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Product discontinued. Successor model: NH-U12P SE2

Recommended by more than 100 leading international websites and magazines, the NH-U12P has become a benchmark in premium quality quiet cooling. The NH-U12P SE1366 is a special edition for Intel Core i7 that includes the highly reliable, easy-to-use SecuFirm2™ mounting system for LGA1366 as well as Noctua's pro-grade NT-H1 thermal compound and two NF-P12 120mm fans for superb quiet cooling performance on Core i7 CPUs.


Please note that the NH-U12P SE1366 is only compatible with LGA1366 and that we can't supply mounting kits for other sockets. If you'd like to use the cooler on LGA775 or AM2+, please choose the standard NH-U12P.

The NH-U12P SE1366 is only compatible with Core i7 and Xeon 3500 CPUs. Due to its custom backplate, the cooler is not compatible with the LGA1366 based Xeon 5500 platform. A dedicated version for Xeon 5500 systems will be available soon.
Details
Award-winning NH-U12P Heatsink

Award-winning NH-U12P Heatsink

The NH-U12P SE1366 is built around Noctua's premium quality NH-U12P heatsink that is renowned for its excellent quiet cooling performance and has received more than 100 awards and recommendations from leading international websites and magazines.
SecuFirm2™ for LGA1366

SecuFirm2™ for LGA1366

Designed to combine outstanding reliability, optimal contact pressure and easy, straightforward installation, SecuFirm2™ is an enthusiast-grade mounting system that meets the highest demands in safety, performance and ease-of-use.
2x NF-P12 Premium Fan

2x NF-P12 Premium Fan

Including two of Noctua's award-winning NF-P12 120mm fans with Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise-Adaptors, the NH-U12P SE1366 offers full flexibility in fine-tuning the cooler for supreme quietness and maximum performance in push-pull mode.
NT-H1 thermal compound

NT-H1 thermal compound

Noctua's much-acclaimed NT-H1 is a pro-grade TIM solution that provides minimum thermal resistance, excellent ease-of-use and outstanding reliability.
Special Edition Premium Kit

Special Edition Premium Kit

Bundled with a tube of NT-H1, two top quality NF-P12 fans and SecuFirm2™ for LGA1366, the NH-U12P SE1366 forms a complete premium value package that's backed up with 6 years manufacturer's warranty and contains everything you need in order to achieve superb quiet cooling performance on Intel Core i7 CPUs.
NH-U12P SE1366
Cooler Specification
Socket compatibility
Intel Socket LGA1366
Height (without fan)
158 mm
Width (without fan)
126 mm
Depth (without fan)
71 mm
Weight (without fan)
600 g
Height (with fan)
158 mm
Width (with fan)
126 mm
Depth (with fan)
95/120* mm
Weight (with fan)
770/940* g
Material
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
Application
all Intel Core i7
Fan compatibility
120x120x25mm / 120x120x38mm
Scope of delivery
  • 2x NF-P12 premium fan
  • Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (U.L.N.A.)
  • Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.)
  • NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound
  • SecuFirm2™ Mounting Kit for LGA1366
Warranty
6 Years
FAN Specification
Model
Noctua NF-P12
Bearing
SSO-Bearing
Blade geometry
Nine Blade Design
Rotational speed (+/- 10%)
1300 RPM
Rotational speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
1100 RPM
Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
900 RPM
Airflow
92,3 m³/h
Airflow with L.N.A.
78,5 m³/h
Airflow with U.L.N.A.
63,4 m³/h
Acoustical noise
19,8 dB(A)
Voltage range
12 V
MTTF
> 150.000 h
NH-U12P SE1366
21.01.2009 // LegitReviews.com
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

In the NH-U12P’s dual fan configuration it was clearly the winner with a 1.75*C gap between it and the closest competitor, the Monsoon III LT. The NH-U12P SE1366 cooled our i7-920 to a very nice 56.25*C under full load, and a whopping 17.75* under stock. [...] With the system overclocked to 3.5GHz and under full load the stock cooler starts to scream for mercy as the load temp climbed to 83.5*C. The Vigor Monsoon III LT dropped back 2 spots, and the NH-U12P is still in the lead, keeping our i7-920 to a toasty 67.5*C; a whole 16* cooler then stock. [...] the Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler is the winner in our testing. Either in its original single fan configuration or in its new SE1366 dual fan configuration it led the pack and did it quietly.
Test verdict: "The Intel Core i7 CPUs can get very toasty so the need of a quality cooler is a must. The Noctua NH-U12P is just that and will continue to be our King of Cooling." (Shane Higgins, LegitReviews.com)
17.08.2009 // Pro-Clockers.com
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

