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Alpenföhn Brocken 4 vs Noctua NH-U12S Redux: Comparison
What is the difference between Alpenföhn Brocken 4 and Noctua NH-U12S Redux?
There is no decisive spec gap here. Noise level splits them by a margin most buyers will never feel, Alpenföhn Brocken 4 22.8 dBA against Noctua NH-U12S Redux 25.1 dBA. Add static pressure to that, 1.74 mmH2O on the Alpenföhn Brocken 4 versus 2.83 mmH2O on the Noctua NH-U12S Redux, and the pattern holds. Airflow runs the same way, 55.3 CFM on the Alpenföhn Brocken 4 versus 70.75 CFM on the Noctua NH-U12S Redux, another win for Noctua NH-U12S Redux.
Who each one is for
Buy the Alpenföhn Brocken 4 for noise-sensitive mid-to-high TDP builds and buyers wanting a dual-tower alternative to mainstream brands, though it is the wrong buy for RGB-themed builds and extreme overclocking chasing the absolute lowest temps. The Noctua NH-U12S Redux is the one to take for budget mainstream builds on AM5/LGA1700 and buyers who want Noctua reliability without flagship pricing, though it is not built for High-TDP overclocked flagship CPUs and RGB-themed builds. Our rating of the Alpenföhn Brocken 4 (7.8/10): A genuinely quiet dual-tower cooler for buyers who value acoustics as much as raw thermal ceiling. Our rating of the Noctua NH-U12S Redux (7.8/10): Noctua's mounting and acoustics at Hyper 212 money, an easy budget recommendation.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Cooler type, tower type, tower layout, fan count and rgb lighting read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 3 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Alpenföhn Brocken 4 and Noctua NH-U12S Redux differ on height?
Yes. Height reads 155 mm on the Alpenföhn Brocken 4 versus 158 mm on the Noctua NH-U12S Redux.
Is the Base Material the same on the Alpenföhn Brocken 4 and Noctua NH-U12S Redux?
It is. Both are listed at Nickel-Plated Copper, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- Alpenföhn
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- Noctua
Cooler Type
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- Air Tower
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- Air Tower
Series
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
Tower Type
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- Single-Tower
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- Single-Tower
Model Number
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 84000000205
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- NH-U12S redux
Height
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 155 mmBest
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 158 mm-2%
Socket Compatibility
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200/115X/20XX
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X
Tower Layout
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- Single-Tower
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- Single-Tower
Fan Count
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 1
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 1
Noise Level
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 22.8 dBABest
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 25.1 dBA
RGB Lighting
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- No
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- No
Cooler Weight
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 1098 g
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 710 gBest
Heatpipe Count
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 6
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 4
Base Material
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- Nickel-Plated Copper
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- Nickel-Plated Copper
Fan Size
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 120 mm
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 1600 RPM-6%
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 1700 RPMBest
Airflow
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 55.3 CFM-22%
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 70.75 CFMBest
Static Pressure
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- 1.74 mmH2O-39%
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- 2.83 mmH2O
PWM Control
- Alpenföhn Brocken 4
- Yes
- Noctua NH-U12S Redux
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose Alpenföhn Brocken 4 if you want the lower height (155 mm vs 158 mm), the higher fan count (1 vs 1) and the lower noise level (22.8 dBA vs 25.1 dBA).
Choose Noctua NH-U12S Redux if you want the higher max speed (1700 RPM vs 1600 RPM), the higher airflow (70.75 CFM vs 55.3 CFM) and the higher static pressure (2.83 mmH2O vs 1.74 mmH2O).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Alpenföhn Brocken 4 | Noctua NH-U12S Redux |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Alpenföhn Brocken 4
7.8 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely quiet dual-tower cooler for buyers who value acoustics as much as raw thermal ceiling.
Noctua NH-U12S Redux
7.8 / 10 Expert Rating
Noctua's mounting and acoustics at Hyper 212 money, an easy budget recommendation.