{"id":14237,"date":"2009-12-28T00:06:02","date_gmt":"2009-12-28T00:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=14237"},"modified":"2009-12-30T03:27:12","modified_gmt":"2009-12-30T03:27:12","slug":"noctua-nh-u12p-se2-cpu-cooler-and-nf-p14-flx-140-mm-case-fan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/noctua-nh-u12p-se2-cpu-cooler-and-nf-p14-flx-140-mm-case-fan\/","title":{"rendered":"Noctua NH-U12P SE2 CPU Cooler and NF-P14 FLX 140mm Fan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n google_ad_client = \"pub-7021221536180758\"; \/* 468x60, created 11\/11\/09 *\/ google_ad_slot = \"1949837292\"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60;\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><script src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Our new Noctua NH-U12P Special Edition 2 CPU cooler and NF-P14 FLX 140mm fan review is part of our <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=13034\">Performance meets Value series<\/a> that we began last month by comparing AMD\u2019s value platform versus Intel\u2019s performance platform, Core i7.\u00a0 The last CPU cooler that we reviewed was Cooler Master\u2019s thirty dollar Hyper 212 Plus <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=11521\">here<\/a>.\u00a0 Since we have also been using it to overclock our Core i7 920 to 3.8 GHz, it is natural that we will make comparisons and contrasts with it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_Box\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=241%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_Box\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, as important as saving money on hardware is, this editor believes that the choice of a CPU cooler is critical to any PC build. The cooler should never be cheap or retail. Too much depends on it if you value keeping your CPU cool or especially if you plan to overclock. I would recommend that you instead look for sales and perhaps even rebates to save money.\u00a0 At the time of writing this article, the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler has been on sale at NewEgg.com for the last few weeks for $74.99; $5.00 off the MSRP.\u00a0 It can sometimes even be found for less at Amazon.com<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608014\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608014', 'http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608014']);\" title=\"http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608014\">http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608014<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/i7box-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" style=\"border: 0pt none; display: inline;\" title=\"i7Box\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/i7box_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=196%2C236\" border=\"0\" alt=\"i7Box\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/x4_955.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14265 aligncenter\" title=\"X4_955\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/x4_955.jpg?resize=270%2C203\" alt=\"X4_955\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This review is not just about &#8220;value&#8221;.\u00a0\u00a0 If you want to cool the hottest Phenom II X4, a value CPU cooler such as Hyper 212 Plus will suffice.\u00a0 You will pay half for AMD&#8217;s quad-core platform compared to what an Intel user will pay for entry level Core i7 920&#8217;s platform.\u00a0 Unless you are supplying radical voltage to the AMD CPU to get higher than 4 GHz, a budget cooler will work nicely.\u00a0 The stock AMD cooler for Phenom II 955 X4 will easily get you to 3.6 GHz and the Hyper 212 Plus will get you to 3.9 GHz with good temperatures using +.2V applied to the cores.<\/p>\n<p>As you can note in the image below, even stock heatsinks are evolving to keep up with the hotter running quad-core CPUs.\u00a0 On the far left is Intel&#8217;s retail stock Core i7 920 heatsink\/fan.\u00a0 They are using more fins and a larger fan than for their last generation of Penryn quads.\u00a0 AMD has moved to a redesigned fan and heat-pipes to cool their 955 X4 on the far right as compared to what they use to cool their dual- and tri-core CPUs.\u00a0 And Intel has adopted a round design much like Noctua&#8217;s 140mm fan for more efficiency.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/hs_evo-int_amd.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14273 aligncenter\" title=\"HS_evo-Int_AMD\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/hs_evo-int_amd.jpg?resize=550%2C265\" alt=\"HS_evo-Int_AMD\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/hs_evo-int_amd.jpg?resize=550%2C265 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/hs_evo-int_amd-300x144.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Intel&#8217;s new Core i7 and i5 CPUs mark a new and exciting advance in processing power, but they definitely require a higher quality heatsink than for our Q9550S or our Phenom II 955 X4, especially if you want to cool them without excessive noise. Noctua offers an easy entry into the world of premium quality quiet cooling with the NH-U12P SE2, a premium value package that offers everything you need to cool Core i7 or i5 CPUs quietly.<\/p>\n<p>Heat is drawn away from the CPU by the base of the heatsink and is transferred up into the array of hi-grade aluminum fins for dissipation. A large 120mm fan spins on each side of the heatsink fins array in a \u201cpush-pull\u201d configuration, blowing CPU-heated air through and away from the heatsink. The fans&#8217; support for PWM allows the BIOS to control the speed of the fans based on the CPU&#8217;s thermal needs \u2013 raising the fans&#8217; RPMs to maximum speed as necessary and also lowering the fans&#8217; speed and its noise during the off-peak cycles.<\/p>\n<p>The NH-U12P SE2 ships with Noctua&#8217;s SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system that has the easiest and most straightforward installation that I have encountered on the Intel LGA1366 platform.\u00a0 It is also adapted for 1156 and 775 platforms as well as AMD socket AM2, AM2+ and AM3 platforms. A relatively large tube of Noctua&#8217;s professional grade NT-H1 thermal compound is included.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/arcsil_noc_thcomp.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14274 aligncenter\" title=\"ArcSil_Noc_ThComp\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/arcsil_noc_thcomp.jpg?resize=440%2C191\" alt=\"ArcSil_Noc_ThComp\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/arcsil_noc_thcomp.jpg?resize=440%2C191 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/arcsil_noc_thcomp-300x130.