ANOTHER Noctua Win – NH-U12S REDUX CPU Cooler Review - Related to nh-u12s, lightweight, review, cooler, best

ANOTHER Noctua Win – NH-U12S REDUX CPU Cooler Review

This review actually hits a little bit close to my heart, and. I need to explain a little bit about that before we go on with this review. Like 15 years ago Noctua was actually one of the first companies that sampled Hardware Canucks, I think the first one was Thermalright from back in the day, then there was Arctic Cooling. And then there was Noctua. That was actually before they launched the NH-U12S, but when they launched the U12S that jumped onto the scene like a bat out of hell. Since then this has actually been one of the best coolers for the money you could possibly buy, great engineering, great cooling, great everything. It does cost $70 USD though, if you can actually find it for that price at the moment.

lately Noctua went back to the drawing board, and. They expressed look in this environment how can we address some of the shortcomings that are currently in the market? The result is this: The NH-U12S Redux. It keeps all of the great qualities of the original U12S, cuts out a few of the frills, and comes in at just $50 USD. Because of that price point I think this is going to be one of the most popular coolers going forward.

With that out of the way. I am sure you are wondering what the actual differences are between these coolers. But before I get to that, I want to get to the similarities. The first similarity is actually the size, they are both still extremely slim, and the compatibility is absolutely perfect. I’m going to get to the installation process in a bit, and if you wanted a little bit more detail the actual dimension of the U12S and U12S Redux are 158mm high, 125mm wide. And just 45mm deep. However, if you look at them next to one another they legitimately look the same unless you go into the minute details.

First of all, the U12S Redux has 4 heatpipes instead of the 5 on the U12S, in addition to that those heat pipes are not soldered to the fin array, and. That might not sound significant but that direct contact with the fin array allows them to take the heat from the core up through the heatpipes and more quickly transfer it to the heatsink. One other thing is that the U12S Redux doesn’t actually come with a tube of thermal compound, instead Noctua has pre-applied a hexagonal pattern on the base.

Another thing that is probably pretty obvious to you is that they both come with a single fan, but. The fan that they come with is completely different. The specs of the fans are what really sets one apart from another. The single fan on the Redux is actually the P12 Redux that is rated at 1700 RPMs. Whereas the F12 on the original U12S is only rated at 1500 RPMs. And even though they have really similar specs across their operating range the F12 can actually deliver a lot advanced airflow and. Static pressure at a lower RPM. That means that basically you are going to be getting about the same temperatures, but the U12S is going to be operating at a little bit lower decibel levels.

What I also wanted to talk about are the areas that Noctua did cut back a little bit other than in the design and. That’s in the accessories. First of all, you don’t get a full tube of thermal compound like you would with the U12S that is where the pre-applied thermal compound comes in. You also don’t get any clips for a second fan, and you don’t get any of the low noise or ultra-low noise adapters. Or even the Y splitter that come with the U12S. Instead all of those items are actually included in a separate accessory pack, think about it like a Noctua DLC. Let’s go through what you get in this. Most importantly you get a second 120mm fan. Now is that really necessary? Well you are going to see from our performance results later that this cooler already performs really. Really well on of the systems that are out there. But other than that, you also get a low noise adapter, you get the fan Y splitter, an ultra-low noise adapter, fan clips, vibration mounts, and that’s pretty much it.

I also wanted to talk a little bit about the installation hardware. Because there is one thing that I wish Noctua would have really added to the Redux: The really handy screwdriver that you get with every other Noctua cooler aside from this one. So about that installation hardware, well Noctua includes your standard AM4 mounts, but they don’t actually have AM3 compatibility. For AM4 mounting you’re going to have to reuse the backplate that comes with the motherboard. I’m going to get into the full installation in a little bit for this, because it’s super, super simple. Now on the Intel side you get your standard LGA1200/LGA1150 hardware along with LGA2066 studs, but. I really have to give it to Noctua because they are actually using a full metal backplate for the installation of those Intel systems. A lot of other manufacturers have actually moved to plastic and that is such a pain in the ass, so good on Noctua for that one.

