Conclusion
Noctua does not fail to impress with their new NH-C12P. Focusing on mainly tower based heatsinks over the last couple of years, it is refreshing to see a potent down-draft design from Noctua. It provides an excellent holistic cooling solution without sacrificing much in the performance department. The airflow gaps are very functional and contributed to the NH-C12P reaching the top of our motherboard cooling charts. The NH-C12P continues to use Noctua’s SecuFirm mounting system, the best I’ve seen to date. It includes two in-line fan RPM limiters, Noctua’s high quality NF-P12 fan and even a tube of their premium grade thermal paste. The NH-C12P is not a cheap heatsink at about $50-60, but as with all Noctua heatsinks, you get what you pay for.
Even with six heatpipes, it didn’t quite perform as well as its big brother, the NH-U12P. None the less, it is a much more versatile cooler that is a better choice for those looking for an overall “system cooling” solution, rather than just a very focused CPU cooler. Buyers can rest assured that not only the CPU is being cooled, but the VRM components, chipset and memory as well. Aside from fewer mounting possibilities on socket AM2 systems, I really don’t have anything negative to say about the NH-C12P. Like the NH-U12P and NH-U9B, I’m pleased to award the NH-C12P with Icrontic’s “Outstanding Product Award”. I have been consistently pleased with Noctua’s heatsink quality, innovative design and performance. I look forward to seeing what Noctua’s next design will bring to the table!
Pros:
- Very good all-around performance
- Airflow gaps are a very functional feature
- Noctua’s excellent SecuFirm mounting system
- Good accessory bundle, including fan, paste and RPM limiters
- Excellent compatibility and light weight
Cons:
- Only two possible mounting orientations for AM2 systems
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