We know from when we tested the original Noctua a few months ago that we were in for a good showing from this new cooler. We were not disappointed at all. With the aid of the dual NF-P12 fan, we were able to equal the performance of the Thermalright T.R.U.E. with dual fans and to top other top coolers in the original configurations. [...] The updates that we see with the SE1366 is what makes this cooler better than the previous version. The mounting system is simple and takes a little time consumption when installing, but works well and is worth the little extra time that it takes to assemble. And we can't forget the individual fan that you get with the SE1366. The added couple of degrees is also worth it. Especially when you are trying to get the highest stable overclock from your CPU and also want to remain in quiet trying to get there. Noctua planned everything out when developing the upgrades to the NH-U12P.
Test verdict: "I have echoed this in every Noctua review I have ever done and that is the quality that you get from Noctua can't be touched by many in the industry. The SE1366 continues the excellence we see from Noctua." (Tony Day, Pro-Clockers.com)
19.05.2009 // Matbe.com
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

Au final, la meilleure solution est le système Noctua NH-U12P livrée d'origine avec deux ventilateurs de 120 millimètres. En observant ses points, il est à chaque fois le meilleur compromis performances/nuisances sonores. Il est bien évidemment audible en 12 volts mais quand on observe ses performances en mode Mid, on se dite que cela suffit amplement pour refroidir le plus chaud des Core i7. Même le mode Low est plus qu'envisageable, le tout dans un silence de cathédrale.
Test verdict: "Si ce dissipateur Intel ne vous suffit pas, nous vous conseillons le Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 à 60 euros qui certes coûte une dizaine d'euros de plus que le Thermalright et le Zalman mais qui en contrepartie offre un bundle hyper complet avec deux ventilateurs de 120 mm, des câbles réducteurs de tension et de la pâte thermique de qualité." (Stéphane Charpentier, Matbe.com)
17.02.2009 // Custom PC
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

With the fans at standard speed, our overclocked and overvolted Core i7 ran 19°C cooler with the Noctua than with the reference Intel HSF, while producing a negligible low hum. Using the black fan adaptors, the Noctua lost no cooling ability and was a touch quieter.
Test verdict: "If low noise is more important to you than pure cooling ability, this HSF is a great choice." (Clive Webster, Custom PC)
10.02.2009 // ThinkComputers.org
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

- Highest quality construction
- Best mounting hardware I've seen
- Cools a highly overclocked i7 920 in the low 70s
Test verdict: "I feel pretty comfortable that this may be the best air cooler for the i7 on the market." (Frank Stroupe, ThinkComputers.org)
13.11.2011 // Freeocen.de
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

Sehr gut in der Leistung, auch wenn er knapp dem NF-12P unterlag. Subjektiv im lautlos-Duell mit dem Apollish, dem MF-12P und dem Cougar der leiseste. Frei von Schleifen oder anderen Nebengeräuschen. Nahezu perfekt.
Test verdict: "Die Noctuas sind hervorragende Lüfter mit umfangreichem Zubehör. Leistung und Lautstärke sind wie die Verarbeitungsqualität makellos" (Michael Keilholz, Freeocen.de)
26.02.2010 // CenterZone.it
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

C’è da ricordare inoltre che questa edizione limitata offre in bundle anche l’ottima pasta termoconduttrice Noctua, che permette di abbassare le temperature di circa 1-2° se confrontata a pasta siliconica standard.
Test verdict: "Non possiamo che consigliare l’acquisto del dissipatore NH-U12P Special Edition a tutti quegli utenti in cerca di un sistema di raffreddamento, per processori Core i7, di fascia alta e con prezzo non particolarmente elevato." (Carlo Panceri, CenterZone.it)
29.01.2010 // DarkHardware.com
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

+ Yüksek kalite, yüksek performans
+ Kutu içinde kaliteli iki fan
+ Kaliteli ve bol miktarda termal macun
Test verdict: "Noctua NH-U12P SE1366, her şeyiyle kaliteli bir ürün ve daha kutusundan çıkarttığınız anda kullanıcıya belli bir lüks hissi yaşatıyor. Ürünün performansının gayet yeterli olduğu test sonuçlarıyla ortada. Pahalı bir soğutucu, ancak paranızın karşılığında satın aldığınız kutu içeriğindeki iki adet kaliteli fanı ve kaliteli termal macunu hesaba katmaya unutmayın." (Levent Pekcan, DarkHardware.com)
03.11.2009 // Turkchip.com
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

