Anyone have experience with Noctua U12A cooler or Arctic Freezer e34 DUO?

[Space Lynx]

I am curious to see a comparison between these two coolers in a controlled environment. So far I have a found a youtube video on one or the other, but the variables are too many to compare.

Just wondering if the extra $60 is worth the Noctua one really.

 

[Mordeafaca]

Hi there,

From experience I have been using a Arctic Freezer e34 DUO for a year on a r5 3600 with a fractal design focus g and max temps registered in hwinfo after long gaming session go around 70~75 ºC.
I have two friends using the single fan e34 with r5 3600 and their max temps don't go further them 70s ºC also.
So I think it was a pretty good buy. Anyway hope this can be helpful in some way.

Later

 

[Space Lynx]

I appreciate your feedback Mord, but I am more interested in a complex comparison.

 

[P4-630]

Noctua NH-U12A Review

Noctua delivers top-tier air cooling performance in a compact design with the release of the NH-U12A. Sporting two of their latest NF-A12x25 PWM fans, what this cooler lacks in regards to RGB LEDs, it makes up for with brown and tan Noctua styling and a premium build quality that is second to none.

www.techpowerup.com

I have one and it does it's job well cooling my i7 6700K @ 4.5Ghz.

 

[Space Lynx]

Hmm didn't realize TPU had a review on it, now if they just had one on the e34 DUO so i could compare lol

 

[tabascosauz]

The U12A and E34 are both too new and the U12A too expensive for that. That said, they're not even close to positioned in the same category. The former weighs 1.2kg, has 7 heatpipes, and takes the fight to the D15 while being much smaller. The latter weighs only as much as the former's heatsink, has 4 heatpipes, and is priced and positioned to beat the 212 EVO.

All the run-of-the-mill open testbench reviews conducted so far put the E34 Duo almost on par with the Dark Rock Pro 4 in performance but obviously far inferior in noise. That's still within striking distance of the D15's performance, which is roughly equivalent to the U12A outside of noise. IMO more mass and 6+ heatpipes generally makes for more consistent performance on Ryzen, in closed cases.

But the reviews are done on Intel so if you are using the cooler in question on Ryzen 3000, you probably do want as much heatsink mass and heatpipes as possible to soak up the heat from the rough idle, fan curve tricks notwithstanding. That, and the A12x25 on the U12A is generally known to be inaudible at lower speeds. But I mean, there's also something to be said about a cooler that's competitive with the DRP4 while only costing $50-60. The U12A is around or above $100.

 

[P4-630]

has 4 heatpipes, and is priced and positioned to beat the 212 EVO.

LOL , didn't check that, obvious it's no match for a NH-U12A.....

 

[ShurikN]

Just wondering if the extra $60 is worth the Noctua one really.

Depends on what you plan to cool. For a 6 core Ryzen (or similar), definitely not worth it.

 

[cucker tarlson]

Both very good,af34 duo is very good value.

 

[Vario]

One thing to consider is a heatsink lasts a really long time. If the company that makes it continues to support the mounting system, you can use it on many new builds and sockets to come.

 

[Caring1]

I'd go the cheaper option and put decent fans on it.

 

[P4-630]

I'd go the cheaper option and put decent fans on it.

These?

 

[Space Lynx]

The U12A and E34 are both too new and the U12A too expensive for that. That said, they're not even close to positioned in the same category. The former weighs 1.2kg, has 7 heatpipes, and takes the fight to the D15 while being much smaller. The latter weighs only as much as the former's heatsink, has 4 heatpipes, and is priced and positioned to beat the 212 EVO.

All the run-of-the-mill open testbench reviews conducted so far put the E34 Duo almost on par with the Dark Rock Pro 4 in performance but obviously far inferior in noise. That's still within striking distance of the D15's performance, which is roughly equivalent to the U12A outside of noise. IMO more mass and 6+ heatpipes generally makes for more consistent performance on Ryzen, in closed cases.

