Noctua NH-L12S - CPU Cooler Review - Tech-Legend

2. Visual inspection1. Introduction & Packaging2. Visual inspection3. Testing & Final thoughts

Visual inspection

The Noctua NH-L12S is a low-profile CPU cooler which a height of just 70mm and a total weight of 520g with the fan installed. The NH-L12S has a maximum recommended TDP of 95W and uses a single 120mm fan that can be installed either under or above the heatsink, to provide more clearance. The dimensions of the heatsink are: (H)70mm x (W)128mm x (D)146mm.

The heatsink has a simple design and is placed at a distance from the base of the cooler, this is mainly due to allow the installation of a 120mm fan on the underside of the heatsink. The materials used in the construction of the cooler are aluminum for the fins and nickel-plated copper for the baseplate and heatpipes. The total weight of the cooler without the fan and fan clips is just 390g.

The Noctua NH-L12S uses four nickel-plated copper heatpipes, each with the standard outer diameter of 6mm. The heatpipes are arranged in a C shape to increase the space between the heatsink and the base of the cooler. The space is needed for the installation of the included 120mm fan.

The base of the cooler is manufactured from the same nickel-plated copper as the four heatpipes. The surface of the baseplate is evenly brushed into a sunburst pattern, and has a reflection similar with that of a mirror.

The aluminum cooling fins have spaces carved into the middle of the heasink. This is done to allow for easy access of a screwdriver to the mounting system screws found above the base of the cooler. The sides of the fins are also shaped to provide a secure place for the metallic fan clips to sit while holding the fan in both available positions: under or above the heatsink.

The NH-L12S has a single 120mm fan which is preinstalled on the underside of the heatsink. The fan used is the Noctua NF-A12x15 PWM, which has a minimum speed of 450RPM and a maximum speed of 1850RPM. With the included low noise adapter, the maximum speed is lowered to 1400RPM.

The cable of the fan is covered by synthetic high-quality sleeving, and uses a standard 4-Pin PWM connector for power.

2. Visual inspection1. Introduction & Packaging2. Visual inspection3. Testing & Final thoughts

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