Noctua NH-U9S CPU Cooler
The asymmetrical design with 5 heat pipes allows for both increased cooling performance and better compatibility. With a footprint of 95 x 95 mm, the cooler does not overhang the memory slots or PCIe slots on all Intel and most AMD-based motherboards (including μATX and ITX). Combined with a compact height of 125 mm, this makes the NH-U9S a versatile solution with excellent case, RAM, and PCIe compatibility. The included NF-A9 premium fan ensures outstanding quiet operation, with its speed being fully automatically regulated via PWM. Adding a second NF-A9 fan, available separately, can further enhance cooling performance in a dual-fan setup.
The asymmetrical design with 5 heat pipes allows for both increased cooling performance and better compatibility. With a footprint of 95 x 95 mm, the cooler does not overhang the memory slots or PCIe slots on all Intel and most AMD-based motherboards (including μATX and ITX). Combined with a compact height of 125 mm, this makes the NH-U9S a versatile solution with excellent case, RAM, and PCIe compatibility. The included NF-A9 premium fan ensures outstanding quiet operation, with its speed being fully automatically regulated via PWM. Adding a second NF-A9 fan, available separately, can further enhance cooling performance in a dual-fan setup.
The asymmetrical design with 5 heat pipes allows for both increased cooling performance and better compatibility. With a footprint of 95 x 95 mm, the cooler does not overhang the memory slots or PCIe slots on all Intel and most AMD-based motherboards (including μATX and ITX). Combined with a compact height of 125 mm, this makes the NH-U9S a versatile solution with excellent case, RAM, and PCIe compatibility. The included NF-A9 premium fan ensures outstanding quiet operation, with its speed being fully automatically regulated via PWM. Adding a second NF-A9 fan, available separately, can further enhance cooling performance in a dual-fan setup.
The asymmetrical design with 5 heat pipes allows for both increased cooling performance and better compatibility. With a footprint of 95 x 95 mm, the cooler does not overhang the memory slots or PCIe slots on all Intel and most AMD-based motherboards (including μATX and ITX). Combined with a compact height of 125 mm, this makes the NH-U9S a versatile solution with excellent case, RAM, and PCIe compatibility. The included NF-A9 premium fan ensures outstanding quiet operation, with its speed being fully automatically regulated via PWM. Adding a second NF-A9 fan, available separately, can further enhance cooling performance in a dual-fan setup.
in 16 offers
The lowest price for Noctua NH-U9S CPU Cooler right now is $96.90 at Quiet PC, compared across 14 retailers.
The all-time low was $46.18 on 10 Mar 2026 — today's price is 110% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 30 Sept 2026.
Last updated at 30/09/2026 16:34:48
NH-U9S Black 5 Heat Pipe Tower CPU Cooler 4pin PWM Silence CPU Cooling Fan LGA1200 2011 2066 115X AM4(NH-U9S)
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Noctua NH-U9S Ultra-Quiet Slim CPU Cooler with NF-A9 fan
Delivery $52.79
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Delivery between Fri – Wed $16
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Delivery between 7–9 Oct $15
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originally posted on newegg.com
I added an extra NH-A9 PWM fan for a push/pull. According to what I have read this will give you about 3C more play room on CPU temps. The unit is asymmetrical. It looks odd at first but it is actually an advantage. The cooler can be mounted in any direction you want. By using the off-center to my benefit I was able to point the outflow out the top of the case and still not cover the South Bridge on my MB. Regular install would cover 1/2 of one of the most visually appealing parts of the MB. I just built this computer this week so I don't have any numbers to report. Under a light-to-moderate load the temps barely move. The specs i have read show this cooler coming close to an AIO in performance. ... update 10/09/2017 I read somewhere that a CPU cooler on the Intel ... MoreI added an extra NH-A9 PWM fan for a push/pull. According to what I have read this will give you about 3C more play room on CPU temps. The unit is asymmetrical. It looks odd at first but it is actually an advantage. The cooler can be mounted in any direction you want. By using the off-center to my benefit I was able to point the outflow out the top of the case and still not cover the South Bridge on my MB. Regular install would cover 1/2 of one of the most visually appealing parts of the MB. I just