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Noctua NH-U12A · Black — Air tower
Noctua

Noctua NH-U12A · Black

Air tower

90
/ 100
From $109
VS
Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT — 420 AIO
Corsair

Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT

420 AIO

90
/ 100
From $349
Specdex verdict

Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.

In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-U12A · Black lands at 90 and Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT at 90. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.

Pick Noctua NH-U12A · Black if…

  • ✓Multi-socket bracket support
  • ✓Quiet fans at idle
  • ✓Strong TDP rating

Pick Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT if…

  • ✓Multi-socket bracket support
  • ✓Quiet fans at idle
  • ✓Strong TDP rating
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Thermals

Tie

Compared on the thermals sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Install

Tie

Compared on the install sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Noise

Tie

Compared on the noise sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Noctua NH-U12A · Black

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Noctua NH-U12A · Black more score per dollar ($109 vs $349).

Noctua NH-U12A · Black 90
vs
90 Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT

Score breakdown

Noctua NH-U12A · Black
90
thermals 90
noise 86
install 88
value 86
Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT
90
thermals 90
noise 86
install 88
value 86

Specs side-by-side

Noctua NH-U12A · Black versus Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT — full spec comparison
Spec Noctua NH-U12A · Black Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT
Type
Air tower
420 AIO

Noctua NH-U12A · Black

Pros
  • +Multi-socket bracket support
  • +Quiet fans at idle
  • +Strong TDP rating
Cons
  • −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
  • −AIO pump noise varies
  • −Installation requires motherboard-off

Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT

Pros
  • +Multi-socket bracket support
  • +Quiet fans at idle
  • +Strong TDP rating
Cons
  • −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
  • −AIO pump noise varies
  • −Installation requires motherboard-off

FAQ: Noctua NH-U12A · Black vs Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT

Which is better, Noctua NH-U12A · Black or Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT? +

Both score 90 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Noctua NH-U12A · Black worth the price? +

At $109, Noctua NH-U12A · Black delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in thermals.

Is Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT worth the price? +

At $349, Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in thermals.

Does Noctua NH-U12A · Black or Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is the better value, Noctua NH-U12A · Black or Corsair H170i Elite LCD XT? +

Noctua NH-U12A · Black — more score per dollar ($109 vs $349). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.