A few weeks ago, Shawn reviewed the Noctua NH-D14 and deemed it "simply incredible". With a new fan design featuring Noctua's Vortex-Control Notches and included Ultra Low Noise Adapters, the D14 is not only an awesomely effective cooler, but also extremely quiet at the same time. The only downside noted is the sheer size, between the huge array of fins and the attachment of dual fans, users could run into potential clearance issues with their case, side panel, memory modules or a host of other surrounding motherboard components. The best cooler in the world won't do you any good if it's simply too big to fit.


For those seeking a quality cooling solution without yielding up quite so much real estate, Noctua offers a revamped version of their popular NH-C12P, now designated the SE14. Included is the same NF-P14 140mm cooling fan found on the D14, coupled with what Noctua refers to as their "C-shaped" cooler, featuring six heatpipes connecting the copper base to a large array of aluminum fins oriented parallel to the motherboard. This keeps the height of the cooler down to a mere 114mm, fan included, nearly two inches shorter than the tower style D14. Depth and width are also somewhat reduced, and the weight is cut almost in half, coming in at 730g fully assembled, and only 550g sans fan.

Continue ahead as I take a closer look at the Noctua NH-C12P SE14.