Best Noctua products in the CPU coolers category
On this page you'll find a ranking of the best Noctua products in this category. To give you a quick overview, we've already ranked the most important information about the products for you.
1. Noctua NH-D15 Chromax
The NH-D15 chromax.black is a completely black version of Noctua's award-winning flagship model, the NH-D15. The secret to the premium cooler's success remains unchanged thanks to the same dual-tower design and the proven NF-A15 PWM fans: the CPU cooler offers excellent quiet operation combined with cooling performance that can compete with complete water cooling systems. The chromax.black version, with its black fans and black-coated heatsink, additionally combines these advantages with a sleek stealth design. The overall high-quality package is completed by the renowned multi-socket mounting system SecuFirm2 and Noctua's popular NT-H1 thermal paste. Whether for overclockers or silent enthusiasts, the NH-D15 chromax.black is a true premium solution that looks as good as it cools.
2. Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC
The NH-D15 G2 is the further improved second generation of Noctua's iconic NH-D15. With its state-of-the-art, speed-controlled NF-A14x25r G2 PWM fans, eight heat pipes, and asymmetrical fin stacks that have been carefully tuned to work with the new fans, it achieves even better and quieter cooling performance than its award-winning predecessor.
The special Low Base Convexity (LBC) version is optimized for relatively flat CPUs and provides excellent contact quality on AMD's AM5 processors, even when the included offset mounting option is not used. In addition to its further enhanced performance, the NH-D15 G2 also offers improved compatibility thanks to an offset design that allows it to free up the top PCIe x16 slot on most current motherboards. Last but not least, the G2 version has been upgraded to the Torx-based SecuFirm2+ multi-socket mounting system, complete with the included NM-SD1 screwdriver, as well as Noctua's superior NT-H2 thermal paste.
3. Noctua NH-L9x65
With a height of 65 mm instead of 37 mm and four heat pipes instead of two, the NH-L9x65 offers significantly more performance reserves than its lower-profile sibling models, while maintaining the same footprint of 95 x 95 mm. This ensures 100% RAM and PCIe compatibility on Intel-based ITX motherboards, and the cooler does not obstruct any nearby ports. Thanks to the highly optimized NF-A9x14 premium fan with PWM support for automatic speed control, the NH-L9x65 operates remarkably quietly. The package is completed with the professional SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system and Noctua's renowned NT-H1 thermal paste. Thus, the NH-L9x65 combines the familiar advantages of larger Noctua coolers in a compact, high-quality complete package for systems with limited space.
4. Noctua Nh-U9s
The asymmetrical design with 5 heat pipes allows for both increased cooling performance and better compatibility. With a footprint of 95 x 95 mm, the cooler does not overhang the memory slots or PCIe slots on all Intel and most AMD-based motherboards (including µATX and ITX). Combined with a compact height of 125 mm, this makes the NH-U9S a versatile solution with excellent case, RAM, and PCIe compatibility. The included NF-A9 premium fan ensures outstanding quiet operation, with its speed being fully automatically regulated via PWM. Adding a second NF-A9 fan, available separately, can further enhance cooling performance in a dual-fan setup.
5. Noctua NH-D15 G2
The NH-D15 G2 represents the second, further improved generation of the iconic Noctua NH-D15. Thanks to two state-of-the-art NF-A14x25r G2 PWM fans with speed offset, eight heat pipes, and asymmetrical cooling towers carefully optimized for use with the new fans, it achieves an even higher cooling performance compared to its highly acclaimed predecessor, while maintaining the same excellent operating quietness. Thus, the G2 version is a true flagship model that pushes the boundaries in air cooling, continuing the tradition of the original NH-D15 and competing with the efficiency of many all-in-one liquid coolers.
6. Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
Compact and quiet cooler for LGA1700 socket
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 158 mm x 125 mm x 112 mm
- Cooling type: Active (with fan)
- Maximum fan speed: 2000 rpm
- Noise level during operation: 22.6 dBA
- Maximum airflow: 102.1 m3/h
- Compatible with AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/AM4/AM5/FM1/FM2/FM2+/LGA 1150/LGA 1151/LGA 1155/LGA 1156/LGA 1200/LGA 1700/LGA 2011/LGA 2066 processor sockets.
