Related Articles

Published: May 18, 2008 Author: Michael Chiu Editor: Amber Lupala Provider: Noctua Share this article:

Introduction

Noctua, makers of some of the best case fans on the market, has branched out into the CPU cooler market, which is a move that makes sense since they already dominate the high-end fan market. They sent us one of their new CPU coolers, the Noctua NH-U9B, to test out. Will this be a natural expansion of their product line or will we find growing pains? Read on to find out.

About Noctua

Check out their website- http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=produkte&lng=en

Noctua aims at establishing a new level of quality and performance "Designed in Austria" through paying attention to the users' needs in a market burdened with all kinds of frills and furbelows and providing sound-optimised premium components, which serve their purpose in a smart, precise and reliable manner.

Noctua arises from a cooperation between the Austrian Rascom Computerdistribution Ges.m.b.H and the Taiwanese Kolink International Corporation and entertains a development partnership with the Austrian Institute of Heat Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV). These connections form the key to the achievement of our goal: The partnership with the ÖIWV permits the application of scientific measurement instrumentation, methods of calculation and simulation technology in the R&D process. Rascom's long, customer-oriented experience in developing and distributing sound-optimised high-end products ensures a clear focus on the users' needs. The use of Kolink's advanced manufacturing technology and ultra-modern production plants allows us to efficiently implement our technical edge and provide solutions of the highest standard in quality and performance.

Socket compatibility: Intel Socket LGA 775, AMD AM2 & AM2+, Intel Xeon on request, AMD K8 (754, 939, 940) & Socket F on request
Height (without fan): 125 mm
Width (without fan): 95 mm
Depth (without fan): 70 mm
Height (with fan): 125 mm
Width (with fan): 95 mm
Depth (with fan): 95 mm
Weight (without fan): 460 g
Weight (with fan): 550 g
Material: Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminum (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
Application : Intel all frequencies, AMD all frequencies
Fan compatibility : 92x92x25 (2 fans can be installed)
Scope of Delivery :
NF-B9 premium fan
Mounting-clips for 2 fans
Ultra-Low-Noise-Adaptor (U.L.N.A.)
Low-Noise-Adaptor (L.N.A.)
NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound
SecuFirm™ mounting kits for LGA & AM2(+)
Warranty 6 Years

Fan specifications
Size- 92x92x25 mm
Bearing- SSO-Bearing
Blade Geometry- NF-B9 Blade Design with BBT & VCN
Rotational Speed (+/- 10%)- 1600 RPM
Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%)- 1300 RPM
Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%)- 1000 RPM
Airflow- 64.3 m³/h
Airflow with L.N.A.- 52,6 m³/h
Airflow with U.L.N.A.- 41,1 m³/h
Acoustical Noise- 17,6 dB(A)
Acoustical Noise with L.N.A- 13,1 dB(A)
Acoustical Noise with U.L.N.A- 7,9* dB(A)
Static Pressure - 1,61 mm H2O
Static Pressure with L.N.A.- 1,09 mm H2O
Static Pressure with U.L.N.A.- 0,64 mm H2O
Input Power- 1,32 W
Input Current- 0,11 A
Voltage Range - 12 V
MTBF > 150.000 h

The product:

Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures

The Noctua NH-U9B came in a colorful package in the Noctua color scheme, with a window providing a view of the product on the front. The sides of the package provide a list of the features/specifications. One thing to note is that this cooler is compatible with both Intel and AMD CPUs, adding to the versatility of the product.

Noctua also offers a larger version of this cooler, the NH-U9P, which will be the subject of a future review.

Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures

Opening the package, we find cooler well-packaged in a custom foam insert that holds the product well and protects from any shipping damage. Along with the cooler itself, the package comes with mounting brackets, instruction manual, and a tube of Noctua’s NT-H1 thermal compound (which we found to be a good-quality compound).