Noctua NL-LC1-36 Liquid CPU Cooler Review

TweakTown Rating: 100%

Our Verdict

The NL-LC1 AIOs are so vastly superior and distinctly different, they deserve a different category, as all previous solutions fail to compare. The scope of delivery, cost, and performance all come together to make one amazing liquid CPU cooling solution.

Pros

• Chart-topping performance
• Aesthetics, availability, and cost
• Low noise and noise suppression
• Available add-on fan
• Best Asetek AIO in the game

Cons

• You don't own one yet

Should you buy it?

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Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

Back when we started reviewing coolers, taking it from Chris Ram, I was made aware of Noctua and the reputation they had achieved in a short time with him reviewing CPU coolers. It wasn't long until one showed up for review under a new reviewer, and everything I was told was correct. The NH-U9B wasn't their best or biggest CPU cooling solution, but it was well above the standards of anything we had seen before it. Built like a tank, had a professional product feel others couldn't compare with, and the attention to detail in the packaging, hardware, accessories, and user experience were all top-tier, making it hard for the rest of the market to compare. However, Noctua did get a premium price for their solutions compared to most others.

While Noctua is well known for the NH-D series and NH-U series mainly, they have a solution whether you are limited in space in a tiny build, or the biggest case in the game. Of course, it has been years since D14 and D15 were the go-to coolers for everyone, and of course, there were refreshes with minor changes, but Noctua seemed like they would not touch liquid coolers with a twenty-foot barge pole. Not that they couldn't, they just chose not to. But time changes, minds change, and holy cow, are we glad they made the leap.

If you haven't been on the internet in the last month, post-release of Noctua AIOs, allow us to lift that rock, so you may climb out and see the next big thing in CPU cooling. Noctua went to the same OEM, Asetek, as many other top-tier brands, yet somehow can take the same parts on offer to everyone and deliver an AIO that smashes the competition in many ways. As you would expect, it is near silent as shipped, is thermally superior, yet still delivers that same high-grade feel and presence that others seem to ignore.

With a ton to cover compared to other AIOs in the game, we should get to it and show you what all you get, how it stacks up to the competition, and just how much it costs to get the best in CPU cooling to date. Spoiler: It isn't as much as you'd expect, and while it lacks flashy LEDs and screens, it gets down to business with ease and still has performance to give beyond the out-of-the-box experience.

The focus of this review is on the Noctua NL-LC1-36, but we also got the NL-LC1-42, which will be in the charts; the specifications above are for the 36 only. We were also sent the optional NL-AFC1 fan for either model, and again, we will cover its abilities in our charts.

The Nl-LC1-36 comes with SecuFirm2+ hardware, making it a capable solution for LGA1954, 1851, and 1700, while also making sure AM4 and AM5 users are not left out. The color choice of these AIOs is black, and for Noctua, that's a bold choice; however, the fans are traditional Noctua colors, making it a breeze to identify in the mass of options.

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Starting with the pump, we see it is an Asetek Emma V2 model, and in the case of the Nl-LC1 coolers, it stands 70mm tall, but the cover is also filled with varying densities of foam to eat any noise the three-phase motor would give off. It spins on a ceramic shaft and bearing, drawing at most 6W and 0.5A. Another thing Noctua added was a switch to the pump. It ships in quiet mode, but also offers balanced and manual options, increasing the pump speed as you go, to the upper range of 3400 RPM at maximum. Noise is shown to be up to 14.9 dB(A), which is a huge deal, as many AIOs have louder pumps than their choice of silent fans. The cable that powers this pump is 500mm long and terminates in a 4-pin PWM connector.

The cold plate at the bottom is 55.5mm square and made of 99.95% CU1100 copper. Inside are skived microchannels for the coolant to run through and remove heat, and as mentioned, uses SecuFirm2+ mounting hardware to secure it to the motherboard. Coolant inside is a mix of glycol and water, along with anti-freeze, anti-corrosion, and anti-biological inhibitors. This coolant runs through EPDM rubber tubing with a braided sleeve on the outside, with a travel length of 410mm between the head unit and the radiator.

Frequently Asked Questions

TweakBot answers common questions about this review using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below.

Question #1

What sockets and CPU platforms does the Noctua NL-LC1-36 support?

The Noctua NL-LC1-36 supports Intel sockets LGA1954, LGA1851, and LGA1700, and AMD sockets AM5 and AM4. It uses SecuFirm2+ mounting hardware for compatibility with these platforms.

