Noctua NH-D12L Dual-Tower CPU Cooler
- Dual tower air cooler with a 120 mm fan
- 5 heat pipes, copper base and pipes, aluminium fins, soldered joints
- 2000 rpm max fan speed, 102.1 cubic meters per hour airflow
- 22.6 dB rated noise level
- Intel and AMD support
- 4-pin connector, 12 V, 1.68 W
- 6 year manufacturer warranty
Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026 · Based on the Amazon listing and published specifications, not hands-on testing.
A quiet dual tower cooler for builders who need clearance for memory and a shorter case. Its single smaller fan limits headroom for the hottest processors, and no heat load rating is listed.
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ASIN: B09TB5KJ5VModel: NH-D12LCategory: CPU Cooling Fans
Overview
Copper heat pipes soldered to stacked aluminium fins carry heat from the CPU base up into two towers, where a single fan pushes air through both. Noctua shaped the cooler to stay low in height and to leave room for tall memory modules on Intel and AMD boards.
Memory clearance and a reduced height let a twin tower design fit builds where taller coolers would block the side panel. Noise stays low thanks to the modest fan speed. No heat load rating appears in the listing, so heavy overclockers have to judge capacity from the fin and pipe layout alone.
Who it's for
Quiet desktop builds in cases that cannot take a full-height tower, especially with tall memory, get the clearest benefit. Builders chasing extreme overclocks or working in very small cases should measure carefully or look elsewhere.
Pros and cons
- Clears tall RAM modules
- Low rated fan noise
- Copper base and heat pipes, soldered joints
- Supports both Intel and AMD
- TDP rating not listed
- Single fan setup
- Still tall for small form factor cases
Performance notes
Cooling depends on how quickly the heat pipes move heat from the copper base into the fins and how much air the fan forces through both towers. Soldered joints improve heat transfer between pipes and fins. Case airflow and the fan curve set in the BIOS decide how loud it runs under sustained load.
Where it stands among cpu cooling fans
- #1 most-searched brand and model of the 7 cpu cooling fans lines we track (by search demand, not sales).
From the specs of the 8 cpu cooling fans we list; not a test result.
Specifications
| Brand | Noctua |
|---|---|
| Model | NH-D12L |
| Dimensions & fit | |
| Fan size | 120 mm |
| Cooler height | 5.7 inches |
| Item weight | 1.96 pounds |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 4.5 × 4.9 × 5.7 inches |
| Capacity & performance | |
| Air Flow Capacity | 60 CFM |
| Noise Level | 23 dB |
| Cooling Method | Air |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 2000 rpm |
| Wattage | 2 watts |
| Power & efficiency | |
| Power Connector Type | 4-pin |
| Voltage | 12 volts |
| Compatibility & installation | |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, Intel And AMD |
| Ram compatibility | 100% RAM compatibility |
| Warranty & support | |
| Warranty Description | 6 years |
| Other details | |
| Heat pipes | 5 |
Closest rivals on specs
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE CPU Air Cooler- Maximum Rotational Speed 2000 vs 1500 rpm (+33%)
- Noise Level 23 vs 26 dB (-12%)
Thermalright AXP90 X36 Low Profile CPU Cooler- Air Flow Capacity 60 vs 43 CFM (+40%)
- Maximum Rotational Speed 2000 vs 2700 rpm (-26%)
- Wattage 2 vs 4 watts (-50%)
ID-COOLING FX240 PRO AIO CPU Cooler 240mm- Air Flow Capacity 60 vs 82 CFM (-27%)
- Maximum Rotational Speed 2000 vs 2900 rpm (-31%)
- Noise Level 23 vs 35 dB (-34%)
Frequently asked questions
How tall is the Noctua NH-D12L and will it fit my case?
The cooler is 145 mm tall (5.71 inches), with a footprint of 4.45 by 4.92 inches. Compare that height with your case's maximum CPU cooler clearance.
Does the Noctua NH-D12L block tall RAM?
Noctua lists 100% RAM compatibility, so the towers are designed to clear the memory slots.
Is the NH-D12L a liquid cooler?
No. It is an air cooler that moves heat through copper heat pipes into aluminium fins cooled by a fan.
What comes with the Noctua NH-D12L?
The listing mentions a rich accessory kit but only names the cooler itself as an included component, so the kit contents are not detailed.