Initial Thoughts
As is made clear by the very first pic, the U12S is almost a carbon copy of the U14S in design and packaging. As before, the box has the meticulous spacing and pretty exterior. There’s not a whole lot I can say about this one that’s radically different from the U14S, so forgive me if my description seems a bit skimped on, but initial, superficial aspects are similar enough that you can look at my previous review for all the details.
Closer Look
Again, the design is not terribly distinguishable from the previous model, but I will point out the differences for the sake of being thorough. First thing you might notice yourself: this heatsink has two fewer heatpipes, is slightly thinner, and is meant for 120mm fans. Unfortunately, extension cables are missing from this set, but the low-noise adaptor cable is still available should you wish you run extra silent. Apart from that, there’s not much else aesthetic-wise to expound on
That’s not the only extra accessory that accompanies the heatsink; it seems Noctua has set a new standard for installation by including a special L-shaped phillips-head screwdriver plus the securi-firm backplate which makes for effortless mounting. Again though, the mounting bar screws were a little difficult to attach to the side-mounting bars, but perhaps it was less annoying than the U14S. If nothing else, that’s one part different. Sort of.
