Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU cooler review

It was way back in May last year that we first took a look at Noctua's NH-U12P CPU cooler, and ever since then it's stood out as one of the better offerings on the market when it comes to effectively cooling an Intel Core 2-based system.

Since the launch of Intel's Core i7 parts, the NH-U12P has gained a new lease of life for both existing users and potential buyers.  Firstly, if you already own an NH-U12P and are looking to make the leap to Core i7, then Noctua will provide you with a free mounting kit as long as you can show a proof of purchase - A fantastic example of long-term customer service if ever we saw one.

However, if you're new to the world of Noctua coolers and are in the process of building up a rig using Intel's latest and greatest, then you can also now pick up the NH-U12P SE1366, which features the same base cooler as the original NH-U12P, but with the addition of a second fan into the bundle while the original's LGA 775 and AM2 mounting kits are replaced with a solitary Socket LGA 1366 kit.

For this review, we're actually making use of our "classic" NH-U12P sample, but complete with two NF-P12 fans and the LGA 1366 mounting kit, to give us the equivalent of the NH-U12P SE1366 now available on retail shelves.  Can it succeed where other Intel Core i7 coolers have failed?