Details
Award-winning NH-U12A cooler
The NH-U12A has proven in countless tests that it can match or even outperform many 140mm sized coolers while offering 120mm class case and PCIe compatibility. This winning combination of top-tier performance and excellent compatibility has earned the NH-U12A awards and recommendations from more than 100 hardware website and magazines across the word.
chromax.black design
The NH-U12A chromax.black is black from head to toe: featuring a black coated heatsink, a black fan with black anti-vibration pads, black fan clips and black mounting parts, it’s right at home in all-black builds and easy to integrate with other colour schemes.
Colour-customisable
Using the optional NA-HC7 and NA-HC8 heatsink covers as well as the NA-SAVP1 anti-vibration pads (available in black, blue, green, red, yellow, white), the NH-U12A chromax.black can be fully customised to fit popular build colour schemes such as black and red or black and white.
140mm performance in 120mm size
Thanks to its completely revised, thoroughly optimised 7 heatpipe layout, 37% more fin surface area (as compared to the NH-U12S) and a dual fan push/pull configuration that uses the new, state-of-the-art NF-A12x25 fans, the NH-U12A pushes the performance envelope in the 120mm class and can actually match or even outperform many 140mm sized coolers.
100% RAM compatibility on LGA1700/1200 and AM4/AM5
Due to its asymmetric design, the NH-U12A does not overhang the RAM slots on Intel LGA1700 (LGA17xx family)/LGA1200/LGA115x and AMD AM4/AM5 based motherboards, which ensures easy access to the modules and 100% compatibility with tall heat-spreaders. On LGA2066, the rear fan will overhang the RAM slots on the left-hand side of the socket, so RAM modules should not exceed 42mm in height.*
Classic 120mm tower size for excellent case and PCIe compatibility
Standing 158mm tall, the NH-U12A is short enough to fit most modern mid- or high-end tower cases. Measuring 125mm wide (including fan and fan clips), the cooler stays clear of the top PCIe slot on most standard ATX or Micro-ATX motherboards, ensuring optimum compatibility with multi-GPU setups.
Dual NF-A12 120mm fans
The NF-A12x25 is a highly optimised next-generation 120mm fan that integrates Noctua’s latest innovations in aerodynamic engineering in order to achieve an unprecedented level of quiet cooling performance. Using this elite-class fan in a push/pull dual fan configuration is one of the cornerstones of the NH-U12A’s commanding performance and acoustic efficiency.
PWM support and Low-Noise Adaptors
The NF-A12 120mm fans supplied with the NH-U12A support PWM for convenient automatic speed control through the motherboard: full performance under load, virtually silent at idle! In addition, maximum fan speed can be reduced from 2000 to 1700rpm using the supplied Low-Noise Adaptors for even quieter operation.
SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system
Noctua’s SecuFirm2™ mounting systems have become synonymous with quality, safety and easy installation. Supporting Intel LGA1700 (LGA17xx family), LGA1200, LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156) and LGA20xx (LGA2066, LGA2011-0, LGA2011-3), as well as AMD AM4 and AM5, the SecuFirm2™ mounting included with the NH-U12A is straightforward to install, provides perfect contact pressure and will stand the test of time even under heavy use.
Compatibility with past and future sockets
Thanks to Noctua’s SecuFirm™ ecosystem, the NH-U12A can be made compatible with the older LGA1366 and LGA775 sockets using the optional NM-I3 mounting kit, which is provided free of charge. If technically possible, Noctua will also provide upgrade kits for future sockets, which makes the NH-U12A a safe long-term investment.
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. Chosen again and again by overclockers and enthusiast users worldwide, it has established itself as a benchmark for premium-quality thermal compounds.
Soldered interface between heatpipes and fins
With many heatsinks, the fins are press-fitted to the heatpipes. Due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of copper and aluminium, this fit can loosen over years of thermal cycling, which may lead to reduced performance. By contrast, the NH-U12A’s fins are soldered to the heatpipes in order to guarantee a superior thermal interface that doesn’t deteriorate even after many years of usage.
Cooler Specification
Socket compatibility
Intel LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA2011, LGA2066 & AMD AM4, AM5
Height (without fan)
158 mm
Width (without fan)
125 mm
Depth (without fan)
58 mm
Weight (without fan)
760 g
Height (with fan)
158 mm
Width (with fan)
125 mm
Depth (with fan)
112 mm
Weight (with fan)
1220 g
Material
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
NSPR
169
Max. TDP
see NSPR
Fan compatibility
120x120x25
Scope of delivery
- Black NH-U12A heatsink
- 2x NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan
- 2x NA-RC14 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A)
- NA-YC1 4-pin PWM y-cable
- NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound
- Black SecuFirm2™ mounting kit
- Noctua Metal Case-Badge
FAN Specification
Model
Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black
Bearing
SSO2
Max. rotational speed (+/- 10%)
2000 RPM
Max. rotational speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
1700 RPM
Min. rotational speed @ 20% PWM (+/-20%)
450 RPM
Max. airflow
102,1 m³/h
Max. airflow with L.N.A.
84,5 m³/h
Max. acoustical noise
22,6 dB(A)
Max. acoustical noise with L.N.A.
18,8 dB(A)
Voltage range
12 V
MTTF
> 150.000 h