Yeni Corei7 işlemciler için özel dizayn edilen soğutucu testlerde oldukça başarılı olduğunu gösterdi. İşlemcimizi çalışma anında düşük sıcaklılarda tutarken bu görevi 2 fan çalışmasına rağmen oldukça sessiz yerine getirdi. Özellikle işlemcimizi overclock yaptığımda ve load durumunda soğutucuda bulunan 2 fan o kadar sessiz çalışıyordu ki powersupply ve kasa fan seslerini çok rahat ayırt edebiliyordum. Mükemmel bir ısı taban tasarımı kullanan Noctua bu tasarıma 2 adet başarılı fan ve kaliteli termal macun ekleyerek çok iyi ve performans açısından oldukça başarılı bir ürün elde etmiş.
Test verdict: "Yüksek performansı, kullanılan malzemenin yüksek kalitesi, zengin kutu içeriği ile TurkChip The Best ödülünü hak eden çok başarılı bir ürün." (Murat Yildirim, Turkchip.com)
15.10.2009 // XtremeComputing.co.uk
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NH-U12P SE1366 Review

Well the NH-U12P 1366 seems to have done just as well as the NH-U12P did on LGA775, it jumps straight to the top of the LGA1366 coolers that we have tested. Even though intel processors generally use very little power during idle, it’s still a difference enough for the Noctua cooler to jump a couple of degrees ahead of the competition. And putting the heat up on load just lets the NH-U12P 1366 run away from the other coolers tested here even more. It’s close to being twice as good as the stock Intel cooler (this one was pushing 80oC on the CPU we had!), so if you’re running on a stock Intel cooler it’s going to make a huge difference to get an aftermarket cooler.
Test verdict: "Well I’m happy to say the NH-U12P SE1366 continues the legacy laid down by the NH-U12P before it, and is sure to go on to receive just as many awards as its original LGA 775 version did. Even with the addition of a second fan the cooler remains pretty quiet overall, and is easily drowned out by case fans etc. For someone that loves a quiet computer (like me), this is something to fall in love with." (Daniel Boothby, XtremeComputing.co.uk)

Installation Manual (PDF)

Manual Manual Manual Manual

Information Sheet (PDF)

Infosheet Infosheet Infosheet Infosheet

FAQs

Is it possible to mount fans with a greater height than 25mm?

My unlocked Intel CPU is running too hot although my heatsink supports the specified TDP, what's the problem?

Can I keep using the backplate / mounting system of my previous Noctua cooler for my new one?

Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with Intel LGA2066?

Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with AMD AM4 (Ryzen)?

Can I upgrade my existing Noctua cooler to socket TR4 or SP3?

How should I clean my Noctua cooler?

What Thermal Design Power (TDP) is this cooler recommended for and how much Watt (W) of heat can it dissipate?

Can I install a Noctua cooler in my system from Acer, Dell, HP or Lenovo?

My case supports CPU coolers of up to XXXmm height, which model should I choose?

I have difficulties installing the cooler, can you help?

How much torque should be applied when tightening the screws of a Noctua CPU cooler?

Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?

How can I determine if the motherboard’s UEFI BIOS is overclocking my processor by default and deactivate this automatic overclocking?

Can I run Noctua 3-pin fans on 4-pin PWM connectors and use my mainboard’s automatic fan controller?

My fan doesn’t spin when I start up the PC - is it faulty?

Is it possible to run two fans at a time?

Should the fan be mounted sucking away from the heat-sink or blowing onto the heat-sink?

On which side of the heat-sink should the fan be installed?

Is it possible to cool my CPU without a fan (passive) using Noctua coolers?

How to install the fan using the supplied steel clips?

How much clearance for RAM or chipset coolers does the NH-U12P provide?

What can I do if the fan blocks my RAM or chipset cooler?

I've got 2 adapter cables with the cooler. What's the difference between these cables?

Can I use Noctua fans on my fan controller?

I can’t spread the thermal compound by turning the cooler as described in the manual!

Help, the base of the cooler doesn’t make contact with the CPU / there is no contact pressure!

How can I connect 2 fans?

The fan doesn’t start with the Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (ULNA)!

Is it possible to mount fans with a greater height than 25mm?

Yes. The fan mounting clips grip to the screw holes in the lower edge of the fan frame and hence work with all fans regardless of their height. However, problems with the mounting of the fan can occur due to other parts within the case or fans with special frame designs, where the clips can't grip to the screw holes in the lower edge of the frame.

NH-U fan mounting

My unlocked Intel CPU is running too hot although my heatsink supports the specified TDP, what's the problem?

