Fanless cpu cooler am3: Computer parts, laptops, electronics, and more

NOCTUA NH-P1 Fanless CPU Cooler Passive Zero Noise Design, 158mm Clearance, Support Intel LGA 1700 / 2011 / 115X / 1200, AMD AM5 / AM4 / AM3 / AM4 / FM1 / FM2 / FM2

For very quiet PC builds

• Brand:

  NOCTUA

• MPN:
  NH-P1
• Part #:
  FANNOC4115
• UPC:841501100260

AUD $161. 72

Date Created: 15:08, 25-06-2023

Product URL: https://www.pbtech.com/product/FANNOC4115/NOCTUA-NH-P1-Fanless-CPU-Cooler-Passive-Zero-Noise

Features

The NH-P1 is Noctua’s first passive CPU cooler and has been custom-designed for fanless operation from the ground up: in enclosures with good natural convection, its six heatpipes and thick, widely spaced heatsink fins enable it to cool modern high-end CPUs with low to moderate heat dissipation completely passively (see setup guidelines and list of recommended cases).

For further enhanced performance or semi-passive setups that only spin up their fans when necessary, the NH-P1 can be outfitted with a low-speed, ultra-quiet 120mm fan such as the NF-A12x25 LS-PWM. Topped off with the professional Torx-based SecuFirm2+ mounting system, and Noctua’s award-winning NT-h3 thermal compound, the NH-P1 is the ideal cornerstone for premium-grade fanless or semi-passive builds.

Fanless cooling for high-end CPUs

In fully optimised fanless systems, the NH-P1 is capable of cooling high-end CPUs with low to moderate heat dissipation using natural convection only (see setup guidelines and CPU compatibility list). This makes it ideal for powerful builds that have no moving parts and run absolutely silent.

Increased performance headroom with extra fan

The NH-P1 can be fitted with an extra 120mm fan such as the near inaudible NF-A12x25 LS-PWM in order to increase its maximum dissipation capacity significantly (see setup guidelines and CPU compatibility list): ideal for short spikes of higher heat loads or semi-passive systems that only start their fans when necessary!

No noise, less dust, 100% fail-proof

Fanless cooling doesn’t only have the advantage of being completely silent: if you’re relying on natural convection only and don’t have case fans pushing air through a case, less dust will accumulate in filters or inside the system. Last but not least, with no moving parts such as fans or pumps that could possibly fail, the NH-P1 is as fail-proof as it can be.

Asymmetrical layout for optimal PCIe compatibility

As many current motherboards have the top PCIe x16 slot sitting close to the socket, bigger heatsinks tend to block it. Due to its asymmetrical layout, the fin-stack of the NH-P1 is offset towards the upper edge of the motherboard when installed in standard orientation. This allows it to clear the top PCIe x16 slot on most current µATX and ATX motherboards (see motherboards compatibility list).

100% RAM clearance on LGA1200 and AM4

Due to its asymmetric design, the NH-P1 does not overhang the RAM slots on Intel LGA1200, LGA115x and AMD AM4 based motherboards, which ensures easy access to the modules and 100% compatibility with tall heat-spreaders. On LGA2066, it overhangs the RAM slots on the left-hand side of the socket, so RAM modules should not exceed 45mm in height.

SecuFirm2+™ Torx-based multi-socket mounting system

Noctua’s SecuFirm2™ mounting systems have become synonymous with quality, safety and easy installation. Torx-based, the professional SecuFirm2+ version with its included screwdriver provides even better handling and durability. Socket support includes Intel LGA1200, LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156) and LGA20xx (LGA2066, LGA2011-0, LGA2011-3), as well as AMD AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+), FM2(+) and FM1.

Compatibility with past and future sockets

Thanks to Noctua’s SecuFirm™ ecosystem, the NH-P1 can be made compatible with the older LGA1366 and LGA775 sockets using the optional NM-I3 mounting kit, which is provided free of charge. If technically possible, Noctua will also provide upgrade kits for future sockets, which makes the NH-P1 a safe long-term investment.

NT-h3 next-gen thermal compound

In high-end passive cooling, every degree counts. This is why the NH-P1 includes a tube of Noctua’s next-generation NT-h3 thermal compound that provides even better performance than the award-winning NT-h2, allowing you to achieve the best possible passive cooling results.

Soldered interface between heatpipes and fins

With many heatsinks, the fins are press-fitted to the heatpipes. Due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of copper and aluminium, this fit can loosen over years of thermal cycling, which may lead to reduced performance. By contrast, the NH-P1’s fins are soldered to the heatpipes in order to guarantee a superior thermal interface that doesn’t deteriorate even after many years of usage.

