PC parts / CPU coolers
NoctuaCPU cooler
NH-U12A
Released March 2019.3Press articleguru3d.com/story/noctua-launches-nh-u12a-premium-class-120mm-cpu-coolerRead 15 October 2026Story of 2019-03-19, the day Noctua presented the NH-U12A. It does not give a shipping date. Last checked 16 October 2026.
- Cooler type
- Air
- Fans
- 2
- 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-U12A, NH-U12A chromax.black1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026Noctua gives no separate model codes. The model names are NH-U12A and NH-U12A chromax.black.
- GTIN / EAN
- 9010018000160, 90100180002451Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026EAN barcode 9010018000160 for the NH-U12A. The chromax.black EAN is on its own page.2Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12a-ch-bkRead 15 October 2026EAN barcode 9010018000245 for the NH-U12A chromax.black.
- Announced
- 19 March 20193Press articleguru3d.com/story/noctua-launches-nh-u12a-premium-class-120mm-cpu-coolerRead 15 October 2026Noctua presented the NH-U12A on 2019-03-19.
- Predecessor
- Not available
- Successor
- Not available
- Launch price (US)
- $99.93Press articleguru3d.com/story/noctua-launches-nh-u12a-premium-class-120mm-cpu-coolerRead 15 October 2026Suggested retail price listed as EUR/USD 99.90. Tax treatment is not stated.4Press articleguru3d.com/story/noctua-offers-chromax-line-nf-a12x25-fannh-u12a-cooler-and-heatsink-coversRead 15 October 2026Suggested retail price table: NH-U12A chromax.black 119.90, listed as EUR/USD. The chromax.black is stored in its variant row.
- Launch price (EU)
- €99.93Press articleguru3d.com/story/noctua-launches-nh-u12a-premium-class-120mm-cpu-coolerRead 15 October 2026Suggested retail price listed as EUR/USD 99.90, the same number for both currencies. Whether VAT is included is not stated.4Press articleguru3d.com/story/noctua-offers-chromax-line-nf-a12x25-fannh-u12a-cooler-and-heatsink-coversRead 15 October 2026The same 119.90 EUR/USD for the chromax.black. Whether VAT is included is not stated.
- Markets
- Not available
- Cooler type
- Air1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026Air cooler: a heatsink with two fans.
- Air cooler layout
- Single tower1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026Single tower with an asymmetric design.
- Rated TDP (claimed)
- Not available
- Base material
- Nickel-plated copper1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026Material: copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints and nickel plating. APH Networks, EnosTech and Tech4Gamers state that the base itself is nickel plated.7Reviewaphnetworks.com/reviews/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black/2Read 15 October 2026The base is electroplated with nickel over copper for a silver finish. The heatpipes are soldered to the fins and the joints at the base are soldered.8Reviewenostech.com/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black-and-chromax-covers-reviewRead 15 October 2026The complete assembly is nickel plated. The base is a mirror-finish nickel-plated copper plate of 43.5 x 43.5 mm.9Reviewtech4gamers.com/noctua-nh-u12a-reviewRead 15 October 2026The nickel-coated copper cold plate has a glossy mirror finish and measures about 43.5 x 43.5 mm.
Compatibility
- CPU sockets
- AM5, AM4, LGA1954, LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA11501Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026Spec table: Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156 and AMD AM5, AM4. LGA2011 and LGA2066 appear in older copies of the table (APH Networks) and in the RAM text, but not in this table, so they are not stored. LGA1954 comes from the Club386 source.10Press articleclub386.comRead 15 October 2026Article of 2025-11-27 quoting Noctua's FAQ: all Noctua CPU coolers compatible with LGA1700 and LGA1851 also support Intel's LGA1954, and no additional mounting parts are needed. The NH-U12A is listed for LGA1851 and LGA1700, so LGA1954 is stored.
- RAM height clearance
- Not available
- Offset mounting
- Not available
Heatsink
- Heat pipes
- 71Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026The text says seven heatpipes.3Press articleguru3d.com/story/noctua-launches-nh-u12a-premium-class-120mm-cpu-coolerRead 15 October 2026Seven heatpipes in a redesigned layout.8Reviewenostech.com/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black-and-chromax-covers-reviewRead 15 October 20267 copper heat pipes and 50 aluminium fins.
- Heat pipe diameter
- 6mm8Reviewenostech.com/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black-and-chromax-covers-reviewRead 15 October 20267x 6 mm copper heat pipes.9Reviewtech4gamers.com/noctua-nh-u12a-reviewRead 15 October 2026Seven 6 mm nickel-plated heat pipes, black coated on the chromax.black.
- Direct-contact heat pipes
- No7Reviewaphnetworks.com/reviews/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black/2Read 15 October 2026The base is a separate plated copper plate with soldered joints. No direct-touch pipes are described.9Reviewtech4gamers.com/noctua-nh-u12a-reviewRead 15 October 2026The copper cold plate is in indirect contact with the heat pipes. No thermal paste is pre-applied.