built this computer this week so I don't have any numbers to report. Under a light-to-moderate load the temps barely move. The specs i have read show this cooler coming close to an AIO in performance. ... update 10/09/2017 I read somewhere that a CPU cooler on the Intel i7 6700K needs to have the heat pipes oriented vertically. My original install had them going horizontally and temps were high. I pulled the cooler, cleaned everything and reinstalled with the fans blowing out the back, heat pipes vertical on the CPU. BTW, the thermal compound from the 1st install was nice and even - the Noctua mounting system did a good job of spreading it. Temperatures are from AIDA64 Extreme stress test; run 10+ minutes each time; in degrees Centigrade. Heat pipes horizontal: average CPU temperature 83.5; max 94 Heat pipes vertical: average CPU temperature 71.6; max 82 ... end update ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac Intel Core i7-6700K Noctua NH-U9S CPU cooler Corsair SF600 600W SFX G.Skills TridentZ 16 (2x8) DDR4 3200 ASUS R9 Nano GPU Samsung 950 Pro 512MB OS drive Samsung 850 Pro 512MB storage Ncase M1 V5
originally posted on neweggbusiness.com
Due to the ease of installation, I was able to try out this cooler in many configurations. First with the one included fan in push & pull [and] in vertical and horizontal mounting. Then I did the same with 2 fans. For context, my rig is a I7-10700K with a RTX 3070, 25c ambient (summer) and a cheap-ish case with average (at best) airflow. In my experience, this cooler is not adequate for serious overclocking on a high-core count CPU. I have not been able to finish a benchmark (blender bmw 2.93.1) before hitting 99c (my personal limit) in stock (5.1Ghz) settings. I find about 1.25-1.3v (usually around 48-4900mhz all cores) to be about the max it can handle. Does much better gaming (lower workload). If you're looking for an air cooler under $100, and are running a ... MoreDue to the ease of installation, I was able to try out this cooler in many configurations. First with the one included fan in push & pull [and] in vertical and horizontal mounting. Then I did the same with 2 fans. For context, my rig is a I7-10700K with a RTX 3070, 25c ambient (summer) and a cheap-ish case with average (at best) airflow. In my experience, this cooler is not adequate for serious overclocking on a high-core count CPU. I have not been able to finish a benchmark (blender bmw 2.93.1) before hitting 99c (my personal limit) in stock (5.1Ghz) settings. I find about 1.25-1.3v (usually around 48-4900mhz all cores) to be about the max it can handle. Does much better gaming (lower workload). If you're looking for an air cooler under $100, and are running a stock I7 or an unlocked I5/Ryzen 5, I think this merits strong consideration, but plan on buying a second fan.
originally posted on brack.ch
Good heatsink, but the compatible CPU list is misleading and mounting was difficult.Brack lists this as compatible with the LGA 1366 socket. However, the box does not contain the right mounting kit for this socket. I needed to order the NM-I3 mounting kit from Noctua (https://noctua.at/en/nm-i3-mounting-kit). This is free but requires 2 weeks to ship.When the mounting kit finally arrived I discovered it didn't work with my case (HP Z400), which interferes with the backplate. I was finally able to get something working using a combination of brackets from the NM-i3 and screws+standoffs from the AMD kit. I realize that HP deserves more blame for this problem than Noctua, but there should have been some warning about the mounting kit requirements.The heatsink ... MoreGood heatsink, but the compatible CPU list is misleading and mounting was difficult.Brack lists this as compatible with the LGA 1366 socket. However, the box does not contain the right mounting kit for this socket. I needed to order the NM-I3 mounting kit from Noctua (https://noctua.at/en/nm-i3-mounting-kit). This is free but requires 2 weeks to ship.When the mounting kit finally arrived I discovered it didn't work with my case (HP Z400), which interferes with the backplate. I was finally able to get something working using a combination of brackets from the NM-i3 and screws+standoffs from the AMD kit. I realize that HP deserves more blame for this problem than Noctua, but there should have been some warning about the mounting kit requirements.The heatsink itself is well made and the fan is reasonably quiet. The instructions were clear (or would be for a standard motherboard).Brack should include a better description and pictures of the included mounting hardware. However I can recommend the product if you're sure about compatibility.
