Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler Review - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 1st Jul 2009, 10:17

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/coo...ooler-review/1

The NH-C12P is a lower profile version of the fantastic NH-U12P from the Austrian company that oozes quality and great performance in its products. We've put it through its paces on LGA775 and Socket AM2+ to see if it can keep up with the strong competition it faces.

Dreaming · 1st Jul 2009, 11:26

God I can't even bring myself to look at CPU HSF reviews anymore because they're all so pricey.

We need someone to invent one made of cheap material or something that costs £1.50 and still cools pretty well, then I'd be happy. Unless you are seriously overclocking who can afford these intricate lumps of metal for £50+ for the sole purpose of keeping your CPU cool? That's half the price of an average graphics card.

p3n · 1st Jul 2009, 11:30

90 degrees? (then 180?)

Dave_M · 1st Jul 2009, 14:01

Why does it have those gaping holes? Looks like they ran out of metal.

"copper is good at conducting and holding heat but not as optimal as aluminium at expending it into the air". That's not right. Aluminium is used because copper is very expensive and heavy. With aluminium, since you can afford more of it you can make a nice, big heatsink. It would perform better than the equivalent cost in copper.

Also, the nickel plating will stop the copper turning into copper oxide from just being in contact with the air. I suppose you could lap the heatsink to get it back to the pure copper layer. It would perform better but I doubt it's really worth it.

Bindibadgi · 1st Jul 2009, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_M

Why does it have those gaping holes? Looks like they ran out of metal.

"copper is good at conducting and holding heat but not as optimal as aluminium at expending it into the air". That's not right. Aluminium is used because copper is very expensive and heavy. With aluminium, since you can afford more of it you can make a nice, big heatsink. It would perform better than the equivalent cost in copper.

Also, the nickel plating will stop the copper turning into copper oxide from just being in contact with the air. I suppose you could lap the heatsink to get it back to the pure copper layer. It would perform better but I doubt it's really worth it.

Copper holds (specific heat capacity) and conducts heat better, but it doesn't give it up as well as aluminium - that's why heatsinks with copper cores and alu fins work as a great combination. (Anyone else remember the copper cored Taisol?)

DXR_13KE · 1st Jul 2009, 14:50

Its shape looks like one of those thermalright xp-90 coolers.

Ransoman · 1st Jul 2009, 16:29

Is this Cooler new? I am sure i have been using this cooler in my machine for a year now. Surprised to see such a late review.

HourBeforeDawn · 1st Jul 2009, 16:55

ya you guys are about a year to late on the review front for this cpu, still one of the better choices for low profile cases and HTPC machines but still a bit late.

The boy 4rm oz · 1st Jul 2009, 17:20

Looks like a pretty good cooler for the AMD systems, Noctua have superb build quality so if Iwas going AMD I would not think twice about considering this cooler.

SMIFFYDUDE · 1st Jul 2009, 19:55

Why do they keep using the flesh and dried blood outside a Weatherspoons colour scheme. Its nasty.

Ransoman · 2nd Jul 2009, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by HourBeforeDawn

ya you guys are about a year to late on the review front for this cpu, still one of the better choices for low profile cases and HTPC machines but still a bit late.

I don't think so, it is HUGE.

HourBeforeDawn · 8th Jul 2009, 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ransoman

Quote:

Originally Posted by HourBeforeDawn

ya you guys are about a year to late on the review front for this cpu, still one of the better choices for low profile cases and HTPC machines but still a bit late.

I don't think so, it is HUGE.

I do think so, its in three of my HTPC Cases, a Thermaltake Lanbox, Thermaltake Digital Home Series, and a Aerocool M80.

Monkey Puzzle · 8th Jul 2009, 02:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

Copper holds (specific heat capacity) and conducts heat better, but it doesn't give it up as well as aluminium - that's why heatsinks with copper cores and alu fins work as a great combination. (Anyone else remember the copper cored Taisol?)

I'm afraid you're wrong there - it's an old myth that aluminium is better at 'giving up' heat than copper, and copper better at taking up heat. That myth is like saying "a pipe or wire has a certain resistance in one direction, but a different resistance in the other".

The reason they used copper cores and aluminium fins was/is a compromise between using the more expensive, heavier and less easily machinable copper (with its better heat conductance), and the light, cheap and easy to form aluminium.

thehippoz · 8th Jul 2009, 03:36

what I learned welding tig.. aluminum heats evenly unlike copper- the heat will spread across the entire piece faster than copper which makes it perfect for cooling fins

gdawg304 · 16th Jul 2009, 12:11

Erm...I've had one of these for just over a year now, on an overclocked Core 2 Quad 9450 (running at 3GHz up from 2.66)

Be interesting to know your ambient temperatures because even when gaming my processor rarely breaks 50C, and only breaks 60 when running an overclocking stress test.