Specifications

Notes and warnings

Caution: while the NH-P1 provides first-rate performance for a passive cooler, it is not suitable for overclocking or CPUs that create high heat loads.

Please note that the TDP (Thermal Design Power) rating or amount of heat dissipation that the cooler can handle not only depends on the chassis and various other factors such as ambient temperature or other components inside the system, but also generally varies from CPU model to CPU model. For this reason, we specify cooling performance using the Noctua Standardised Performance Rating (NSPR) instead of giving a general TDP specification. In addition, we refer to our CPU compatibility list where we indicate how well the cooler can be expected to work on a particular CPU in a fully optimised setup (see our setup guidelines).

Please also note that the NH-P1 strictly requires either a fanless PC case with good natural convection, an open benchtable-type setup or a PC case with fans in order to achieve its full performance. We offer a list of recommended cases for completely fanless systems using the NH-P1. If necessary, Noctua recommends adding a near-inaudible 120mm fan like the NF-A12x25 LS-PWM to the heatsink for improved performance headroom.

Cooler Specification

Socket compatibility

Intel LGA2066, LGA2011-0 & LGA2011-3 (Square ILM), LGA1200, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150 & AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate required), AM4

Height (without fan)

158 mm

Width (without fan)

154 mm

Depth (without fan)

152 mm

Weight (without fan)

1180 g

Material

Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating

NSPR

42

Max. TDP

see NSPR

Fan compatibility

120x120x25

Scope of delivery

NH-P1 heatsink
SecuFirm2+™ multi-socket mounting system
NT-h3 high-grade thermal compound
NA-CW1 cleaning wipe
NM-SD1 screwdriver
Fan clips for optional 120mm fan
Noctua Metal Case-Badge

Review of four coolers:

Glacialtech Igloo S26, Glacialtech Igloo 5761, Zalman FX100 and DeepCool GamerStorm Lucifer

We continue our testing of relatively inexpensive models designed for the mass segment. Today, among other things, we will consider two coolers for which manufacturers have provided a silent (fanless) mode. How justified is this concept?

Glacialtech Igloo S26

The most compact model in our review. Nevertheless, it is claimed to be able to cool sufficiently powerful processor models, so for ours it should come up with a margin. Let’s see how it outperforms the boxed cooler.

The kit pleases with the absence of small parts, from which, as a rule, you have to assemble universal cooler fasteners for installation on a specific processor. In this case, everything is very simple: select the desired clip and fix the cooler on the socket. In the case of the AMD platform, the operation takes several minutes, and you don’t even have to remove the fan. For Intel, a little longer, but you can also skip the instructions.

80mm fan creates airflow. The fan is attached to the cooler by a spring latch, but, we repeat, you can leave it alone. The speed of rotation is somewhat alarming, only 1600 rpm. Is this at least enough for cooling at the nominal frequency under load? The fan has a 3-pin connector and does not support PWM control, which additionally hints at the budget of this model.

Heat from the soleplate to the heatsink is transferred by 2 heatpipes 6 mm in diameter, the heatsink itself is only slightly larger than the fan and weighs only 260g.

Glacialtech Igloo 5761

This larger model features not only a massive heatsink but also a high speed fan. However, like the previous model, there are no extreme processor versions in the compatibility list.

The exact same set of brackets allows you to install this cooler on the same processor sockets, including LGA 1155/1156/775 and AMD FM2/FM/AM3.

The fan has an impeller diameter of 90 mm, it already boasts PWM support and a rotation speed of up to 2300 rpm. The fan is located horizontally on the heatsink, but the heatsink itself is still «hanging in the air», that is, it is connected to the soleplate only by heat pipes.

The sole, like the previous model, provides for direct contact between the heat pipes and the surface of the processor. And thermal paste is also pre-applied to the sole. Installing the cooler, as in the previous case, takes a few minutes.

In general, the design of Glacialtech products is recognizable and budget friendly, thanks primarily to the yellow fan impeller.

DeepCool GamerStorm Lucifer

DeepCool’s Lucifer is even taller, bigger, more powerful and more of a «supercooler» type, but we’ll take a look at it in this review anyway. Moreover, it has a «silent» mode, that is, the ability to cool the processor without the help of a fan.