| Suitable location | Processor |
| Rotational speed (min) | 400 RPM |
| Rotational speed (max) | 2000 RPM |
| Noise level (low speed) | 16.3 dB |
| Noise level (high speed) | 22.8 dB |
NH-U9S Black 5 Heat Pipe Tower CPU Cooler 4pin PWM Silence CPU Cooling Fan LGA1200 2011 2066 115X AM4(NH-U9S)
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Noctua NH-U9S Ultra-Quiet Slim CPU Cooler with NF-A9 fan
Delivery $52.79
Noctua Multi Socket CPU Cooler (NH-U9S)
Noctua NH-U9S Black 92mm CPU Cooler 5x Copper Heatpipes Dual Fan Ready PWM Fan
Free delivery between 3–12 Oct
Noctua NH-U9S Multi Socket CPU Cooler
Delivery between 6–9 Oct $14.50
I added an extra NH-A9 PWM fan for a push/pull. According to what I have read this will give you about 3C more play room on CPU temps. The unit is asymmetrical. It looks odd at first but it is actually an advantage. The cooler can be mounted in any direction you want. By using the off-center to my benefit I was able to point the outflow out the top of the case and still not cover the South Bridge on my MB. Regular install would cover 1/2 of one of the most visually appealing parts of the MB. I just built this computer this week so I don't have any numbers to report. Under a light-to-moderate load the temps barely move. The specs i have read show this cooler coming close to an AIO in performance. ... update 10/09/2017 I read somewhere that a CPU cooler on the Intel ... MoreI added an extra NH-A9 PWM fan for a push/pull. According to what I have read this will give you about 3C more play room on CPU temps. The unit is asymmetrical. It looks odd at first but it is actually an advantage. The cooler can be mounted in any direction you want. By using the off-center to my benefit I was able to point the outflow out the top of the case and still not cover the South Bridge on my MB. Regular install would cover 1/2 of one of the most visually appealing parts of the MB. I just built this computer this week so I don't have any numbers to report. Under a light-to-moderate load the temps barely move. The specs i have read show this cooler coming close to an AIO in performance. ... update 10/09/2017 I read somewhere that a CPU cooler on the Intel i7 6700K needs to have the heat pipes oriented vertically. My original install had them going horizontally and temps were high. I pulled the cooler, cleaned everything and reinstalled with the fans blowing out the back, heat pipes vertical on the CPU. BTW, the thermal compound from the 1st install was nice and even - the Noctua mounting system did a good job of spreading it. Temperatures are from AIDA64 Extreme stress test; run 10+ minutes each time; in degrees Centigrade. Heat pipes horizontal: average CPU temperature 83.5; max 94 Heat pipes vertical: average CPU temperature 71.6; max 82 ... end update ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac Intel Core i7-6700K Noctua NH-U9S CPU cooler Corsair SF600 600W SFX G.Skills TridentZ 16 (2x8) DDR4 3200 ASUS R9 Nano GPU Samsung 950 Pro 512MB OS drive Samsung 850 Pro 512MB storage Ncase M1 V5
Due to the ease of installation, I was able to try out this cooler in many configurations. First with the one included fan in push & pull [and] in vertical and horizontal mounting. Then I did the same with 2 fans. For context, my rig is a I7-10700K with a RTX 3070, 25c ambient (summer) and a cheap-ish case with average (at best) airflow. In my experience, this cooler is not adequate for serious overclocking on a high-core count CPU. I have not been able to finish a benchmark (blender bmw 2.93.1) before hitting 99c (my personal limit) in stock (5.1Ghz) settings. I find about 1.25-1.3v (usually around 48-4900mhz all cores) to be about the max it can handle. Does much better gaming (lower workload). If you're looking for an air cooler under $100, and are running a ... MoreDue to the ease of installation, I was able to try out this cooler in many configurations. First with the one included fan in push & pull [and] in vertical and horizontal mounting. Then I did the same with 2 fans. For context, my rig is a I7-10700K with a RTX 3070, 25c ambient (summer) and a cheap-ish case with average (at best) airflow. In my experience, this cooler is not adequate for serious overclocking on a high-core count CPU. I have not been able to finish a benchmark (blender bmw 2.93.1) before hitting 99c (my personal limit) in stock (5.1Ghz) settings. I find about 1.25-1.3v (usually around 48-4900mhz all cores) to be about the max it can handle. Does much better gaming (lower workload). If you're looking for an air cooler under $100, and are running a stock I7 or an unlocked I5/Ryzen 5, I think this merits strong consideration, but plan on buying a second fan.
