Noctua NH-U12S redux – Affordable version of the popular cooler

Key features

Noctua NH-U12S redux was recently introduced as a more affordable alternative to the premium NH-U12S variants,especially the NH-U12S Chromax. The body of the cooler is slightly redesigned compared to the original version, and we can also find a NF-P12 redux fan here. Redux products are known for a budget-friendlier design, which is reflected in the lower price of this cooler. Let’s find out whether the savings were made in the wrong places.

Conclusion and summary

Noctua coolers are not generally known as affordable, on the contrary, they are always premium coolers with a higher price tag. The NH-U12S redux is thus the first Noctua cooler to try to offer a more affordable price tag without trade-offs in quality. Not much was saved on the build quality, which is of course good. The savings relate mainly to the accessories and partially also to the fan. Fortunately, the cooling efficiency remains very solid, albeit at the cost of slightly higher noise. Add a 6-year warranty and you’re all set.

This cooler can indeed be described as cheaper in Noctua’s offer, but not cheap in general. With a price tag of € 50 it faces very tough competition from other coolers, which are also available at lower prices. In addition, the expansion kit for a second fan costs additional € 17 and does not offer a noticeable improvement in the performance of the cooler.

I’m also a little disappointed because of the absence of a tube of thermal paste in the accessories, which I harshly criticized in premium AIO coolers. Here I can be a little more tolerant due to the price tag. Apart from the relatively higher price and the absence of paste in the package, however, the Noctua NH-U12S redux cannot be blamed for any major drawback, so it deserves the “Approved” award.

• Contents
• Key features
• Test methodology
• Results – maximum rpm
• Results – medium rpm
• Results – low rpm
• Conclusion and summary