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Besides comparing the premium NH-U12P SE2 to our budget Hyper 212 Plus, we can give you impressions of our ThermalRight Ultra Extreme 120 which is now cooling our 3.9 GHz Phenom II 955 X4.\u00a0 We would have liked to make a direct comparison between it and the Noctua SE2 cooler with our Core i7, but we purchased it last Summer &#8211; long before Core i7 was launched &#8211; and the older version will not work with it. We also used it successfully to get our Q9550S from its stock 2.83 GHz to 4.0 GHz without the thermals rising out of the safe zone.\u00a0 Both are premium coolers and both have superb true mirror finishes on their contact plates.\u00a0 Both are priced about the same and have similar street prices.\u00a0 Here the similarities end.<\/p>\n<p>The Noctua NH-U12P SE2 has two very special 120mm fans included in the box; with the Thermalright cooler, you have to to pick your own and they can be quite pricey, even on sale.\u00a0 In fact, Noctua includes all the hardware and accessories you could possibly want \u2013 including a very decent Philips screwdriver and a very large tube of their own pro-grade thermal compound.\u00a0 We tried Noctua\u2019s thermal compound on our Phenom II 955 X4\/Thermalright Ultra 120 combination and it matched or cooled slightly better than our Arctic Silver that we have always used as a standard to which other high-quality thermal compounds are often measured.\u00a0 The Hyper 212 plus also included Cooler Master\u2019s thermal paste, but it would not suffice for a finely machined and polished surface for either the Noctua or the Thermalright coolers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_mirror-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noc_Mirror\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_mirror_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C140\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noc_Mirror\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In fact, you can see the Hyper 212 has scuffed up our Core i7 CPU (below left) with its relatively rough machined surface (below right).\u00a0 Note the contrast with the mirror surface of the Noctua\u2019s contact plate (above):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/cpuscuffclose-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"CPU-scuffClose\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/cpuscuffclose_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=214%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"CPU-scuffClose\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/contactplate-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"contactplate\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/contactplate_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=179%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"contactplate\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>For some people it is really important that their CPU cooler fan(s) be quiet.\u00a0 In this situation, the Noctua NH-U12P SE2 with <em><strong>two<\/strong><\/em> 120mm fans is definitely quieter than my <em>single<\/em> Scythe 120mm fan with all of them running at their maximum RPMs.\u00a0 When I purchased the Scythe 120mm fan separately from my ThermalRight UltraExtreme 120, there was a choice of three fans with three fixed speeds and thus three stages of cooling. I chose the fastest, noisiest and most effective 120mm fan that Scythe had at the time.\u00a0 With the Noctua NH-U12P SE2 you don&#8217;t have to make a choice as two adapters to slow your fans down to into inaudibility are provided right in the box.<\/p>\n<p>I have no way to measure this accurately, but the Noctua NH-U12P SE2 is definitely a very quiet cooling solution.\u00a0 Of course, I was running with a GTX 280 and would have to momentarily stop its fan just to be able to hear any extra sound coming from the Noctua\u2019s fans.\u00a0 I normally run with 4 case fans which also had to stop, just so only the PSU fan was running so as to even hear it at all.<\/p>\n<p>With the 140mm Noctua NF-P14 FLX fan running in the side case, a quiet power supply unit, and the Noctua SE2 cooler and the GTX 280 at idle, my PC was really quiet \u2013 even in the dead of night.\u00a0 So I can whole heartedly recommend this combination to people who require performance <em>and<\/em> quiet from their cooling solution.\u00a0 I can be certain of this as Noctua also supplies adapters to lower the RPMs of your fans into complete inaudibility.\u00a0 Since I was once an audiophile with a true high-end stereo system (stacked and imaged Dahlquist DQ-10s, Mark Levinson modified tube preamp; 1000 watts per channel RMS GAS amps, Grado Signature cartridge and a Thorens turntable), I can still appreciate the need for quiet <em>and<\/em> extreme performance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/flex_acces-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Flex_acces\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/flex_acces_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C183\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Flex_acces\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/accessories-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"accessories\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/accessories_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C184\" border=\"0\" alt=\"accessories\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As you can see in the above image, adapters are included with both the 140mm FLX fan (left image) and the Noctua NH-U12P SE2 HSF (right) that will quiet the fans.\u00a0 Of course they accomplish this by slowing the fan\u2019s rotation and thus offering more quiet but progressively less cooling with each of two step downs.\u00a0 The 140mm Noctua fan was even quieter than the Cooler Master 120mm side panel case fan that it replaced and yet it moved even more air, helping to further cool my Gladiator 600 case and in turn, my hot, overclocked to 4.0 GHz, Core i7 920 along with a GTX 280 plus an open-design 8800-GTX for PhysX which made for an extremely hot case indeed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/hotgpus.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14276 aligncenter\" title=\"HotGPUs\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/hotgpus.jpg?resize=440%2C302\" alt=\"HotGPUs\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/hotgpus.jpg?resize=440%2C302 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/hotgpus-300x205.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>You also need to remember that a high-quality universal CPU cooler like the Noctua NH-U12P SE2 will likely last through several builds if you plan ahead. The manufacturer\u2019s warranty is six (6) years for this Noctua cooler!