Good heatsink, but the compatible CPU list is misleading and mounting was difficult.Brack lists this as compatible with the LGA 1366 socket. However, the box does not contain the right mounting kit for this socket. I needed to order the NM-I3 mounting kit from Noctua (https://noctua.at/en/nm-i3-mounting-kit). This is free but requires 2 weeks to ship.When the mounting kit finally arrived I discovered it didn't work with my case (HP Z400), which interferes with the backplate. I was finally able to get something working using a combination of brackets from the NM-i3 and screws+standoffs from the AMD kit. I realize that HP deserves more blame for this problem than Noctua, but there should have been some warning about the mounting kit requirements.The heatsink ... MoreGood heatsink, but the compatible CPU list is misleading and mounting was difficult.Brack lists this as compatible with the LGA 1366 socket. However, the box does not contain the right mounting kit for this socket. I needed to order the NM-I3 mounting kit from Noctua (https://noctua.at/en/nm-i3-mounting-kit). This is free but requires 2 weeks to ship.When the mounting kit finally arrived I discovered it didn't work with my case (HP Z400), which interferes with the backplate. I was finally able to get something working using a combination of brackets from the NM-i3 and screws+standoffs from the AMD kit. I realize that HP deserves more blame for this problem than Noctua, but there should have been some warning about the mounting kit requirements.The heatsink itself is well made and the fan is reasonably quiet. The instructions were clear (or would be for a standard motherboard).Brack should include a better description and pictures of the included mounting hardware. However I can recommend the product if you're sure about compatibility.
The NH-U9S was the perfect solution because I wanted a vertical exhaust setup without having any RAM slots blocked. With 95mm on both depth and width, there's no interference in any orientation with a single fan. The compact dimensions means that it's fairly lightweight plus it's rigidly supported at the base by the SecuFirm2 mounting kit. There's too many cheap coolers on the market that have weak mounting solutions and they make poor thermal contact with the IHS. You pay through the nose for the Noctua's but their engineering is first class. Performance of the U9S is middle of the road, but it handles my Ryzen 5600X with peaks at 80C on a quiet fan profile. I can't even hear it. Kind of disappointed the black Chromax version came out soon after I got my standard ... MoreThe NH-U9S was the perfect solution because I wanted a vertical exhaust setup without having any RAM slots blocked. With 95mm on both depth and width, there's no interference in any orientation with a single fan. The compact dimensions means that it's fairly lightweight plus it's rigidly supported at the base by the SecuFirm2 mounting kit. There's too many cheap coolers on the market that have weak mounting solutions and they make poor thermal contact with the IHS. You pay through the nose for the Noctua's but their engineering is first class. Performance of the U9S is middle of the road, but it handles my Ryzen 5600X with peaks at 80C on a quiet fan profile. I can't even hear it. Kind of disappointed the black Chromax version came out soon after I got my standard version, but functionally it performs the same anyway.
