[section_title title=”Introduction”]
Brand: Noctua
Model: NH-U9B SB2
RRP: ~£45 (At time of review)
Introduction
Noctua are one of the few companies who need no introduction in the PC cooling arena. Having made a name for themselves for their high quality and excellent performing fans and heatsinks. Noctua stands as one of the few universally praised cooler design companies to date. Combining excellent build quality with a unique aesthetic, Noctua’s product line of quality and performance is arguably what every cooling design firm should aspire to. Anyway, I did say that they need no introduction so let me carry on with the actual product in hand which happens to be the Noctua NH-U9B, a 95mm tall cooler and features two 80mm fans in a push/pull configuration to bring you great performance in a small package – ideal for a HTPC or a small form factor build.
Small form factor builds are becoming ever more popular and in order to keep up with the times, you need to keep up with the trends. In years gone by, ATX used to be the thing to have, as ATX allowed for larger better clocking boards and more space for drives and add on cards. But since the recent rise in popularity in mATX and mITX boards that not only brought a high degree of performance but also integrated many features, the demand for ATX has shrunk in accordance to mATX boards which are still cheaper. The caveat of course would be the lack of PCI-E lanes and expansion space. However, if you were never planning on using either a single or dual card set up, mATX is now a very popular choice because they perform just as well, if not better, than the bigger ATX counterpart and simultaneously remaining cheaper. One of the reasons for going to a smaller form factor is to utilise a smaller case, which means that the mammoth sized coolers such as the Noctua NH-D14 or the Thermalright Silver Arrow won’t always fit, and something smaller is required. Queue the Noctua NH-U9B.
Does this cooler have enough cooling power to tame an Intel Core i7-4770K or will it prove too much to handle for the compact cooler? ITX is something I’ve become increasingly more interested in so I am dying to find out how well this cooler performs. Let’s take a quick look at its specifications and then I will find out exactly what this cooler has in store for us all.
About Noctua
Noctua comes from a cooperation of the Austrian Rascom Computerdistribution Ges.m.b.H. with the Taiwanese cooling specialist Kolink International Corporation, pooling more than ten years of experience in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-end cooling components. Established in 2005, Noctua took the international silent enthusiasts’ hearts by storm and quickly developed into one of the most acclaimed suppliers of premium quality quiet cooling products. Today, Noctua is present in more than 30 countries across the globe and working with several hundred sales partners. Chosen by noise conscious PC users, system integrators and industry clients alike, Noctua has become synonymous with impeccable quality, excellent customer service and class leading quiet cooling performance.