But the reviews are done on Intel so if you are using the cooler in question on Ryzen 3000, you probably do want as much heatsink mass and heatpipes as possible to soak up the heat from the rough idle, fan curve tricks notwithstanding. That, and the A12x25 on the U12A is generally known to be inaudible at lower speeds. But I mean, there's also something to be said about a cooler that's competitive with the DRP4 while only costing $50-60. The U12A is around or above $100.

I already have an E34 DUO, got it on sale for $37. So technically I saved around $65 once tax is added in and such. Also, I don't mind a slightly higher fan curve... I suppose worst case scenario is it doesn't meet my needs when zen 3 launches and I simply sell it on here for $25ish and grab something beefier. Might finally just go balls to the wall with a arctic freeze II 360 AIO. or well, I will just see what happens, e34 duo might impress me. we will see

 

[Chrispy_]

You won't find a comparison that easily, for reasons already mentioned - but unless you're buying something HOT (so a 10-series Intel or 3900X) I'd just stick with the Arctic

I have a Noctua leftover from back when I actually needed it in 2008 but it's overkill now for my Ryzen 5. Noctua give me free adapter kits and I'm on my third free socket upgrade S775 > S2011 > 115X > AM4.

So yeah, it was expensive, but not as expensive as four seperate coolers would have been.

 

[Regeneration]

Noctua NH-U12A CPU Cooler Review

The Noctua NH-U12A CPU coolers cost is quite premium when compared to performance, but despite the cost the cooler does exactly what it says it does.

www.tweaktown.com

Noctua U12A is 5c cooler than Arctic Freezer 34.

Noctua also gives away mounting kits for future sockets.

 

[Space Lynx]

Noctua NH-U12A CPU Cooler Review

The Noctua NH-U12A CPU coolers cost is quite premium when compared to performance, but despite the cost the cooler does exactly what it says it does.

www.tweaktown.com

Noctua U12A is 5c cooler than Arctic Freezer 34.

Noctua also gives away mounting kits for future sockets.

Nice find, thanks mate!

 

[sneekypeet]

Noctua NH-U12A CPU Cooler Review

The Noctua NH-U12A CPU coolers cost is quite premium when compared to performance, but despite the cost the cooler does exactly what it says it does.

www.tweaktown.com

Noctua U12A is 5c cooler than Arctic Freezer 34.

Noctua also gives away mounting kits for future sockets.

As the guy who wrote that article, that 5C gap only applies to the Intel CPU I tested with, on the 3600X the gap is much closer.
I cannot argue the support part of that comment though, but you are paying a premium for it.

This is more relevant to his situation.....

Keep in mind though, this is with presets of 3800MHz as the "stock" run on all cores, and 4200MHz on all cores for "OC". The voltages are in this article so you can see what I was doing. Too many variables in testing coolers with the chips designed to float around at multiple speeds. https://www.tweaktown.com/articles/...cpu-cooler-testing-and-methodology/index.html

 

[Space Lynx]

Well as I said before I already own the e34 DUO, its still in box sealed. Seems like I made a hell of a deal for the price. Especially since I don't mind a more aggressive PWM fan curve. Now I just wait for new Ryzen

 

[Regeneration]

Well as I said before I already own the e34 DUO, its still in box sealed. Seems like I made a hell of a deal for the price. Especially since I don't mind a more aggressive PWM fan curve. Now I just wait for new Ryzen

If you want to my honest advice, return it and go for the high-end tier of CPU coolers.

Noctua NH-D15 is a bit expensive but worth every penny when you hit 4.5-5 GHz.

 

[sneekypeet]

If you want to my honest advice, return it and go for the high-end tier of CPU coolers.

Noctua NH-D15 is a bit expensive but worth every penny when you hit 4.5-5 GHz.

Not even a possibility on ryzen on any air cooler.

@lynx29 if you own it use it. That one degree us not enough to shell out $100 for. Also if noise is of no concern, mount it up.