I bought this to replace the stock cooler on an off the shelf HP desktop with a Ryzen 5 4600g. Stock temps were 83-85C while using Handbrake. First hurdle, not Noctua's fault at all, HP used an Intel LGA115x backplate on my AM4 CPU, apparently. After looking at a few different options, I pulled my mobo out and pried off the stock CPU back plate and replaced it with Noctua's LGA115x backplate. This allowed me to use the LGA115x mounting solution on my AMD CPU. After getting it all back together, I was disappointed to see CPU temps rise up to 72C using Handbrake (seems to stay in the 70-73C range). It's an acceptable temp, but I was really hoping to see sub-65C with this cooler. This may be partially due to HP's fan control. It has a PWM connection, but doesn't seem ... MoreI bought this to replace the stock cooler on an off the shelf HP desktop with a Ryzen 5 4600g. Stock temps were 83-85C while using Handbrake. First hurdle, not Noctua's fault at all, HP used an Intel LGA115x backplate on my AM4 CPU, apparently. After looking at a few different options, I pulled my mobo out and pried off the stock CPU back plate and replaced it with Noctua's LGA115x backplate. This allowed me to use the LGA115x mounting solution on my AMD CPU. After getting it all back together, I was disappointed to see CPU temps rise up to 72C using Handbrake (seems to stay in the 70-73C range). It's an acceptable temp, but I was really hoping to see sub-65C with this cooler. This may be partially due to HP's fan control. It has a PWM connection, but doesn't seem to modulate the fan speed at all, and I can't seem to find software that can control the fan speed. On the plus side, that also means it's absolutely silent. I literally cannot hear this even with my head 2 feet away and the case open.
I bought this for the experience of installing an aftermarket cpu cooler. I didnt think my ryzen 5 3600 needed a new cpu cooler, I had great performance already with the stock cooler and didn't have the cpu overclocked. Right off the bat I got temps at least 20 degrees cooler than what I was getting. So I went ahead and upped the performance settings in the bios and overclocked the cpu through ryzen master and its crazy how much better it runs. Under load I've never seen temps rise past 60 C. I love that the cpu is over clocked but not getting stressed with high temperatures. After confirming that there was space for a second 92mm fan on the posterior I purchased one. The original package comes with the clips you need to install the additional fan. It doesn't need ... MoreI bought this for the experience of installing an aftermarket cpu cooler. I didnt think my ryzen 5 3600 needed a new cpu cooler, I had great performance already with the stock cooler and didn't have the cpu overclocked. Right off the bat I got temps at least 20 degrees cooler than what I was getting. So I went ahead and upped the performance settings in the bios and overclocked the cpu through ryzen master and its crazy how much better it runs. Under load I've never seen temps rise past 60 C. I love that the cpu is over clocked but not getting stressed with high temperatures. After confirming that there was space for a second 92mm fan on the posterior I purchased one. The original package comes with the clips you need to install the additional fan. It doesn't need one but I just felt like going all out for this cpu cooler. I'm happy that it will work with the next gen cpus as well, meaning there is longevity with this purchase.