\u00a0 Another thing you should consider is \u201cnoise\u201d \u2013 ideally you do not want your CPU\u2019s cooling fan adding much noise.\u00a0 Here we see Noctua taking a similar approach to the CPU cooler that we reviewed a few months ago \u2013 the <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=11521\">Hyper N520<\/a> which uses two much smaller 92 mm fans in push-pull configuration for quiet and effective cooling for about $45.00 on NewEgg.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctuainstalled-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"border: 0pt none; display: inline;\" title=\"noctua-installed\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctuainstalled_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C213\" border=\"0\" alt=\"noctua-installed\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In contrast, the budget thirty dollar Hyper 212 Plus by Cooler Master uses a single, slower-running 120mm fan to keep noise down while still doing effective cooling.\u00a0 In fact, they allow for some even further cooling by letting you install another second (optional; not included) 120mm fan in a push-pull configuration much like the Hyper N520 \u2013 except these fans are much bigger!\u00a0 Generally, by using the second fan, we gained about 1-3 degrees Centigrade more cooling over using a single fan.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the two compared, side-by-side:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_hyp-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noc_hyp\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_hyp_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C154\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noc_hyp\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>They certainly look similar.\u00a0 They both use two 120mm fans in a push-pull configuration.\u00a0 Yet the Noctua NH-U12P Special Edition 2 CPU cooler was able to effectively cool our hot overclocked Core i7 920 at 4.0 GHz well within safe thermal temperatures while our Hyper 212 Plus ran into extremely dangerous temperatures from 3.50 GHz to 3.80 GHz.\u00a0\u00a0 What is the difference?\u00a0 Well, we shall explore.<\/p>\n<p>We are not out of order by insisting on the Noctua NH-U12P Special Edition 2 CPU cooler to cool an overclocked Core i7 920.\u00a0 We are helping to get the word out that retail and cheap CPU coolers will perhaps even shorten a hot-running CPU\u2019s life; and they will certainly limit your overclocking potential.\u00a0 And a premium cooler such as our Noctua Noctua NH-U12P SE2 being reviewed today, will allow you to reach your CPU\u2019s maximum overclocking potential in safety compared to even a very good budget cooler.<br \/>\n<!--pagetitle: Introduction--><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Packaging<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Noctua NH-U12P Special Edition 2 CPU cooler arrives in a cardboard box packed with everything necessary to cool any modern CPU that you may buy.\u00a0 Here is the box from a couple of angles.\u00a0 As you can see, the specifications and features are printed right on the box.\u00a0 The Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler is pictured and we can see that it is \u201cuniversal\u201d \u2013 engineered to fit any modern Intel or AMD CPU\u2019s cooling needs \u2013 overclocked or stock.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Noctua_Box1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_Box\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Noctua_Box_thumb1.jpg?resize=241%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_Box\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/boxf-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"boxF\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/boxf_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=216%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"boxF\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here we can see how it is engineered to easily fit any modern socket and it is held simply and securely in place.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_desc2-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_Box_desc2\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_desc2_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=206%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_Box_desc2\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The box also proudly displays international awards galore and it will get another richly deserved one or two today from ABT.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_awards-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_Box_awards\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_awards_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=209%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_Box_awards\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The cooler and its accessories are safely packaged in a two smaller boxes inside the shipping\/display box.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_open1-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_Box_open1\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_open1_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C203\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_Box_open1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And now everything is out of the box. There are \u201ccommon parts\u201d and also packages included specifically for both Intel and AMD CPUs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_open2-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_Box_open2\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_open2_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C185\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_Box_open2\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_open3-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_Box_open3\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_open3_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C185\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_Box_open3\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The instructions are excellent, well written, and easy to follow.\u00a0 We had no difficulty following them for installing the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler on either an Intel or AMD CPU platform.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_instru_intel-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"noc_instru_intel\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_instru_intel_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C208\" border=\"0\" alt=\"noc_instru_intel\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the next photo, you can see that the backplate on the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler fits over the backplate of our Core i7 Gigabyte X58 motherboard.