Noctua Announces First Cooler in Redux Series, NH-U12S Redux
by Gavin Bonshor on March 17, 2021 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Noctua
- CPU cooler
- Air Cooling
- 120mm
- NH-U12S
- Redux
One of the most popular air cooling brands, Noctua, has announced the first CPU cooler in its highly anticipated Redux series, the NH-U12S Redux. The Redux series is designed to offer a streamlined and more affordable entry point to some of Noctua's most popular (and sometimes expensive) CPU coolers. Noctua also launches its NA-FK1 Redux second cooling fan kit as an optional extra.
Focusing on the new NH-U12S Redux, Noctua has 'streamlined' its previous NH-U12S cooler by opting for a four heat pipe design instead of five on the previous version. Another difference is that Noctua has opted out of a soldered interface between the heat pipes and the cooling fins and supplies just one NF-P12 Redux 120 mm cooling fan to reduce overall costs.
Noctua also has one of the simplest and most popular mounting kits in recent times, with its SecuFirm2 mounting system, with support for LGA11xx, LGA15xx, LGA20xx, as well as Intel's latest LGA1200 socket. The SecuFirm2 mounting kit also supports AMD's AM4 socket. The new Redux series has also stripped away some of the unnecessary fluff to allow a lower entry-point for users on a budget but still looking for similar quality and performance levels.
In addition to the NH-U12S Redux, Noctua has made an optional 120 mm fan kit for systems that demand more cooling performance, the NA-FK1 Redux. The NA-FK1 kit includes one matching NF-P12 Redux 1700 rpm cooling fan, with four grey anti-vibration pads, a pair of fan mounting clips, a 4-pin PWM Y-cable, and two NA-RC14 low-noise adaptors. Where the original NH-U12S comes supplied with both cooling fans, the Redux series gives users the option to purchase this separately, which lowers the cooler's overall cost.
To increase its products' longevity, Noctua includes its NH-U12S Redux in its future mounting upgrade scheme, which allows users to request a new mounting kit if a new socket is announced cooler can officially support. Noctua is a little vague in specifying if this service is free of charge and states that as long as it's technically possible for them to do so, it could make the NH-U12S Redux a good long-term investment for a current build and future upgrade paths.
Noctua also includes a 6-year limited warranty with the NH-U12S Redux and has set an MSRP of $50 and €50, with stock available at its official Amazon store from today. The additional NA-FK1 Redux 120 mm fan kit is also available today and has an MSRP of $17/€17.
Source: Noctua
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
29 Comments
View All Comments
fcth - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
Is there really a market for lowered end air coolers? Seems like with every performance degradation you get closer to just using the cooler bundled with the processor.Operandi - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
This is not a low end heatsink, its 120mm tower and leagues above any of the AMD stock coolers. Intel is only worth mentioning as a joke...DanNeely - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
If Intel's still using their never sufficiently cursed pushpin coolers then yes. If I never have to try to install one of those again, it'll be too soon.limitedaccess - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
Even basic 120mm tower coolers significantly outperform the bundled coolers especially if you also factor in noise. Even 92mm towers perform better aside from the Wraith Prism/Max type coolers (roughly equal) which come with limited AMD SKUs (and maybe none going forward).Guspaz - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
The mounting kit for older/newer sockets thing is definitely free. I bought a Noctua cooler a few months ago and wanted to put it on a 13-year-old motherboard, which of course they don’t include mounting kits for anymore. Contacted Noctua, got a free LGA1366 kit. If I upgrade my desktop from AM4 to AM5 in the future, I’ll be able to use my existing Noctua cooler there too.Alistair - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
It seriously only includes 4 rubber corners, instead of eight? I'm so over Noctua and their crappy products and crappy prices...Alistair - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
i mean i don't care if they lowered the quality of the fan, lowered the number of heat pipes, and don't includes some accessories, but it is just petty, giving you half the corner bits, it is a CHEAP cosmetic issueDanNeely - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
Along with the 2nd set of fan clips, it's part of the 2nd fan kit mentioned in the article. It's the cheap model, of course they're not going to include any optional extras.jrbales@outlook.com - Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - link
After my first Noctua cooler over a decade ago, I've never used anything else. Overall a quality product. Interesting to see an actual new line of coolers, though they have been introducing the additional lines of fans for a few years now. The Redux line of coolers sounds interesting, but I wonder if the lack of solder between the heatpipes and fans will make a difference in cooling. The other complaints I've seen are easily alleviated. If you want additional rubber bumper corners, you can purchase packets of them in black and some assorted colors. The color of the Redux line is no long the Noctua brown. You can add additional fans, or else step up to the original line of coolers, which is also offered in black as well as Noctua brown. If you don't want to wait for mounting kits from the factory, the Intel and AM4 mounting kits are available for $7.95. Just a great company with great products!