I downsized my case from a large ATX (Antec Solo II) to a much smaller mATX (Lian-Li A04) and therefore had to change from a Noctua U12S cooler to the shorter U9S due to the narrower Lian-Li. I'd been completely satisfied with the U12S, so decided to go with the U9S. I have no complaints at all. The rest of the hardware was unchanged: Intel 6600K processor, 3 hard drives, AsRock motherboard, 8 GB RAM, and NO video card. Intake fan Noctua NF-F12. Exhaust fan Noctua S12A. All fans PWM. All 3 fans set to "silent" mode in the motherboard BIOS. This is on Windows 10 Home. Below are some maximum CPU temperatures for this U9S cooler with the Lian-Li case, compared to the U12S/Antec Solo II combination in parentheses. All temps in a warm room (27 C, which is 81 F). The case ... MoreI downsized my case from a large ATX (Antec Solo II) to a much smaller mATX (Lian-Li A04) and therefore had to change from a Noctua U12S cooler to the shorter U9S due to the narrower Lian-Li. I'd been completely satisfied with the U12S, so decided to go with the U9S. I have no complaints at all. The rest of the hardware was unchanged: Intel 6600K processor, 3 hard drives, AsRock motherboard, 8 GB RAM, and NO video card. Intake fan Noctua NF-F12. Exhaust fan Noctua S12A. All fans PWM. All 3 fans set to "silent" mode in the motherboard BIOS. This is on Windows 10 Home. Below are some maximum CPU temperatures for this U9S cooler with the Lian-Li case, compared to the U12S/Antec Solo II combination in parentheses. All temps in a warm room (27 C, which is 81 F). The case fans stayed near 500 rpm for all tests. The U9S fan was always near 830 rpm. Not overclocked. Idling: hottest core maximum: 31 (28) Intel Extreme Tuning Utility CPU stress test: hottest core maximum: 54 (54) x264 stability test, 1 loop, hottest core maximum 58 (49) Prime 95, small FFTs, no AVX instructions, 20 minutes: hottest core maximum 59 (56) Prime 95, blend, no AVX instructions, 20 minutes: hottest core maximum 60 (55) So, you can see that the U9S performance is somewhat below the U12S, but temps were a long way from dangerous levels. This is about what I expected. I cannot say how much of the temp differences noted are due to the new smaller case rather than the new cooler. Noise levels for both coolers in silent mode are about the same--effectively silent from a distance of 3 or 4 feet. Go for it.
I've been building quiet PCs for over a decade. This is being used in an 8 core i7 gaming rig with plenty of ventilation. It does a superb job under the heaviest of loads. Noise level is so low it's below ambient for any quiet room, and in a case with any kind of sound-damping, you simply won't hear it. This was a replacement for an ultra-quiet machine built with an old Zalman flower cooler with one of those drop-RPM resistors in line... which essentially also made no noise. As an experiment, I tried using the stock i7 cooler that came with the CPU. That was a joke. It was so loud I was kind of stunned, and sounded like a dying frog. This is Noctua quality. I recommend it with no reservations.
So I wanted something quiet that would keep up with gaming loads. I recently upgraded my system and put in a Ryzen 5 3600x. I usually do some general computing and gaming. My last system had a stock AMD cooler and it was LOUD. During going I haven't seen the processor go over 40C and the PC barely sounds like it is on. Of note: I was looking at the bigger noctura heat sinks but they wouldn't fit in my case and I didn't want the additional cost of changing my case too. I was a little worried at first about getting the smaller cooler but I guess those fears were unfounded.
This is it. This is the one you buy. If you are new to pc building, and uncertain, let me assure you, this is the right cooler for you. Noctua is basically the CPU cooler standard, they're cool, quiet, and quality. Great RAM clearance. Easy to install. I feel like I am just yelling into an echo chamber at this point. Enthusiasts know already, and anyone else has probably gotten the idea from the other reviews. Or even this review. This was used in a build that was not for me, and I honestly never considered using anything else. The owner did not care about color, so that was not an issue for this build. I do however, think the color of these is ugly. It is also very silly that black costs more money. However the overwhelming quality and user friendliness of this ... MoreThis is it. This is the one you buy. If you are new to pc building, and uncertain, let me assure you, this is the right cooler for you. Noctua is basically the CPU cooler standard, they're cool, quiet, and quality. Great RAM clearance. Easy to install. I feel like I am just yelling into an echo chamber at this point. Enthusiasts know already, and anyone else has probably gotten the idea from the other reviews. Or even this review. This was used in a build that was not for me, and I honestly never considered using anything else. The owner did not care about color, so that was not an issue for this build. I do however, think the color of these is ugly. It is also very silly that black costs more money. However the overwhelming quality and user friendliness of this cooler means I feel obliged to give five stars. I want to encourage people to choose this cooler.
| Suitable location | Processor |
| Rotational speed (min) | 400 RPM |
| Rotational speed (max) | 2000 RPM |
| Noise level (low speed) | 16.3 dB |
| Noise level (high speed) | 22.8 dB |
