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Noctua NH-C14 Lower Noise Heatsink Review
Noctua NH-C14 Lower Noise Heatsink Review
  97%   
Abstract: UPDATED with new support bracket details. The Noctua NH-C14 is a big heatsink for sure, but remarkably by orienting the fans and aluminum fin stack in a top-down direction, Noctua keep the heatsinks' height to just 130mm. That's a far cry more compact than your typical 160mm tall tower heatsink, but that hasn't made the NH-C14 into a slouch.

 Manufacturer  Category  Published  Author 
Noctua   Cooling / Heatsinks   Feb 07, 2011   Max Page  

Home > Reviews > Page: Intel LGA775/1156 Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

FrostyTech Mk.II Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results
Intel Core Extreme / Pentium D & Quad Core class heatsinks tested at 150W
Intel Core i5 / Core i3 / Core 2 Duo / Pentium 4 / Celeron class heatsinks tested at 85W

Results based on readings from a 30x30mm copper interface die with 150W and 85W heat loads applied on the LGA775/1156 version of the Mk.II Test Platform. Temperature results listed for each heatsink were calculated by determining the rise over ambient temperatures at time of test. Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here.
Socket 775/1155/1156 compatible CPU heatsinks
manufacturer: model no.: fan speed: 150w
thermal test* (°c)
85w
thermal test (°c)
noise level (dba)

ECT Prometeia Mach2 GT -48.2 -55.9 49.1
Noctua NH-C14 high 14.1 8.9 46.6
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme high 14.1 8.4 43.5
Noctua NH-D14 high 14.5 8.7 48.1
Spire Thermax Eclipse II 14.5 8.7 51.3
Thermaltake Frio high 14.5 8.8 62.6
Zalman CNPS9900 Max high 15.0 9.0 54.5
Prolimatech Megahalems (80CFM) high 15.0 9.2 53.0
3Rsystem iceage 120 Boss II high 15.4 9.8 49.9
Titan TTC-NK85TZ high 15.5 8.8 58.6
Zaward Vapor 120 high 15.6 9.7 51.6
Coolink Corator DS high 15.9 9.7 54.9
Thermalright Silver Arrow high 16.0 9.7 43.4
Thermolab BADA high 16.0 9.6 54.0
Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer high 16.1 10.0 51.3
Danamics LMX Extreme high 16.3 9.5 55.4
Zalman CNPS10X Quiet high 16.5 10.4 46.8
Zalman CNPS10X Flex (80CFM) 16.5 10.6 51.2
Zalman CNPS10X Performa high 16.6 10.0 58.7
Zerotherm ZT-10D Premium high 16.7 10.1 45.3
Spire Thermax II (SP67951) high 16.7 9.5 57.8
Prolimatech Megahalems (50CFM) high 16.8 10.2 45.1
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 high 16.8 10.7 50.7
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus high 16.9 10.9 50.1
Titan TTC-NC15TZ high 17.0 9.7 50.0
Scythe SCRT-1000 Rasetsu high 17.2 10.8 59.5
Kingwin XT-1264 high 17.2 10.5 45.5
Thermolab BARAM 17.3 10.5 53.0
Noctua NH-C14 low 17.4 10.8 35.1
Glacialtech Alaska high 17.4 10.7 48.3
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme high 17.6 10.1 58.2
Zalman CNPS10X Flex (50CFM) 17.6 10.9 45.4
CoolIT Domino ALC high 17.8 10.6 60.2
Thermalright Ultra 120 17.8 10.6 53.7
DeepCool GamerStorm high 17.9 11.6 44.5
Akasa Nero AK967 high 17.9 10.8 39.3
Xigmatek DK-S1283 high 17.9 11.0 49.6
Thermolab BARAM 2010 (80 CFM) high 18.0 10.8 51.3
Thermaltake Contac 29 high 18.0 11.4 48.0
Zerotherm Nirvana NV 120 PWM high 18.0 11.0 44.9
Ibuypower IBP-Z001 high 18.0 11.6 61.7
Coolermaster Hyper Z600 18.0 11.6 47.7
DeepCool Killer Whale Premium high 18.1 11.7 52.5
Xigmatek HDT-S1284EE high 18.1 9.4 44.2
Zerotherm FZ120 high 18.2 11.4 47.6
3Rsystem Iceage 120 high 18.2 12.1 47.9
Akasa Venom Nano high 18.3 10.9 57.5
Coolage X120TF 18.3 11.0 53.0
Vantec VAF-1225 Aeroflow FX 120 high 18.3 11.8 54.2
nPowerTek Hurricane NPH-105 (NB fan) high 18.3 11.2 47.7
Glacialtech F101 PWM high 18.4 11.4 47.5
Zerotherm Core 92 high 18.4 11.5 53.4
Coolermaster V8 high 18.4 11.2 52.6
Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme 18.4 11.4 44.5
DeepCool Killer Whale high 18.7 12.6 53.5
XtremeGear HP-1216B high 18.8 13.8 54.0
Thermaltake BigTyp 14Pro high 18.8 11.6 59.7
Xigmatek HDT-SD964 high 18.8 11.6 57.2
SilenX iXtrema IXC-120HA2 high 18.9 11.2 52.9
Coolermaster Hyper 212 19.0 11.8 45.9
Apack Zerotherm BTF92 OC Ed high 19.0 11.2 53.6
Zalman CNPS9700 LED high 19.0 10.4

56.5

Akasa Venom high 19.4 11.4 54.1
Xigmatek HDT-S983 high 19.5 11.8 52.7
Scythe Mugen 19.5 11.4 46.0
DeepCool Ice Matrix 600 high 19.6 11.8 49.3
Thermolab BADA2010 high 19.6 12.7 44.3
Xigmatek S1284 Achilles high 19.6 11.6 42.7
Tuniq Tower 120 high 19.6 12.2 51.6
Thermalright Ultra-90 high 19.6 13.0 56.2
DeepCool Ice Blade Pro high 19.8 13.1 46.1
Apack Zerotherm Nirvana 120 high 19.8 12.3 49.2
Enzotech Ultra-X high 20.0 8.5 59.1
Scythe KAMA Angle high 20.1 21.0 43.3
Zalman CNPS9900 LED high 20.2 13.3 57.5
SilenX EFZ-120HA4 high 20.3 12.5 48.7
Zalman CNPS9700NT high 20.3 12.4 52.2
Scythe Infinity SCINF-1000 20.3 12.6 37.8
Cooler Master Hyper Z600 Black Label high 20.5 12.4 49.2
OCZ Vendetta 2 high 20.5 12.5 41.9
DeepCool Ice Warrior high 20.6 15.2 45.5
Dynatron Genius high 20.6 13.0 47.2
Corsair Hydro H50 high 20.7 13.7 45.6
OCZ Gladiator Max high 20.7 12.6 42.9
EKL GroB Clock'ner 20.8 13.2 40.6
EKL GroB Clock'ner Blue Ed. high 21.0 12.9 42.4
Glacialtech Siberia high 21.2 13.6 47.6
Vantec VAF-9225 Aeroflow FX92 high 21.2 14.0 57.9
Noctua NH-C12P high 21.2 13.1 40.4
Coolermaster GeminII S high 21.3 13.4 49.6
OCZ Vendetta high 21.3 13.5 52.8
Noctua NH-U12P high

