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Noctua makes the best fans and CPU coolers in the market, hands down. You truly get what you pay for as the saying goes. This couldn't be more true with this cooler. Let's get into the review!
This kit comes with everything you need. I know most other kits do, but part of the reason this may be more expensive is you get the cooler (obviously), two fans, all the mounting hardware, plastic vibration strips, a two-to-one cable, and multiple cables to adjust the speed of the fans. It's the last few items that really make this kit worth it. Each fan gets 2 cables (so 4) that you can use to slow it down more. I used one set for the included fans and the others on the rest of my case fans - so it's super quiet now. The splitter was also helpful in a small case to utilize the limited fan plug-ins a micro-ATX case has.
The cooler is great and solid. Another reason this kit is worth the money are the incredibly easy to follow and accurate installation instructions. They are written correctly (both in what to do and grammar)! It is also very detailed and shows each step very well. This is unlike countless other coolers that seem to show a parts picture and then a fully installed picture. The cooler is short and fits with ease in my micro-ATX case. It's shiny and looks very good - this isn't a gaudy product at all and that's what I like. The edges are sharp, so do install the cooler with some care. It mounts with a plate on the back of the motherboard and is super sturdy. You aren't using push-pins that never sit in place right and you aren't going to break your board by torquing the screws in.
The fans - Noctua's claim to fame! You get two 92mm fans with this and they are completely worth it. They push air and are quiet. When you add the cables to slow them down more, I honestly think they absorb sound. You can use 1 or 2 fans depending on your case and cooling needs. I put both on and it's still quiet and stable and looks great. It does not block any ram or other stuff on my case. Excess cable can be easily managed and you can orient the fan in any direction to achieve clean cabling. My only issue with the fans is they are 'regular' width and with both on, would have hit against my rear case fan. Obviously these blow the air out the back vent well enough, but it's a point worth noting. Noctua does make 'slim' 92mm fans that may be worth looking into to save even more space. (Both on the cooler and for my back case fan).
The cooling - the whole point, right? This thing keeps my computer ice cold. At idle and even running a moderate load, it sits about 5-10 degrees above the ambient temperature. Doing stress tests it goes 20-25 degrees above on average. My CPU can overclock, but I haven't with it. (It's an i-5 2550k that was on sale for a lot less than anything else - I didn't want/need overclocking). I live in the hot desert so this being able to keep up when the house heats up is great. Please when you read other reviews who give you specific temps and they seem incredibly low - they probably are. If you look at the claimed temps, you'll quickly realize these people must be living in a freezer. Whether you use a tower cooler just pushing air or any type of water cooling set-up, it CANNOT go below the ambient temperature. It's simple physics folks and even water coolers are using air to cool the radiator.
Overall - this is the best cooler I've ever purchased. It's small, quiet, efficient, and not flashy - all key points for me. The price is a bit above other items, but you truly get a full box of stuff and the quality of this item is excellent. I will only purchase Noctua CPU coolers going forward and utilize their fans for cases more too. (other case fan makers are great and have more to offer than Noctua at times). Noctua is also looking out for you as a consumer - they will send you a new mounting kit if a new type comes out that you purchase for up to 6 years. That's a LONG time to offer something they don't have to.
| Brand | Noctua |
|---|---|
| Series | NH-U9B SE2 |
| Item model number | NH-U9B SE2 |
| Item Weight | 1.25 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 3.75 x 3.74 x 4.92 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 3.75 x 3.74 x 4.92 inches |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Manufacturer | Xion |
| ASIN | B0065SFEE8 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | October 12, 2009 |