Intel's unlocked CPUs (K, X and C suffix) can dissipate more heat than indicated by the TDP specification if
  1. the TDP limits are extended or disabled in the motherboards' BIOS.
  2. the motherboard applies automatic overclocking by default, e.g. by raising the supply voltage of the CPU and using higher Turbo-Mode multipliers.
  3. 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.

Can I keep using the backplate / mounting system of my previous Noctua cooler for my new one?

Most Noctua SecuFirm™ mounting parts are cross-compatible, so if you’re replacing one Noctua cooler with another, it is usually possible to keep the original backplate and/or mounting system in place in order to re-use it for the new cooler. If you had your previous Noctua cooler installed on an Intel LGA115x (LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150), LGA2011 (LGA2011-0, LGA2011-3) or LGA1366 system and replace it with an NH-U14S, NH-U12S or NH-U9S, you only need to replace the original mounting bars with the NM-IMB3 ones supplied with the new cooler. For all other models, you can keep the entire mounting system in place on the aforementioned Intel sockets. On AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+, you only need to replace the original mounting bars with the ones supplied with the new cooler.

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

Which Noctua CPU coolers are compatible with AMD AM4 (Ryzen)?

The following models include a mounting-kit for socket AM4 and are thus compatible out of the box:

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

Can I upgrade my existing Noctua cooler to socket TR4 or SP3?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to upgrade existing Noctua heatsinks to support the AMD TR4 and SP3 sockets for Ryzen Threadripper (X399) and Epyc CPUs. TR4/SP3 CPUs have much bigger heatspreaders (as compared to e.g. LGA2066 or AM4 processors) and the contact surfaces of standard Noctua heatsinks would cover only about half of these heatspreaders, which would result in insufficient cooling performance. On top of that, the heatpipes of bigger cooler models like the NH-D15 or NH-D15S would completely block the RAM slots on many TR4/SP3 motherboards. For this reason, Noctua has introduced the new NH-U14S TR4-SP3, NH-U12S TR4-SP3 and NH-U9 TR4-SP3 cooler models that feature bigger contact surfaces and have been tailored to fit TR4 and SP3 systems. Please choose these models for AMD Ryzen Threadripper and Epyc systems.

How should I clean my Noctua cooler?

Dust: Fans and heatsinks inside computer cases tend to accumulate dust over longer periods of usage. In order to maintain maximum performance, please clean your fan and heatsink regularly. For cleaning, please first remove the fan from the heatsink and clean it using a duster, slightly moist tissue or canned air. Please be careful not to use too much force in order to prevent any damage to the fan. Please do not use a vacuum cleaner as this may apply excessive force to the fan and do not put the fan under running water as water residues inside the motor may lead to short circuits. Please also note that the fan is not designed to be taken apart by the user. Removing the impeller from the frame will break the sealing of the bearing and results in a loss of warranty. Before reinstalling the fan, clean the heatsink itself with a duster or vacuum cleaner. Do not use water to clean the cooler. Finally put the fan back on and connect it to your motherboard fan header or fan controller.
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.

What Thermal Design Power (TDP) is this cooler recommended for and how much Watt (W) of heat can it dissipate?

Please refer to our CPU compatibility list for information on maximum recommended TDP and heat dissipation.

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.

My case supports CPU coolers of up to XXXmm height, which model should I choose?

Please refer to our TDP guide in order to select the cooler that offers the best cooling performance at a given height.

I have difficulties installing the cooler, can you help?

Please refer to the installation manual and our video installation guides for detailed instructions on how to install the cooler.

How much torque should be applied when tightening the screws of a Noctua CPU cooler?

All screws should be tightened gently until they stop without using excessive force. Please do not exceed the following values for maximum tightening torque:
Screw typeMax. torque
NM-SSC1 screws for fixing the fastening brackets to the base of the heatsink0.5 Nm
NM-ITS1 thumb screws for fixing Intel mounting bars0.5 Nm
NM-ALS1 screws for fixing AMD mounting bars0.6 Nm
Spring-loaded screws for fixing the heatsink to the mounting bars0.6 Nm

Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?

Not sure which Noctua product to buy? Our detailed buying guides for fans and CPU coolers help you to choose the model that works best for you.

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.

Can I run Noctua 3-pin fans on 4-pin PWM connectors and use my mainboard’s automatic fan controller?