\u00a0 There are specific and just as easy to follow procedures for Intel Penryn, Core i5 or even AMD motherboards.\u00a0 Noctua uses a very clever design that is totally user friendly.\u00a0 If you have a Cooler Master case similar to our Gladiator 600 (pictured), you do not even have to remove the motherboard as a hole is cut into the plate to allow easy access to the back.\u00a0 If not, you will have to remove your motherboard to install it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_i7x58_backplate-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"noc_i7x58_backplate\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_i7x58_backplate_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=165%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"noc_i7x58_backplate\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_over_backplate-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"noc_over_backplate\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_over_backplate_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"noc_over_backplate\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here is our Noctua CPU cooler out of the case and ready for installation:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_readyinst1-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"noc_readyinst1\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_readyinst1_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C155\" border=\"0\" alt=\"noc_readyinst1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This Noctua CPU cooler is beginning to look like quite a bargain for only $75.\u00a0 But is it quiet and effective?\u00a0 Let\u2019s look at the specifications.<br \/>\n<!--pagetitle: Packaging--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Specifications and Features<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler\u2019s specifications are printed right on the top of the box and are also listed below:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_desc3-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_Box_desc3\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_box_desc3_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=243%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_Box_desc3\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now for an easier to read chart:<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/specifications_table-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Specifications_Table\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/specifications_table_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=227%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Specifications_Table\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>These are truly outstanding specifications.\u00a0 How do they achieve the incredibly low noise?\u00a0 Well, take a good close look at one of the fans, the 140mm fan; they all share the same characteristics:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/fan_notches-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"fan_notches\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/fan_notches_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C234\" border=\"0\" alt=\"fan_notches\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Notice the notches in each fan blade.\u00a0 They are called \u201cVortex-Control\u201d notches and the trailing edge of each fan blade\u2019s vortices are split up into several smaller vortices with each one producing noise in different frequencies.\u00a0 In this manner, the noise produced by the spinning blades is spread over several frequencies thus making it much less perceptible and annoying to the ear.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the illustration on the box to explain and illustrate it:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/vortex_control-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Vortex_control\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/vortex_control_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C68\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Vortex_control\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Of course, the static pressure of each fan will be lowered somewhat by having the notches, but this is compensated for by having two fans in push-pull configuration which completely covers for any lack of pressure by a single fan.\u00a0 If you like quiet and cool, this is the air-cooling solution for your hottest Core i7 air overclock.<\/p>\n<p>To cool well, there has to be a great contact surface.\u00a0 In our last CPU cooler review, we pointed out the weaknesses of the machined surface of the Hyper 212 Plus that needed a lot of thermal paste to fill in the gaps.\u00a0 Well, take a close look at the mirrorlike surface of the Noctua\u2019s contact plate into which 4 heat pipes whisk the heat away from the CPU into the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2&#8217;s heatsink of densely packed cooling fins which allow the fan\u2019s forced air to pass through to cool them quickly.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/mirror-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"mirror\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/mirror_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C188\" border=\"0\" alt=\"mirror\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/fins-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"fins\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/fins_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C188\" border=\"0\" alt=\"fins\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Noctua recommends that you only use a dab of their supplied pro-grade thermal compound; specifically, a drop 4-5 mm in diameter in the center of the HS contact plate.\u00a0 They warn that applying too much compound will lower the thermal conductivity and adversely affect the cooling performance of your CPU cooler.<\/p>\n<p>We do not recommend polishing this cooler\u2019s base.\u00a0 It already has a mirror finish and it is completely true for a perfect fit to your CPU\u2019s contact plate. It looks like Noctua has a performance cool and quiet winner by the specifications and the \u201clook\u201d and feel of this precision built CPU cooler.\u00a0 Especially attractive are the very low noise levels, 12-20 dB(A). We like the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler so far, so let\u2019s install it.<br \/>\n<!--pagetitle: Specifications &#038; Features--><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><strong>A <\/strong><strong>Closer Look<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Luckily for us, our Gladiator 600 mid-tower case has an access port so one can change out any CPU or CPU cooler without having to remove the motherboard and we love this feature.