When it comes to whisper quiet CPU cooling, there is none finer and more respected than Noctua. Always striving for improvements, Noctua have announced the successors to the award-winning NH-L9a and NH-L12, the new and improved NH-L9a-AM4 and NH-L12S. These models feature support for AMD Ryzen processors to meet market demand.
"AMD has made a big impact on the market with its Ryzen architecture and the platform will become even more interesting for compact HTPC builds when the first Ryzen-based APUs are introduced next year," says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "We're thus updating two of our award-winning low-profile models to support Ryzen's AM4 socket."
Perfect for HTPC and other compact builds that require minimum clearance for a CPU cooler, the NH-L9a-AM4 is only 37mm tall. Including a custom designed SecuFirm2 mounting system, this allows for the AM4 socket to be easily installed and features a highly optimised NF-A9x14 92mm fan, that runs remarkably quiet thanks to fully automatic speed control via PWM.
The NH-L12S adds AM4 support along with more flexibility and improved performance in low-profile mode thanks for the new NF-A12x15 PWM 120mm fan. Compatible with RAM modules up to 45mm in height with the fan installed on top of the heat sink fins, changing of orientation of the fan to underneath the fins reduces the total height of the cooler to only 70mm. Again, highlighting its versatility and allowing installing in compact builds. The SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system allows the NH-LSS to be compatible with Intel LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156), LGA20xx (LGA2066, LGA2011-0, LGA2011-3) and AMD (AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, AM4, FM1, FM2, FM2+).
Both models are currently shipping and will be available for $39.90 for the NH-L9a-AM4, and $49.00 for the NH-L12S.