Noctua NL-LC1 360mm and 420mm CPU liquid cooler Review
Conclusion
Noctua has proven that innovation isn’t dead within the All-in-One Liquid Cooling space
Noctua’s NL-LC1 series liquid coolers have proven themselves to be strong performers. Both the 360mm and 420mm units we tested delivered strong results, with the 420mm model leading the pack in our tests. Noctua has managed to deliver these strong results while also offering something more valuable: silence. These coolers excel at low fan RPMs, and Noctua’s pump-top design has practically eliminated pump noise (when using its default quiet profile). If you want a silent CPU liquid cooler, Noctua has built it.
In our office, we couldn’t hear any meaningful pump noise. We maxed out the coolers’ pump speeds in quiet mode and switched off their fans. Even then, we couldn’t hear any pump noise. Noctua has done a great job eliminating pump noise as a problem. Other liquid cooler manufacturers should take note. That said, toggle Noctua’s pump switch to unlock faster “Balanced” and “Manual” profiles, enabling higher pump speeds for those who can tolerate higher noise levels.
While other manufacturers have focused on adding LCD screens or RGB lighting to their CPU cooling solutions, Noctua has focused on cooling performance and noise levels. Noctua has excelled in these areas. If you aren’t a fan of lighting gimmicks and value silence, Noctua’s NL-LC1 series coolers should be your first port of call. Noctua focused on the fundamentals, and the results are impressive.
The NH-D15 G2 delivered the best performance of any air-based CPU cooler on our charts. The NL-LC1 coolers we tested both outperformed Noctua’s NH-D15 G2 by a large margin, especially the 420mm model. While Noctua’s liquid coolers are much more expensive, they have a clear reason to exist. Noctua’s NL-LC1 series is Noctua’s new CPU cooling flagship range.
Size matters
For some manufacturers, moving from a 360mm liquid cooler to a 420mm model doesn’t have a huge impact on cooling. That isn’t true of Noctua’s designs. With highly optimised 140mm fans and a strong pump design, Noctua’s 420mm cooler design clearly outperforms Noctua’s 360mm model. If your PC has space for a 420mm liquid cooler, you should invest in the 420mm model. Yes, it costs more, but that investment clearly improves performance.
For cooler recommendations within Noctua’s NL-LC1 range, I recommend the largest model that fits in your PC case. Each size change will affect cooling performance. As for the NL-ACF1 Auxiliary cooling fan, it is an add-on that isn’t strictly necessary, but it should improve motherboard VRM and DRAM thermals. Nearby M.2 slots should also benefit from the added airflow. While these components aren’t designed with this extra airflow in mind, it should still help lower component temperatures. That said, if you don’t like the aesthetic that this extra fan provides, not using it is an equally valid option.
Silence matters
As someone who has reviewed dozens of CPU coolers, I’ve found pump whine to be a common issue. Yes, most designs let users turn down their unit’s pump RPMs to reduce this noise; that change will impact cooling performance. Noctua’s sound-dampening design has made pump noise a non-issue with its NL-LC1 series liquid coolers. We have no problems running these AIOs with maxed-out pump speeds. This enables maximised cooling performance without irritating background noise when using its default (quiet) pump profile.
Noctua has also decided to ship their coolers with fans that max out at relatively low speeds. 1650 RPM for their 120mm fans and 1500 RPM for their 140mm fans. This prevents Noctua’s coolers from getting too loud under load. Despite this, Noctua’s designs still delivered strong results in our “Max RPM” performance charts. In a world where CPU coolers with 3000 RPM fans exist, Noctua’s decision to keep their coolers quiet is remarkable. Yes, Noctua offers higher pump-speed modes for those who need boosted performance, but they come with a noise trade-off. To us, Noctua made the right choice by making quiet mode the default.
Another point to note: Noctua’s AIOs use an ABA (Sx2-PP) fan system, with each fan slightly offset in RPM (around 50 RPM) from its neighbour. This design feature eliminates harmonic humming and interference, further reducing noise. To our knowledge, no other brand does this. That’s real dedication to silence.
Top-tier cooling doesn’t need to be loud
With their strong cooling performance and dedication to quiet computing, Noctua’s NL-LC1-36 and NL-LC1-42 deserve OC3D Performance and Silence Awards. The NL-LC1-42 deserves extra credit for being the strongest low-RPM liquid cooler on our charts. Noctua has proven its design prowess extends beyond fans, and that it offers customers more than an AIO with Noctua fans. The NL-LC1 series offers more than that, and other brands should take note.
With their NL-LC1 name, I hope that we can look forward to NL-LC2 and NL-LC3 liquid coolers in the future. Noctua has left us impressed, and I look forward to seeing what they make next.
Pricing
In the UK, Noctua’s NL-LC1 series coolers are available now from Amazon at the following prices;
- NL-LC1-24 (240mm) – £190.95
- NL-LC1-36 (360mm) – £216.95
- NL-LC1-42 (420mm) – £242.95
- Noctua NL-ACF1 Auxiliary Cooling fan – £17.95
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