Best CPU Cooler Q2 2008 Conclusion

When you test this many coolers, the work becomes repetitive and boring. I wouldn't challenge my worst enemy to this kind of misery, because for nearly one full month I would wake up very early in the morning and begin testing as soon as the ambient room temperature was within range. The entire process is not at all enjoyable, since I had to maintain a strict regimen of re-installing the cooler before each test with a new application of thermal paste and make sure each test was uniform to the last. Testing CPU coolers is a very long, very tedious job, but once the data has been transferred into a spreadsheet and formulas are applied the results make it all worth it. I can promise you this: my money wasn't on a Noctua product.

It's not that I don't think Noctua makes a great product, because I have always been impressed with the quality and finish of their hardware. But lets face it: Noctua as a brand just doesn't scream performance. Perhaps what they need is a powerful dose of high-output cooling to make them see how much better their products can be if they sacrifice silence for a little fan noise. Personally, I use their NF-P12 fan on my HDT-S1283 to cool my primary system, but many of you would think my E8400 overclocked to 3.6 GHz is child's play. Fan noise, or just noise in general, is a relative subject with opinions on acceptability ranging from silence to deafening.

At the end of our testing for the Best CPU Cooler - Q1 2008 article the OCZ Vendetta 2 claimed a top position in our results. Then again in our follow-up article Vendetta 2 vs TRUE vs HDT-S1283 it has cemented its previous performance legitimacy. But all good things must come to an end, and for this Q2 2008 roundup the OCZTVEND2 will have to be happy with second best for this round. At the end of the year (2008) we will take the top coolers aside for a three-level performance test, and you can expect to see the OCZ Vendetta 2 ready to defend it's title (or earn the Editors Choice Award).

With the results of this round-up now complete, Noctua has proven that their "psycho-acoustically optimized NF-P12 120mm fan" is good for low noise levels but not low temperatures. The Noctua NH-U12P didn't stand a chance as a final top-competitor in it's stock retail form, but once we added the Yate Loon D12SH-12 high-output fan the story changed. Our mixed results don't make it an easy to issue a general recommendation, since the NH-U12P was nearly 4°C off from the top performers in the vertical orientation stock product testing (but only about 1°C from the top in horizontal orientation).

So here's my suggestion: if you're looking for a high-performance cooler that operates at a whisper level for your HTPC, the Noctua NH-U12P is an excellent fit. If you're after a good performer right out of the box for your tower system, then the OCZ Vendetta 2 is still my top choice with the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 right behind it. However when it comes to the best (or rather the best with a Yate Loon D12SH-12 high-output fan), the Noctua NH-U12P certainly fits the build. It's going to be difficult to locate in North America, which is why OCZ's Vendetta 2 makes for an excellent second-choice. Likewise pricing may be an issue, as the NH-U12P is usually found only at a few online retailers with an average cost of $64.99 whereas NewEgg lists the OCZTVEND2 for $49.99. Noctua includes its own backbrace bolt-through system, but the Xigmatek CrossBow kit ACK-I7751 we used to replace the LGA 775 push-pin clip retaining system on the Vendetta 2 will cost an extra $6.99 plus shipping.

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