21.3

13.4 40.7
Thermaltake SpinQ VT high 21.6 12.7 50.1
Akasa Blue Aurora AK966BL high 21.6 14.0 44.4
Thermaltake ISGC-300 high 21.7 12.9 44.0
Xigmatek Thors Hammer S126384 21.8 13.2 46.4
Apack Zerotherm BTF90 21.8 12.7 52.1
Xigmatek HDT-S963 high 21.9 13.7 50.2
AVC Black Samurai high 22.2 11.5 56.7
Akasa AK-965 high 22.2 13.8 48.1
Gelid Tranquillo high 22.4 13.9 41.3
Coolermaster Hyper N520 22.4 14.1 49.0
SilenX EFZ-120HA3 high 22.7 11.9 41.7
DeepCool Ice Matrix 400 high 22.8 14.4 45.0
Scythe Grand Kama Cross high 22.8 14.0 45.9
Apack Zerotherm BTF80 22.8 13.9 51.9
Thermaltake MaxOrb high 22.9 13.1 57.4
DeepCool IceWing 5 Pro high 23.1 12.3 53.2
Scythe Zipang 2 23.2 14.0 37.7
Coolermaster Hyper TX3 high 23.2 14.0 56.0
Zalman CNPS8700 LED high 23.2 14.1 48.1
Cooljag Falcon 92-AL high 23.2 14.2 52.1
Rosewill RCX-Z3 high 23.3 14.0 58.6
Coolink Silentator high 23.5 16.4 41.2
Nexus HOC-9000 high 23.6 14.6 43.0
Scythe Mine Rev. B 23.6 15.0 36.8
Cooljag Falcon 92-Cu high 23.6 14.8 52.8
Thermaltake MaxOrb EX high 24.0 13.9 56.5
nPowertek NPH-775-115HC 24.2 15.3 55.0
Akasa AK-920 high 24.3 14.1 52.9
Thermaltake V1 high 24.4 12.3 59.6
Intel FCLGA4-S Reference (P mode) high 24.5 15.2 61.1
Scythe Zipang 24.7 15.2 33.1
Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 high 24.8 14.5 48.5
Evercool HPK-10025EA 24.8 13.8 50.9
Glacialtech Igloo 5750 PWM high 24.9 14.6 52.3
Asus Arctic Square high 24.9 14.9 44.9
Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer 92mm Ed. high 25.3 15.6 50.2
AMA Serac 770 25.4 15.7 42.1
Glacialtech Igloo 5751PWM high 25.5 14.2 50.6
Evercool HPJ-12025 Transformer 4 25.5 15.3 38.9
Akasa AK-922 (EVObue) high 25.5 15.4 60.3
Thermaltake SpinQ high 25.7 15.6 50.9
Asus Lionsquare high 25.7 15.3 44.7
Coolermaster Aquagate Mini R80 high 25.7 16.2 59.2
Asus Silent Square EVO high 25.8 15.6 42.8
Glacialtech Igloo 5610 PWM high 25.9 15.9 59.5
Thermalright SI-128SE 26.5 15.2 44.5
Thermaltake DuOrb 26.7 16.1 49.5
Scythe Andy Samuri Master SCASM-1000 26.7 14.2 38.4
Dynatron Evo-11 high 26.8 16.4 54.1
Titan Cool Idol TTC-NK75TZ high 26.9 15.1 56.3
Gelid Silent Spirit high 27.0 17.1 48.5
Zalman CNPS9300AT high 27.1 18.2 55.5
Noctua NH-U9B high 27.1 17.2 41.9
Thermaltake ISGC-400 high 27.2 16.3 45.4
Asus Triton 79 Amazing 27.7 17.0 44.3
ASUS Triton 77 high 27.7 17.6 41.2
Auras SLC-747 high 27.9 25.7 52.2
Thermaltake ISGC-200 high 28.1 16.5 48.7
Glacialtech Igloo 5760 PWM high 28.3 17.4 50.3
Coolermaster Vortex Plus high 28.3 16.8 54.6
Auras LPT-700 28.3 16.9 52.2
Thermalfly F1-IACSHA high 29.0 18.3 60.4
Coolage Frozen Orb 2924HDC high 29.2 18.7 56.0
Evercool Transformer 6 high 29.2 14.6 51.6
Cooljag JYC 8A03A high 29.3 19.8 50.6
nPowertek TTIC NPH1000 29.3 16.8 47.5
3Rsystem Iceage 90 29.4 18.0 47.2
Glacialtech Igloo 5710 Silent 29.4 18.0 43.4
Thermalfly I75DUB high 29.5

