--- product_id: 368317204 title: "Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler" brand: "noctua" price: "C$15887" currency: NIO in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Noctua" url: https://www.desertcart.ni/products/368317204-noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black-quiet-high-performance-tower-cpu store_origin: NI region: Nicaragua --- # 102.1 CFM airflow 22.6 dB whisper-quiet noise 2000 RPM max fan speed Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler **Brand:** noctua **Price:** C$15887 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > ❄️ Stay cool, stay ahead — the silent powerhouse your rig deserves! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler by noctua - **How much does it cost?** C$15887 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ni](https://www.desertcart.ni/products/368317204-noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black-quiet-high-performance-tower-cpu) ## Best For - noctua enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted noctua brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Dual NF-A12x25 Fans:** State-of-the-art 120mm fans with PWM and Low-Noise Adaptors for perfect balance of power and silence. - • **Compact Yet Powerful:** 158mm height fits most tower cases without blocking RAM or PCIe slots, ideal for high-end Intel & AMD CPUs. - • **Award-Winning Cooling Mastery:** Over 100 international accolades prove unmatched thermal performance. - • **Sleek All-Black Chromax Design:** Modern matte black finish that seamlessly complements any build aesthetic. - • **Universal Compatibility & Easy Install:** Supports Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115x & AMD AM5/AM4 with SecuFirm2 mounting and included premium thermal paste. ## Overview The Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black is a premium 120mm tower CPU cooler featuring dual NF-A12x25 fans delivering 102.1 CFM airflow at a whisper-quiet 22.6 dB noise level. Its compact 158mm height ensures broad compatibility with most tower cases and motherboards without obstructing RAM or PCIe slots. Backed by over 100 awards and a 6-year warranty, it includes high-end thermal paste and an easy-to-install SecuFirm2 mounting system supporting the latest Intel and AMD sockets. This cooler is engineered for professionals and enthusiasts seeking top-tier, silent cooling performance with a sleek, all-black aesthetic. ## Description Buy Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler | 158mm Height, High-End Low-Noise Cooling, For Intel & AMD, Dual 120mm Fans, 100% RAM Compatibility, Rich Accessory Kit: CPU Cooling Fans - desertcart.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases Review: Buy It & Thank Me Later - First thing you need to know is that I do not write reviews lightly or even at all really, but I was really blown away by the performance of this CPU cooler and I felt like I needed to let people know to just pull the trigger on it and don't think twice. I also am not paid or associated in any way with Noctua. It improved my thermals by over 40° C. I had a 3 year old Lian Li 360 AIO that was showing it's age. I have a great Fractal case and it moves a ton of air. I also am running a i9-12900k which is power hungry at all moments and tends to run hot. I did not know there was a problem with temps until my computer shut down while I had a game open and I wasn't home. My computer shut down on it's own, warning that the CPU temps are way to high and that it shut down. I was unable to restart my computer for about 15 minutes and my AIO felt pretty warm near the CPU. I started seeing artificing after a OCCT stress test. So I started first with trying the two main things which were replace thermal paste and try and reorient my tubes so they face down. Well I could not do the tubes down due to no flexibility in the tubes, so I knew there was a reason why I put them near the top of the AIO. I replaced thermal paste, and it did not do anything. So I replaced with this cooler and man, it has far exceeded my expectations. It is so quiet even under load, I cannot tell it's running. Install was overall pretty easy, but just be careful and follow directions closely. There is a lot of value for the money. It is overall more expensive than a competitive AIO, but I digress. I know Noctua's quality, so I expected nothing less. I thought I would need the G2 since I have that power hungry i9-12900k, but I needed to ensure clearance of the RAM. The size is great to clear ram, it still has a little space. So I'm glad I compensated for that and did my research beforehand. The quality is top notch, and it looks great inside of my case. Worse case scenario, I spent a little more money, but air cooling just makes sense for my particular build since it's literally built to move a ton of air. I may have to replace the fans in like 7 years, but that'll still be cheaper