Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

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lodestar
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Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by lodestar » Tue Mar 19, 2019 9:47 am

Full details are here.

In brief, the NH-U12A features seven heat pipes over the six of the NH-U12. The single NF-F12 of the old U12 is replaced by two NF-A12x25 PWM fans. Price apparently will be around EUR/USD 99.90/£89.95, so definitely a premium product. Noctua's tag line is "...140mm class performance in 120mm size...".

Wakoo
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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Wakoo » Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:23 am

That's awesome, do you know if they sent any review copy anywhere ?

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Tue Mar 19, 2019 4:14 pm

According to Noctuas they say the cooler is as good as NH-D15 on a smaller factor, it just hit pre order on amazon, just order one, will let you guys know in a month if it really delivers or not.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Wakoo » Tue Mar 19, 2019 10:27 pm

If you have a Mugen 5 rev B, I would love the know how it competes against the U12A in single fan configuration.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:03 pm

Wakoo wrote:If you have a Mugen 5 rev B, I would love the know how it competes against the U12A in single fan configuration.
Yea i still have the Mugen5 RevB, ill test on an Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master + i7 8086k with

- NH-D15S with 2x NF-A15 PWM (to see if it can match its performance, as noctua states)
- NH-U12A with 2x NF-A12x25 PWM (ill test with one also to see how much you gain)
- Mugen RevB with the included Scythe Glidestream PWM (ill test with 1x NF-A12x25 to compare, probably wont test dual dont remember if i have an extra clip).

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by teodoro » Wed Mar 20, 2019 6:46 pm

Did you ever happen to try the D15S with (either 1 or 2) A12x25? Just curious, I’ve only seen a couple reddit posts that it was a marginal performance improvement but better noise (as one might expect).

I haven’t measured yet, but it looks like the u12a would leave enough gap to have 2x cpu heatsink fans with a rear exhaust whereas the my Mugen 5 is a bit too big for that setup. My temperatures are fine but…tempting nevertheless.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:15 pm

teodoro wrote:Did you ever happen to try the D15S with (either 1 or 2) A12x25? Just curious, I’ve only seen a couple reddit posts that it was a marginal performance improvement but better noise (as one might expect).
I didnt try dual NF-A12x25 alone, i did with a TY143 in the middle, i didnt measure noise much as i couldnt drop the rpms much or i would easily pass 100C, so all test were done at full rpms (except one, the dual NF-A15 was done with the silent preset). With the 8086 is more likely that i might test lower rpms, simply the 9900k run way to hot.
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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by lb_felipe » Sat Mar 23, 2019 12:09 am


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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by lb_felipe » Sat Mar 23, 2019 12:42 am


teodoro
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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by teodoro » Thu Mar 28, 2019 8:12 am

Another review, which puts it at 2-4 degrees behind the D15. The noise measurements (done at max speed) are pretty unsurprising given that the a12x25 goes to 2k rpm and there are two of them.

Does noctua’s A15 fan have the same acoustic profile as the A14? My experience with the a14 and a12 was that the 140mm had to spin much slower to match the 120mm noise floor (a14 ~400rpm, a12 ~800rpm), and the A14 got louder much quicker than the a12 as the fans ramped up. If the A15 fans on the D15 are the same way, I suspect the U12A will look much better at <50% fan speed tests.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Wakoo » Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:43 am

Another video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu_jSjhu3Dk

The U12S with 2 A12X25 is within marging of error. Most of the gain seems to be on the new fan rather than on the extra fin area or heatpipe.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by lodestar » Fri Mar 29, 2019 3:03 am

Yes, that's correct. But stock U12S vs stock U12A shows a margin of 6 to 7C in favour of the U12A. You also need to take account of noise levels, I'm pretty sure that 2 x A12x25s would be somewhat quieter that 2 x NF-F12s, at any speed.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:15 am

For what i have seen, it seems the cooler is good, just marginally better, and that many are ratting it too expensive for the upgrade of what it delivers over other coolers.

