Noctua NH-U12P SE2

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 8 expert reviews

Excellent:

6
Good:

2
Average:

0
Bad:

0

Pros:

Unmatched silence.
Two included NHP12 fans give added performance and added silence by sharing the work at lower speeds.
Quietest CPU cooler I have used to date.

Cons:

It will be a costly investment for some people.
Expensive.

TechSpot is supported by its audience. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

Last revision on January 10, 2013

Reviewers Liked

Unmatched silence
Two included NHP12 fans give added performance and added silence by sharing the work at lower speeds
Quietest CPU cooler I have used to date
Performance was top notch
Especially for being a silent cooler
Top notch performance
Universal compatibility and easy installation
Two NFP12 fans included
Bundle includes noise reduction adaptors for the fans
Decent cooling performance
Fairly easy to install
Very well made

Reviewers Didn't Like

It will be a costly investment for some people
Expensive
Back plate is rather thick
Not much difference using one or two fans

Expert reviews and ratings

If you read Kitguru regularly, there is no chance you will have missed us singing the praises of the Noctua NH D14 cooler which we have affectionately dubbed ‘The Austrian Sandwich’. Even all this time after the initial release, competitors...

By Kitguru.net on June 23, 2011

More important than the NH-U12P SE2’s 2-degree victory is the fact that it’s simply a more complete package. The cooler supports all modern socket interfaces and includes two 120mm fans, all at a price that’s just slightly higher than Thermalright’s...

By ComputerPowerUser on January 01, 2010

The Noctua NH-U12P performs admirably well. You can run the NH-U12P without fans and still get very good cooling performance, but you’ve got to remember to have good airflow in your case to achieve this. Not everyone will see the same results as I...

By Testfreaks on December 21, 2009

The Noctua NH-U12P SE2 is a very good looking cooler that showcases a rather conservative aesthetic, though the fan colour combination may not be to everyone's preference. We do think that performance is where it counts, however, and this Noctua...

By Pureoverclock on November 05, 2009

Anyone that knows me will tell you that I'm not easily impressed by technology, some might even say I was cynical at times, however, I'm pleased to report that this is one occasion when I'm pleasantly surprised at how things turned out, and...

By Clunk.org UK on October 01, 2009

At the end of this roundup, two models stand out:- The Thermalright Silver Arrow- The Noctua NH-U12P SE2Let’s start with the Silver Arrow, the highest performance solution among those we’ve looked at here. Though this cooler does cool very...

By BeHardware on September 28, 2011

The overall cooling performance of the Noctua NH-U12P SE2 is quite good. The performance is not record breaking by today’s measures, but very good at the time of release, and as our testing has shown, still solid today. The Noctua NH-U12P SE2 is...

By TechReaction.net on January 20, 2011

After testing the NH-U12P SE2, this cooler has now found a permanent home in my system. I'm a silent PC component fanatic and this is simply the quietest CPU cooler I have laid hands on to date. Not only is it the quietest, but it's the highest...

By DreamWare Computers on July 28, 2010

Noctua NH-U12P, 2 years of great performance and great service and counting....

By Legit Reviews on January 28, 2010

The Noctua NH-U12P SE2 is a great cooler. I was already impressed by its predecessor, the NH-U12P and Noctua has managed to improve on it with the inclusion of an extra NF-P12 fan. The build quality and design are excellent and compatibility is a...

By Overclockers Online on January 23, 2010

Load More Reviews…