Noctua NH-U12S Vs NH-U12A - Cooling - Linus Tech Tips

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I have a Fractal Design Meshify C and I'm looking to get either the Noctua NH-U12S or the NH-U12A and was wandering what the difference between the two are. I see the NH-U12A has a bigger heatsink and two fans, but I can just add a second fan to the NH-U12S

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• 8lec

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the u12 a is newer and has a significantly thicker heatsink. U12 a also comes equipped with NF-A12x25 fans which generally cost a 30 bucks a pop. 

Which cpu do you have?

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2 minutes ago, 8lec said:

the u12 a is newer and has a significantly thicker heatsink. U12 a also comes equipped with NF-A12x25 fans which generally cost a 30 bucks a pop. 

Which cpu do you have?

Ryzen 7 3800x. I was considering the NH-U12A because I plan to add a second fan to the U12S, and the U12A already comes with two fans. Would the bigger heatsink affect ram space you think?

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• Jurrunio

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U12A is U12S's replacement. Basically D15 performance (close enough imo, maybe a bit worse) in a smaller package.

CPU: i7-2600K 4751MHz 1.44V (software) --> 1.47V at the back of the socket Motherboard:Asrock Z77 Extreme4 (BCLK: 103.3MHz) CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 RAM: Adata XPG 2x8GB DDR3 (XMP: 2133MHz 10-11-11-30 CR2, custom: 2203MHz 10-11-10-26 CR1 tRFC:230 tREFI:14000) GPU: Asus GTX 1070 Dual (Super Jetstream vbios, +70(2025-2088MHz)/+400(8.8Gbps)) SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 256GB (main boot drive), Transcend SSD370 128GB PSU: Seasonic X-660 80+ Gold Case: Antec P110 Silent, 5 intakes 1 exhaust Monitor: AOC G2460PF 1080p 144Hz (150Hz max w/ DP, 121Hz max w/ HDMI) TN panel Keyboard: Logitech G610 Orion (Cherry MX Blue) with SteelSeries Apex M260 keycaps Mouse: BenQ Zowie FK1

Model: HP Omen 17 17-an110ca CPU: i7-8750H (0.125V core & cache, 50mV SA undervolt) GPU: GTX 1060 6GB Mobile (+80/+450, 1650MHz~1750MHz 0.78V~0.85V) RAM: 8+8GB DDR4-2400 18-17-17-39 2T Storage: HP EX920 1TB PCIe x4 M.2 SSD + Crucial MX500 1TB 2.5" SATA SSD, 128GB Toshiba PCIe x2 M.2 SSD(KBG30ZMV128G) gone cooking externally, 1TB Seagate 7200RPM 2.5" HDD (ST1000LM049-2GH172) left outside Monitor: 1080p 126Hz IPS G-sync

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• Zando_

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Just now, Jurrunio said:

U12A is U12S's replacement. Basically D15 performance (close enough imo, maybe a bit worse) in a smaller package.

^^^ This. It's a different finstack, engineered specifically for the two fans it ships with. Performs much better than the U12S, which is an older design. 

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CPU: i3 12100F

Cooler: Noctua NH-L12S

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GPU: Intel ARC A770 16GB LE

Storage: 1TB MP34 + 2TB P41 + 2x 1TB MX500

PSU: EVGA 850W GM

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• -rascal-

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3 minutes ago, prostrike33 said:

Ryzen 7 3800x. I was considering the NH-U12A because I plan to add a second fan to the U12S, and the U12A already comes with two fans. Would the bigger heatsink affect ram space you think?

Go with the NH-U12A.

As already mentioned, it is the revised -U12S, and it should have EVEN better RAM clearance, at least according to reviews, etc.

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6 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

 

Go with the NH-U12A.

As already mentioned, it is the revised -U12S, and it should have EVEN better RAM clearance, at least according to reviews, etc.

8 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

U12A is U12S's replacement. Basically D15 performance (close enough imo, maybe a bit worse) in a smaller package.

7 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

^^^ This. It's a different finstack, engineered specifically for the two fans it ships with. Performs much better than the U12S, which is an older design. 

U12A it is. Thanks

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