Answered

Question #2

Does the NL-LC1-36 include mounting hardware and what mounting system is used for installation?

Click to reveal answer

Question #3

What warranty does Noctua provide for the NL-LC1-36 and how does it compare to typical AIO warranties?

Noctua provides a six-year warranty for the NL-LC1-36. The article says this is about double the warranty length of most other AIOs and three times or more the warranty of many others.

Answered

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Speaking of the radiator, for the Nl-LC1-36, its size is 399.5mm long, 120mm wide, and 30mm thick. The fins and tubes are aluminum, yet the outer frame is steel, and the fins are a bit more open than usual, with a count of 20 FPI across the surface. Rather than TDP, Noctua uses Noctua's Standardized Performance Rating, or NSRP. In this instance, that metric is 248, which is only bested by the NL-LC1-42 and its 268 rating. Another thing added in there is the overall weight shown to be 1979 grams.

Cooling of the radiator is handled with three NF-A12x25 G2 PWM fans with a speed range from zero to 1800 RPM. At maximum speed, these fans can deliver 63.15 CFM of flow and 3.14 mmH20 of pressure, all while rated at 22.5 dB(A). Of course, these are 4-pin PWM connected, and they come in the traditional Noctua brown colorway.

With a six-year warranty to back up the NL-LC1-36, and a cost of just $249.99, Noctua makes it easy to see where your money goes, and in a few pages, you will see its value even more. While others are asking $300 plus for their solutions due to fancy add-ons that add heat to the systems, Noctua decided to go another route entirely, making the best AIO we have seen so far, period. If what you are about to see doesn't get your attention, you either need to check your pulse, or you couldn't care less if your CPU sits there struggling, when free benefits are to be had beyond the obvious with the introduction of the NL-LC1-36 we have for you today.

Packaging

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Both the NL-LC1-36 and NL-LC1-42 share a similar look: the Noctua brown backdrop, a large image of the cooler in the middle, with the Noctua name and logo at the top, Asetek mentioned at the bottom-left, and their model numbers to the right. For all other images, we move to the NL-LC1-36 only.

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For the NL-LC1-36 specifically, the image in the center is a bit smaller than the 42, but the box shows exactly what your AIO looks like, down to the metal pump cover plaque and those beautiful Noctua fans.

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When laid on its back, we see that both long sides of the packaging are brown, and the only thing put there is the Noctua Nl-LC1-36 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler, done in white text to highly contrast against the backdrop.

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One of the smaller ends delivers specifications for the fans on the left, where we also see the 150,000-hour MTTF, and the cooler specification to the right. The iconography implies that much of the packaging is recyclable, and that six-year warranty gets three mentions here.

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At the other end of the box, we find the model listed above the scope of delivery, which lists everything you will find inside along with a couple of renderings showing dimensions. The right portion talks about the optional NL-AFC1 fan, an 80mm fan designed to keep the surrounding areas flush with airflow to keep VRMs, SSDs, and RAM cooler than without its use.

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On the back, in the darker box, we get an explanation of what Noctua delivers in their first liquid cooling solutions, what features it has, and why it should be your next cooler. To the right, we see a diagram of the tuned mass-damper system as well as what went into the soundproofing. Across the bottom are seven detailed features along with a code to get dropped on the product page.

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Inside, the contents are packed as any Noctua cooler is. Heavy use of cardboard to protect the individual components, the typical plastic sleeves any Asetek ships with, a typically packed Noctua hardware kit in the middle, and that brilliant-looking pump plaque packed in a way to really deliver a smile upon opening, while also delivering the branding first, before you see anything else.

Noctua NL-LC1-36

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The head unit is round but has six fins around the outside, which work with the optional fan for airflow directionality. The center portion is lowered and has an engraved Noctua logo in it but is covered with a coating like what we find on mice - rubberized, black, and nice to look at. The tubing is at the bottom of the head unit, while the long power cable leaves the right side.

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The way Noctua intends to use the plaque is dead center on the head unit. There is a magnet in the cover that clicks the heavy metal logo onto the head unit, and the notch below it is to allow its removal.

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Noctua offers ninety-degree swivel fittings, sleeved tubing, and the typical plastic capture rings. However, when you look closely between them, you can make out the switch that is currently at the right side in quiet mode; balanced mode is applied by moving the switch one tick left, and manual mode is achieved with the switch all the way to the left.

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The high-grade cold plate is square but has a raised round central contact area. This area is convex and shows the machine marks left in its brilliantly clean copper surface. We also see that the mounting hardware for the head unit is pre-installed, simplifying users' lives.