In order to show you how easy that installation process is I want it to bring over an AM4 system, and. Go from start to finish for the installation process of the U12S Redux. The installation onto an AMD AM4 system is unique, but it follows the same path as the Intel one. The only difference is the Intel one has a Noctua provided back plate. Here all you would need to do is install little spacers, and. Then there is going to be a crossbar that is going to be installed on both sides with separate screws. Those ones you just pop in the holes, and because the AMD backplate is already in place it should just slot in.

With that out of the way I wanted to talk about this crossbar that Noctua has installed, because it really sets them apart from a lot of other heatsink manufacturers. And because this is installed you don’t have to fiddle with a whole kit of parts. Not only that but Noctua pre-installs their screws with little detents on the bottom, and. Those detents allow this group to be guided into this stud without too much of a problem. I’m going to get that out of the way and you will see how easy it is to install.

The cooler is pretty much installed. Except I wanted to talk a little bit more about memory clearance. That is one of the U12S and the U12S Redux’s highlights, because the cooler is so slim basically any tall memory module will fit in front of it. Even on the closest slot to the CPU socket. Yes, there are thicker memory modules out there, and if that’s the case all you really have to do is move the fan up a little bit and. Clear that memory module. But other than that the installation cannot get easier and it’s one of Noctua’s biggest strengths. So that all out of the way, I really want it to cut to the performance because we have to remember that the DNA of this cooler is actually taken from one of the most legendary coolers on the market at the moment.

Now onto performance testing, and. Starting at 120W at a lower heat load that covers most modern CPUs out there right now. Well the NH-U12S Redux is super competitive with the original NH-U12S, and that is partly because the heat loads remain so low. We have already seen this before because those low heat loads do not stress most modern CPU coolers. It’s only a couple of degrees behind or tied with the U12S, but. You can see from the graph it does get just that little bit louder like I talked about before. When we normalize the 38dB right across the board, this thing is right in-line with pretty much every other cooler we have tested.

At 165W, which is actually below the PL2 levels of most higher-end Rocket Lake chips, the U12S Redux and the U12S still run neck-and-neck right up until the slightly higher fan speeds where the Redux does start falling behind by a couple of degrees. But don’t forget it does get louder as well. The second chart really puts things into perspective when you remember that there are actually some competitors here that cost twice as much, or even more, but. Offer similar or even worse performance at 165W TDP.

Moving to 260W, and remember this cooler cost $50 USD. At a full 260W the NH-U12S did fail at lower fan speeds, but once you get into higher RPMs it actually does deliver proper cooling. But what it doesn’t do is offer cooling that is good enough for these super super high-end chips, but. Really that was totally to be expected. You have to be running this thing at a 100% fan speed to get sort of reasonable temperatures and. Not close to throttling temperature for a lot of modern processors. Now moving to that 38 decibel normalized result, what did you expect? This is a $50 cooler.

At the same time I also wanted to talk about those dual fan results because slapping more fans onto there does increase performance, but. By how much? At 120W, really not that much because you didn’t need that additional cooling capacity. Moving to 165W you can see it start to make a little bit of a difference as we go higher and higher in the RPM range. But at that 260W level well that is where it can really put the pedal to the metal. If you have any intention of overclocking your processor or if you upgrade your processor to higher-end one in the future this is really when you want that dual fan option. And that is the option that Noctua gives you to spend a little bit more money, maybe a little bit further in the future and get that much enhanced performance without having to switch coolers.

I guess that brings me to the conclusion. And I want to cut this short. Is the Noctua NH-U12S Redux worth it? The answer to that is absolutely. Look it’s not a cheap cooler, but it gets the job done for pretty much anyone, and anybody else that needs to go a little bit higher in the TDP level well you slap on that other fan and that brings overall performance very. Very close to the U12S. Now, on the other hand, there are a couple of coolers out there that are also extremely good values, the Scythe Fuma 2 is a perfect competitor to this, but the problem with the Scythe is that it isn’t as widely available as the U12S Redux is right now.

