Noctua NH-U9B SE2
| Noctua NH-U9B SE2 specification | |
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| Socket compatibility | Intel LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA775, LGA2011 on request, Asus X-socket AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1 |
| Height (without fan) | 125 mm |
| Width (without fan) | 95 mm |
| Depth (without fan) | 71 mm |
| Height (with fan) | 125 mm |
| Width (with fan) | 95 mm |
| Depth (with fan, *with 2 fans) | 95/120* mm |
| Weight (without fan) | 460 g |
| Weight (with fan, *with 2 fans) | 550/640* g |
| Material | Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating |
| Fan compatibility | 2x 92x92x25mm |
| Scope of Delivery | |
| Warranty | 6 Years |
| Fan specifications | |
| Model | Noctua NF-B9 |
| Bearing | SSO-Bearing |
| 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) |
| Input Power | 1,32 W |
| Voltage Range | 12 V |
| MTBF | > 150.000 h |
| Product Page | http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=32&lng=en |
As far as CPU cooler manufacturers are concerned, Noctua is among the most distinguished. The Austrian manufacturer has a reputation for producing quality cooling solutions that are backed by a strong six-year warranty and first-rate customer service, so, naturally, we're expecting a lot from the NH-U9B SE2.
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A price tag of around £38 makes the NH-U9B SE2 one of Noctua's cheapest CPU coolers available, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the product. In keeping with most other Noctua solutions, this one is packaged in a box full of detail (and awards) and the bundle is typically more comprehensive than many competitors'.
In addition to the two NF-B9 92mm, three-pin fans (both of which come equipped with nice long cables), Noctua includes Intel and AMD instruction manuals presented in a tidy booklet, mounting kits for a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets, a Y-type adapter for connecting both fans to the same motherboard header, two pairs of Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise voltage regulators for controlling fan speed and noise, and a decent-sized tube of Noctua's award-winning NT-H1 thermal compound.
A six-year warranty is also included as standard, and though Intel's socket LGA 2011 isn't supported out of the box, Noctua will supply a mounting kit free of charge to any customers that need one.
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The NH-U9B SE2 bundle is exemplary, and the heatsink oozes quality too. The serrated aluminium fins look impressive and are said to reduce turbulence, the Noctua logo is neatly engraved into the top of the heatsink, and the four nickel-plated copper heatpipes attach to a silky-smooth contact plate.
What's interesting is that the NH-U9B SE2 is also one of the smaller coolers in our round-up. It measures just 125mm x 95mm x 120mm in size with both fans attached, and weighs only 640g. The relatively-small footprint makes it compatible with a wider range of chassis, and it may even fit certain HTPC environments.
This is a tidy package, and installation is a breeze with Noctua's SecuFirm2 mounting system. On an Intel Socket LGA 1155, it entails attaching a backplate to the rear of the motherboard and then fixing a pair of mounting brackets using four sets of screws and bolts. The heatsink then screws into the mounting brackets, following which the fans can be attached using the bundled clips.
Installation feels precise and well engineered, and Noctua even includes a long screwdriver in the box. But this cooler isn't perfect, either. Using both fans obstructed the first DDR3 memory slot on our Gigabyte motherboard, and the cooler's overall aesthetics are let down by Noctua's totally uncool beige-and-brown fans.
Presentation |
Installation |
Aesthetics |
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