Noctua NH-U14S Review

 

Up Close:  Packaging and contents

The  NH-U14S comes in an simple yet elegant box with plenty of information provided with regards to it’s key features and compatibility  

      

 

Inside we find that Noctua have interlinked the clearly labelled and diagrammed accessory boxes.  Lifting away this first tier we find the cooler itself with the fan already attached nestled in its own protective cardboard casing.

         

 

The accessory boxes are delight in themselves, with the relevant AMD and Intel mounting systems being kept separate.  It’s rare for a manufacturer to include quite so much kit with their coolers but with Noctua it appears no expense has been spared, whether it be the decent sized syringe of NT-H1, an additional set of thicker sound isolation stand-offs for a second fan or a set of additional fan clips, case badge.  Heck, they even give you a screwdriver!  The instructions provided are again separated with the relevant AMD or Intel sheets being in the corresponding box, so no wading through vast sheets staring at tiny diagrams and trying to work out which bits you need for what.  Top marks to Noctua.

    

 

As the review sample was supplied with an additional fan we’re also going to be taking a quick look at it, and rest assured we’ll be testing in single and dual fan configurations.  Unlike the 1500 RPM NF-A15 that comes in the box with the cooler the additional fan is slower 1200 RPM unit.  Noctua recommend using this at the rear as an extract, with the thicker rubber stand-offs and slower rotation best optomising the airflow through the cooler.  While on the subject of fans we have to say that in an age where we’re all keen to colour coordinate our builds we’re a little perplexed as to why Noctua persist with the prosthetic limb beige and brown colour scheme.  Yes we get it that it’s their “Signature” colour, but unless you’re planning a build with a sand and suede theme you’re going to be hard pushed to get them to blend in.