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s prepare for installing the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_readyinst-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"noc_readyinst\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_readyinst_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=244%2C184\" border=\"0\" alt=\"noc_readyinst\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As you can see the backplate is installed easily and the bolts are ready to install the spacers on for the mounting bars.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_over_backplate1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"noc_over_backplate\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noc_over_backplate_thumb1.jpg?resize=244%2C241\" border=\"0\" alt=\"noc_over_backplate\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now to install the cooler onto the CPU cooler&#8217;s mounting bars and to tighten them down with the supplied thumbscrews.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_installed-jpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"Noctua_installed\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_installed_thumb-jpg.jpg?resize=220%2C244\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Noctua_installed\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As you can see, the cooler itself has only two screws to tighten down.\u00a0 They hold the Noctua cooler securely so it cannot move at all \u2013 unlike ThermalRight Ultra 120 and Hyper 212 Plus which will move slightly on the contact plate if you twist it.\u00a0 There are also two rubber strips on each side of the cooler that insulate it from the fan to reduce any vibration.<\/p>\n<p>This time we had no issues installing the fans onto the clips even with a lack of room in our mid-tower Gladiator 600 case.\u00a0 The clips are designed so well that it is relatively easy to install both fans.\u00a0 It is very similar to our ThermalRight Ultra120 which clips on easily also and quite unlike the nightmare we encountered with the clips for Hyper 212 Plus.<\/p>\n<p>In just a few minutes we easily clipped both fans to the heatsink.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctuainstalled1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px\" title=\"noctua-installed\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctuainstalled_thumb1.jpg?resize=244%2C213\" border=\"0\" alt=\"noctua-installed\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here it is with the side case panel on:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/sideflexfaninst.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14277 aligncenter\" title=\"SideFlexFanInst\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/sideflexfaninst.jpg?resize=198%2C301\" alt=\"SideFlexFanInst\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/sideflexfaninst.jpg?resize=198%2C301 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/sideflexfaninst-197x300.jpg 197w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>As you can see, the case side panel will not accommodate a fan inside your case although you could install it on the outside of your case (for a rather ghetto look).\u00a0 Here we are using the Noctua NF-P14 FLX 140mm fan as a quieter replacement for a Cooler Master 120mm case fan to direct more air toward cooling the GTX 280 plus 8800-GTX in PhysX pair of hot running video cards and also our hot Core i7 920 overclocked to 4.0 GHz .\u00a0 Four case fans are cooling our Gladiator 600 case.<br \/>\n<!--pagetitle: A Closer Look--><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><strong>Noise &amp; the Test<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Well, we have been living with the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 inside our case for five weeks and we love it for all of our needs including extreme CPU overclocking.\u00a0 It does not matter how hot your CPU gets, you will not hear your CPU cooler over your videocard fan, especially if you choose a GTX 280 or HD 4870-X2.<\/p>\n<p>The last time we ran a comparison, we got our Core i7 920 to 3.5 GHz on the stock Intel cooler.\u00a0 However, the temperatures were excessively high \u2013 well over 80C in games and thermal protection would throttle the CPU speed if we tried running Vantage or any synthetic test like Everest that stress the CPU.\u00a0 We would say that relatively safe temperatures can be achieved at 3.2 GHz with the stock Intel cooler.\u00a0 In contrast, we managed to get our Core i7 to 3.5 GHz with Hyper 212 Plus rather safely.\u00a0 Unfortunately, at 3.8 GHz we could run games but with either Vantage or Everest, we would throttle our Core i7 920 and once we saw 99C (which is shockingly high) with Hyper 212 &#8211; even with two 120mm fans in push-pull.<\/p>\n<p>So, the stock Intel cooler runs out of safety margin at about 3.2 GHz and the Hyper N212 quits after maybe 3.5 GHz.\u00a0 In contrast, our Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 cooler handled both of these speeds with temperatures maxing out in the low-60s Centigrade.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see how far we can safely push it.\u00a0 So we went for a much more extreme overclock on our Core i7, this time raising our voltage +.2V; somewhat dangerous to its chances of its having a long life but definitely raising the 920&#8217;s core temperatures for our tests.\u00a0 This time, we managed to remain stable all the way to 4.0 GHz.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take a look at our setup:<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Test and Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Test Configuration<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intel Core i7 920 at stock, 3.5 GHz, 3.8 GHz and at 4.0 GHz<\/li>\n<li>Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R (latest BIOS, PCIe 2.0 specification; CrossFire or SLI 16x + 16x).<\/li>\n<li>6 GB Kingston DDR3-PC18000 RAM (3\u00d72 GB in tri-channel; 2&#215;2 GB supplied by Kingston)<\/li>\n<li>GeForce GTX 280 (1GB, reference clocks) by BFGTech<\/li>\n<li>GeForce 8800 GTX (reference clocks) in PhysX configuration<\/li>\n<li>250 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 hard drive<\/li>\n<li>Silent Pro 600 watt power supply (supplied by Cooler Master)<\/li>\n<li>Intel stock CPU cooler<\/li>\n<li>Cooler Master Hyper N212 Plus Direct Touch Universal Cooler (supplied by Cooler\u00a0 Master)<\/li>\n<li>Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 Universal CPU cooler (supplied by Noctua)<\/li>\n<li>Noctua 140mm NF-P14 FLX fan used as a side-panel case fan (supplied by Noctua)<\/li>\n<li>Cooler Master 120mm fan used as a side-panel case fan<\/li>\n<li>Cooler Master 140mm fan used as a side-panel case fan<\/li>\n<li>Gladiator 600 mid-tower case (supplied by Cooler Master)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Test Configuration \u2013 Software<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong> <\/strong>NVIDIA WHQL GeForce Driver 195.62; high quality filtering and optimizations off<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Windows Vista 64-bit SP1; very latest updates<\/li>\n<li>DirectX August 2008.