than buying another pump that will eventually fail in 3 years. I would do this over again 100x. Review: Keeps a 105W CPU cool - This review is for Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, 120mm Single-Tower CPU Cooler (Black). When I finished putting my new build together, the wraith prism ended up being insufficient for the amount of heat the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X creates. I was seeing temperatures of around 83c to 87c (181.4F to 188.6F) whenever I turned on any game. Turn on a web browser and it would go up to around 76c (168.8F) in a room that's around 21c (69.8F) typically. At the time that I am writing this, I have BDO (Black Desert Online) running in the background, multiple browser tabs and Discord running - my CPU temperature is sitting around 68c to 74c (154.4F to 165.2F). That is a major difference in temperature from the Wraith Prism, especially since these newer CPUs are generally known to run hot. In terms of my case fan setup, I have three in front for intake, one at the back and two at the top for exhaust. I know the aesthetic might not be the best looking for everyone since some people absolutely love fan halos - I assume you might be able to buy fan halos to put on it and fix that issue, however - my RAM has RGB lighting which projects nicely on the intake fan so it creates this kind of very light, pastel look to it. If you go for the classic brown Noctua, there are some incredibly clean and aesthetically pleasing builds I've seen using them that I would advise looking up if your worry isn't only functionality but aesthetic. In terms of noise level - I have very sensitive ears and I don't hear anything from it - the fan noise I do hear is from my case fans instead, which aren't Noctua brand, they're some rather generic fans that came with this case. In terms of installation - it was incredibly smooth. I went with U12A because of the amount of clearance my computer has for the tower and my intake fan had to be lifted a little due to where the RAM sits which is perfectly fine to do. The fans have little clips that just clip onto and hug the radiator so they are extremely easy to adjust if needed. My advice for anyone considering a Noctua brand air cooler: • Know the TDP of your CPU, it might be overkill for something with 65W for example but if you are looking to upgrade your CPU its a really good deal. How you use your computer is also a contributing factor to the amount of heat output - so do your research depending on how intense or complex the work you plan to do is, it could pull a lot more power and thus generate a lot more heat and maybe air cooling isn't enough to keep up with the heat output. • Consider things like the average temperature of the room you do or will have the computer in, your build layout, the case size, case air flow, and the type of case fans you are using and/or plan to use. • Compatibility & Clearance. You are able to check via Noctua's website if their coolers are compatible with your Motherboard, Case (not all cases are listed, but they have a formula to help you figure it out if need be), CPU, and RAM. • Make sure you triple check your information on clearance to make sure you buy the appropriate Noctua to suit your needs. To whoever buys a Noctua brand cooler, enjoy! They come with a 6 year warranty too - which makes it feel like a better and safer product to purchase considering most computer components will generally start to have issues between 3 to 5 years down the line, and in the case of just so happening to get a faulty unit. As a consumer I know how daunting it could be when you are in the market for computer components given the amount of choices we have - and when you see a product with x amount of awards and good reviews it really makes you think about if it really is good - especially considering certain companies just buy good reviews. I typically never leave reviews because I also am one of the consumers that prefers to do my own research instead of just trusting and hoping that the product reviews are indeed legitimate. However, I am thoroughly pleased with this product and hope by leaving a review I can help anyone who cares for informative reviews and is like me; Prefers air cooling and has gotten a CPU that for the first time just any cooler isn't good enough for gaming. This is my first Noctua brand CPU cooler, but the second one I've purchased. The first one I purchased was a NH-D15 for a family member's build, he however has a full tower, so he has a lot more clearance to work with than I do with my mid tower and it works like a charm for him as well. However, in his case he had swapped from an AIO that was dead/dying - so I'm sure he would have seen a difference in his temperatures regardless of what he got as long as it wasn't defective. ## Features - Proven premium heatsink (more than 100 awards and recommendations from international