You can simply connect our fan's 3-pin connector to the 4-pin PWM sockets of today's mainboards so that the fourth pin that transmits the PWM signal is left blank (due to the shape of the connector, there's no danger of reversing polarity). Some mainboards (e.g. current Gigabyte models) are capable of controlling fans not only via PWM, but also by adjusting the supplied voltage. In some cases, this may require you to change BIOS options like "Fan Control Mode" from "PWM" to "Voltage" or "Analog". Please consult your mainboard's manual in this regard. However, some mainboards use an "auto" setting by default that automatically chooses PWM or voltage based regulation according to the connected fan. Automatically controlling the fan speed may not possible on mainboards that pulse the power rather than lowering the fan voltage.

PWM PWM

My fan doesn’t spin when I start up the PC - is it faulty?

If you've connected the fan directly (or using the supplied Low-Noise or Ultra-Low-Noise-Adaptors) to your mainboard, it's possible that the mainboard's automatic fan controller doesn't provide the required starting voltage due to the low CPU temperature. Please verify whether the fan starts spinning at higher CPU temperatures, remove any Low-Noise or Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptors, deactivate your mainboard's automatic fan controller in the BIOS or connect the fan directly to the power supply using the supplied 3:4-pin adaptor.

Is it possible to run two fans at a time?

Yes. Using the 4 supplied fan clips, you can mount two 120mm fans on the NH-U12(F/P) and two 92mm fans on the NH-U9(F/B).

Should the fan be mounted sucking away from the heat-sink or blowing onto the heat-sink?

Please install the fan blowing onto the heat-sink.

NH-U Airflow

If you're using two fans, please install them so that one blows onto the heat-sink and the other sucks the air away from the other side.

On which side of the heat-sink should the fan be installed?

Please install the fan so that the hot air can be disposed as good as possible either through the rear case fan (Airflow Option 1) or through the power supply (Airflow Option 2).

NH-U Airflow

Is it possible to cool my CPU without a fan (passive) using Noctua coolers?

Noctua coolers weren't originally designed for passive operation although the cooling performance is sufficient in many cases. Unfortunately, it is impossible for us to indicate whether a certain CPU can or cannot be cooled without a fan, as this depends on various factors such as case temperature, case ventilation or the orientation of the socket. Generally, we recommend using a fan in the first instance and then lowering RPM while constantly monitoring the temperature.

How to install the fan using the supplied steel clips?

First hook the clip into the notch of the heatsink:

Vibration Compensators Installation

Then hook the endings of the clips into the mounting holes of the fan:



Vibration Compensators Installation

How much clearance for RAM or chipset coolers does the NH-U12P provide?

The NH-U12P provides 40mm clearance for near-socket components:

Vibration Compensators Installation

What can I do if the fan blocks my RAM or chipset cooler?

In order to increase clearance, you can easily move the fan up a few fins as show below:

Vibration Compensators Installation

I've got 2 adapter cables with the cooler. What's the difference between these cables?

The Low-Noise-Adapter (L.N.A.) and Ultra-Low-Noise-Adapter (U.L.N.A.) reduce the speed of the fan to 1100 / 900 rpm:

Vibration Compensators Installation

Can I use Noctua fans on my fan controller?

Our fans are compatible with the vast majority of fan controllers on the market. However, there is a compatibility issue with a few models such as the Zalman ZM-MFC2 and Bitfenix Recon, which apply Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) on the 12V line and use an unfavourable PWM carrier frequency. This can create an oscillation when used with certain fans, which will result in the fan speeding up and down. We therefore recommend not using the Zalman ZM-MFC2 or Bitfenix Recon with our fans.

I can’t spread the thermal compound by turning the cooler as described in the manual!

Due to the new LGA mounting bars with screw threads that facilitate the installation process, there's little room to turn the cooler as described in step 4 of the supplied manual. There's nothing to worry about though, as you can still turn the cooler by a few millimetres in order to help the thermal compound spread. We've also made the compound slightly less viscous so that the contact pressure of mounting system is wholly sufficient to spread it.

Help, the base of the cooler doesn’t make contact with the CPU / there is no contact pressure!

Please verify that you have installed the fastening brackets correctly:

Fastening Brackets

How can I connect 2 fans?

When using 2 fans, please connect one of the fans to the CPU-Fan header and the second fan to one of the Case-Fan headers of your mainboard. Alternatively, you can also use a 3-pin Y-cable in order to run both fans via the CPU-Fan header. Such cables are available in specialised retail stores.

The fan doesn’t start with the Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (ULNA)!

Unfortunately, many Gigabyte mainboards use a special control circuit that can lead to start-up problems in conjunction with the Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (ULNA). This control circuit remains active even when automatic fan control is disabled in the BIOS. In these cases, please use the fan without the ULNA or connect it directly to the power supply (or an external fan controller) in order to ensure reliable operation with the ULNA.

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