Alas, the fasteners in this case are not at all as simple and convenient as those of the reviewed Glacialtech coolers. It is, of course, understandable: a massive cooler must be fixed rigidly, using a plate on the reverse side of the board. But the convenience of assembling fasteners also varies greatly between different models. And in this case, it is far from ideal, there are a lot of small parts in the kit, and there is no way without instructions. The bolts for attaching the plate on the reverse side of the board strive to fall out during the assembly process, so it is better to assemble such a structure with two people. Noteworthy is a full-weight syringe with thermal paste, which will last for a long time.

The heatsink is really big (163x140x110mm) and weighs under 900g, a 140mm fan is a little too big for it.

Six heatpipes transfer heat from the soleplate to the heatsink. The sole this time is solid, polished, like in most «multi-tube» coolers — since in this case it is somewhat problematic to make a sole with direct contact between the tubes and the processor from an engineering point of view.

36 rather thick (0.5 mm) plates are located with a relatively large pitch (2.7 mm), this is just an indirect sign of orientation towards fanless cooling.

Zalman FX100

Another cooler presented in our testing by Zalman, a well-known specialist in silent and low-noise solutions. It is also claimed to be able to work in fanless mode (and a fan is not even promised with the cooler, although in our case it was included).

Again, there is nothing to praise for the mount, there are clearly more small details than can be observed in the case of rare successful specimens, where the designers cared not only about saving on small things, but also about the convenience of the installer. At the final stage, you will need a screwdriver with a long sting and a magnetic tip.

The design of the radiator can be called super original. A kind of cube, inside of which there are two more «batteries», between which the user can install an optional 90 mm fan.

Nevertheless, this design cannot boast of a large number of tubes, only 4. Moreover, given the segmentation of the heatsink into independent blocks, this feature can be a weak point when it is necessary to cool rapidly heating processors. However, this is only an assumption: practice will show.

Inserts with extra large pitch (4 mm), total number of 118 pieces. Therefore, despite the massive dimensions of 156 × 156 × 157 mm, its weight is not prohibitive (770 grams).

Testing

The coolers were installed in an open test bench with an ASUS F2A85-M board (Socket FM2), on an AMD A10-5800K processor (3.8 Hz). In the tests, in addition to heating the processor, the “system” temperature was recorded using a sensor on the board.

The results were taken no earlier than half an hour of operation in a steady temperature regime. When measuring, a CEM DT-8851 sound level meter was used. The maximum load on the processor was created using the AIDA64 System Stability Test.

. Three types of measurements were carried out:

• in idle , with the fan(s) speed reduced to 800 rpm modes of use;
• at maximum load and the fan(s) speed reduced to 1000 rpm , this allows you to evaluate the cooler’s own efficiency in a relatively quiet mode in order to obtain a quiet PC, even in cases where the computer is used in tasks with a high load on the processor;
• overclocked (computing cores up to 4.4 GHz, the graphics core was not overclocked, since even a slight increase in its frequency led to a reset of the frequency of the computing cores under load by the overheat protection system, CPU voltage Vcore 1.45 V), at maximum load and maximum rotational speed of fan(s), this mode allows you to evaluate the availability of the cooler’s cooling capacity for use in systems with an overclocked processor, at elevated ambient temperatures, etc.

All the results given in the tests are given exclusively for a qualitative assessment and comparison of coolers with each other, in order to simplify the choice of a cooler to complete your own PC. For such an assessment, they are accurate enough (because they were carried out on the same board and under constant conditions — ambient temperature of 25  ° C, background noise less than 28 dBA, etc.) No other guarantees (in terms of the choice of components for computers that control critical processes, as well as satisfying an individual deep engineering and technical interest in the subject of coolers, etc.) does not include testing. The reader may extrapolate and use the results at his own discretion, in accordance with common sense and at his own responsibility.

For comparison, we also used the results obtained on the AMD reference cooler supplied with the processor in the box.

Idle testing (fan speed 800 rpm)	Glacialtech Igloo S26	Glacialtech Igloo 5761	DeepCool Lucifer (passive mode in brackets) 9 0092	Zalman FX100 (in brackets — passive mode)	AMD «boxed» cooler
Processor temperature, °C	35	34	30 (43)	32 (39)	39
System temperature (sensor on board), °C 900 92	37	35	33 (39)	37 (37)	37
Noise level (when measured from above from a distance of 0. 5 m), dBA	28.0	29.0	32.0 (0)	28.0 (0 )	30.0

In idle, all coolers cope with cooling with a large margin. But this is only if you leave the fan to rotate at least at minimum speed. In completely fanless mode, only the Zalman cooler performs confidently, allowing you to keep the temperature at the level of the boxed AMD cooler.

