Testing
The following system was used to test the cooler:
– Processor: Intel i7 13700K @ 5.4GHz
– Motherboard: Biostar Z790 Valkyrie
– RAM: Neo Forza MDK5 DDR5 96GB 6000MHz
– Graphics Card: MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X
– SSD: NeoForza NFP075 2TB
– HDD: N/A
– PSU: Seasonic Prime TX-1000
– CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240
– Case: be quiet! Silent Base 802 White
– OS: Windows 10 64-Bit (After April Update)
Software used for testing the cooler:
– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 7.60.7300
– Intel Burn Test v2.54
– Prime95 29.1
The cooler was tested with the CPU at the default turbo frequency of 5.40 GHz.
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 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.
CPU Temperature
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.
Final thoughts
The Noctua NH-L9x65 chromax.black is a good performing CPU cooler if you use a bit of common sense when you choose your CPU. The reality is that we cannot expect these small coolers to perform well with massive CPUs, and limiting an i7 13th gen CPU to 90W of power is defeating the purpose of having such CPUs in the first place, but for our test and review, it makes sense.
The NH-L9x65 chromax.black is a good upgrade in terms of looks over the regular variant, now, the question will remain as always, if the 10 USD price bump just for the color change is justified, and that only you can answer.
In terms of the build quality, this is a fine CPU cooler and it’s on the same level as the high end Noctua CPU coolers, right down to the accessories and the packaging. For all intents and purposes, this is as premium CPU cooler and the price tag reflects that.
The biggest advantage of this CPU cooler is the small foot print it has and that will make it ideal for small form factor systems and especially mini-ITX motherboards.
Thanks to a refined mounting system, the installation procedure cannot be made simpler. Everything is simple to install and each component is properly labeled to make the entire process seamless and easy to understand.
In terms of the noise output, the NH-L9x65 chromax.black reached a maximum sound output of 36 decibels, which is impressive to say the least. I’m saying this because while the included fan is small, at just 92mm, it does spin at over 2200 RPM.
In conclusion, the Noctua NH-L9x65 chromax.black is a great small form factor CPU cooler that will handle a good heat output. However, due to its size and small fan, the cooling capacity of this cooler has its limits and you should take that into consideration.
The build quality is top notch from everything starting with the accessories, the mounting system and the CPU cooler itself. There is nothing to complain in this regard as you do get what you pay for.
