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We analyze the Noctua NH-U12 SE-AM4 heatsink, one of the best solutions on the market for the new AMD Ryzen processors that is compatible only with AM4 sockets.
The arrival of AMD Ryzen processors has meant the need for the arrival of new motherboards, support for DDR4 RAM and the need for new heatsinks or anchoring systems for current systems. Noctua, is a leading company in the manufacture and development of high quality and performance heatsinks and has launched a heatsink with anchor compatible with the new AM4 socket motherboards. It should be noted that Noctua manufactures the best heatsinks on the market and they are the most recognized among hardware enthusiasts and lovers.
If there is something that characterizes Noctua heatsinks, it is their high construction quality, made up of high-quality aluminum blocks covered by five heatpipes that start from the base of the heatsink to the upper area, which go through all the aluminum fins in both halves. making this an excellent heatsink that guarantees that all the heat generated by the processor will be dissipated effectively and even allows a small overclocking, not to a great extent, but somewhat restrained. The fan offers high air pressure, which allows very effective dissipation.
FEATURES
The Noctua NH-U12S is a single block tower heatsink that is 120mm tall, fairly compact in thickness and offers great compatibility. This SE-AM4 is a special edition developed to be compatible with AMD Ryzen processors, incorporating the SecuFirm2 mounting system, for the AM4 socket. The heatsink features the NF-F12 PWM fan, which is 120mm in size and highly silent. What makes it especially quiet is the SSO2 bearing system (which we will explain below). Along with the heatsink, the NT-H1 end paste is incorporated, which has the characteristic of being one of the best thermal pastes on the market with high efficiency in transferring the temperature from the processor to the heatsink.
It should be noted that the Noctua NH-U12S SE-AM4 has only the anchor for AMR4 motherboards, so this heatsink does not have the anchors for Intel processors. This heatsink is also fully compatible with all RAM memory modules on the market, since it is only 45mm thick, so we will not have any compatibility problems with the passive heatsinks that RAM memories usually incorporate.
Regarding the fan, we must highlight that the NF-F12 PWM fan has a 120mm fan, which allows it to work at different speeds. This fan has a Low-Noise Adapter anchoring system that allows it to work at a speed of between 300rpm and 1500rpm. What the fan offers us is a high static pressure, which allows improving the performance of heat dissipation and the silent operation of the system. It is anchored to the heatsink through a system of anti-vibration panels designed so that the fan has a separation of 5mm, which allows to improve the sound level.
SPECIFICATIONS
Noctua has developed a powerful heatsink with a block of aluminum fins that has a maximum height of 158mm, a width of 125mm and a thickness of 45mm, all this without a fan, while with a fan the height and width are not altered. but if the thickness, which happens to be 71mm. This fanless heatsink weighs 580 grams, while the weight with fan is 755 grams. The five heatpipes, as well as the base of the heatsink are made of copper, while the fins, as we have highlighted, are made of aluminum.
Regarding the fan, we must say that it makes use of the NF-F12 PWM, which integrates the innovative SSO2 bearings, which allow a really low noise level. This fan has a base working speed of 300RPM, while the maximum rotation speed is 1500RPM, which allows a maximum flow of 93.4 cubic meters per hour and the sound level is 22.4dBA. This fan has an effective consumption of 0.6W, with a working voltage of 12V.
BEARINGS SSO2
Fans normally use two systems, bearings and bearings. They both have problems. The bearings are very quiet in their first moments, but wear increases the noise and the useful life of the fans that incorporate them is very short and the bearings make a lot of noise, although they have a fairly long useful life. Noctua has looked for a solution that has a very long useful life and the noise level is minimal and they developed the SSO, a system of self-stabilized bearings of pressurized oil, which has been revised for improvement.
The development of this system is based on its low noise level and the quality demonstrated and tested in many products, in a large number of products. This system is based on an interesting concept of hydrodynamic oil-based bearings that integrate a magnet, which has the function of automatically stabilizing the rotor shaft. Stabilized by a magnetic field, these bearings allow for improved precision and longevity over ball bearing solutions, plain bearings and even traditional hydrodynamic systems.
Noctua has optimized and improved the SSO system in this update called SSO2. Metallic bearings and an injection molding system have been used for this renewed system. They have a magnet closer to the rotor shaft, generating a higher magnetic force on it. It offers, thanks to this system, greater stabilization, precision and durability of the fans.
CONCLUSION
When we talk about Noctua heatsinks, we always talk about a processor of the best possible quality and that guarantees us excellent performance. We have tested it with an AMD Ryzen 1700X processor and we must say that despite the fact that these processors tend to work at high temperatures when the load is high, we see that it has performed excellently. For this processor, we saw that it had an idle temperature of 57ºC, while at full load the processor reached a temperature of 76.5ºC. We must emphasize that the temperatures of the AMD Ryzen Master Overclock, which are from where we have measured the temperatures, marked 20ºC more, therefore, at these temperatures we must subtract 20ºC.
If we look at the real temperatures, this heatsink made the processor work at 37ºC and 56.5ºC, which are very correct and very good temperatures, allowing excellent performance to the equipment and extending the useful life of the processor. Without a doubt, it is a very powerful heatsink capable of facing any of the AMD processors. The integrated fan is also highly efficient, therefore, it will keep the temperature of the processor at bay and even allows a slight overclocking, if the AMD processor is left, since they are a bit unruly in that regard.
We have been able to verify that it does not conflict with any of the memories that we have used. We have tested them with the Corsair Predator and Dominator and the KFA2 Hall of Fame and he has not played with either and both have a great heatsink, therefore, we can say that this heatsink is compatible with all RAM memories on the market, since it We have tested with possibly the two highest heatsink RAM modules on the market. Without a doubt, it is a great purchase option, although as it hits, we could say that this only includes the AM4 socket anchor, leaving aside the rest of the anchors, but hey, since we are going to use it for an AMD Ryzen processor, either of great importance.
If you have 37ºC idle with a Ryzen, turn off and let's go. This is what I have in an 8320 playing (39ºC) with a much worse dissipation. Check the thermal paste.
Man, we use Noctua's thermal paste, which is one of the best on the market. The problem is not ours, the problem is with the processor. There are eight cores and sixteen processing threads.
Humm, I suppose you have done the review in a warm place, because the ones I have seen with an AMD stock heatsink (the most stubby, the led) about 32-33 degrees, and from the Noctua I expected much more.