PC parts / CPU coolers
NoctuaCPU cooler
NH-L12S
Released October 2017.5Reviewfunkykit.com/reviews/cooling/noctua-nh-l12s-cpu-cooler-review/2Read 15 October 2026Review of 2017-10-15 as a new cooler. EnosTech (2017-11-06) and Lazer3D (2017-11-17) review it as new, and Basic Tutorials says it launched in 2017. No Noctua launch release was found, so the month is the first review. Last checked 16 October 2026.
- Cooler type
- Air
- Fans
- 1
- Rated TDP
- Not available
- CPU sockets
- AM5, AM4, LGA1954, LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150
29 of 54 fields known.
General
- Model numbers
- NH-L12S1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Noctua gives no separate model code. The model name is NH-L12S.2Maker spec sheet (PDF)gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/e/2/d8a64da155a929a006aa5665b6e2c5792b08.pdfRead 15 October 2026Product name Noctua NH-L12S.
- GTIN / EAN
- 9010018000054, 8415011000551Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026EAN barcode 9010018000054 in the spec table copied from Noctua.2Maker spec sheet (PDF)gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/e/2/d8a64da155a929a006aa5665b6e2c5792b08.pdfRead 15 October 2026Logistic data: EAN 9010018000054 and UPC 841501100055.
- Announced
- Not available
- Predecessor
- Not available
- Successor
- Not available
- Launch price (US)
- Not available
- Markets
- Not available
- Colours
- Not available
- Cooler type
- Air1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Low-profile air cooler with one slim 120 mm fan.
- Air cooler layout
- Top-flow1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026The text calls the NH-L12 line low-profile 120mm top-flow coolers. The fan can blow upwards or downwards.8Reviewbasic-tutorials.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/noctua-nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026The fan sits under the fins from the factory and moves the air upwards. It can also go on top. Lazer3D confirms the fan pushes air up through the heatsink as delivered.
- Rated TDP (claimed)
- Not available
- Base material
- Nickel-plated copper1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Material: copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints and nickel plating. EnosTech and Basic Tutorials describe the base and pipes as nickel-plated copper.6Reviewenostech.com/noctua-nh-l12s-lower-profile-cpu-cooler-reviewRead 15 October 2026The base and the heat pipes are copper with a nickel coating.8Reviewbasic-tutorials.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/noctua-nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Nickel-plated copper contact surface.
Compatibility
- CPU sockets
- AM5, AM4, LGA1954, LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA11501Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Spec table: Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156 and AMD AM5, AM4. The product text also names LGA2011, LGA2066 and older AMD sockets. The text is from the launch and the current spec table omits them, so they are not stored. The installation method is a backplate that needs motherboard removal.9Press articleclub386.comRead 15 October 2026Article quoting Noctua's FAQ: all Noctua CPU coolers compatible with LGA1851 and LGA1700 also support Intel's LGA1954, and no additional mounting parts are needed. The NH-L12S is listed for LGA1851 and LGA1700, so LGA1954 is stored. The article warns that low-profile coolers with a backplate mount may differ, but Noctua's statement covers all its coolers.
- RAM height clearance
- 35mm1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Text: with the fan installed on top of the fins, modules up to 48 mm fit, against 35 mm in low-profile mode (fan underneath the fins). The fan sits underneath as delivered, so 35 mm is stored. The launch data sheet says 45 mm for the fan-on-top mode.5Reviewfunkykit.com/reviews/cooling/noctua-nh-l12s-cpu-cooler-review/2Read 15 October 2026The reviewer had to move the fan on top to fit tall modules, so the low-profile mode limits the module height. Maker text on page 1: 48 mm with the fan on top against 35 mm in low-profile mode.7Reviewpcgamer.com/hardware/cooling/noctua-nh-l12s-reviewRead 15 October 2026RAM clearance 48 mm with the fan mounted on top and 35 mm with the fan mounted inside.
Heatsink
- Heat pipes
- 46Reviewenostech.com/noctua-nh-l12s-lower-profile-cpu-cooler-reviewRead 15 October 20264 heat pipes.7Reviewpcgamer.com/hardware/cooling/noctua-nh-l12s-reviewRead 15 October 2026Four heatpipes.8Reviewbasic-tutorials.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/noctua-nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Four heatpipes run from a nickel-plated copper contact surface to the fins.
