Noctua NH-U14S CPU Cooler Review

INSTALLATION

By following the provided installation guide, the whole process of upgrading your CPU cooler to the NH-U14S is very simple, actually identical to the NH-U12S. We didn’t even have to remove the mounting bracket to swap CPU coolers. You start by identifying which CPU socket you have, in our case it is the Intel LGA 1151, installing the SecuFirm2™ backplate and securing the mounting brackets.

All of the different parts for the mounting kit are identified in the instruction guide with detailed illustrations and unique names, which make the process even easier as it eliminates the possibility of confusing components.

Noctua NH-U14S-6

Our next step is to then apply the thermal paste. We don’t go into details on how to do that, as there’s clearly no absolute incorrect way to do it. As we have said before, unless you’re putting it on your toast instead of the CPU, that’s obviously the wrong way to do it.

We’ll then place the heatsink itself without the fans installed on top of the threaded posts on the Mounting Bars, and then carefully tighten the spring-loaded screws onto the posts. You’ll want to tighten the screws until they stop, and not force it to go any further as applying too much pressure to your CPU can result in serious damage.

Noctua Installed-1

Again we will repeat our word of advice, remove the fan before installing the CPU cooler. It may sound simple, but the fans cover the mounting posts.

Once the heatsink is secured, carefully route and connect the fans power cable into a 4-pin PWM CPU fan header on your motherboard and we are ready for testing!

Our spring into summer CPU cooler reviews continue with the Noctua NH-U14S CPU Cooler, the big brother to NH-U12S we reviewed previously. The NH-U14S is the bigger, badder (a good bad if there is such a thing) and down right better CPU cooler than the NH-U12S, at least it should be. We are going to put it through the ringer to find out! If you are looking to compare the NH-U14S to other Noctua CPU coolers, please head on over to here where you read up on Noctua’s excellent CPU cooling line up! PACKAGING, PRICING AND SPECIFICATIONS Packaging for most Noctua products…

Review Overview

CPU Cooler Build
Specifications
Appearance
Performance
Pricing & Availability

Big and Bad!

The Noctua NH-U14S CPU Cooler is a great CPU Cooler, and the bigger, badder and better big brother to NH-U12S.

User Rating: 3.91 ( 5 votes)

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