Noctua Releases Two New CPU Coolers
Noctua has released two new CPU coolers, the NH-U12S and NH-U14S.
Noctua has introduced its NH-U12S and NH-U14S CPU coolers, which feature a single tower design. The only difference between the two appears to be the fan that is included.
While the NH-U12S comes with an NF-F12 120 mm fan, the NH-U14S packs an NF-A15 140 mm fan. Each of the units have six heatpipes, so Noctua claims that the NH-U14S is its most efficient single tower cooler that it has ever built.
Both of the included fans have a standard maximum speed of 1,500 RPM, but a low noise adapter can reduce this to 1,200 RPM. In addition, the fans are PWM controlled.
The units are also designed to be slim and fit on practically any system with particular attention to the RAM layout. Noctua claims that any RAM memory would work next to the cooler, without a risk of colliding, even with the biggest of RAM coolers. The NH-U12S will work, not collide, with memory on practically any system, while the NH-U14S will work on most systems, with compatibility guaranteed for the LGA 2011 platform. Both the units also come with Noctua's SecuFirm2 mounting system as well as its NT-H1 TIM. 
The units will hit the market soon with an MSRP of $64.90 and $74.90 for the NH-U12S CPU and NH-U14S CPU, respectively. They also come with Noctua's six-year warranty.
When you benchmark these things on release, please include a comparison not just to the
other current models (including the Phanteks PH-TC14PE please!), but also throw in a standard
TRUE Rev C or somesuch, so we can see where things have been going with coolers from a
historical perspective. Have they really been getting that much better? If you don't have a TRUE,
I'd be happy to send you one!
Ian.
PS. Bit surprised there isn't a TRUE 120 of any kind in the 2010 cooler chart (infact no Thermalright
models at all).
Besides, 1200 RPM is too high for a minimum speed.
Yeah right...
ahh thats where you are wrong. more heatpipes, much better fan, slightly more surface area, and much lower noise are all things that nocuta coolers excel at
Either way very cool design an I bet it cools like a mofo!
Yeah, Noctua is not exactly known for their fans being pretty, but you can't beat them on performance vs acoustics.
These things are a relic and they need to be phased out.
These things are a relic and they need to be phased out.
-perform better? the hyper 212 evo does better or matches any single 120mm thin closed loop crap
-there is no need to worry about stress on the board unless you bought a cheap board from asrock or msi
-they are not quieter in any possible way. the fans onboard a closed loop[ cooler is just as loud and then you would have to add pump noise. also, i have yet to see a closed loop cooler that can run passively meaning no noise
-the space they free up doesnt help you whatsoever. you dont put anything near a CPU socket anyways. and if you are thinking tall ram sticks, they should be phased out.
one more thing is by using closed loop coolers, you have no airflow on your vrms. cheaper boards like the asrock extreme4 tend to get pretty hot vrms. putting zero airflow around them means they will be less efficient.
go custom or go home
Closed loop sets, especially cheap ones, have been known to leak. Which is an obvious reason as to why people still consider these "monstrosities". Even with a closed loop using a non-conductive fluid, the risk of cleanup and maintenance is just too high. In my book, I only build rigs with high-end air or high-end custom liquid cooling.
Closed loops are good but some aren't good enough. I had a Corsair H80i (just RMAd) and the screw don't hold anymore after couple of case changes and remounting the rad. So that shows poor quality in terms of build. I have a Phanteks PH-TC14PE and it's not heavy at all and no sign of bulling on my mobo. Matter of fact, it's much lighter than my H80i felt when held in hand and it cools much better without the jet engine like noise when the fans are pushing the air past the thick radiator. Until they improve the design on CLC I am sticking with air cooling for now.