<\/li>\n<li>All games are patched to their latest versions.<\/li>\n<li>Highest quality sound (stereo) used in all games.<\/li>\n<li>Vista 64, all DX10 titles were run under DX10 render paths<\/li>\n<li>Everest Ultimate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>First, we used the stock Intel cooler and were able to only get about 3.2 GHz safely with synthetic tests under full load.\u00a0 We were able to manage 3.5 GHz in games but the thermals would rise dangerously to over 80C.\u00a0 So let\u2019s see what we got with Core i7 920 at 4.0 GHz and Vantage.\u00a0 In contrast, at (only) 3.8 GHz with our Hyper 212 Plus, we saw over 90 C; and that would be for games as it never could last more than a few seconds with Everest Ultimate&#8217;s stress test until the CPU throttled to avoid damage.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/results3dm.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14278 aligncenter\" title=\"Results3Dm\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/results3dm.jpg?resize=550%2C243\" alt=\"Results3Dm\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/results3dm.jpg?resize=550%2C243 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/results3dm-300x132.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Much better!\u00a0 Temperatures of our Core i7 920 at 4.0 GHz remain in the mid-70s C contrasted with Hyper 212 Plus temperatures in the low 90s C at 3.8 GHz.\u00a0 And this is pretty much as high as we noted actually playing demanding games.\u00a0 So let\u2019s give it a real stress test with Everest ultimate and load all the cores at once.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Temp_i7_4GHz1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14279 aligncenter\" title=\"Temp_i7_4GHz\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Temp_i7_4GHz1.jpg?resize=550%2C260\" alt=\"Temp_i7_4GHz\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Temp_i7_4GHz1.jpg?resize=550%2C260 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Temp_i7_4GHz1-300x141.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Finally at our i7 920\u2019s maximum overclock, 4.0 Ghz \u2013 a full 1300+ MHz overclock &#8211; fifty percent over its 2.66 GHz stock clock \u2013 we see maximum temperatures remaining in the lowest-80s.\u00a0 Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 Universal CPU cooler passes all tests with flying colors!\u00a0 We are talking nineteen (19!) degrees cooler with the Noctua at 4.0 GHz contrasted with Hyper 212 Plus failing at 3.8 GHz; a -200 MHz lower and much hotter overclock of our i7 920 than what we got with the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2.<\/p>\n<h3>Noctua 140 mm NF-P14 FLX fan<\/h3>\n<p>Now we take a close look at the Noctua NF-P14 FLX fan.\u00a0 This flexible fan&#8217;s design is round so that the fan enclosure holes are spaced to place it into the same normal 120mm fan space that a conventional square fan requires.\u00a0 Since it is 140mm, the blades can revolve more slowly than a 120mm fan and still move the same amount (or more) of air \u2013 but with less noise.\u00a0 And if you need to cool a PC home theater setup, this fan can be slowed into complete inaudibility.<\/p>\n<p>We got our Noctua NF-P14 FLX fan sent along with the Noctua cooler directly from the company headquartered in Vienna, Austria. This fan commands a premium price at NewEgg, $29.99.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608017&amp;Tpk=Noctua%20NF-P14%20FLX\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608017&amp;Tpk=Noctua%20NF-P14%20FLX', 'http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608017&amp;Tpk=Noctua%20NF-P14%20FLX']);\" >http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608017&amp;Tpk=Noctua%20NF-P14%20FLX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, by using a 140mm completely round design with the same hole-spacing as common 120mm fans and achieving a better airflow to noise ratio, the NF-P14 FLX is ideal for upgrading case fans.\u00a0 In some circumstances, it might fit 120mm CPU coolers with the supplied adapters, making for an excellent upgrade especially for home theater PCs where quiet cooling is essential.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/fan_notches.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14264 aligncenter\" title=\"fan_notches\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/fan_notches.jpg?resize=300%2C286\" alt=\"fan_notches\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/fan_notches.jpg?resize=300%2C286 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/fan_notches.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This Noctua NF-P14 FLX fan also carries some pretty impressive specifications.\u00a0 This chart is from Noctua&#8217;s web site:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/flex_specs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14258 aligncenter\" title=\"Flex_specs\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/flex_specs.jpg?resize=214%2C300\" alt=\"Flex_specs\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/flex_specs.jpg?resize=214%2C300 214w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/flex_specs.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Please note that this fan is warrantied for six (6) years!\u00a0 The bearings are SSO precision milled CNC brass parts and this diagram explaining their advantages are taken directly from Noctua&#8217;s web site and it also applies directly to the two 120mm fans in the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/metal_reinforce.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14256 aligncenter\" title=\"Metal_reinforce\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/metal_reinforce.jpg?resize=300%2C232\" alt=\"Metal_reinforce\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/metal_reinforce.jpg?resize=300%2C232 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/metal_reinforce.