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Typically, the pump portion would be closer to the cold plate, but in this model, there is a dampening system that eats vibrations caused by the pump. Rather than open it more and potentially lose coolant, if you want to see more on this, Noctua explains it in the finest detail on the product page.

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Three screws secure the cover to the rest of the head unit, and once removed, we can see the noise-reducing foam inserted in it. The first layer is open-celled foam and gets denser in consistency as the three layers get closer to the top of the cover, absorbing noise and vibrations as they try to escape.

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With nearly seventeen inches of tubing, and the pump power cable reaching near the eighteen-inch mark, the installation process is eased. As for the fittings, they are captured as the other end is, and the radiator is black, without pre-installed fans.

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The radiator is 30mm thick and 120mm wide, and the only information offered is this single sticker at the opposite end of the radiator, which could be a serial number. Still, we didn't find one on the packaging to compare to.

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Both long sides of the radiator have a secret that can only be seen at the right angle. And light to contrast the matte and gloss finishes. "Asetek x Noctua" is painted onto the sides, for just a little touch of style without competing with the fan colorway.

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Most of what we see from Asetek comes in the 22-23 FPI counts, and Noctua specifically listed 20 as its count. Using a tape measure at the center of the radiator, we got the same 20 FPI listed in the specifications. Everything else is standard for an Asetek radiator.

Accessories and Documentation

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Noctua packs quite the box full of goodies for the NL-LC1-36. This is typical of Noctua, ensuring the goodies don't get lost in the box while also adding to that professional-grade feel they are well known for.

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Even when it is first opened, knowing what Noctua does, even we are shocked by the number of add-ons and pieces no other manufacturer offers, but Noctua considers them the default offerings.

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Intel gets half of the SecuFirm2+ contents, with black brackets on the left with various holes to match your socket, and arrows pointing towards the CPU for ease of orientation. Noctua also provides the backplate, blue spacers, and Torx-driven knurled nuts; that's right, TORX!

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AM4 and AM5 users get a pair of brackets, which account for offset with some CPUs, and there is a chart provided in the instructions for usage. Along with them are Torx screws and gray spacers so they can be installed into your factory backplates.

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This grouping covers the NA-EC1 extension cable for the fans, a three-way splitter cable to power them from a single header, and a bag with all the fan mounting and radiator mounting screws, again with Torx-driven heads. We also get a tube of NT-H2 thermal paste, and the same Noctua case badge we have gotten with every cooler they make.

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It looks like a Weller, smells like a Weller, and feels like a Weller screwdriver. It likely is; the Noctua name and colorway of the NM-SD1 T-20 Torx driver is a terrific addition to the kit, and a welcomed change to the typical Phillips hardware.

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In yet another box is the NL-LC1-36 fan kit. The packaging covers the features along with an exploded diagram to help explain what you got, and why they work so well.

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After opening the box and removing each fan from a plastic bag, we set them up to be viewed. The dark and light colors in contrast give us that warm and fuzzy feeling Noctua fans tend to deliver, and these nine-bladed 120mm fans are ready to keep quiet while delivering all the air you could want.

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Just to prove everything the specifications and our text have explained, and because it looks cool, we thought a picture of the back of the fan hub was pertinent.

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Along with detailed instructions and images to complete the installation process, we were sent the NA-CW1 CPU IHS cleaning wipe and the AM5 NA-TPG1 shield for the CPU.

Installation and Finished Product

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The first step in the process for us was to get the fans onto the radiator. While it seems like a non-issue, the use of Torx screws makes installation silky smooth, and it is easier to feel the tension when doing so. We had just been going with the market, but now Noctua has shown us a better way.

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At the CPU end, after a good cleaning with the provided wipe, we installed the thermal paste splash guard. Again, not something we minded up till now, but Noctua showed us the light to keep the perimeter clean without the TIM spilling onto the components and PCB.

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While we did not use the Noctua thermal paste found in the box, we applied it as the instructions showed for the most even spread. A slightly larger dab in the center than the four surrounding it is the way we have been doing this for years, but it is great to see it as the go-to application style for Noctua.

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Once we fully mounted the head unit screws to the socket hardware, we inserted the plaque and mounted the radiator into the chassis. We love the tubes at the bottom as we can see all of the RAM, and it is a giant leap above what Asetek defaults to, and what others pass off as good enough.

