When it comes to CPU cooling what do you use? Honestly I prefer massive CPU coolers. With so many options from just being huge, intimidating, noisy, and efficient to small, unassuming cheap coolers, what is the best option? Well for those out there that agree that Air Based CPU coolers are a great way to drop the temp of your CPU but don’t always like towering coolers filling up you computer cavity, then you should take a look at the Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler. With its C shape design this cooler has the ability to drastically drop the temp of your CPU while not sacrificing low noise and space in your computer. Let’s take a closer look at this innovative CPU Cooler:

Price: $70.53

Closer Look:

Like everything that Noctua provides the Noctua NH-C12P comes in a nice sleek looking box donning there trademark color scheme and sporting a nice little window allowing you to see the product, also like everything else is also has a picture of their pretty red headed mascot. The box ‘s top and back are covered in specs and features for this heat sync. It also includes several diagrams; one on how there custom Noctua NF-P12 Fan reduces noise, one shows the two types of mounting systems that are included, and one that shows the dimensions of the Noctua NH-C12P.

 

 

Included with the Noctua NH-C12P are two different mounting styles for Intel and AMD motherboards, a tube of Noctua NT-H1 thermal compound, a Noctua NF-P12 Premium Fan, a Low-Noise Adaptor, and an Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor.

With the Noctua NH-C12P’s low profile, C-Shape design, and large airflow-gaps provide excellent cooling for near-socket motherboard components. Even though it has a low profile and doesn’t tower over your motherboard its base is still built high so as not to interfere with heat syncs and capacitor on your mother board, a problem I personally have had in the past. Even though it looks sexy and made of chrome it really is made of copper and aluminum. The front of the cooler displays Noctua’s logo which I thought was a nice touch to the looks.

The bottom of the cooler I received wasn’t lapped as well as I was hoping; it had some very small fine ridges on the bottom. I decided to apply an extra thin layer of thermal compound to the CPU, then placed the cooler on the CPU to find where it sat on the cooler, and then added a thin layer to the bottom of the cooler and I got amazing results but that will be covered later in the testing area.

Let’s move onto the specs and features: