Noctua NH-L12Sx77 CPU Cooler Review

Noctua NH-L12Sx77 CPU Cooler Noctua NH-L12Sx77 CPU Cooler

Performance

Our CPU cooler test system is made up of the follow components…

Noctua NH-L12Sx77 CPU Cooler

Case: be quiet! Pure Base 500DX
CPU: Intel Core i5-10600K
Cooling: Noctua NH-L12Sx77
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Ultra
Graphics Card: MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X
Memory: HyperX Predator RGB DDR4-2933 16GB
Storage: Samsung SSD 980
Power: be quiet! Dark Power 12

For testing we will be using AIDA64’s “CPU Package” reading for temperatures and we will also be using a RisePro sound level meter to record sound levels. Sound levels are recorded 3 inches above the top mesh of the case.

We will be comparing the A115 to the following CPU coolers…

Amazon Basics CPU Cooler
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5
be quiet! Dark Rock TF 2
be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim 2
Cooler Master MasterAir MA624 Stealth
Cooler Master MasterAir MA824 Stealth
Corsair A115
DeepCool AK400 Digital
DeepCool AK400 WH
DeepCool AK500 Zero Dark
DeepCool AK620
DeepCool AK620 Digital
DeepCool Assassin IV
Iceberg Thermal IceSLEET G4 Midnight
Jonsbo PISA A5
Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
Noctua NH-P1
Scythe Fuma 3
Scythe Fuma 2 Rev. B
Scythe Kotetsu Mark 3
Scythe Mugen 5 Rev. C CPU Cooler
SilverStone Hydrogon D120 ARGB
Thermaltake UX200 SE

Idle readings are taken on the Windows 10 desktop an hour after the system has been turned on. “Load 1” readings are taken using AIDA64’s system stability test with just the “CPU” selected. “Load 2” readings are taken using AIDA64’s system stability testing with both the “CPU” and “FPU” selected. Here are the results.

Temperatures
noctua l12sx77 temp idle

noctua l12sx77 temp load1

noctua l12sx77 temp load2

Noise Levels
noctua l12sx77 noise idle

noctua l12sx77 noise load1

noctua l12sx77 noise load2