Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler Review

Results Continued and Conclusion

Now with the system overclocked and idling the NH-C12P seems to be way in the back of the pack, but the coolers are just running that closely. There are only 2 degrees separating first and seventh places. The NH-C12P is still 15.75 degrees cooler then stock.

Under load the overclocked Q6600 starts to strain the NH-C12P with an average temp of 49.5*C with the fan at full power and 51*C with the Ultra Low Noise Adaptor. The NH-C12P reached a point where most enthusiasts would rather not be with an aftermarket cooler that has an average price tag of $70.

Conclusion

The new NH-C12P cooler from Noctua is to be considered a high-end air cooler due to its hefty price tag of $70. Unfortunately, the old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ only partly applies here. The NH-C12P is very well built, and for an air cooler it is very, very quiet. As for the performance side of the cooler, this is where most expect to see their bang for buck. The cooler did perform close to the level of Noctuas previous cooler, the NH-U12P, with our test system running at stock settings. This is perfect for those who need an extremely quiet cooler for a small desktop that cant accommodate the larger tower coolers. As for the enthusiast that wants to push their system for all its worth, no matter what case it lives in, the NH-C12P is not for you. I think this is mainly due to the down draft style cooler. This style of cooler makes it harder, not impossible, to get the heat out of the case.

I was pleased to see the improvements made to the SecuFrim system; as well as the NH-C12Ps ability to be mounted vertically or horizontally, and yes I did test the cooler both ways and there was less than a degree difference in the temperatures. I also still continue to be impressed by the NF-P12 fans and their dead quiet operation. Now, if we can get something done about the color.

Bottom Line: Noctua has provided yet another quality built silent air cooler, but for the price it should perform better on an overclocked system.