hardware websites), now available in an all-black design that goes great with many colour schemes - Top-tier performance in 120mm size for excellent compatibility: fits most tower cases (158mm height), doesn’t overhang the RAM slots, doesn’t block the PCIe on most ATX & Micro-ATX motherboards - Dual state-of-the-art NF-A12x25 120mm fans with Low-Noise Adaptors and PWM for automatic speed control: full cooling performance under load, whisper quiet at idle! - Includes high-end NT-H1 thermal paste and SecuFirm2 mounting system for easy installation on Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x and AMD AM5 & AM4 (offset mounting option for best efficiency) - Renowned Noctua quality backed up by 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, deluxe choice for Intel Core & Core Ultra (e.g. 285K, 265K, 245K) and AMD Ryzen (e.g. 9950X, 9900X, 9700X, 9600X) ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B098XP1Y38 | | Air Flow Capacity | 102.1 cfm | | Best Sellers Rank | #36 in Computer CPU Cooling Fans | | Brand | Noctua | | Brand Name | Noctua | | Compatible Devices | Desktop | | Cooling Method | Air | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,805 Reviews | | Global Trade Identification Number | 09010018000245 | | Included Components | Mounting kit & Thermal Paste | | Item Dimensions L x W x H | 4.92"L x 4.41"W x 6.22"H | | Item Weight | 1.2 kg | | Manufacturer | Noctua | | Material Type | Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating | | Maximum Rotational Speed | 2000 rpm | | Model | NH-U12Achromaxblac | | Noise Level | 22.6 db | | Number of Items | 1 | | Number of Packs | 1 | | Part Number | NH-U12A chromax.black | | Power Connector Type | 4-Pin | | Product Dimensions | 4.92"L x 4.41"W x 6.22"H | | UPC | 768645700722 | | Unit Count | 1 Count | | Voltage | 12 volts | | Warranty Description | 6 year manufacturer’s warranty | ## Product Details - **Air Flow Capacity:** 102.1 cfm - **Brand:** Noctua - **Compatible Devices:** Desktop - **Cooling Method:** Air - **Material:** Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating - **Maximum Rotational Speed:** 2000 rpm - **Noise Level:** 22.6 db - **Power Connector Type:** 4-Pin - **Product Dimensions:** 4.92"L x 4.41"W x 6.22"H - **Voltage:** 12 volts ## Images ![Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Ww6xZa1aL.jpg) ![Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81ZXpj5W7KL.jpg) ![Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81sKd4ibSfL.jpg) ![Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81yr2hPRSDL.jpg) ![Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, Quiet High-Performance Tower CPU Cooler - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71VhiHAS7+L.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: I have an lga1700 i9 12900k, will this keep it cool enough for video and photo editing as well as fps gaming?** A: Yes it should cool a 12900k just fine. I have this cooler on the 12900ks and it cools well. I leave it encoding video for 24hr sometimes and have had no problems. The cpu definitely runs hot. You can feel the warm air blowing off but the heat sync is affective. **Q: Does this support LGA1700 out of the box, does it include any necessary kits/mounting brackets?** A: Not entirely sure, but rather than asking here, I'd ask on the Noctua site. It may be harder to get a straight answer from consumers than directly from the company. I'm sure there's an email on the site you can send a message to. Noctua is good with follow up. I know mine came with brackets for both AMD and Intel, but I'm an AMD guy, so I don't know if LGA1700 is one of the Intel brackets this thing supports. Hope that helps. **Q: Any insights from early adopters regarding the coating's longevity? I wonder if it will dry/crack/peel-off after years of use. Thanks** A: I have a feeling that it's anodized aluminum, not a coating, so it shouldn't dry/crack/peel. Just a theory though. **Q: Is this good enough to cool a Ryzen 7 5800X?** A: I have Ryzen 7 5800x and use this version of chromax. You will not be dissappointed. Just make sure your fans pointing correct direction ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buy It & Thank Me Later *by J***D on January 5, 2026* First thing you need to know is that I do not write reviews lightly or even at all really, but I was really blown away by the performance of this CPU cooler and I felt like I needed to let people know to just pull the trigger on it and don't think twice. I also am not paid or associated in any way with Noctua. It improved my thermals by over 40° C. I had a 3 year old Lian Li 360 AIO that was showing it's age. I have a great Fractal case and it moves a ton of air. I also am running a i9-12900k which is power hungry at all moments and tends to run hot. I did not know there was a problem with temps until my computer shut down while I had a game open and I wasn't