Noctua
Noctua NH-U12A
Air tower
90
/ 100
From $109
VS
Noctua NH-D15 G2 wins by 5
Noctua
Noctua NH-D15 G2
Twin-tower air · NF-A14x25r G2 · LGA1851/AM5
95
/ 100
From $149
Specdex verdict
Noctua NH-D15 G2 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-U12A lands at 90 and Noctua NH-D15 G2 at 95. That puts Noctua NH-D15 G2 ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Noctua NH-U12A if…
- ✓Multi-socket bracket support
- ✓Quiet fans at idle
- ✓Strong TDP rating
Pick Noctua NH-D15 G2 if…
- ✓Air-cooling king
- ✓Whisper-quiet fans
- ✓Rock-solid mounting
Score breakdown
Noctua NH-U12A
90 thermals 90
noise 86
install 88
value 86
Noctua NH-D15 G2
95 thermals 96
noise 98
install 92
value 90
Specs side-by-side
Spec
Noctua NH-U12A
Noctua NH-D15 G2
Type
Air tower
Twin-tower air
Fans
—
2× NF-A14x25r G2
TDP rating
—
~280W
Height
—
168 mm
Noctua NH-U12A
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
Noctua NH-D15 G2
Pros
- +Air-cooling king
- +Whisper-quiet fans
- +Rock-solid mounting
Cons
- −Large in case
- −Three SKUs (tall/offset/low-profile)
- −Brown isn’t for everyone
FAQ: Noctua NH-U12A vs Noctua NH-D15 G2
Which is better, Noctua NH-U12A or Noctua NH-D15 G2? +
Noctua NH-D15 G2 scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Noctua NH-U12A worth the price? +
At $109, Noctua NH-U12A delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in thermals.
Is Noctua NH-D15 G2 worth the price? +
At $149, Noctua NH-D15 G2 delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in noise.
Does Noctua NH-U12A or Noctua NH-D15 G2 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.