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>Noctua&#8217;s 140mm FLX fan comes packed with everything you need but a screwdriver; note the two step down adapters which will slow the fan into inaudibility:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_access2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14257 aligncenter\" title=\"Noctua_FLX_access2\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_access2.jpg?resize=284%2C300\" alt=\"Noctua_FLX_access2\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_access2.jpg?resize=284%2C300 284w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_access2.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 284px) 100vw, 284px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here is how it comes packaged:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14260 aligncenter\" title=\"Noctua_FLX_box\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box.jpg?resize=236%2C300\" alt=\"Noctua_FLX_box\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box.jpg?resize=236%2C300 236w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The cover opens to describe Noctua&#8217;s FLX fan:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box_flap.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14262 aligncenter\" title=\"Noctua_FLX_box_Flap\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box_flap.jpg?resize=300%2C203\" alt=\"Noctua_FLX_box_Flap\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box_flap.jpg?resize=300%2C203 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box_flap.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The back has this:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box_back.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14263 aligncenter\" title=\"Noctua_FLX_box_Back\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box_back.jpg?resize=231%2C300\" alt=\"Noctua_FLX_box_Back\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box_back.jpg?resize=231%2C300 231w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/noctua_flx_box_back.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We see excellent specifications and a well thought-out packaging and instructions on the box and at Noctua&#8217;s website.\u00a0 Let&#8217;s compare Noctua&#8217;s 140mm FLX fan to the Cooler Master 120mm fan that it replaces as a side panel case fan directly bringing in cool air right on top of our hot and cramped pair of video cards and overclocked Core i7 920.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/140vs120.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14280 aligncenter\" title=\"140vs120\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/140vs120.jpg?resize=440%2C215\" alt=\"140vs120\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/140vs120.jpg?resize=440%2C215 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/140vs120-300x146.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Again, we have no db meter that can measure 12 to 20 dbA.\u00a0 So, we must rely on our fairly trained ears to detect differences.\u00a0 Since there is no way to hear these rather silent fans with a running video card such as GTX 280 or HD 4870-X2 along with\u00a0 four other case fans, we took them out of the case entirely and ran them from a silent 12V DC source.<\/p>\n<p>Note the fans spinning side by side.\u00a0 The Noctua was quieter than either the 120mm or 140mm Cooler Master case fan.\u00a0 But what about its ability to move air and thus cool effectively?\u00a0 Well, we designed our own completely unscientific visual test to compare the quieter 140mm Noctua against a 140mm Cooler Master fan.\u00a0 Both fans are actually set up in the side panel of our (out-of-the-case) Gladiator 600 to demonstrate the airflow and relative air pressure of the two fans using colored ribbons.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/high.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-14281 aligncenter\" title=\"High\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/high.jpg?resize=164%2C368\" alt=\"High\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/high.jpg?resize=164%2C368 457w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/high.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 164px) 100vw, 164px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At maximum RPMs, we can see the Noctua&#8217;s 140mm notched fan moving at least as much air as the Cooler Master&#8217;s 140mm fan and it is quieter to boot!\u00a0 Plus we have two more steps down to lower the Noctua fan&#8217;s RPMs into inaudibility.\u00a0 The low-noise black adapter (L.N.A.) lowers the RPMs from 1,200 down to 900 and the noise from 19.6 db(A) to 13.2 db(A).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/medium.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-14282 aligncenter\" title=\"Medium\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/medium.jpg?resize=167%2C368\" alt=\"Medium\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/medium.jpg?resize=167%2C368 463w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/medium.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 167px) 100vw, 167px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>The blue ultra-low noise adapter (U.L.N.A.) further lowers the RPMs down to 750 for 10.1 db(A).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/slow.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-14283 aligncenter\" title=\"Slow\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/slow.jpg?resize=158%2C368\" alt=\"Slow\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/slow.jpg?resize=158%2C368 440w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/slow.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 158px) 100vw, 158px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now with the 140mm Noctua Flex fan installed in the side panel and cooling our Core i7 and both hot running Geforce GTXes running in PhysX, we could measure no consistent differences in either the case, CPU or GPU temperatures using either the louder Cooler Master 120mm fan or with the much quieter 140mm Noctua FLX fan.\u00a0 Of course, we already had excellent airflow in our Gladiator 600 with 4 strategically placed large case fans so this upgrade would be for quietness.<\/p>\n<p>We also like the Noctua FLX&#8217; ability to easily slow the fan down further with the supplied adapters into inaudibility for PC home theater setups. As you can see, the airflow is still quite good and it would be very worthwhile to have Noctua case and CPU fans in your PC when quietness is required.<\/p>\n<p>We note that the ambient temperatures were slightly warm and consistent at 73-75 F during all of our testing. We see Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 doing an excellent job of cooling.\u00a0 The Noctua 140mm FLX fan helps keep case temperatures down by quietly cooling from the side panel, or anywhere you choose to place it.\u00a0 We really like Noctua&#8217;s $30 140mm FLX fan and especially their  $75 NH-U12P SE2 CPU universal cooler.