Noctua NH-U9B CPU Cooler Review

Q6600 Performance Results

2.4GHz


At stock speeds things are not quiet as rosy as they were on the dual core setup. The numbers the U9 posted are not bad per say, but the Falcon 92, Igloo Silent and the DuOrb (all 92mm based CPU coolers) easily beat the U9. This is most likely do to the fact that: A) the DuOrb and Igloo both use two 92mm fans vs. the U9s one and B) the Flacon was darn near running flat out the whole time due to an improperly placed thermistor (for more details you should (re)read our review of the Falcon 92). With all these things going against the U9 its results are actually not terrible, not great but not terrible either. As a side note, the U9's fan was very well behaved and it is doubtful if it would have been audible if used inside a closed case.


3.0GHz


Now this is interesting. As the temperature rises, the superior design of the U9 starts to become the deciding factor. Yes all the CPU cooling solutions which use 120mm fans beat it but only the dual 92mm Igloo can say the same thing, and the U9 is closing the gap between the two. It will be interesting to see when we turn the heat WAY up how both the U9 and other 92mm coolers fare in comparison.


3.4GHz


One thing is for sure: this cooler does run hot on idle! Though, as we have said in the past idle scores only tell a little bit of the story and it is all about the average load temperatures. In the case of the Noctua NH-U9B, it easily puts all the other smaller 92mm fan based CPU cooling solutions to shame. Heck, this little guy not only beat the Thermalright Big Typhoon it comes within 2.5°C of tying the Coolink Silentator. This really does show that bigger is not always better and a rock solid design can come in a small(er) package!