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-A12x25 PWM 120 2 450 2,000 60.1 2.34 22.6 SSO or SSO2 4-pin PWM Source1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 20262x Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM, SSO2 bearing, 2000 RPM max (+/-10%), 1700 RPM with the L.N.A., 450 RPM min (PWM, +/-20%), 22.6 dB(A) max, 18.8 dB(A) with the L.N.A. This page prints 60.0 CFM, but Noctua's own table gives 102.1 m3/h (APH Networks copy), which converts to 60.1 CFM with 0.5886, so 60.1 is stored. Static pressure is not on this page, see EnosTech. The max values are for one fan without the L.N.A.5Reviewaphnetworks.com/reviews/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-blackRead 15 October 2026Fan list: NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black, SSO2, 2000 RPM, 450 RPM min, 102.1 m3/h, 22.6 dB(A), 12 V.8Reviewenostech.com/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-black-and-chromax-covers-reviewRead 15 October 2026Review of 2021-11-01: NF-A12x25 PWM fans with 2000 +/-10% RPM, 1700 RPM with the L.N.A., 450 RPM minimum, maximum static pressure 2.34 mmH2O (1.65 with the L.N.A.), 102.1 m3/h, 22.6 dBA, SSO2 bearing, 4-pin PWM connector.- Fans
- 2
Display and lighting
- Lighting standard
- Not available
- Built-in screen
- None1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026The spec table lists no screen or lighting.
- 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) AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Prime95 in-place large FFTs, maximum worker threads, at least 10 minutes, stock settings, two fans 2 fans on the CPU fan header 61 AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Prime95 in-place large FFTs, maximum worker threads, at least 10 minutes, stock settings, one fan 1 fan on the CPU fan header 64
Dimensions and weight
Front and side, drawn to scale.
- Dimensions
- Width125Height158Depth112mm(4.9 × 6.2 × 4.4 in)1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026With fans: height 158 mm, width 125 mm, depth 112 mm.5Reviewaphnetworks.com/reviews/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-blackRead 15 October 2026158 x 125 x 112 mm with fans, 125 x 158 x 58 mm without.
- Heatsink dimensions
- Width125Height158Depth58mm(4.9 × 6.2 × 2.3 in)1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026Without fan: height 158 mm, width 125 mm, depth 58 mm.
- Weight
- 1,220g(2.7 lb)1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 20261220 g with fans.5Reviewaphnetworks.com/reviews/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-blackRead 15 October 20261220 g with fans, 760 g without.
- Heatsink weight
- 760g(1.7 lb)1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026760 g without fans.
In the box
- In the box
- 2x NF-A12x25 PWM 120mm fan, 2x Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A), 4-pin PWM y-cable, SecuFirm2 mounting system for Intel and AMD, NT-H1 thermal compound, Noctua Metal Case-Badge1Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12aRead 15 October 2026Scope of delivery of the NH-U12A. The page also says the mounting kit is SecuFirm2. The page text says a 100% RAM fit on LGA115x and AM4, and that on LGA2066 the rear fan overhangs the RAM slots, with modules up to 42 mm fitting. No RAM height is given for AM5, LGA1700 or LGA1851, so ram_clearance_mm is left out.2Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12a-ch-bkRead 15 October 2026The page's scope of delivery is the same as for the brown model. The black items are named in the APH Networks list.5Reviewaphnetworks.com/reviews/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-blackRead 15 October 2026Scope of delivery of the chromax.black: black NH-U12A heatsink, 2x NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan, 2x NA-RC14 Low-Noise Adaptor, NA-YC1 4-pin PWM y-cable, NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound, black SecuFirm2 mounting kit and Noctua Metal Case-Badge. Used for the chromax.black row.
Links
- Product page
- noctua.at/en/nh-u12a11Maker product pagenoctua.at/en/nh-u12aRead 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 values come from retailer copies of the Noctua spec table, press coverage of the launch and reviews.
- Spec sheet
- Not available
- Manual
- Not available
- EPREL registration number
- Not available
Warranty
- Manufacturer warranty (source market)
- 6years3Press articleguru3d.com/story/noctua-launches-nh-u12a-premium-class-120mm-cpu-coolerRead 15 October 2026The story names a 6-year manufacturer's warranty. The page names no market. A retailer table prints 60 months, but the maker's text and the other sources say six years.5Reviewaphnetworks.com/reviews/noctua-nh-u12a-chromax-blackRead 15 October 2026Spec list copied from the maker's website: Warranty 6 Years.
Compare with
Pick a CPU cooler to see both side by side. Differences are marked yellow.
Variants
Each variant lists only what differs from the specs above.
| Model number | GTIN | Launch price (US) | Launch price (EU) | Colours | In the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NH-U12A | 9010018000160 | $99.9 | €99.9 | Brown | 2x NF-A12x25 PWM 120mm fan, 2x Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A), 4-pin PWM y-cable, SecuFirm2 mounting system for Intel and AMD, NT-H1 thermal compound, Noctua Metal Case-Badge |
| NH-U12A chromax.black | 9010018000245 | $119.9 | €119.9 | Black | Black NH-U12A heatsink, 2x NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan, 2x NA-RC14 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A), NA-YC1 4-pin PWM y-cable, NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound, Black SecuFirm2 mounting kit, Noctua Metal Case-Badge |
Sources
We read 11 sources for this CPU cooler. The numbers match the markers in the sheet.
- Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12a
- Retailer pagequietpc.com/nh-u12a-ch-bk
- Press articleclub386.com
- Maker product pagenoctua.at/en/nh-u12a
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