Liquid cooling
We could not find any of these 7 fields. Show them
- Radiator size
- Not available
- Radiator dimensions
- Not available
- Radiator material
- Not available
- Tube length
- Not available
- Max pump speed
- Not available
- Pump power connector
- Not available
- VRM fan
- Not available
Fans
- Included fans
Model Size (mm) Fans Min speed (rpm) Max speed (rpm) Airflow (CFM) Static pressure (mmH₂O) Noise (claimed) (dB(A)) Bearing Connector NF-A12x15 PWM 120 1 450 1,850 55.4 1.53 23.9 SSO or SSO2 4-pin PWM Source1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Fan table: NF-A12x15 PWM, SSO bearing, 1850 RPM max (+/-10%), 1400 RPM with the L.N.A., 450 RPM min (PWM), 55.4 CFM, 23.9 dB(A), 16.8 dB(A) with the L.N.A. Max values are for the fan without the L.N.A. Static pressure is not on this page, see the Noctua data sheets.2Maker spec sheet (PDF)gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/e/2/d8a64da155a929a006aa5665b6e2c5792b08.pdfRead 15 October 2026NF-A12x15 PWM table: 1850 RPM, 94.2 m3/h, 23.9 dB(A), 1.53 mmH2O without the adaptor. With the L.N.A.: 1400 RPM, 70.8 m3/h, 16.8 dB(A), 0.90 mmH2O. 94.2 m3/h is 55.4 CFM.3Maker spec sheet (PDF)gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/c/e/908bf63bad9d1599f184bd6bcd48a977c989.pdfRead 15 October 2026Noctua's NF-A12x15 PWM data sheet: 120 x 120 x 15 mm, SSO2 bearing, 4-pin connector, 1850 RPM (+/-10%), 94.2 m3/h, 23.9 dB(A) and 1.53 mmH2O without the adaptor. Minimum PWM speed 450 RPM is on the NH-L12S spec table.- Fans
- 1
Display and lighting
- Lighting standard
- Not available
- Built-in screen
- None1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026The spec table lists no screen.
- Screen size
- Not available
- Screen resolution
- Not available
- Software
- Not available
Measured
- Cybenetics THETA, AMD AM5
- Not available
- Cybenetics THETA, Intel LGA1851
- Not available
- Overall performance at 30 dB(A), AM5 (measured)
- Not available
- Overall performance at 30 dB(A), LGA1851 (measured)
- Not available
- Noise at 100% fan setting (Cybenetics)
- Not available
- Thermal tests (measured)
Test CPU Load Fan setting CPU temperature (°C) Above ambient (°C) Intel Core i7-14700K 3DMark Steel Nomad stress test, open bench with no case fans, maximum temperature Not available 92 Not available Intel Core i7-14700K Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, open bench with no case fans, maximum temperature Not available 86 Not available Intel Core i7-14700K Cinebench R23, open bench with no case fans, thermal throttling at the limit (x264 also reached 100 C) Not available 100 Not available AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Gaming, Fractal Design Terra case with one extra 120 mm fan, maximum temperature Not available 76 Not available AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Handbrake and Cinebench R24, Fractal Design Terra case with one extra 120 mm fan, maximum temperature Not available 79 Not available Intel Core i7-7700K Asus RealBench 2.44, 60 minutes, fixed 4.2 GHz at 1.16 V, average core temperature (RealTemp) over ambient 100% Not available 41.85 Intel Core i7-7700K Asus RealBench 2.44, 60 minutes, overclocked to 4.7 GHz at 1.22 V, average core temperature (RealTemp) over ambient, highest of three runs 100% Not available 53.15 Source6Reviewenostech.com/noctua-nh-l12s-lower-profile-cpu-cooler-reviewRead 15 October 2026EnosTech, review of 2017-11-06. Core i7-7700K on an Asus Z170-P, Noctua NT-H1 paste on every cooler, the fan at 100% (1850 RPM). Asus RealBench 2.44 stress runs of 60 minutes, RealTemp 3.70 for the core temperatures. The charts show deltas with the ambient subtracted, and the ambient is not stated. At 4.2 GHz (1.16 V) the maximum was 41.85 and at 4.7 GHz (1.22 V) 53.15, the highest average of three runs. The text also says 24 dBA at full speed, which is the maker figure, so no noise is stored.7Reviewpcgamer.com/hardware/cooling/noctua-nh-l12s-reviewRead 15 October 2026PC Gamer review of 2025-02-04. The Core i7-14700K (up to 253 W) on the usual open Intel bench with no case fans: a 92 C maximum in the 3DMark Steel Nomad stress test, 86 C in Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, and 100 C with thermal throttling in x264 and Cinebench R23. The Ryzen 7 9700X (65 W) on an Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi in a Fractal Design Terra with one extra 120 mm fan: a 76 C maximum while gaming and 79 C in Handbrake and Cinebench R24. The paste, fan setting, ambient and noise are not stated. The 9700X build had the fan flipped, with 35 mm RAM room. The fan position on the 14700K bench is not stated.