But according to your tests on the Intel processor you get a delta-T of 54C? so even in a chilly room at 10C you're easily getting hotter than my processor does in quite a warm room!

Not sure about the test CPU's maximum safe temperature but if mine hit 70+ degrees C under load I'd be concerned!

will admit the Noctua was very nicely machined with no sharp edges - when removing my old Zalman cooler i did a nice job of slicing my knuckles on the copper fins!

1st Jul 2009, 10:17	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler Review http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/coo...ooler-review/1 The NH-C12P is a lower profile version of the fantastic NH-U12P from the Austrian company that oozes quality and great performance in its products. We've put it through its paces on LGA775 and Socket AM2+ to see if it can keep up with the strong competition it faces. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

1st Jul 2009, 11:26	#2
Dreaming Supermodder Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The University of York Posts: 502	God I can't even bring myself to look at CPU HSF reviews anymore because they're all so pricey. We need someone to invent one made of cheap material or something that costs £1.50 and still cools pretty well, then I'd be happy. Unless you are seriously overclocking who can afford these intricate lumps of metal for £50+ for the sole purpose of keeping your CPU cool? That's half the price of an average graphics card. __________________ Dreaming C2D E6300 @ 2.8 \| \| Abit IP35 Pro \| \| 4GB Corsair XMS2 800 \| \| BFG 8800GTS OC2 320MB \| \| 500GB Western Digital for OS + 1500GB Seagate for Storage \| \| Antec NeoHE 550 \| \| Lian Li PC A05B \| \| Samsung 226BW 22"

1st Jul 2009, 14:50	#6
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,473	Its shape looks like one of those thermalright xp-90 coolers. __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

1st Jul 2009, 16:29	#7
Ransoman Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Posts: 101	Is this Cooler new? I am sure i have been using this cooler in my machine for a year now. Surprised to see such a late review. __________________ Current Machine: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+, Asus M2N32SLI delux, 2 x 1gb Crucial Ballistix pc2-6400, Samsung spinpoint 500gb, ATI Radeon 4870 512mb, Noctua CPU cooler Current Ride: Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 t.spark & Porsche 944 2.5 LUX

1st Jul 2009, 16:55	#8
HourBeforeDawn a.k.a KazeModz Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cali, USA Posts: 1,796	ya you guys are about a year to late on the review front for this cpu, still one of the better choices for low profile cases and HTPC machines but still a bit late. __________________ Current Rig: RubyRED • Lian-Li A05B • (2) Swiftech 220 Radiators • (2) D5 Variable Pumps • (2) Res • and a whole lot of modding • Retired Rig: Project F.E.A.R. • TT Lanbox Lite • Swiftech H2O-120 • Q6600 G0 OC@3.6ghz • 2900XT • 4gb SuperTalent Memory •

1st Jul 2009, 11:30	#3
p3n Hypermodder Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 736	90 degrees? (then 180?)

1st Jul 2009, 14:01	#4
Dave_M Minimodder Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 36	Why does it have those gaping holes? Looks like they ran out of metal. "copper is good at conducting and holding heat but not as optimal as aluminium at expending it into the air". That's not right. Aluminium is used because copper is very expensive and heavy. With aluminium, since you can afford more of it you can make a nice, big heatsink. It would perform better than the equivalent cost in copper. Also, the nickel plating will stop the copper turning into copper oxide from just being in contact with the air. I suppose you could lap the heatsink to get it back to the pure copper layer. It would perform better but I doubt it's really worth it.

1st Jul 2009, 19:55	#10
SMIFFYDUDE Multimodder Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Saddleworth Posts: 164	Why do they keep using the flesh and dried blood outside a Weatherspoons colour scheme. Its nasty.

8th Jul 2009, 03:36	#14
thehippoz sea grogin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 1,740	what I learned welding tig.. aluminum heats evenly unlike copper- the heat will spread across the entire piece faster than copper which makes it perfect for cooling fins __________________ He's the American ****head who makes tricks with bricks!

16th Jul 2009, 12:11	#15
gdawg304 What's a Dremel? Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7	Erm...I've had one of these for just over a year now, on an overclocked Core 2 Quad 9450 (running at 3GHz up from 2.66) Be interesting to know your ambient temperatures because even when gaming my processor rarely breaks 50C, and only breaks 60 when running an overclocking stress test. But according to your tests on the Intel processor you get a delta-T of 54C? so even in a chilly room at 10C you're easily getting hotter than my processor does in quite a warm room! Not sure about the test CPU's maximum safe temperature but if mine hit 70+ degrees C under load I'd be concerned! will admit the Noctua was very nicely machined with no sharp edges - when removing my old Zalman cooler i did a nice job of slicing my knuckles on the copper fins!