate the fan speed. Unlike BIOS based fan speed control, the supplied software usually checks whether the fan has stopped and increases voltage accordingly or at least offer more options to set up the fan properly.
If your mainboard features other 4-pin fan headers that use PWM for speed control, you can run multiple fans from these headers using Y-split cables. Make sure not to exceed the specified maximum power draw of the fan headers (usually 10-12W) though.
I get a CPU fan error despite the fan is running!
Why is my Ryzen 3000 processor getting so hot? Why are Ryzen 3000 CPUs running hotter than previous generation Ryzen CPUs with the same TDP rating? Is there anything wrong with my cooler?
The latest Ryzen 3000 processors (except APU models) differ from previous Ryzen generations in that they are no longer based on a single, large chip but use a multi-chip approach with smaller chips instead. Depending on the exact model there can be one (6 and 8-core models) or two (12 and 16-core models) actual CPU-Dies (CCD) on the package. Each processor also uses an I/O-Die (IOD), which contains things like the memory controller, PCIe controller, connections to the motherboard chipset and other functions.

Because of this design change and the switch to a smaller 7nm manufacturing process, the heat distribution of the overall processor is much different from older 14nm and 12nm based single-chip Ryzen processors with a similar power draw.
Depending on the exact CPU model, its specified TDP value and possibly extended power limits (precision boost overdrive), a single CPU-die can create a heatload of up to 130W easily, whereas the I/O-die usually creates a heatload of about 10W. Due to the small size of the CPU-die, the heat density (W/mm²) of this chip is very high. For example, a 120W heatload at a chip-size of 74mm² results in a heat-density of 1.62W/mm², whereas the same heatload on an older Ryzen processor with a chip-size of 212mm² gives a heat-density of just 0.57W/mm².
This large difference in heat-density is the reason why newer Ryzen 3000 processors become much warmer at similar heatloads than their predecessors.
Furthermore, Ryzen 3000 CPUs are using the rated temperature headroom (up to 95°C) quite aggressively in order to reach higher boost clocks. As a result, it is absolutely no problem and not alarming if the processor runs into this temperature limit. The clock speed and supply voltage will be adjusted automatically by the processor itself in order to remain within AMD’s specifications and to prevent overheating.
Due to the higher heat density, higher thermal limits and more aggressive boost clock usage, it is perfectly normal that Ryzen 3000 CPUs are reaching higher temperatures than previous generation Ryzen CPUs with the same TDP rating. Higher CPU temperatures are normal for Ryzen 3000 processors and not a sign of that there is anything wrong with the CPU cooler.
My Intel CPU is running too hot although my heatsink supports the specified TDP, what's the problem?
Current processors from Intel, especially the unlocked models with the suffixes C, K, X or XE (e.g. Core i7-8700K, Core i9-7900X oder Core i9-9900K) can dissipate noticeably more heat than indicated by the TDP specification.
While many motherboard models stick to the recommended power levels and clock speeds settings from Intel, there are models where the UEFI BIOS is configured in such a way that:
- the TDP limits are extended or disabled.
- the motherboard applies automatic overclocking by default, e.g. by raising the supply voltage of the CPU and using higher Turbo-Mode multipliers.
Depending on the load scenario and CPU configuration settings, the actual power draw can be 1.5-3 times as high the stated TDP value. This can lead to temperature issues, especially when using smaller coolers, compact cases or cases with poor airflow, when some applications create very high loads, e.g. Prime95 with AVX2 support, 3D-rendering or simulation software.
The actual power draw of the processor can be monitored with software provided by the motherboard vendor or with 3rd party tools like HWInfo or HWMonitor.
If you encounter temperature issues (>90°C) and notice a higher than specified power draw, please ensure that no automatic overclocking is applied. You might also want to limit the TDP to either the specified value by Intel or a value that is 5-10W below the value previously read out from the CPU. This can be done in BIOS by setting the “Long Term Duration Power” manually instead of “Auto”.
Furthermore, it may also help to lower the CPU clock speed for applications that heavily use the AVX instruction set, which can lead to higher loads and power draw. This option is usually referred to as “AVX offset” and makes it possible to lower the multiplier specifically for AVX based applications without reducing performance when using other instruction sets. Depending on the quality of the CPU and the programs being used, a reduction of 2-3 steps usually gives very good results.
The option to set an AVX-offset value is usually available for the following CPU generations:
- LGA1151:7th, 8th and 9th generation (Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake)
- LGA2011-3: 6th generation (Broadwell-E)
- LGA2066: 7th and 8th generation (Skylake-X)