A logical question immediately arises: is it worth it, if in real conditions 28-30 dBA from a processor cooler will inevitably block the noise of some other fan in the case or power supply. And leaving the case without purging at all is possible only in the case of a very weak filling.

900 90 31.0

9010 3

Maximum load test (fan speed 1000 rpm)	Glacialtech Igloo S26	Glacialtech Igloo 5761	DeepCool Lucifer	Zalman FX100	AMD box cooler
Processor temperature, °C	66	65	42	59	68
System temperature (on-board sensor), °C	39	39	34	40	39
Noise level (when measured from above from a distance of 0. 5 m), dBA	33.0	35.0	31.5	31.2
Throttling	yes	yes	no	no	yes

Maximum load combined with rev limit puts the testers in a different order. At first glance, there is only one leader here: the DeepCool cooler. But if you look at the noise level, it becomes quite clear, the fan of this model is “sharpened” for low speeds, and develops sufficient efficiency at them, however, it also makes more noise than the others. The Zalman cooler also looks good: there is little noise and heating is within acceptable limits. The rest of the participants, alas, simply “merged” in this test, their rotational speed was not enough to cool the processor at full load on the computing and graphics units. Moreover, the younger Glacialtech model could not keep the processor from throttling (or rather, reducing the frequency) even after raising the speed to the maximum in this test. The older model and the boxed cooler from AMD, having a spare rotational speed, coped with this task, but without any margin.

Overclocking revealed the only leader, and the result is really impressive: well done Lucifer! With a fairly moderate noise level, we have decent overclocking and the ability of the processor to operate at maximum frequency without any signs of throttling and is very far from critical values.

Conclusions

The idea of ​​a fanless CPU cooler looks rather dubious in itself in the case of a relatively powerful desktop processor. Yes, if you have a heavy heatsink and a well-organized case ventilation system, you can do without a fan directly on the CPU cooler. But if a more natural task from a practical point of view is being pursued — to assemble a low-noise computer, then there are more direct and logical ways to solve it (and a low-speed fan on the processor does not interfere with this task in any way).

The Zalman model is undoubtedly a good one, but on the condition that you are not going to overclock, because here the leader’s cap goes completely to DeepCool. As for the budget Glacialtech models, alas, they did not win the Audience Choice Award. Under load, they make less noise than the box model, but the difference (in the case of the older model) is minimal, and the difference in cooling efficiency is not at all that significant. They can only be recommended for weaker processors, or if you do not use an integrated video core and are not interested in overclocking.

Average current price:

Noctua NH-P1 cooler review

Noctua has been developing the first passive cooler for a long time. The debut prototype was presented in 2019 at Computex, and since then the release of the device has been postponed several times. But now SO is finally available to the general public. What was the reason for such a long wait? The thing is, the NH-P1 is not just a fanless product designed to remove heat from today’s multi-core processors. We are talking about a whole concept that involves assembling a 100% silent PC based on this solution (this is exactly what the representatives of the Austrian brand are talking about in a special video).

The creators warn potential owners that it is not worth waiting for low temperatures.

It cannot be said that passive components are a rarity. It is quite easy to find fanless power supplies, video cards and cases in free sale. But there are practically no truly productive COs without propellers on the market. That is why special hopes were placed on Noctua NH-P1 (both from the creators and from the users).

NH-P1 is an extremely large cooler with six heat pipes and an unusual heatsink. There are far fewer ribs here than in any other product from Noctua. But all the metal parts are powerful and wide. It is almost impossible to bend giant (it weighs 1180 g). The cooling system is made very high quality, in the best traditions of the premium brand.

It is noteworthy that the NH-P1 device is installed on the Socket in the same way as any modern cooler that has the SecuFirm2+ mounting system (and this is actually the entire current Noctua model range). The developers did not try to be smart and reinvent the wheel, as a result, the assembly process does not take even five minutes (everything is accessible, clear and understandable).

The only innovation that has appeared in the design is curly screws (asterisk format), which can actually be tightened with a supplied screwdriver.

In addition to the mentioned accessory and the cooler itself, the box contains a tube of NT-h3 thermal paste and one pair of special clips. They are here for a reason. This is a subtle hint at the possibility of increasing the nominal performance of the Noctua NH-P1, although the fan for this CO will have to be purchased separately.

