Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler Review

NH-C12P Overview
Sporting 6 heat pipes and the award-winning, psycho-acoustically optimized NF-P12 120mm fan, the NH-C12P achieves excellent performance and outstanding quietness. The down-facing c-type design doesn’t only allow for optimal motherboard and case compatibility, but also provides additional cooling for motherboard components through two Airflow-Gaps. Outfitted with the professional SecuFirm mounting system and Noctua’s much acclaimed NT-H1 thermal compound, the NH-C12P is a premium-class silent cooler through and through.

The NH-C12P does in fact support the latest and greatest CPU’s, the i7 with Socket B (1366). The model we received didn’t come packaged with the i7 bracket design, but Noctua did supply it separately from the device. Noctua now offers i7 support on all of their CPU coolers with a free, quick and easy form to fill out to get your product found here. This means if you upgrade to a newer motherboard you can still keep this premium cooler, but make sure to check their extensive compatibility list to see if this will work with your motherboard.

The NH-C12P is composed of copper (base and heat pipes) and aluminum (fins). Nickel plating may keep buyers from noticing these types of materials. Equipped with the NF-P12 fan which is pretty silent (19.8 dBA) and operates at 1300RPM it also has the ability with two included cables to decrease the fan speed, thus decreasing the noise. While it’s not a PWM fan, I still think it’s a nice option to have.

Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler

While I wasn’t able to find anywhere the thickness of the aluminum fins it is still pretty easy to tell they are a lot thicker than most of the other’s I have seen. The fins are rectangular in shape and have a wave design covering about 80% of the upper and lower edges. Two small holes on either side of the fins are left for airflow and for fastening the screws during installation.

Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler

The six `C’ shaped heatpipes extend out from the base at an increasing interval until they reach an equally spaced interval to extend through the aluminum fins.

Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler

After the heatpipes have extended through the fins they are capped with a cone shaped at the last fin and stick out about 1/4 inch. The heat fins also extend from their basic rectangular shape to more of a trapezoidal shape around the base to provide heat dispersion from the copper base.

Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler

The base of the heatsink has a high gloss finish to it to provide maximum heat transference between the CPU and the base. The base did however seem to be thinly brushed prior to the final coat of finish.

Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler

Getting a closer look at the NF-P12 120mm fan included is probably not your typical choice for colors, but taking a look at the fins you can see vortex-control notches. From Noctua: “The NF-P12 has been specifically developed for applications such as CPU coolers that demand superior pressure and airflow performance. Thanks to psychoacoustic optimizations like the Vortex-Control Notches, the new SCD drive system and Noctua’s premium-grade SSO-Bearing, the NF-P12 achieves exceptional quietness and long-term stability.”

Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler Noctua NH-C12P Premium CPU Cooler