Mine will be deliver today, ill be testing over the weekend vs NH-D15s and Mugen5, ill post here my results.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Wakoo » Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:10 am

Abula wrote: Mine will be deliver today, ill be testing over the weekend vs NH-D15s and Mugen5, ill post here my results.
That's awesome thank you !

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Mon Apr 01, 2019 9:50 am

Sadly i coudlnt do much testing on the weekend ='(, RL stuff came up with family. But im planning on doing the test on weekdays at night after work.

One thing that i wanted to tell you all, is that atm i have mounted the NH-D15S on Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master with i7 8086, but im planning on testing at stock intel speeds, more so because if i run at 5ghz i wont be able to measure low rpms and how each cooler behaves with low airflow. I dont think its a good indicator just to give full rpm behavior, as many of us never use this coolers like this, thus the 4.3ghz all cores is much less aggressive on temperature, thus allowing very low rpm testing and this way we can compare all coolers/fans.

To my surprise, yesterday i did only the NH-D15S because it was already mounted on the board, i have tested it on my 9900k but never on the 8086k, and what really surprise me was the temperatures, i know this cpu is not as hot as 9900k and its also being ran a lower clocks/voltages, also this was delided and used a custom IHS full cooper with slightly more surface area + liquid metal, so its expected lower temperatures. But i started at full rpms with aida64 stress test and saw 50s as the max temps, so i drop it to 850rpms and barely rise to 55C, so decide to drop again to 450rpms and only saw 60s as max temps, so decide to drop it 260rpms, and didn't even hit 80C, its very impressive to be able to run a 6 core @ 4.3ghz and you practically can cool it with no fans (btw i didnt have the balls to go with no fans). I might test only 1x NF-A15 today to see how low can it get with a single fan. That said, its very likely that this CPU can be ran on NoFan95C passively with some case airflow, and not many programs will load it as aida64, so lower temps are very likely on runnign the 8086k under this conditions.

Ill be testing during the week the Mugen5 and NH-U14A, sadly i can't measure to accurately dBs (no chamber still), so rpms will have to do.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Wakoo » Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:31 am

Abula wrote:Ill be testing during the week the Mugen5 and NH-U14A, sadly i can't measure to accurately dBs (no chamber still), so rpms will have to do.
Well that's unfortunate but we will trust your gut if you tell us it's spcr standard quiet :)

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by teodoro » Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:13 pm

Fan rpm, temperature, and your subjective assessment of noise is still super valuable data. Your vcore under load would also be nice to have. Pretty impressive results on that d15/8086k, which make me think all the heatsinks you test will perform closely given the relatively low heat levels.

I bet the real winner here will be the a12x25 fan.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:48 pm

Still a work in progress, and probably is going to take me all week to finish all the heatsinks, but i finished the NH-D15s, remember im testing at stock 4.3ghz on Aida64 at least 30min, ambient temp was 26.7 to 26.9 according to the fluke probe. Interestingly the two fan setup matters much more the lower the rpms, at least on the NH-D15s, will see on the NH-U12A maybe tomorrow if i get early home.

Let me know if you want to see any other test than what you see on the table, but keep in mind that it takes around 3 hours to do one set.
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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by CA_Steve » Tue Apr 02, 2019 5:27 am

Cool stuff.

Two fans at low rpm: makes sense. Benefit decreases as airflow increased across fins. I like the doubling of temp difference as the fan rpm is nearly halved.

Hey, here's 6 hours more work for you - Scythe Mugen 5: How about adding the single stock fan as a comparison..and also test with 2 of the A12x25's? The Mugen is pretty fat, it should show decent improvement at low rpm.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by teodoro » Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:18 am

especially in light of the dual stack nature of the d15s, the second fan being important at low rpm seems logical. I'm also (selfishly) interested in the mugen 5 with two a12x25. to save yourself some time maybe don't bother with two fans at 100% as I'm not sure many people would ever run the fans that fast.

it sure would be nice if mainstream outlets provided as useful a presentation of cpu cooler data as you! thanks again for running the tests.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Tue Apr 02, 2019 7:39 am

CA_Steve wrote:Two fans at low rpm: makes sense. Benefit decreases as airflow increased across fins. I like the doubling of temp difference as the fan rpm is nearly halved.
While its kinda logical, i didnt expected it too much, the NH-D15S is meant to be a high end air cooler, the fin separation is not that much, in my mind you needed a lot of airflow/static pressure, and still is true in terms of how the cooler performs with the increase rpms. If you go a little further, most people that are going for this big coolers, they are not very likely to use it below 800rpms, where the 1v2 fan becomes less important, but to me what surprise me aside from sustaining 4.3ghz six core with 250rpms, is that the second fan matter, specially for someone that might be trying to do a inaudible build on load with a high clocked cpu, given that its not being ran into what i can achieve, i do think its a good thing for future SPCR members in terms of deciding if they add or not the second fan.
CA_Steve wrote:Hey, here's 6 hours more work for you - Scythe Mugen 5: How about adding the single stock fan as a comparison..and also test with 2 of the A12x25's? The Mugen is pretty fat, it should show decent improvement at low rpm.
Sure thing, im going to leave the Mugen 5 for last, since its going to require looking for extra clips that im not sure came with, ill do the stock for sure, if i find the clips ill do the dual.
teodoro wrote:to save yourself some time maybe don't bother with two fans at 100% as I'm not sure many people would ever run the fans that fast.
While for most of us here, your comment is true, for outsiders or standard not quiet seeking people, are likely to run it higher than 50%, specially this is a cooler that its considered as top end of the line on air cooling. The 100% is also good because we can compare the most we can cool down between coolers, it only takes me 30min more so its not a big deal either.

The best way that i would love to do testing is to normalize the noise, for example, to search for the PWM/rpms until the noise from a fan + heatsink reaches 20/25/30/35/40 dBs, then run aida64 to see the temps outcomes vs noise, this to me its the end game, as rpms, cfm, static pressure, are meaningless compared to the true outcomes that happen when adding a fan, noise and cooling, but for me to do this will require a to do in a chamber, atm just don't have the time to coordinate the building of the extra room.

Ill try to do the NH-U12A today, this is what i personally im interested more, since Noctua claimed the performance would be similar to the NH-D15 in a smaller factor, and its very likely the last time both coolers will be easy accessible to me, as they will go on builds soon.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Wakoo » Tue Apr 02, 2019 7:45 am

Abula wrote:Still a work in progress, and probably is going to take me all week to finish all the heatsinks, but i finished the NH-D15s, remember im testing at stock 4.3ghz on Aida64 at least 30min, ambient temp was 26.7 to 26.9 according to the fluke probe. Interestingly the two fan setup matters much more the lower the rpms, at least on the NH-D15s, will see on the NH-U12A maybe tomorrow if i get early home.

Let me know if you want to see any other test than what you see on the table, but keep in mind that it takes around 3 hours to do one set.
Do you have the data of the mugen 5 rev B with the Kaze Flex 120 PWM ? Your test is great to compare the heatsink by themselves with the the same fan. But I'm much more interested in the performance of mugen 5 rev B stock versus the single fan variant of the U12A. I can find the Mugen 5 at 65€, and the U12A at "69€" if I keep the fan for something else.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Tue Apr 02, 2019 7:54 am

Wakoo wrote:Do you have the data of the mugen 5 rev B with the Kaze Flex 120 PWM ? Your test is great to compare the heatsink by themselves with the the same fan. But I'm much more interested in the performance of mugen 5 rev B stock versus the single fan variant of the U12A. I can find the Mugen 5 at 65€, and the U12A at "69€" if I keep the fan for something else.
Yes i did test it, but the data isn't comparable, as it was on a different motherboard (Asus H170 Pro Gaming) and different cpu (i5 6500), different clocks, voltages, thermal compounds, delid and custom ihs, more cores, etc.