home. My computer shut down on it's own, warning that the CPU temps are way to high and that it shut down. I was unable to restart my computer for about 15 minutes and my AIO felt pretty warm near the CPU. I started seeing artificing after a OCCT stress test. So I started first with trying the two main things which were replace thermal paste and try and reorient my tubes so they face down. Well I could not do the tubes down due to no flexibility in the tubes, so I knew there was a reason why I put them near the top of the AIO. I replaced thermal paste, and it did not do anything. So I replaced with this cooler and man, it has far exceeded my expectations. It is so quiet even under load, I cannot tell it's running. Install was overall pretty easy, but just be careful and follow directions closely. There is a lot of value for the money. It is overall more expensive than a competitive AIO, but I digress. I know Noctua's quality, so I expected nothing less. I thought I would need the G2 since I have that power hungry i9-12900k, but I needed to ensure clearance of the RAM. The size is great to clear ram, it still has a little space. So I'm glad I compensated for that and did my research beforehand. The quality is top notch, and it looks great inside of my case. Worse case scenario, I spent a little more money, but air cooling just makes sense for my particular build since it's literally built to move a ton of air. I may have to replace the fans in like 7 years, but that'll still be cheaper than buying another pump that will eventually fail in 3 years. I would do this over again 100x. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Keeps a 105W CPU cool *by S***O on April 6, 2023* This review is for Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, 120mm Single-Tower CPU Cooler (Black). When I finished putting my new build together, the wraith prism ended up being insufficient for the amount of heat the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X creates. I was seeing temperatures of around 83c to 87c (181.4F to 188.6F) whenever I turned on any game. Turn on a web browser and it would go up to around 76c (168.8F) in a room that's around 21c (69.8F) typically. At the time that I am writing this, I have BDO (Black Desert Online) running in the background, multiple browser tabs and Discord running - my CPU temperature is sitting around 68c to 74c (154.4F to 165.2F). That is a major difference in temperature from the Wraith Prism, especially since these newer CPUs are generally known to run hot. In terms of my case fan setup, I have three in front for intake, one at the back and two at the top for exhaust. I know the aesthetic might not be the best looking for everyone since some people absolutely love fan halos - I assume you might be able to buy fan halos to put on it and fix that issue, however - my RAM has RGB lighting which projects nicely on the intake fan so it creates this kind of very light, pastel look to it. If you go for the classic brown Noctua, there are some incredibly clean and aesthetically pleasing builds I've seen using them that I would advise looking up if your worry isn't only functionality but aesthetic. In terms of noise level - I have very sensitive ears and I don't hear anything from it - the fan noise I do hear is from my case fans instead, which aren't Noctua brand, they're some rather generic fans that came with this case. In terms of installation - it was incredibly smooth. I went with U12A because of the amount of clearance my computer has for the tower and my intake fan had to be lifted a little due to where the RAM sits which is perfectly fine to do. The fans have little clips that just clip onto and hug the radiator so they are extremely easy to adjust if needed. My advice for anyone considering a Noctua brand air cooler: • Know the TDP of your CPU, it might be overkill for something with 65W for example but if you are looking to upgrade your CPU its a really good deal. How you use your computer is also a contributing factor to the amount of heat output - so do your research depending on how intense or complex the work you plan to do is, it could pull a lot more power and thus generate a lot more heat and maybe air cooling isn't enough to keep up with the heat output. • Consider things like the average temperature of the room you do or will have the computer in, your build layout, the case size, case air flow, and the type of case fans you are using and/or plan to use. • Compatibility & Clearance. You are able to check via Noctua's website if their coolers are compatible with your Motherboard, Case (not all cases are listed, but they have a formula to help you figure it out if need be), CPU, and RAM. • Make sure you triple check your information on clearance to make sure you buy the appropriate Noctua to suit your needs. To whoever buys a Noctua brand cooler, enjoy! They come with a 6 year warranty too - which