Noctua NH-L12 Low Profile CPU Cooler Review

Thermal Testing Results

Since Noctua was pretty straight forward about the NH-L12 not being for overclocking, and suggested not to go over 95w TDP, I ran our Intel LGA2011 test system at stock settings. I will be honest, before I even started the system I didnt hold high hopes for the NH-L12 coping with the heat from the 130w TDP LGA2011 Core i7-3960, but it did. The little guy soaked up the heat and did it VERY quietly with the Low Noise Adaptors.

With the fans at full speed the NH-L12 came in at 60.17*C; thats 10 degrees behind its bigger sibling, the NH-D14. The NH-L12 was only slightly behind the Cooler Master TPC 812 on low, and the Noctua was quieter. With the Low Noise Adaptors installed the NH-L12 was only slightly behind itself by 1.33 degrees.