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  Hardware Busters

  2021-07-24Expert user

  Verified purchase

  Model Code: Noctua NH-P1 Passive CPU Cooler

  Construction Materials: Copper (Base and heat pipes) Aluminum (Fins)

  Dimensions: Height: 158 mm, Width: 154 mm, Depth: 152 mm

  Weight: 1180 g

  Socket Compatibility: Intel and AMD all popular sockets except for AMD TR4, which is for Threadripper processors with particularly high TDP. Additionally, before purchasing this specific cooler, you should check Noctua's website to see if the processor you are interested in is supported, as some power-hungry processors are not supported. For example, the Intel i9-11900K is only supported if you have a fan installed on the heatsink and even then, with low boost clocks. The most powerful supported Rocket Lake processor without active cooling on the heatsink is the i5-11600F, while for the 11600K, Noctua states that it may have issues even at frequencies lower than stock under sustained load. As for AMD processors, if you have a fan installed on top of the heatsink, you can go up to the Ryzen 7 5800x, while the Ryzen 5 5600x is not supported even with passive cooling.

  The build quality is good, as one would expect from a Noctua cooler. The aluminum fins are thick and spaced far apart to handle the increased thermal load, and the heat pipes also have a large diameter. The copper base of the heatsink does not have a mirror-like finish, but this will not affect performance if you use a good thermal paste, such as the one provided by Noctua in the package.

  The external design is impressive, although somewhat peculiar at the same time. Due to its dimensions, the cooler resembles a large brick or box. Noctua should have painted it black to hide its monstrous size.

  According to my measurements, the NH-P1 achieves half the performance of the top-tier D15 with a 200W load on the Jalapeno (the load tester I have that simulates loads from 1 up to 500W). The difference will increase at higher loads. With the low-speed 120mm additional fan (NF-A12x25 LS) installed, the performance significantly improves, and the P1 surpasses the much smaller NH-U9S, even with two fans on the latter. However, it still falls behind the much cheaper be quiet! Pure Rock 2, so even adding active cooling does not turn the P1 into a performance beast, which is expected since it is designed for passive operation.

  If you want top-notch performance and high clock speeds, the Noctua NH-P1 is NOT for you. This is Noctua's first passive cooling cooler and is aimed at users who want to build completely silent systems, not processing powerhouses. If you currently need somewhat increased performance but want to keep the noise as low as possible, you can equip it with the NF-A12 LS fan, which does not exceed 15 dBA even at full rotational speed.

  Overall, this massive cooler offers satisfactory performance considering its passive operation. Personally, I would choose a D15s cooler with reduced fan speeds and a case with good sound insulation, but there are users who want to have a completely silent system and have no issues with increased temperatures or lower performance.

  Pros
  • Zero operational noise
  • Particularly high performance-to-noise ratio
  • High build quality
  • Impressive design
  • Very good installation/support system
  • Includes a quality Torx screwdriver in the accessories
  • 6-year warranty

  Cons
  • Steep price
  • Average performance, even with the recommended fan
  • Enormous dimensions
  • Not compatible with all processors, motherboards, and cases

  The full review can be found here: https://youtu.be/eRcg_0D5x9c

  Translated from Greek · Show original

  • Installation
  • Silent
  • Construction quality

  • Moderate cooling
  • Value for money

  • Volume

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