Introduction

Having forged their reputation on amazing performance, exceptional quality, and ultra-low noise levels, Noctua stands out as a premier manufacturer of PC-cooling products. Their can't-miss color scheme of tan and brown may not be to everyone's taste, but it does make them stand out. In fact, just about anyone who has ever built a PC can spot a Noctua product. That awareness paired with the knowledge that they offer some of the best warranty and after-sales support of any PC-cooling company has certainly garnered them a great deal of favor among enthusiasts. Well, that and their long-lived support.


In today's review, I will be looking at the Noctua NH-U12A. This new single-tower design is at first glance similar to the NH-U12S; however, it packs two of Noctua's latest fan, the NF-A12x25. While the tan and brown color scheme remains polarizing at best, the company's products have always been topnotch in terms of quality, performance, and lack of noise. Today, that gets put to the test with a cooler Noctua claims can go toe to toe with larger 140 mm designs.

Packaging

The NH-U12A comes in a box that is roughly 21.6 cm long, 17.8 cm wide, and 17.1 cm high. The top of the box details various features, such as the 100% RAM compatibility for mainstream sockets, dual NF-A12x25 fans, and six-year warranty. Meanwhile, the front details the same information along with a close-up of the base. In-depth explanations of all the cooler's various features can be found on the left side.


Moving on to the back, a paragraph talks about the NH-U12A being the 5th generation of the NH-U12 design. Specifications for the heatsink and fans can be found on the right side, along with a quick scope of delivery and a small mechanical drawing detailing the cooler's measurements.

Contents

After opening the box, I was greeted by typical Noctua packaging. All the mounting hardware is in a separate box on top, while the heatsink and fans are encased in a smaller cardboard box/tray.


Noctua's SecuFirm2 mounting system includes everything necessary for the installation of the NH-U12A on pretty much every modern socket. Older sockets and upcoming ones are supported via optional add-ons, which is par the course for Noctua and their legendary support.

Common parts supplied for mounting include:

• 4x LGA20XX bolts
• 4x AMD mounting screws
• 4x AMD AM4 spacers (black)
• 4x AMD spacers (white)
• 4x Intel spacers (black)
• 4x Thumbscrews
• 4x Fan clips
• 2x AMD mounting arms
• 2x Intel mounting arms
• 2x 120 mm x 25 mm fan
• 2x Low noise adapter
• 1x Intel backplate
• 1x Tube of NT-H1 thermal paste
• 1x Phillips screwdriver
• 1x Metal Noctua badge
• 1x Y-cable