Noctua made the NF-A12x25 LS-PWM propeller specifically for this monster . Why exactly him? And because at 1200 rpm the spinner works completely silently (checked), although it cannot be said that other fans from the Austrian brand are distinguished by the special talkativeness .

SecuFirm2+ fasteners

Base

Equipment NH-P1

Thermal grease NT-h3

Package contents NF-A12x25 LS-PWM

Adapters in the box with NF-A12x25 LS-PWM

NF-A12x25 LS-PWM

Fan marking

Mounting details

Noctua’s official website has published a guide that lists all NH-P1-compatible chassis, motherboard and processor modifications. We have already mentioned that the reviewed cooler is extremely large, which means that installation difficulties can arise at the most inopportune moment (be sure to read the guide before buying).

The Core i5-11400F heated up to 89 degrees in 15-20 minutes.

Noctua NH-P1 is unlikely to touch even high RAM modules (the radiator hangs over them, covering them completely), but in a chubby video card installed in the PCI-E x16 slot closest to the CPU, iron giant , is likely to rest.

In our case, this happened (ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3070), but we did not see any particular inconvenience in this, because there are three profile PEG connectors on the test motherboard.

The fan on the Noctua NH-P1 is fixed in three positions: on top (that is, on the top of the radiator), on the right and left sides. In all cases, the dimensions of the assembled CO increase significantly, so the case for such a transformer will need a very large one.

Test bench:

Processors — Intel Core i7-10700K and Core i5-11400F
Motherboard — ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero (Wi-Fi)
RAM — Kingston HyperX Predator DDR4-3600 (2×8 GB )
Thermal paste — Noctua NT-h2

Performance and test results

Noctua NH-P1 is not only part of the already mentioned passive PC concept that the developers are talking about, but also a lot of reservations. The creators immediately warn potential owners that it is not worth waiting for low temperatures. It will be hot in any case, and you need to come to terms with this.

Trust me, Noctua doesn’t lie. Given that the summer in the capital region turned out to be really hot, the NH-P1 had a hard time, because the test room was terribly stuffy (27-30 degrees).

Noctua NH-P1 is not so much revolutionary as experimental.

Once again about reservations. Noctua claims that under certain conditions, the NH-P1 is capable of cooling virtually any Socket LGA 1151/1200 compatible processor (even the Core i9-11900K). But these conditions are not very realistic.

Do not use turbo mode, avoid prolonged loads on one/several physical cores, do not manually increase the CPU clock speed and hard-fix all limits (Power Limit). Agree that there are too many restrictions in this story.

The user for his $110 (which is a considerable amount for a CPU cooling system) wants to get an uncompromising product that will give him confidence that the CPU will not overheat, and the system performance will be maximum in any case. But this is not about NH-P1.

We tested Noctua’s passive with an unlocked Core i7-10700K (8 cores/16 threads, 125W) and a locked Core i5-11400F (6 cores/12 threads, 65W). The results were interesting.

Core i7-10700K

Core i5-11400F

In both cases, we got 89 degrees under load (the Noctua NH-P1 radiator was hot to the limit) and the protection built into the CPU was triggered, which does not cut down the system, but significantly reduces the overall PC performance (less in some tasks, in some then more).

It will be hot in any case.

The only difference was that the platform with the Core i7-10700K was tested on an open bench, and we got the final temperature readings in 8-10 minutes. And the Core i5-11400F heated up in the closed case of the Abkoncore h400G White, on the front panel of which a triple of 120 mm propellers was installed (which means that at least some fresh air still got on the NH-P1 radiator).

The Core i5-11400F warmed up to the coveted 89 degrees in 15-20 minutes. Slowly but surely the temperature rose, once even a BSOD popped up.

Obviously, the NF-A12x25 LS-PWM fan changes the situation for the better (with it, the Core i7-10700K did not cross the 73-75 degree limit). But this is a completely different story, not related to a passive PC, isn’t it?

Conclusion

Noctua NH-P1 is not so much revolutionary as it is experimental. We will not call it unsuccessful, but it is not wonderful, with all due respect to the brand.

There are certainly processors in the world that the Noctua NH-P1 can cool in passive mode (even in hot weather and even in a closed case that does not have fans), but modern 6-8-core modifications from Intel do not apply to them. include (except perhaps 35 W models with the T index).

Considering the Noctua NH-P1 as a non-passive cooler is completely pointless due to the high cost of the device, as well as decent dimensions. There are a lot of more compact alternatives on the market, on which you can install any, even the quietest propeller, and get a performance comparable to the reviewed CO.