Since Steve and you are interested, ill do the kama flex 120 run, but at the pricing you are finding both coolers, the U12A is a better buy, even if you don't use the two fans on it, for 5€ you are getting a NF-A12x25 which is $30 fan, to me the Mugen5 is a great cooler for what it costs, for $48 vs $100 of U12A, its very hard to justify double the price, unless it really delivers on the performance, which its no likely, but in your case, its 5€ difference, that justifies it easily (at least to me), unless its the U12S (i really don't like the NF-F12, i prefer the older NF-P12).

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by CA_Steve » Tue Apr 02, 2019 8:16 am

..but for me to do this will require a to do in a chamber, atm just don't have the time to coordinate the building of the extra room.
Time to start on that wine cellar. Dual purpose. :)

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Tue Apr 02, 2019 9:55 am

CA_Steve wrote:Time to start on that wine cellar. Dual purpose. :)
I'm more a beer guy =P

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:16 pm

Still doing tests, btw for those who want to see the 2x NF-A12x25 on the Mugen5, i found the clips, so it will be done, probably tomorrow.

In the mean time, found a new review, from a very good youtuber, but sadly he only test max rpms.

Noctua NH-U12A - Surprisingly Powerful, Insanely Quiet.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Thu Apr 04, 2019 10:32 pm

Finish NH-U12A testing, its not a bad cooler, but because of its price its not great either, at full blast it has comparable performance to the NH-D15s, and the fans are quieter even a higher rpms, but it costs more, so this cooler imo its just good if you cant fit a NH-D15s, as its cheaper, although to be fair, im using the s version that only comes with 1 fan and i added the fan of my NH-U14s TR4, so considering both fans the NH-D15s ends up $10 more expensive, but you can get the none s with dual fans for cheaper... so its a toss up. I leave you the table as it is right now, the last test of the NH-U12A i had to stop in 20min (all other tests are 30min+), got scared with the 96 and was still climbing, my guess is it will pass the 100c if i would have continue and i don't feel comfortable reaching those temps.

Ill test tomorrow the Thermalright HR22, i expect to do the Mugen5 on early Saturday.
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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by CA_Steve » Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:28 am

Interesting. Given the rpm differences, I thought graphing the data might help.
D15S vs U12A.png
For any given RPM, the D15 clearly provides better temps. But, we'll have to use your subjective ears to answer this question: what RPM can the A12x25's run for the same noise level as the A15's?
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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by teodoro » Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:30 am

subjectively, where do you find the noise floor of the a12x25 and the a15 fans to be? I think I remember you saying the a12 was inaudible under ~800rpm for you, I'm curious what your equivalent speed for the a15 is. basically I'm wondering if the d15s or the u12a would win the "best performance at the noise floor" category. it could certainly be splitting hairs at that point, and then one has to wonder how the d15s would behave with the a12 fans at 800rpm.

all in all, still pretty impressive for a cooler that has no ram/pci-e conflicts, has ~30% less heatsink mass, and (in the US) is only $10 more than the d15.

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Re: Noctua introduces twin NF-A12x25 NH-U12A CPU cooler

Post by Abula » Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:44 am

CA_Steve wrote:But, we'll have to use your subjective ears to answer this question: what RPM can the A12x25's run for the same noise level as the A15's?
I never really heard the nf-a15 on a very quiet envoirment, ill give a shot on the night to see if i can find the my subjective inaudible and then use the db metter at the rpms i tested the fans.
teodoro wrote:subjectively, where do you find the noise floor of the a12x25 and the a15 fans to be? I think I remember you saying the a12 was inaudible under ~800rpm for you
i'll do hearing session, but has to be past midnight, so was unlikely during the week, but ill try to to do it today or tomorrow.

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