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I Can’t BELIEVE this Mouse still Exists!

I didn’t think mice like this still existed in 2021. In our bubble search for the best performing mouse, the best lightweight mouse, the best wireless mouse, I thought it would be really cool to take a look at this bizarre gaming mouse from back in the day. Although it’s still sold today. To be honest with you, I used to view these types of mice as the coolest gaming mice on the market. Back when the original Mad Catz came out I loved the concept and the design, but does it still apply to 2021?

In many ways. This $25 USD Inphic PG-6 from Amazon has helped the industry move in the exact opposite direction from these types of designs. After using this mouse for a couple of days I’m so happy that it’s not the current norm for professional e-sports mice, but also I feel like we could take away some concepts from this PG-6 and apply to the current gaming mice space to improve it.

First of all, I legitimately think this mouse looks kind of cool. And let me know if you agree. Perhaps it’s a bit nostalgic of me since this design used to be popular. The metal shell reminds me of the M65 from Corsair that had that aluminium shell, and. That one element was a cool selling point at the time. All the design elements on the PG-6 make it look like it’s made for cyborgs. To be honest this might pass as your like game-specific colourway, just like the Cyberpunk Edition of the Razer Viper Ultimate. If there was a way to implement this style of design into current gaming mice without compromising the weight or the shape or the comfort I would be all for it.

It still looks very different from all the main performance champions and. It’s much heavier too at 104 grams on my scale. That makes it twice as heavy as my main mouse the Cooler Master MM720, but it’s also kind of funny how there are three different weight specs on the product sheet, all of which are wrong and. All of which are much heavier than the actual product. This is a really interesting reminder of how our thinking has changed over time about the weight of a mouse. We used to add weights to the mouse and that was a cool feature. Now we are removing the weight, but I feel like there is no happy medium anymore.

The other main thing this mouse has going forward is the adjustable back, something I wish was available on more mice. Just like the new XTRFY M42. The mechanism on the PG-6 is obviously outdated with the thumb screw at the back that adds weight and. Might not actually hold the shape properly over time. Nevertheless, the idea is fantastic, and it lets you change the shape or the length of the mouse depending on your hand size. I really want this concept of adjustable back to come back to mice in 2021, and. It’s why the concept of the mouse in theory was so awesome. That model has kind of fallen off the competitive wagon because there are no lightweight options, which is what everyone craves these days. Also, it seems like the sides could extend too because of the visible spring mechanism and accessible Torx screw, but it’s all for show. Loosening the sides may no difference to the shape whatsoever. This is kind of unfortunate, but it’s also $25 mouse so let’s not expect miracles here.

As for the shape, this is actually not bad. claw and my hybrid grip style. However, the comfort compromises are surprisingly common, like these wing sections at the front of each trigger that bump into my ring finger. The thumb plate is unnecessary, you can clearly see that it’s just there for show, it’s way too flat to the surface to be properly used and it’s just an additional contact point between the mouse and. The pad that adds friction. I’m happy we don’t see these often.

What I appreciate about these products is that they highlight what used to be the norm and what used to be considered cool for the gaming space. But now it’s quite funny to see all these performance mice doing the exact opposite of what the PG-6 offers. Modern mice have improved sensors, improved ergonomics, improved glide, improved cables, and improved overall comfort too. Of course, I had to use this in gaming and the PG-6 gave me absolutely no confidence in its sensor’s performance since its liftoff distance is really high. I can get full tracking without even touching my mouse mat and just hovering around with the mouse over the mouse mat. This means anytime I lift and place the mouse back down I get these massive jitters on screen. I still was able to record somewhat precise gameplay, but it’s nowhere near the performance you would get with literally anything else that has come out in the last 3 years or so.

