INTRODUCTION

   When Noctua made their very first steps roughly 15 years ago CPU coolers where just large chunks of metal (aluminum or copper) paired with fans and since most of those fans where either black, red or white Noctua chose to opt for something entirely different, brown. Even though however Noctua won the hearts of gamers, enthusiasts and professionals alike (due to the performance and quality of their coolers) many people just didn't "agree" with their choice of color. Well it actually took Noctua over 10 years to change that but today black is for good in their product lines (both for their heatsinks and fans) and after testing the NH-D15 Chromax.Black model a while back today with us we have the NH-U12S Chromax.Black.

   Designed in Austria, Noctua’s premium cooling components are internationally renowned for their superb quietness, exceptional performance and thoroughgoing quality. Having received more than 6000 awards and recommendations from leading hardware websites and magazines, Noctua’s fans and heatsinks are serving hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers around the globe.

   Just like with the NH-D15 Chromax.Black and the original NH-D15 the NH-U12S Chromax.Black is identical to the original NH-U12S model released roughly 7 years ago (review here) with just one significant difference, color since the entire cooler features a special black coating (minus the copper nickel plated base that is). So once again we are dealing with a black mid-sized heatsink (158x125x45mm / 755g - covered by a 6-year limited warranty) which Noctua has paired with one of their NF-F12 PWM Chromax.Black fans (1500RPM/55CFM/22.4dBA). Being identical to the original NH-U12S the brand new NH-U12S Chromax.Black is also a zero-interference model which means you should have no issues with either the mainboard components or with the RAM modules. So, although we don't really expect any serious performance differences between the NH-U12S and the NH-U12S Chromax.Black it's time to see just how the all-black version looks and performs.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The NH-U12S Chromax.Black gets shipped inside a black box that has a product picture at the front right beneath the product name and above the product line name and the company logo.

Noctua speaks about both the original NH-U12S and the NH-U12S Chromax.Black on both sides of the box.

The product specifications are printed at the rear of the box.

Once again Noctua has used two secondary cardboard boxes for the bundle and the cooler.

Packed with the NH-U12S Chromax.Black is a long Philips screwdriver, 2 fan clips, 4 anti-vibration fan pads, low-noise fan adapter (L.N.A.), NT-H1 thermal paste tube, Noctua metal case badge, installation instructions for both Intel and AMD systems and all the necessary mounting hardware to install the cooler on Intel LGA 1150/1151/1155/1156/2011/2011-3/2066 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/AM4/FM1/FM2/FM2+ mainboards.

THE NH-U12S CHROMAX.BLACK

Measuring 158mm in height, 125mm in width and 71mm in depth with a weight of 755g (with the fan) the NH-U12S Chromax.Black is identical to its predecessor.

You will need to use the bundled screwdriver in this hole in order to mount the cooler onto your mainboard.

The heatsink features a grant total of 50 aluminum fins (all black).

These fins are bend on the sides to keep as much air as possible coming from the fan from leaking left and right.

I was hoping Noctua would use new and improved fans with their Chromax Black models but since this isn't the case the NF-F12 PWM Chromax.Black model can reach 1500RPM to produce 55CFM of airflow with just 22.4dBA of noise.

Five 6mm all-copper heatpipes leave the base of the NH-U12S Chromax.Black and pass through all of its 50 aluminum fins.

The all-copper nickel plated base of the NH-U12S Chromax.Black is the only part of this cooler which is not painted black.

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

   We always take things quite seriously when it comes to work so just like with the previous LGA1366 database we will not be testing each CPU Cooler on its own and with different ambient temperature levels and thus we can actually have yet another valid CPU Cooler database. Testing a CPU Cooler automatically means that you need to know where it stands against the immediate competition and to accomplish that we have spent both money and time through the years, something that we plan to continue to do so in order to get the most accurate results for the end consumers who read these lines. Every CPU cooler in this database is tested with the bundled 140mm/120mm/92mm/80mm fans while working at both idle speed and 100% of their speeds for all the temperature tests. CPU Coolers that do not come bundled with a fan/s are measured using a Noctua fan (size dependent on the model) to test for the temperature tests but due to the lack of a stock fan dBA level tests are obviously skipped. Single (120/140mm) watercooling solutions are tested with the radiator mounted at the rear of our test rig while dual/triple/quad (240/260/280/360/420/480/560mm) solutions with the radiator mounted at the top. For the dBA tests every cooler in the database was measured both while on idle mode or with the fan controller in the minimum setting and while on extreme load or with the fan controller all the way to the highest possible setting (PWM fans do that on their own without our intervention). Every single test takes place in a temperature controlled room of 23 degrees Celsius Ambient Temp with the help of two AC units placed diagonally inside the room. The Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste is used with every CPU Cooler in our latest LGA2011 database (although initially this was not the plan, we had to change things to get the most accurate results). Finally, it's very important to point out that just because a CPU Cooler is better than another when tested with our test rig that does not necessarily mean that the same performance differences will apply 100% for other CPU models and in other situations (such as different ambient temps and system configurations).

     To successfully record the load temperatures, we use the latest OCCT application for around 6-10 minutes to push the processor to its limits and after that is done and the temperatures are recorded, we wait for about 10-20 minutes for the CPU to cool down and record the idle temperatures. This is done to allow time for the thermal conductive material to achieve the optimal performance level. Same procedure is then repeated with the Passmark BurnIn Test as a failsafe just in case the OCCT results are wrong. This procedure is more time consuming than the usual peltier/thermometer tests but this way not only can we deliver real world results to our readers based on real CPUs but we can also triple check the results using a variety of programs. Last but not least the temperatures were recorded using both the latest versions of AIDA64 and RealTemp while the noise level tests are performed using a high precision ExTech HD600 Decibel Meter placed about 10-15cm above the CPU Cooler. Still although the same testing procedure applies to all units do take into consideration that unlike the official numbers which are measured in special noise isolated labs with just the fans here, we also have both the rest of the cooler and the rest of the system (although all system fans are turned off when recording noise levels).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

   The original NH-U12S performed very well for its size and the same applies for the brand new NH-U12S Chromax.Black model especially since it came quite close to the Mugen 5 Black RGB without producing higher noise levels (almost a 100% match between both fans). Performance aside however the black coating used is once again really impressive and my personal opinion is that for people who are not into RGB illumination the Chromax.Black line of CPU coolers by Noctua is the ideal choice (at least until Noctua introduces RGB models – it could happen eventually).

   With a current price tag set at USD69.95 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and at 69Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the NH-U12S Chromax.Black CPU Cooler by Noctua may not be as cost-effective as its immediate competition (at least performance-wise) but the superior craftmanship combined with the new black coating should help most people overcome that dilemma (if black is not your thing the original NH-U12S is still available for USD10/10Euros less). Overall, I really like the latest NH-U12S Chromax.Black quite a bit more than its predecessor and that’s why 7 years later it’s still good enough for our Golden Award.

PROS

- Excellent Build Quality
- All Black Version
- Size (Zero Interference)
- Very Good Cooling Efficiency (For The Size)
- Dual Fan Solution
- Bundle
- 6 Years Warranty

CONS

- Price (For Some)