Testing
The following system was used to test the cooler:
– Processor: Intel i9 9900K @ 5GHz
– Motherboard: ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X
– RAM: Ballistix Tactical Tracer 16GB DDR4 @ 2666MHz
– GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio
– SSD: Crucial MX500
– HDD: WD 1 TB Blue
– PSU: Seasonic Snow Silent 750W Platinum
– Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe White
– Thermal compound: Noctua NT-H2
Software used for testing the cooler:
– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 6.25.5400
– Intel Burn Test v2.54
– Prime95 29.1
The cooler was tested with the CPU at the default turbo frequency of 4.9 GHz and overclocked to 5 GHz with a core voltage of 1.261 V.
Also, the included fans have been used at their maximum speed.
The room temperature was approximately 26°C (78°F), with 2°C margin of error.
The idle test consists of the CPU sitting idle at the desktop for 30 minutes, the temperature was measured at the end of the test.
The settings of the software used are the following:
Intel Burn Test v2.54 – Stress level: Maximum
Prime95 29.1- small FFT
AIDA64 Extreme Version – FPU Benchmark & Temperature monitoring.
Each test was conducted for 40 minutes.
Idle
Full Load – IntelBurnTestV2
Full Load – AIDA64 CPU, FPU & Cache
The noise level was measured at three different distances from the fans (10cm, 20cm, 30cm.) the noise was measured with a margin of error of ± 2 db.
The NH-L12 Ghost S1 while it is a small form factor CPU cooler, it cover the first RAM slot of the motherboard. In addition, a RAM kit with an average height will fit with ease under the heatsink.
Final thoughts
The Noctua NH-L12 Ghost S1 Edition is available for a price of around 55 USD or EUR. The cooler has a design based on the original NH-L12; however, it has been modified to work with small enclosures such as the Louqe Ghost S1.
The build quality is great, almost on the same level as coolers such as the Noctua NH-D15. The aluminum cooling fins are straight and solid, with smooth edges and a uniform surface.
The performance of the NH-L12 Ghost S1 is good when we take into consideration the size of the heatsink and the used fan. Noctua recommends using this cooler with low TDP CPUs only, as the cooling surface is not sufficient for high TDP. All this being said, the NH-L12 Ghost S1 was able to handle an i9 9900K CPU running at its factory frequency. An accomplishment which showcases the potential of the cooler.
The installation process is simple, the SecuFirm2 mounting system is being used in most modern Noctua coolers, and thus has been refined in time to become one of the best around.
In conclusion, the Noctua NH-L12 Ghost S1 Edition is a good choice for a small form factor system, especially one that uses the Louqe Ghost S1 enclosure. The build quality is very good and the clearance is great, even when the cooler is used with an ATX motherboard.