And so the point of this review has multiple parts. First and foremost, I would love for the shape customization to come back to the modern times, either with this implementation like we have seen on the XTRFY or the similar mechanism like on the PG-6 with the thumb screw, but. Obviously refined to improve on the ergonomics and weight. Number 2, I think I have taken it for granted all the sensors, shapes, buttons. Feet, cable, software improvements that we have received over the last couple of years. All of that really defines what a good performance mouse should be today. And for number 3, I feel like there is an opportunity in that $25 gaming mice budget space. Instead of catering to our nostalgic days with these overly complex weird gamer-y designs, I would love to see companies like Glorious, Razer and. The up-and-coming Pulsar with their XLITE mice to compete in that budget territory, just to push out all the garbage mice that exist on the market today. I say that because at its core the PG-6 is a total waste of $25, but that is not to say that all budget gaming mice are terrible.

In 2018 we did a roundup with like really cheap mice on the $20, and. Some of them were really good with fantastic sensors and great ergonomics. Basically, if it looks overly complicated and gamer-y it probably isn’t for you. And if it has language like “amazing breathing light effects give you the best enjoyment of gaming” you know not to expect a quality experience. On that note, it made me really appreciate all the fantastic options that we have in the performance sector around the $50 price point that make everything underneath just feel obsolete.

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The Best Lightweight Gaming Mice of 2021

There have been so many fantastic, lightweight, affordable mice releases in the market lately, and. I want to cover some of the ones that have been flying under the radar but are actually worth considering. Basically, if you are looking for a lightweight option you have come to the right place because all of these mice range in weight quite significantly from 49 grams all the way up to 90 grams.

They all cater to a slightly different user because of the shape. So chances are you can find one that works for you. These 4 mice have been in my personal rotation so that I could experience just how good or bad these options really are. This allowed me to work with my aim trainers and actually get more confidence for online play.

These include the $59 Pulsar Xlite, the $29 Katar Pro XT from Corsair, the Drevo Falcon Wireless at $50. And the Ninjutso Origin ONE X at $79, which is the most expensive mouse in this roundup. What is awesome is that all these mice are actually available to purchase right now and. They all have their slight different quirks that are not just copy/paste of each other. If you have already seen our previous recommendations and previous mice roundups, welcome back friend you are about to see some of the best lightweight and affordable options for 2021, guaranteed.

Also. An extra set of PTFE feet is included for later swapping and this little gadget, which they call a micro bungee. You attach it below your monitor and it raises the cable to avoid cable drag. The cable by the way is slightly thicker versus Razer Viper’s, which is nothing to complain about since it’s nice and light. Now the most interesting thing about the Xlite is the shell, because half of it is basically missing underneath with that visible PCB. I have never seen anything like it, and this allows Pulsar to shave off some weight but. Also show off that they manufacture such a fantastically built mouse. Nothing on this mouse creaks, there is no flex anywhere in the body in the usual side to side pressing and that is really impressive.

Shape wise it is ergonomic, it is a slightly higher body versus what I normally use. But still a very comfortable shape for my hand size. Flicking with this mouse is perfect, but I do need to reduce my DPI below 800 to give me extra control because of how light the mouse is. And for some reason tracking of my targets with this mouse is very poor, not because of the extremely smooth glide. But because of the weight. When you go below 50 grams it’s like a whole new thing where you have to retrain your hand. The mouse is slightly bigger than my MM720 so my wrist memory is a bit out of whack, especially when it comes to using the same weight but. A different shape mouse. So tracking with this one for my play style is a bit more challenging because even with this grip tape I feel like it’s a bit too light for the size. Whereas the MM720 is slightly more low profile and it just overall a smaller mouse, but with that one I can track slightly more effective.

Overall, it feels fantastic. And the weight is that good middle ground between not too light and not too heavy. It’s going to offer excellent competition against the G203 and the G305 of the world. The main difference between the G203 are the deeper grooves on the main triggers on the Katar mouse that for me is a positive in terms of comfort. There is also some texture on the sides that is okay for my thumb, but on my right side where my pinky finger and my ring finger rest is a bit irritating, I wish that that side was smooth just like the rest of the body.

The whole build actually feels a little plastic and kind of cheap, as expected for $29 price point. But I do like the texture and the overall feeling of the G203 advanced. The glide on the Corsair mouse is so much smoother versus Logitech, and also the switches are incredibly lightweight and crispy, which is really satisfying.