16.8

68.5
Zalman CNPS9500 AT 29.6 17.3 53.3
Glacialtech Igloo 5750 Silent 29.8 18.5 35.5
Coolermaster Hyper TX2 29.9 18.8 53.7
Alpha Novatech PRE9060M92P high 29.9 18.5 51.5
Scythe Kama Cross 30.0 18.8 40.0
Akasa AK-961 30.0 18.7

60.7

Auras LPT-709 30.1 18.6 43.9
Rosewill RCX-Z2-EX high 30.1 18.7 45.9
nPowertek NPH-775-1 30.1 18.8 50.1
SilenX EFZ-80HA2 high 30.2 22.4 40.6
Glacialtech Igloo 5710 Plus Silent 30.2 18.5 39.3
Glacialtech Igloo 5610 Silent 30.4 17.1 44.7
Sunon Waturbo 30.6 18.3 57.5
Auras CTC-868 (closed) 31.0 18.6 48.7
Akasa Revo (horizontal) high 31.0 20.3 44.5
Scythe Shuriken high 31.4 18.8 38.2
Apack CF800 high 31.4 20.7 48.4
Thermaltake Jungle512 high 31.6 20.4 60.8
Glacialtech UFO V51 Silent 32.0 18.7 42.4
Coolage Frozen Orb F0-Z924AL high 32.0 19.9 48.9
Xigmatek AIO-S80DP high 32.4 21.4 55.0
Scythe Katana II 32.5 18.6 37.9
Rosewill RCX-Z2

32.6

19.3 59.9
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu high 32.9 19.7 50.7
Apack CF900 high 32.9 20.3 48.3
Evercool PT02-9232CP 33.3 19.9 63.3
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu LED high 33.5 20.6 49.8
Scythe Ninja Mini 33.7 19.9 41.7
Thermalright MST-977SLE 33.8 20.0 46.5
Intel Stock Pentium D high 33.8 20.7 47.5
Scythe Orochi SCORC-1000 34.0 20.8 27.8
Zaward Gyre ZCJ010 high 34.4 21.3 52.7
Arctic Cooling Freezer 11 LP high 34.5 20.3 45.3
Scythe Big Shuriken high 34.6 22.1 39.6
Thermolab TLI-S Micro Silencer 34.7 19.2 52.0
nPowerTek SF775-2 high 34.7 21.1 64.6
Asus Silent Knight 2 high 34.9 21.4 46.2
Glacialtech Igloo 5610 Plus Silent 36.1 20.9 38.0
Akasa AK-960E 36.1 21.4 56.3
Gigabyte Volar GH-PSV21-FB high 36.3 22.1 56.1
Auras SMF-660 36.4 23.0 43.4
Zalman CNPS7500-Cu LED high 36.4 22.9 50.9
Thermalfly I75DUH 37.8 22.8 48.7
Nexus VCT-9000 high 38.4 24.4 42.9
Akasa AK-975CU high 38.4 23.0 47.7
Cooljag OAK-H high 38.5 22.9 55.7
Cooljag OAK-H2 high 38.6 24.1 55.6
LS Cable SHS-T700 38.7 22.8 48.5
3Rsystem Iceage 80 Prima Mini 38.8 24.5 35.4
Thermaltake ISGC-100 high 39.5 24.6 45.5
Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro high 40.0 24.7 46.1
nPowertek NPH-775-140HC high 40.2 24.8 56.7
SilenX EFZ-100HA1 high 40.5 25.3 38.0
Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 Pro high 40.5 23.8 44.1
Intel Stock Core 2 Duo E4400 41.5 25.2 41.6
Intel Stock Core 2 Duo 49.2 29.0 36.7
Thermolab TLI-U Nano Silencer 50.4 28.8 48.3
Glacialtech Igloo 5062 Cu Light 50.6 29.7 45.2
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7LP high 53.1 31.2 46.1
Silverstone NT07-775 high 55.2 32.9 36.5
Glacialtech Igloo 5063 Light E 56.5 32.1 51.5
Glacialtech Igloo 5063 Cu Silent E 57.3 34.4 41.0
Glacialtech Igloo 5057 E 58.5 36.1 53.4
Asus Triton 75 58.6 16.1 49.6
Spire Fourier IV SP607B3-C 63.6 18.7 60.2
Asus Triton 85 high 71.5+ 16.2 41.1
Glacialtech Igloo 5058 Light E 73.8 39.9 48.5
150w
thermal test (°c)
85w
thermal test (°c)
noise level (dba)
*heatsinks are ranked according to the 150w thermal test results column (rise over ambient temp.). low temperatures with low noise levels are considered best. for reference heatsinks with variable-speed fans, only the high speed (12v) fan test result is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results reside in each specific heatsink review.