Please contact your motherboard vendor for details if you have trouble finding the appropriate settings in the BIOS.
All our TDP recommendations are based on thorough testing with the default values specified by Intel using popular applications such as Asus Realbench and prime95. Please note, however, that prime95 creates a particularly high load that goes beyond most typical application scenarios and this leads to elevated temperatures. We thus recommend using other programs such as Realbench for checking the stability and temperatures of the CPU in realistic scenarios.
Please also note that CPUs that use thermal paste instead of soldering between the DIE and the heatspreader generally run hotter. Due to the thermal bottleneck created by the thermal paste, temperatures can be high even at the specified TDP.
How can I determine if the motherboard’s UEFI BIOS is overclocking my processor by default and deactivate this automatic overclocking?
Most motherboard vendors allow their overclocking-enabled products (e.g. those with Intels X- or Z-series chipsets) to run the processor at increased clock speeds by default, without requiring any user action at all. Since TDP (Thermal Design Power) limits are usually also disabled by default, this leads to the CPU exceeding the rated TDP to a varying degree, depending on the used applications and their workloads. Due to the increased heat output of the CPU, you may see higher CPU temperatures than expected.
In order to find out if your motherboard is overclocking your processor by default, please enter the UEFI BIOS and select the “advanced” or “overclocking” menu. There you should be able to find options such as “MultiCore Enhancement” (options: enabled/disabled), “CPU Ratio Apply Mode” (options: all/per core) or similar. To disable the automatic overclocking, adjust the settings either to “disabled” or “per core” and make sure that the individual multipliers match the original specifications.
In doubt, please contact your motherboard vendor for detailed instructions on how to disable this feature.
How much torque should be applied when tightening the screws of a Noctua CPU cooler?
Screw type | Max. torque |
---|---|
NM-SSC1 screws for fixing the fastening brackets to the base of the heatsink | 0.5 Nm |
NM-ITS1 thumb screws for fixing Intel mounting bars | 0.5 Nm |
NM-ALS1 screws for fixing AMD mounting bars | 0.6 Nm |
Spring-loaded screws for fixing the heatsink to the mounting bars | 0.6 Nm |
My unlocked Intel CPU is running too hot although my heatsink supports the specified TDP, what's the problem?
- the TDP limits are extended or disabled in the motherboards' BIOS.
- the motherboard applies automatic overclocking by default, e.g. by raising the supply voltage of the CPU and using higher Turbo-Mode multipliers.
- some software creates untypical loads, e.g. Prime95 with AVX2 support and a) and/or b) apply.
This can lead to temperature issues, especially when using smaller coolers or compact cases.
The actual power draw of the processor can be monitored with software provided by the motherboard vendor or with 3rd party tools like HWInfo or HWMonitor.
If you encounter temperature issues (>90°C) and notice a higher than specified power draw, please ensure that no automatic overclocking is applied and limit the TDP to the specified value by choosing appropriate BIOS settings.
For Kaby Lake CPUs, it may also help to lower the CPU clock speed for applications that heavily use the AVX instruction set, which can lead to higher loads and power draw. This option is usually referred to as “AVX offset” and makes it possible to lower the multiplier specifically for AVX based applications without reducing performance when using other instruction sets. Depending on the quality of the CPU and the programs being used, a reduction of 2-3 steps usually gives very good results.
Please contact your motherboard vendor for details if you have trouble finding the appropriate settings in the BIOS.
All our TDP recommendations are based on thorough testing with the default values specified by Intel using popular applications such as Asus Realbench and prime95. Please note, however, that prime95 creates a particularly high load that goes beyond typical application scenarios and this leads to elevated temperatures. We thus recommend using other programs such as Realbench for checking the stability and temperatures of the CPU in realistic scenarios.
Is the cooler compatible with the LGA1151 socket?
Which Noctua coolers are compatible with LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156)?
The following coolers can be made compatible to LGA115x using the NM-i115x Upgrade-Kit: NH-C12P, NH-D15 SE-AM4, NH-L9x65 SE-AM4, NH-U12, NH-U12F, NH-U12P, NH-U12P SE1366, NH-U12S SE-AM4, NH-U9, NH-U9F, NH-U9B.
The following coolers are mechanically incompatible with the NM-i115x Upgrade-Kit and can not be made compatible with LGA115x: TR4-SP3 coolers, DX-3647 coolers, DO-Series AMD Opteron coolers, NH-L9a, NH-L9a-AM4.
How to remove the base protection cover?
The base of Noctua CPU coolers is made from hard-wearing nickel plated copper, so there's nothing to worry about if you buy a Noctua cooler from second hand or if your cooler didn't come with a protection cover. Please proceed with the installation as explained in the manual.
You can simply remove the cover as shown below:

Does the package include a backplate for AMD AM2(+)/AM3(+)/FM1/FM2(+)?

Can the cooler be installed turned by 90° on AMD sockets?
I can't open the socket due to the mounting bars!


How can I determine which backplate revision I’ve got?

Some mainboards pose compatibility problems with the first version of the NM-IBP2 backplate included with the cooler. Please verify to use a revision 1.5 or revision 2 backplate when installing the cooler on these mainboards. All coolers manufactured since April 2013 already include the new revision backplates. Owners of coolers with rev. 1 backplates can request a new backplate from Noctua’s customer service free of charge.
Is the cooler compatible with AMD FM2+?
Should I take the cooler off before transporting my system?
Does the NF-A15 PWM that comes with Noctua coolers run at a different speed (1500rpm) than the retail model (1200rpm)?
How big is the NH-U14S and how much clearance does it provide for RAM and chipset coolers?

Does the mounting-system support LGA2011 based Xeon CPUs?

Why is the cooler’s contact surface slightly convex?
Why doesn't the base of Noctua coolers have a polished, mirror like finish?
The supplied y-cable is missing a wire at one of the two connectors, is it faulty?
Is the cooler compatible with LGA775 and LGA1366?
How can I check if my Noctua CPU cooler already includes AM4 mounting parts?
- Check the socket compatibility specifications on the packaging. If they include AM4, AM4 parts are included.
- Opening the packaging, check the printing on the accessories box. If the AMD parts pictured on the box include both a white and a grey spacer, the cooler supports AM4.
- Opening the accessories box, check the AMD bag. If it includes both white and grey spacers, the cooler supports AM4.
- Check if the AMD bag contains either NM-AMB8 or NM-AMB11 mounting bars.




Is it possible to use the cooler with vertical graphic cards?
How can I check whether my case is wide/high enough for the cooler?
Is it a problem that the CPU heatspreader is not covered completely by the heatsinkbase on LGA2011-3?
How can I check whether my AMD mainboard has a standard AMD backplate that’s compatible with the SecuFirm2™ mounting system and how should I proceed with the installation?
In order to proceed with the installation of your Noctua cooler, please remove the four screws and the retention module but keep the backplate in place so that you can see the screw threads from the top side of the motherboard (see third picture below). You can then proceed with the installation of the SecuFirm2™ mounting kit as described in the manual (see fourth picture below).




Is the cooler compatible with the LGA2011-3 socket?
Can square 140mm fans be installed on this cooler?
Do you have a question concerning one of our products? Please use this form to pose a question!