makes it feel like a better and safer product to purchase considering most computer components will generally start to have issues between 3 to 5 years down the line, and in the case of just so happening to get a faulty unit. As a consumer I know how daunting it could be when you are in the market for computer components given the amount of choices we have - and when you see a product with x amount of awards and good reviews it really makes you think about if it really is good - especially considering certain companies just buy good reviews. I typically never leave reviews because I also am one of the consumers that prefers to do my own research instead of just trusting and hoping that the product reviews are indeed legitimate. However, I am thoroughly pleased with this product and hope by leaving a review I can help anyone who cares for informative reviews and is like me; Prefers air cooling and has gotten a CPU that for the first time just any cooler isn't good enough for gaming. This is my first Noctua brand CPU cooler, but the second one I've purchased. The first one I purchased was a NH-D15 for a family member's build, he however has a full tower, so he has a lot more clearance to work with than I do with my mid tower and it works like a charm for him as well. However, in his case he had swapped from an AIO that was dead/dying - so I'm sure he would have seen a difference in his temperatures regardless of what he got as long as it wasn't defective. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Professional Grade Results, Entry Level Price. *by S***D on August 18, 2023* I am thoroughly impressed by the quality and performance of this cooler. Running a Ryzen 7 5700g, and upgrading from a coolermaster A17C (similar to stock), that idled/performed at 72/85c. The NH-U12A is currently idling/performing at 36/53c! With auto-overclocking pushing the processor past 4ghz, that is a monumental improvement, and far greater that I had ever dreamed I would get for the price. This is a small case sharing space with a 3090ti, 2xNvme, 2xSSD, and 2xHDD; so it already has it's challenges, but even my PWM case fans are running 20-30% slower than before. Mobo and GPU temps dropped by 1-2c as result of lower ambient and probably better airflow in the case, overall. The install used my existing AMD backplate, and the tower is offset to one side to allow for RAM clearance. I am running a micro-atx board in a somewhat cramped mid-tower case, and I was still able to install and work the fans in place fairly easily. Judging by the cramped conditions of my board, I would vouch for 100% universal RAM clearance, as the offset tower just does what it says it does; and the included fans are not thin by any means. As a bonus, the fans seem to be positioned just perfectly to draw intake air across the RAM an works well with my VR heatsink on the exit side of things. The included fans are smooth as glass, and surprisingly quiet at full speed; but I had to manually run them to full, as the CPU wouldn't heat past 53c (Fan RPM 1300'ish). Primo fans, no RGB, but that's what I wanted for this rig. The wires are well sheathed in tubing and heatshrink- wire management approved. If you've never dealt with this type of fan clip system, practice with them before you install the cooler. lol. I bought the add-on, decorative cover NA-HC7, which looks amazing on the installed cooler, and requires less effort to install than removing the side panel to get to it. This add-on should be RGB, as the cutout design is just too perfect not to be backlit. This kit did add height to the cooler, and my case is fairly small, but the glass panel clears everything by about 2mm. Everything came professionally boxed, shiny, and new; and you can just feel the care and quality in everything you touch, even the packaging. I rarely write reviews, and I am rarely impressed; but I was on the fence for weeks about a cooling solution on this particular rig, and I wanted to ensure others in my position can absolutely trust this cooler. Even versus watercooling, maybe. Dang. ## Frequently Bought Together - Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black, 120mm Single-Tower CPU Cooler (Black) - ARCTIC MX-4 (4 g) - Premium Performance Thermal Paste for All Processors (CPU, GPU - PC), Very high Thermal Conductivity, Long Durability, Safe Application, Non-Conductive - Samsung 990 PRO SSD NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4, M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P2T0B/AM --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ni/products/368317204-noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black-quiet-high-performance-tower-cpu](https://www.desertcart.ni/products/368317204-noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black-quiet-high-performance-tower-cpu) --- *Product available on Desertcart Nicaragua* *Store origin: NI* *Last updated: 2026-08-22*