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Stepping back, we can see the entire loop in all its unpowered glory. The fan wires easily disappear behind the motherboard tray; the pump power lead is easily tucked away as well. Plenty of tube to put the radiator nearly anywhere your chassis offers room for this 360mm beast.

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As-shipped, once powered and a little bit of gurgling happens, your heart drops a beat. As the PC boots, there is a slight hum from the NL-LC1-36, but only just. Once you are at the desktop, the noise stops. We honestly looked at the fans to ensure they were spinning because Noctua and their silence game is top notch, and this cooler proves it.

Noctua NL-AFC1 (Optional)

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Along with the NL-LC1-36, Noctua also sent us the NL-AFC1, so we could report on its capabilities and show its value as an optional extra. In most instances, you would be fine without this fan, but for those with size constraints, or a poorly heatsinked motherboard, you may indeed want to consider this fan seriously.

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The lighter brown frame is thin, but strong enough to fully support the seven blades and hub for this 80mm fan. The bottom edge is flat to clear the tubing, the fan lead is braided because it will be in the open, and it magnetically attaches to the head unit where the Noctua plaque sits currently.

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The frame is flared to allow the air to spill out to the sides, and in combination with the louvers on the head unit, gives a vortex effect as the air exits the bottom.

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Along with the fan comes another splitter cable, so that it could be powered from the three-way fan splitter and run all four from a single header. Across the bottom is some double-sided tape and a metal puck that goes on the back of the Noctua plaque, changing it from head unit accouterment to case badge.

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With the NL-AFC1 in position, we see how much of the socket this 80mm cooling solution covers. It will cool the RAM, the VRM, and with other motherboards, could also cool SSDs, although ours is below the GPU. Even so, with a few rounds of testing, we will get to just how good this optional extra is.

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One last glamour shot with all four fans running seemed appropriate before we got to the charts. However, the addition of the NL-AFC1 makes the system ever so slightly louder, but we are still well below audible once inside of a closed chassis.

Test System Setup, Thermal Tests, and Noise Results

Chad's CPU Cooler Test System Specifications

To see our testing methodology and to find out what goes into making our charts, please refer to our 2025 CPU Cooler Testing and Methodology article for more information.

Thermal Results

Color key to the following charts. Red is used for the coolers as shipped, in quiet mode. Green will be used to denote use of manual mode, and since we have the NL-AFC1 to try, it will be in purple on the NL-LC1-36 this review has been all about.

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Noctua leads the idle temperature chart, no matter how you want to slice it. The NL-LC1-36 delivered a 36.8°C entry point to the top of the charts, and swapping the pump to manual mode took things even lower to 36.3°C. Still, once we added the NL-AFC1 with quiet mode enabled, the extra socket cooling slowed the fans, making its 37°C result only slightly warmer, but all five results, including the NL-LC1-42 results, are all very close to one another at this point in testing.

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With the CPU loaded for power draw, which makes heat, we find the NL-LC1-36 and 42 enter the chart at 59.9°C and 60.1°C, respectively, in quiet mode. Very similar thermal results, but it is due to the 140mm fans spinning slower. Nothing to complain about when they took the lead already, but it gets better. In manual mode, we saw the 36 and 42 able to get down to 58.9°C and 58.2 °C, and 58.9°C, besting the next cooler by two degrees, and with so little noise, it almost blows your mind. We were also surprised a bit by the fact that a barely rotating 80mm fan can even give half a degree advantage to the CPU by keeping its power components cooler.

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Most CPU coolers have a few or more degrees between their average thermal results and what the maximum during the run comes out to be. However, as seen at the top of this chart, the maximums are kept within a couple degrees of their average, showing just how well the NL-LC1 coolers are built and tuned.

CPU Speed

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While many see a temp and go from there as the only factor, there are hidden benefits to using the Noctua AIOs. The NL-LC1-36 hits 5.245GHz out of the box, 5.253GHz in manual mode, but was slightly slower at 5.239GHz under the NL-AFC1. The NH-LC1-42 delivers the best results seen right out of the box at 5.279GHz, where manual mode did not fare as well, but still finishes high up in the chart.

VRM Thermal Results

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As we fully expected, the VRMs should be near 60°C with an AIO, and Noctua falls right in line. No matter which position the switch is in, typical thermal values will be seen when in use. And this is a vast improvement: clicking the NL-AFC1 onto the head unit shows a seven-degree advantage for the VRM temperature, giving us the best result to date. On a side note, our RAM was three degrees cooler as well.