Dimensions and weight
Front and side, drawn to scale.
- Dimensions
- Width128Height70Depth146mm(5 × 2.8 × 5.7 in)1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Height (with fan) 70 mm, width 128 mm, depth 146 mm. The 70 mm is the low-profile mode with the fan underneath the fins. With the fan on top the launch data sheet gives 87 mm and the text 85 to 95 mm depending on the fan.
- Heatsink dimensions
- Width128Height70Depth146mm(5 × 2.8 × 5.7 in)1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Height (without fan) 70 mm, width 128 mm, depth 146 mm. The fan sits inside the fin stack footprint, so the sizes with and without it are equal.
- Heatsink weight
- 390g(13.8 oz)1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Weight (without fan) 390 g.
In the box
- In the box
- 1x NF-A12x15 PWM premium fan, Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.), NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound, SecuFirm2 mounting kit, Noctua metal case-badge, Screwdriver1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Accessories: 1x NF-A12x15 PWM premium fan, Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.), NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound, SecuFirm2 mounting kit, Noctua metal case-badge. EnosTech and Basic Tutorials add the screwdriver.6Reviewenostech.com/noctua-nh-l12s-lower-profile-cpu-cooler-reviewRead 15 October 2026Accessories: Noctua metal badge, 1x screwdriver, NT-H1, Low-Noise Adapter NA-RC7, AMD and Intel mounting parts.
Links
- Product page
- noctua.at/en/nh-l12s4Maker product pagenoctua.at/en/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Noctua's product page. The page was not opened. It is stored as the product link only. No value comes from it.
- Spec sheet
- gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/e/2/d8a64da155a929a006aa5665b6e2c5792b08.pdf2Maker spec sheet (PDF)gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/e/2/d8a64da155a929a006aa5665b6e2c5792b08.pdfRead 15 October 2026Noctua's data sheet for the NH-L12S, hosted by Geizhals. It is an older revision: sockets end at LGA2066, LGA2011 and AM4, and the RAM text says 45 mm.
- Manual
- Not available
- EPREL registration number
- Not available
Warranty
- Manufacturer warranty (source market)
- 6years1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12sRead 15 October 2026Noctua spec table copy: Warranty 72 months, and the text says a full 6-year manufacturer's warranty. No market is named.2Maker spec sheet (PDF)gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/e/2/d8a64da155a929a006aa5665b6e2c5792b08.pdfRead 15 October 2026Warranty 6 Years.
Compare with
Pick a CPU cooler to see both side by side. Differences are marked yellow.
Sources
We read 9 sources for this CPU cooler. The numbers match the markers in the sheet.
- Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-l12s
- Maker spec sheet (PDF)gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/e/2/d8a64da155a929a006aa5665b6e2c5792b08.pdf
- Maker spec sheet (PDF)gzhls.at/blob/ldb/9/b/c/e/908bf63bad9d1599f184bd6bcd48a977c989.pdf
- Maker product pagenoctua.at/en/nh-l12s
- Press articleclub386.com
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