Noctua NH-L9x65 - CPU Cooler Review - Tech-Legend

3. Testing & Final thoughts1. Introduction & Packaging2. Visual inspection3. Testing Final & thoughts

Testing

The following system was used to test the cooler: – Processor: Intel i9 9900K @ 5GHz – Motherboard: ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X – RAM: Ballistix Tactical Tracer 16GB DDR4 @ 2666MHz – GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio – SSD: Crucial MX500 – HDD: WD 1 TB Blue – PSU: Seasonic Snow Silent 750W Platinum – Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe White – Thermal compound: Noctua NT-H2

Software used for testing the cooler:

– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 6.25.5400 – Intel Burn Test v2.54 – Prime95 29.1

The cooler was tested with the CPU at the default turbo frequency of 4.9 GHz and overclocked to 5 GHz with a core voltage of 1.261 V. Also, the included fans have been used at their maximum speed. The room temperature was approximately 26°C (78°F), with 2°C margin of error. The idle test consists of the CPU sitting idle at the desktop for 30 minutes, the temperature was measured at the end of the test.

The settings of the software used are the following: Intel Burn Test v2.54 – Stress level: Maximum Prime95 29.1- small FFT AIDA64 Extreme Version – FPU Benchmark & Temperature monitoring. Each test was conducted for 40 minutes.

Idle

Full Load – IntelBurnTestV2

Full Load – AIDA64 CPU, FPU & Cache

The noise level was measured at three different distances from the fans (10cm, 20cm, 30cm.) the noise was measured with a margin of error of ± 2 db.

The NH-L9x65 offers plenty of space below the CPU socket and thus, easy access to both the graphics card and the top M.2 socket found below the CPU socket on many modern motherboards.

Final thoughts

The Noctua NH-L9x65 is a small CPU cooler that is also silent and will fit most ITX motherboards and SFF type systems. The cooling performance is adequate for a heatsink of this size, which also uses a 92mm fan.

The cooling performance is adequate for CPUs with a low TDP, however overclocking or the usage of high TDP CPUs is not recommended with the NH-L9x65. When paired with an Intel i9 9900K CPU running at factory frequency, the temperature did not exceed 85 degrees Celsius. However, when overclocking, the CPU temperature peaked at 102 degrees Celsius, before the CPU started to thermal throttle.

The installation process is easy thanks to Noctua’s SecuFirm 2 mounting system, which has been refined among the years.

The build quality is great and on the same level as Noctua’s high-end CPU coolers, such as the NH-D15 or the NH-U12A. There are no sharp edges present on the heatsink or uneven surfaces on the baseplate or heatpipes.

The main advantage of the NH-L9x65 is the size of the heatsink, with a width and length of just 92mm, this cooler is not bigger than the standard Intel cooler.

The only problem anyone will have with this cooler is the price, at around 40 USD or EUR, it is not exactly cheap for the performance it offers. However, the NH-L9x65 is ideal for a small form factor gaming system, which uses a low TDP CPU.

In conclusion, the Noctua NH-L9x65 is a small and silent CPU cooler that offers great clearance for both the PCIe expansion slots and the RAM. The cooling performance is adequate for a heatsink of this size, and the included 92mm fan is silent while delivering good airflow.

3. Testing & Final thoughts1. Introduction & Packaging2. Visual inspection3. Testing Final & thoughts

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