The heat output from Intel processors varies, so Frostytech tests heatsinks with two thermal loads that represent the upper limits of existing CPU families.

With a 150W heat load applied by the Intel LGA775/1156 version of FrostyTech's synthetic thermal test platform, the Noctua NH-C14 heatsink maintains an excellent result of 14.1°C over ambient with both its 140mm fans operating at full speed (1200RPM, 46.6dBA noise).

After both the NF-P14 fans were reduced to a speed of 750RPM, the test was run again while heat load was maintained at 150W. In this scenario noise output decreased to 35.1dBA while CPU die temperature only increased to 17.4°C over ambient!

Noctua's NH-C14 heatsink was then tested on the Frostytech Mrk.II synthetic thermal test platform with an 85W heat load; akin to an Intel Core 2 Duo or Core i5 processor. The integrated heatspreader of a Core i5 CPU is the same size as that of a LGA775 CPU, so the 85W results can be considered indicative of LGA1156 heatsink performance as well.

In the 85W heat load test the Noctua NH-C14 heatsink had no difficulties maintaining test temperatures at an extremely low 8.9°C over ambient with both fans operating at full speed and 10.8°C over ambient with both fans operating at 750RPM. Excellent performance cooling for just 35.1dBA noise output when the fans are spinning at 750RPM.

As Frostytech saw with the similiarly paced Noctual NH-D14 heatsink, the Noctua NH-C14 is a big performance cooler that offers excellent cooling for thermal loads up to 150W with relatively little noise output.

If your computer can accommodate the large size of this heatsink (with both fans, or one), you'll be pleased with it. The attention to build quality, the ease of installation, the effort to reduce vibration and noises; it's all there in this well designed thermal solution that offers up excellent thermal performance.

Incidently, during testing we did notice that the body of the NH-C14 oscillated somewhat from the combined vibrations of the two fans, (mostly just the top fan). The cantilever body design no doubt amplified slightly unbalanced fan impellers. UPDATE: Noctua have released a metal support bar to provide additional stability to the upper half of the heatsink. The bar is fixed to the base and supports the fan against rubberized metal frame (see 1st page).

Bottom line though, the Noctua NH-C14 heatsink is an excellent lower noise cooler for both Intel/AMD platforms if your PC can accommodate its large footprint. Highly recommended.

Related Articles:

The Top 5 best heatsinks for low noise and low temperature are ranked here. For more reviews on the latest heatsinks and cooling solutions, rely on FrostyTech's inventory of 400+ heatsink reviews. Here are a few other articles that you might enjoy as well.

- Apack Zerotherm ZT-10D Premium Heatsink Review
- Glacialtech Alaska Heatsink Review
- Scythe SCRT-1000 Rasetsu Heatsink Review
- Glacialtech Siberia Heatsink Review
- Coolink Corator DS Heatsink Review
- Akasa Venom Heatsink Review
- DeepCool Gamer Storm Heatsink Review

 Previous Page ° Heat Sink Review Index  

Table of Contents:

 1:  Noctua NH-C14 Lower Noise Heatsink Review
 2:  360° View - Noctua NH-C14 Heatsink
 3:  Acoustic Sample and Heatsink Sound Levels
 4:  AMD Heatsink Temperature Comparisons
 5: — Intel LGA775/1156 Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

List all Noctua heat sinks that Frostytech tested?

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