Noctua NC-U6 Chipset Cooler

INTRODUCTION

Although not a well known or widely available brand, Noctua has recently begun aiming to elevate their name in the minds of computer shoppers. One of the easiest and quickest ways to do so is to develop and deliver products that not only succeed but excel at their intended scope of use, and Noctua aims to do exactly that.

While additional cooling for a motherboard's chipset may traditionally be seen as the domain of overclockers and computer enthusiasts, there are several good reasons to consider not only an aftermarket CPU cooler, but an aftermarket chipset cooler such as the Noctua NC-U6 as well. Besides the additional stability afforded to an overclocker due to lower northbridge temperatures, regular computer users can appreciate the silence from replacing a noisy or failing chipset fan or simply relax in the comfort knowing that their hardware will likely last longer thanks do the lower temperature.

The overall majority of typical motherboard chipset heatsinks and "fansinks" typically offer only just sufficient cooling, but no further. If that wasn't enough many of the lower cost enthusiast motherboards will often sacrifice silence for a high-speed fan in the process. Typically these fans only last one or two years at most before wearing out and needing to be replaced, as some computer users unfortunately discovered only after their board had overheated and failed.

Availability of Noctua's array of cooling products in the larger US and UK markets is a bit on the lean side, but they can still be found with a little footwork (or rather finger work). To make things easy Noctua's website offers a regional worldwide database keeping track of who carries their products and where. The specific sample in this review was shipped directly from Noctua.

Noctua: The Company

The following is a brief excerpt from Noctu's expansive company page, which can be found in full here. 

Noctua aims at establishing a new level of quality and performance "Designed in Austria" through paying attention to the users' needs in a market burdened with all kinds of frills and furbelows and providing sound-optimised premium components, which serve their purpose in a smart, precise and reliable manner.

Noctua arises from a cooperation between the Austrian Rascom Computerdistribution Ges.m.b.H and the Taiwanese Kolink International Corporation and entertains a development partnership with the Austrian Institute of Heat Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV). These connections form the key to the achievement of our goal: The partnership with the ÖIWV permits the application of scientific measurement instrumentation, methods of calculation and simulation technology in the R&D process.

What does Nocua mean? The little owl, Athene noctua, is the symbol of the Greek goddess Athene, who represents wisdom, science and strategy. We from Noctua follow the suit of its calm and accurate observation in the dark, its soundless flight as well as the effective, economical use of its powers and precise attack.

SPECIFICATONS