Fan Speed and Noise Levels

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Fan speeds are straightforward, and the lowest in the game. The NL-LC1-36 peaked at 807 RPM in quiet mode, 786 RPM in manual mode, and 799 RPM with the NL-AFC1 in use. As to the 42, it starts at only 643 RPM and drops to 608 RPM with more pump speed.

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Out of the box, the NH-LC1 CPU coolers are shockingly quiet under loaded conditions. We were not joking that we needed to see the fans spin to confirm its functionality. The 42 is the lowest at 22 dB, while the 36 sneaks in slightly behind it at 25 dB. The AFC-1 added only two dB to the overall ceiling, but manual mode will bring some noise; however, only the LC1-42 is what we would consider audible to most users.

Final Thoughts

We get it, not everyone loves Noctua colors, but for us, we were fans of their stand-out nature. If you are bold with color choices, what other ideas do you have to deliver other bold choices in CPU cooling? Noctua has always been willing to show us various firsts in our tenure as a reviewer, and they did not disappoint this time either. While there is a bit of a stinging sensation to this release, it is in no way directed towards Noctua; it goes to all the other manufacturers that made the world assume there was no more left to give in AIO thermals, and in one swing, Noctua came out and proved we have been settling for good-enough for a long time.

You may be sitting there thinking, yeah, but it's a partnership with Asetek; they check boxes, and someone else makes it. Wrong. Every aspect of this is unlike anything we have seen from the various manufacturers who also opt to use Asetek. Everything from the hardware, accessories, and use of Torx-driven screws are all the things you never thought needed help, but did. It's almost like everything you do during installation puts a slightly bigger smile on your face. It is also all the little things. Not some cheap, poorly threaded bits, no bottom basement feel to any of it. While we can't prove it, we swear this is a Weller Torx driver, and even touches like the CPU protector, a cleaning wipe, and the kit to swap the badge are the whipped cream and cherry on this amazing product.

The funny thing is, we are all smiles as we write this, thinking back to how Noctua came out of nowhere with their first AIO models to hit the market, and they trounced it. They didn't just match the best in the game; they took that extra step we would expect from a company such as Noctua. Thermally, these are beasts when quiet as can be, and if you still want a bit more performance, flip the switch to balance or manual mode, and let these NH-LC1-36 and 42 eat. With plenty of tube length and a lower FPI layout on the radiator, the Noctua fans used are a match made in heaven.

That brings us to the noise levels, if you really want to call it that. In most instances, users use a closed chassis, have headphones on, and with the GPU fan spooling up, the NL-LC1 coolers are not what you are going to hear. With 25 and 22 dB in quiet mode as the loudest they get, we would even advise these for HTPC use, or for those who can't stand fan noise while sleeping. Seriously, once that initial coolant flow has settled any air into the radiator, not a bit of this makes any noise, not even the head unit. Due to the damper and use of various densities of foam, it sat in silence during all our usage. Do not be afraid to snag the NL-AFC1 if you think your surroundings need a bit of extra love, as it is well worth it to keep the components cooler, allowing boost to take full advantage of the situation. While not currently in stock, we did find it listed in Canada at only $28 added to the total.

There is so much more that went into this result than most will ever know. It isn't just the fans; it isn't just the pump OEM. Every bit of the NL-LC1-36 has been streamlined, improved, addressed, and made more user-friendly, while keeping that top-tier feel and presence that Noctua is known for, for years, possibly decades now. We can only assume future hardware will be provided as done with other Noctua coolers, and you are covered for six years, double most others, triple or more times the rest. Everything, and we mean everything, is just so much nicer than what we have been settling for.

No, it does not have a fancy screen or a metric-crap-ton of LEDs all over it, but it does kick ass and chew bubble gum. While showing our age with that reference, it should also show how long we have been doing this. We were here when Cool-IT and Asetek were fledgling companies, and AIOs were not yet taking over the industry. Custom loops were the only way to go. While watching it happen over the years, we have seen every trick of the trade to improve an AIO over another, and it took, in our opinion, one of the top three in CPU air cooling to show those who have done it over a decade how to do it right. It feels like an episode of Holmes Makes It Right, where a true professional comes in, raises the standards, and delivers the product we never knew we needed. If you can get past the color of the fans, grab one of these NL-LC1-36 or NL-LC1-42 systems and know that for just $249.99, you have got the best product this segment of the market has to offer. In our blunt opinion, there isn't a better option, and nobody delivers in scope what Noctua is offering. It's almost silly to opt for anything else.