<br \/>\n<!--pagetitle: Noise &#038; the Test--><\/p>\n<h2><!--nextpage--><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to cooling your overclocked hot Core i7 or Core i5 efficiently and quietly, Noctua is the company to turn to.\u00a0 Just as we saw the Hyper 212 Plus quietly eclipse the stock cooler, the Noctua NH-U12P SE2 silently passes the budget cooler in every way.\u00a0 The only comparison that comes to mind is between Mercedes and Toyota.\u00a0 Toyota is a fine and well-built automobile but not in the same class as the more expensive German prestige automobile.\u00a0 The adage, \u201cyou get what you pay for\u201d also comes to mind.\u00a0 If you have a Core i7 or i5 that you really want to push to its maximum overclock by safely using air-cooling, Noctua may be for you.\u00a0 And if you want a near-silent overclock, then you need look no further than the Noctua NH-U12P SE 2.\u00a0 It comes highly recommended by this reviewer!<\/p>\n<p>Noctua&#8217;s 140mm NF-P14 FLX fan is unique in that it fits where only formerly 120mm fans could fit before.\u00a0 For your money, you get a super fan that will fit into almost any home theater PC and delight the audiophile with its ability to use either of its adapters to slow the RPMs into inaudibility while still maintaining good air flow.<\/p>\n<h3>Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Pros: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noctua NH-U12P SE 2 is relatively inexpensive and a great *quiet* cooling solution for overclocking Core i7 or i5.<\/li>\n<li>Two adjustable and quiet vortex-control 120mm fans provide superb silent cooling with two additional incremental step downs in speed, lowering noise (and cooling ability).<\/li>\n<li>Everything is included for installation with the NH-U12P SE 2 including thermal compound and a screwdriver.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>None<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Noctua 140mm NF-P14 FLX fan<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Pros: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noctua 140mm NF-P14 FLX fan is a great *quiet* cooling solution for a case or CPU cooling fan.<\/li>\n<li>A single quiet vortex-control 140mm fan provide superb silent cooling with two additional adapters providing incremental step downs in speed, lowering noise (and cooling ability).<\/li>\n<li>Everything is included for installation \u2013 just have a Philips screwdriver handy.<\/li>\n<li>This 140mm fan is designed to replace 120mm fans by its unique round design and supplied adapters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Static pressure is slightly reduced (as is noise) by the vortex control notches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There you have it.\u00a0 Noctua\u2019s NH-U12P SE 2 CPU cooler is an excellent all-in-one quiet cooler for a inexpensive price considering its extraordinary build and all inclusive package.\u00a0 It is well-deserving of our \u201cEditor\u2019s Choice\u201d award.\u00a0 Recommended. We are so happy with it that we are also awarding it the &#8220;Great Value&#8221; award also.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/ec_gv.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14294\" title=\"EC_GV\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/ec_gv.jpg?resize=337%2C261\" alt=\"EC_GV\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/ec_gv.jpg?resize=337%2C261 374w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/ec_gv-300x232.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 337px) 100vw, 337px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Noctua\u2019s 140mm NF-P14 FLX fan is a silent 140mm fan that fits where only 120mm fans could fit before.\u00a0 It is well deserving of our Editor\u2019s Choice award.\u00a0 Recommended especially for home theater PCs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/editors-choice.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14291\" title=\"Editor's-Choice\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/editors-choice.jpg?resize=150%2C251\" alt=\"Editor's-Choice\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Our next article will be part two of our &#8220;value meets performance\u201d series with an expanded continuation of <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=13034\">Phenom II versus Penryn versus Core i7<\/a>.\u00a0 This coming part two is much expanded over part one as we will be testing Phenom II\u2019s 550 X2, 720 X3 and 955 X4 against Q9550S and Core i7 920 with HD 4870-X2 and HD 4870-X3 TriFire.\u00a0 We ran well over 5,000 individual benchmark runs over the course of a month to bring it to you and it will be published next weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Happy New Year!<\/p>\n<p>Mark Poppin<\/p>\n<p>ABT Senior Editor<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Please join us in our <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/abt\/index.php\">Forums<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Become a Fan on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142', 'Facebook']);\" >Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Follow us on <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech', 'Twitter']);\" >Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For the latest updates from ABT, please <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?feed=rss2\">join our RSS News Feed<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Join our Distributed Computing teams<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Folding@Home \u2013 Team AlienBabelTech \u2013 164304<\/li>\n<li>SETI@Home \u2013 Team AlienBabelTech \u2013 138705<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1', 'World Community Grid \u2013 Team AlienBabelTech']);\" >World Community Grid \u2013 Team AlienBabelTech<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><!--pagetitle: Conclusion--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=14237\"><img decoding=\"async\" align=top title=\"Author: Mark Poppin\" src=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Noctua-Review.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":14303,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2533,7814,7],"tags":[144,189,2941,2939,2940,2560,2938,2942],"class_list":["post-14237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abt-news","category-articles","category-technology","tag-core-i7","tag-cpu-cooler","tag-nf-p14-flx","tag-nf-p14-flx-140mm","tag-nh-u12p-se-2","tag-noctua","tag-noctua-nh-u12p-special-edition-2","tag-noctua-nt-h1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14237"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14237\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}