7. Noctua NH-L9a-AM5
The NH-L9a-AM5 is Noctua's AM5-specific revision of their award-winning NH-L9a low-profile CPU cooler designed for AMD Ryzen-based HTPCs and small form factor systems. With a height of just 37 mm, the NH-L9a is ideal for extremely slim cases and offers 100% RAM and PCIe compatibility due to its small footprint, as well as easy access to socket-close connections even on tightly packed Mini-ITX motherboards. The specially designed SecuFirm2 mounting system for the AM5 socket makes installation a breeze, and thanks to the highly optimized NF-A9x14 92 mm fan, which supports fully automatic speed control via PWM, the NH-L9a-AM5 operates remarkably quietly. Finished with Noctua's renowned NT-H1 thermal paste, the NH-L9a-AM5 combines everything users expect from Noctua's larger coolers in a super compact, high-quality package for ITX and HTPC builds with AMD AM5 processors.
8. Noctua Nh-D15
The Noctua flagship model NH-D15 is a dual-tower cooler of elite class, based on the legendary NH-D14, and continues its pursuit of ultimate cooling performance with maximum quietness. With its wider heat pipe layout and two NF-A15 140 mm premium fans featuring PWM support for fully automatic speed control, the NH-D15 can further improve the award-winning efficiency of the NH-D14. The high-quality overall package of the NH-D15 is completed by the proven SecuFirm2™ professional mounting system and Noctua's renowned NT-H1 thermal paste. Whether for overclockers or silent enthusiasts, the NH-D15 is a premium solution for the highest demands.
Based on the award-winning NH-D14, which has received over 350 recommendations and awards from leading international hardware websites and magazines, the NH-D14 is one of the most successful premium coolers of all time. The NH-D15 achieves an even better silent cooling performance compared to the NH-D14, thanks to the wider arrangement of the heat pipes and the two NF-A15 fans.
The dual-tower construction with 6 heat pipes offers more cooling surface area, better heat distribution, and superior airflow efficiency in dual-fan operation compared to conventional single-tower coolers. The width of the cooling fins has been increased from 140 mm to 150 mm compared to the NH-D14, and the distance between the heat pipes has been increased. The improved heat distribution over a larger surface area achieved through these measures significantly contributes to the superior efficiency of the NH-D15.
Thanks to the recessed lower cooling fins, the NH-D15 provides 62 mm of clearance for tall memory modules in single-fan operation—most current high-end modules can be used without any issues.
9. Noctua NH-U12A
The 120mm Premium Cooler NH-U12A represents the latest, fifth generation of Noctua's award-winning NH-U12 series. To extract even more performance from the 120mm form factor, it is equipped with two units of the exceptionally quiet flagship fan NF-A12x25 PWM and features a completely newly developed heatsink with 7 heat pipes and increased surface area for even better heat dissipation. This allows the NH-U12A to compete with many 140mm CPU coolers while still offering the case and PCIe compatibility of the 120mm class. The overall high-quality package is rounded off by the proven SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system, Noctua's renowned NT-H1 quality thermal paste, and a full 6-year manufacturer’s warranty. Its top-notch cooling performance, excellent compatibility, and outstanding quiet operation make the NH-U12A a true premium solution for the highest demands.
10. Noctua Nh-L12s
Thanks to the slim NF-A12x15 PWM, 120mm fan, the NH-L12S achieves even better silent cooling performance than its predecessor with a 92mm fan. At the same time, the NH-L12S is highly flexible: when the fan is mounted above the cooling fins, the cooler supports RAM modules with a height of up to 45mm. If the fan is mounted below, the total height is only 70mm, allowing the cooler to fit into many HTPC and small form factor cases. The overall high-quality package of the NH-L12S is rounded off by the professional SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system and Noctua's proven NT-H1 thermal paste – a premium solution for the highest demands in the low-profile segment.