The main benefit with this mouse for me is switching between moving targets. And this is the mouse that gives me consistently the best tracking, which is my least improved skill. Strangely this mouse feels the best at 650 DPI versus my usual 800 DPI, and one thing you should also not forget is to disable that precision tracking in iCUE. Which is for some reason enabled by default.

Despite these good qualities you can immediately tell this is a cheap budget variation of what Logitech. Okay. There is a lot of creaking on the body, regardless of where you press. There is something creaking on the inside, even when they hold all the mouse buttons, including the scroll wheel. There is something rattling inside. Also the scroll wheel is a bit disappointing, the scroll steps are not defined, and it’s not easy to control. Plus the DPI switch – which is fantastic to have – is so hard to press. You would require full on hand adjustment to reach because it’s not in the best spot. So overall build quality is a little bit subpar, but. It does give you really good performance.

It is the good points that matter the most. The primary triggers are almost as light to the G Pro Wireless. It has a much smoother glide versus the Logitech offerings, and like I unveiled earlier the shape is basically a clone of the G Pro Wireless so it’s extremely comfortable for hybrid and. Grips. The weight balance is actually okay, and this is the mouse that required the most time for my own hand readjustment because of the weight. At 90 grams it’s almost twice the weight of what I’m normally playing with, and so this is something to keep in mind.

For example, flicking between each target felt kind of janky and. Even tow a heavier mouse might give you more control. It is all about that risk memory. Still tell a sensor performance is totally satisfactory for this price range, although. I will say the lift of distance is the highest in this mouse versus everything else in this roundup. Something to keep in mind. And even though it was lowered in the lowest position in the driver software is still a little bit too high. It does track and catch mouse movement when I’m like hovering around the mouse mat and when it’s not exactly placed down.

And so let’s finish off on another really impressive surprise with Ninjutso Origin ONE X. Which indicates to be the world’s lightest wireless ergonomic mouse. And to be honest, they are doing so many things right here for the $79 price point with a 66 gram non-honeycomb all-solid shell design, following the footsteps of Razer and Logitech, which is amazing.

Build quality is totally fine too, nothing creeks, nothing rattles. But like with many mice with similar button design there is a bit of play on the primary triggers that you can feel with normal use when you go side to side.

The sensor here is the same power efficient PAW3335 with battery life up to 48 hours. The USB dongle is not labeled, nor can it be stored in the mouse, which is a bummer. That USB-C port for charging is awesome, but it’s kind of deep in the body so none of my cables actually fit in there. It’s a good thing that a cable is included. It is a plug-and-play mouse, which is a positive because you don’t have to install any drivers. There are four DPI settings that you switch with a button underneath. Unfortunately because there are no drivers you don’t have precise DPI control, so if any of those don’t really work for you you’re out of luck.

Finally that Intellimouse Explorer shape, I love the low profile, the ergo curvature. The slight flaring in the front, it’s all making me want to switch to the ONE X as my main from now on. This mouse gives me the best movement on screen for finding targets in all directions. Meaning it’s almost effortless to aim in all four quadrants on screen. This is something that I realize is a huge advantage for games with a lot of verticality like Quake Champions or Escape From Tarkov. I feel like with all other mice in this roundup I have some inconsistencies between top bottom, left, and right aim, whereas with the Pulsar Xlite I’m fantastic of finding targets at the upper portion of the screen, but. Any time a target presents up at the bottom I have some difficulty finding it and following it up. Whereas with the ONE X it is perfect throughout the whole screen.

So just like with my main MM720 I feel like the ONE X is almost effortless, plug-and-play,I put my hand on it, set the DPI to 800 and. I’m golden and flying around. I feel like I know exactly what the cursor will land through my physical motion, so yeah I highly recommend that you check this out. You should also check out all the other mice in this roundup as well. Because I feel like they kind of cater to a different user scenario. You have wireless, you have really lightweight options, you have that middle ground super affordable ones as well.

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