NoctuaNH-U12S chromax.Black, 120mm Single-Tower CPU Cooler (Black)

The Noctua NH-U12S chromax.Black is a top-tier 120mm single-tower CPU cooler that not only excels in cooling performance but also adds a touch of elegance to any desktop setup. This cooler has far surpassed my expectations, providing outstanding cooling capabilities with a sleek black design that complements my desktop aesthetics.The standout feature of the Noctua NH-U12S chromax.Black is its exceptional cooling performance. The single-tower design, coupled with the 120mm NF-F12 PWM fan, efficiently dissipates heat from the CPU, ensuring optimal operating temperatures even during demanding tasks and heavy workloads.The sleek black color scheme elevates the overall look of my desktop build. The chromax.Black design adds a touch of sophistication and seamlessly blends into various themed builds, enhancing the overall aesthetics of my system.The NH-U12S chromax.Black is compatible with a wide range of motherboards and memory modules, providing sufficient clearance for tall RAM modules and ensuring ease of installation.The SecuFirm2 mounting system offers a hassle-free and secure installation process, reducing the risk of damage during setup.I appreciate the low noise level of the NF-F12 PWM fan, even at maximum speeds. This ensures a quiet and undisturbed computing experience, even during intensive tasks.Noctua is renowned for its high-quality cooling solutions, and the NH-U12S chromax.Black is no exception. The cooler is built with precision and premium materials, ensuring reliability and durability.In conclusion, the Noctua NH-U12S chromax.Black CPU cooler is a top-notch cooling solution that not only delivers exceptional performance but also enhances the visual appeal of any desktop setup. Its outstanding cooling capabilities, sleek black design, and quiet operation make it the perfect choice for enthusiasts and gamers alike. If you're looking for a high-performance CPU cooler with a touch of elegance, the Noctua NH-U12S chromax.Black is the ultimate option. I highly recommend this CPU cooler for its outstanding performance and the stylish aesthetics it brings to my desktop build!

I bought this to replace the stock cooler for the i7 9700f that came in my prebuilt. The product was packaged beautifully, with a small box for mounting hardware, thermal paste and a few other accessories in the top. There was a large box containing the cooler itself in the bottom. (edited) The installation took about 2 hours (mind you, I am new at upgrading computers) and would have taken a lot less time if I had realized initially that the back panel of my PC case was removable and had a cutout allowing me to access the rear of my motherboard.Noctua provides very well written and clear instructions for how to mount this cooler. In the box, you will find instructions for both Intel and AMD platforms. If you're building a system and you know what you're doing, it'll probably take no more than 10-15 minutes for you to put this cooler in. If you're swapping a cooler like me and have no clue what to do, you'll get by with the instructions in 1-2 hours, maybe faster. (edited) As for noise, when my system is idling, I don't hear this cooler at all. At full load, it ramps up to about 1200RPM, but the noise level remains minimal and it is certainly a huge improvement over my original cooler. Sound tests show it peaking at around 30 decibels, whereas my old cooler would top out around 55.The performance of this cooler is beyond anything I could have expected. My CPU used to idle at around 55C and would heat up to 88+ with my old stock cooler. Thanks to the NHU 12 S I am now seeing idle temps at 33C and peak temps no higher than 55. Overall , my system feels much more stable thanks to this upgrade.Lastly, this cooler is absolutely gorgeous. I've made a few upgrades since purchasing my prebuilt and I think it really pulls them all together. I did make the mistake of not measuring the inside of my case, however, and I failed to account for the raised position of the body of the cooler over the CPU. The heatsink has a couple of protrusions on the top of it which have prevented me from being able to place the glass panel back onto my case once I finished swapping coolers. My case is 19.61" x 7.28" x 16.57", so if your case has a similar width 7.28", you might want to consider buying the smaller NHU 9S cooler.

This cooler was easy to install and fit perfectly in my ASUS AP201 micro-ATX case. The cooling fins are finished well and were not so sharp as to cut your skin if you touch them. This cooler came with one fan, but there is an upgrade available to add another fan.As I'm writing this review, my Ultra 265K CPU cores are running mostly at 34C to 36C, with room ambient temperature at 28C.