Posted on Tuesday, March 16 2021 @ 14:55 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
We already
knew it was coming so today's NH-U12S redux announcement from Noctua is not a big surprise.
Noctua shaves costs with the NH-U12S redux
The redux line from Noctua shaves down products to the essentials to give consumers cheaper versions of Noctua technology. The popular NH-U12S cooler is the first Noctua heatsink to get a redux version. Noctua offers the new variant for $49.99 (49.99EUR) -- that's $20 below the current retail price of the regular NH-U12S.
How is the Noctua NH-U12S redux diferent versus the Noctua NH-U12S?
At first glance, the Noctua NH-U12S redux looks like a different-color version of the regular NH-U12S but there are several technical differences. The redux edition is $20 cheaper and there are good reasons for this.
Cheaper heatsink construction
According to Noctua's specifications, both heatsinks measure 158mm x 125mm x 45mm (H x W x D) and weigh 755g. I'm a bit puzzled by the fact that both heatsinks supposedly weigh exactly the same, as the NH-U12S redux has just four heatpipes whereas the NH-U12S uses five heatpipes. Other than this, another key difference is that the NH-U12S redux doesn't have soldered joints of the heatpipes and cooling fins.
Cheaper fan
The regular NH-U12S comes with the Noctua NF-F12 PWM fan, a SSO2 bearing model with a maximum airflow of 93.4m³/h and a noise level of up to 22.4dBA. The NH-U12S redux uses the cheaper NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM, this fan uses the older SSO bearing and pushes out up to 120.2m³/h of airflow with a maximum noise level of 25.1dBA.
Less extras
The accessories vary too. The NH-U12S redux comes with pre-applied NT-H1 thermal compound -- whereas the NH-U12S ships with a NT-H1 tube that has enough paste for about five applications. Lastly, the NH-U12S redux does not include the Low-Noise Adaptor nor does the package contain clips for a second fan.
Press release from Noctua
Noctua today presented the NH-U12S redux, the first CPU cooler within its redux line of products. True to the spirit of the redux line, the NH-U12S redux takes the proven concept of the original, award-winning NH-U12S and reduces it to its essential core: a quiet, quality-made 120mm cooler with streamlined accessories that is highly compatible, easy to install and accessibly priced. With the NA-FK1 second fan kit, the NH-U12S redux can be upgraded to a push/pull dual-fan configuration for further improved performance.
“Our redux line fans have earned an excellent reputation for providing trusted Noctua quality without breaking the bank”, says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). “Today, we’re proud to present our first redux line CPU cooler, which does exactly the same thing. We’re confident that the NH-U12S redux will be a perfect choice for anybody who has always wanted a Noctua heatsink but couldn’t quite justify the investment.”
The NH-U12S redux is a streamlined, accessibly priced version of the iconic NH-U12S that has established itself as a benchmark for slim, highly compatible 120mm CPU coolers. The redux version uses the same proven heatsink layout that guarantees 100% compatibility with tall RAM modules as well as excellent case and PCIe compatibility. Thanks to the popular NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM fan that supports automatic speed control through the motherboard, it provides high performance under load and runs whisper-quiet at idle. At the same time, Noctua’s renowned, professional SecuFirm2™ mounting system and the pre-applied NT-H1 thermal compound make installation a breeze. Backed up with Noctua’s trusted 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, the NH-U12S redux is a smart, affordable choice for a quiet, high-quality 120mm cooler.
Just like with Noctua’s more expensive coolers, future mounting upgrade kits for the NH-U12S redux will be provided free of charge if technically possible, making it a safe long-term investment. Noctua
Extra cooling with the NA-FK1
Users who want better cooling for the NH-U12S redux can purchase Noctua's NA-FK1. This is a 120mm fan kit that is sold for $16.90 (16.90EUR). The kit includes fan clips, low-noise adaptors, and anti-vibration pads.
Users who would like to further improve the cooling efficiency of the NH-U12S redux can do so with the newly introduced, optional NA-FK1 kit that contains a second NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM fan, fan clips, anti-vibration pads, a y-cable and Low-Noise Adaptors. By upgrading the cooler to a push/pull-style dual-fan setup, the NA-FK1 makes it possible to achieve even better performance or to reduce noise levels by having two fans running at lower speeds.
