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Corsair A115 vs Noctua NH-D12L: Comparison
Corsair A115 vs Noctua NH-D12L: the height difference
On height the spread is 14%, Corsair A115 164.8 mm against Noctua NH-D12L 145 mm, so Noctua NH-D12L takes it. Corsair A115 also leads on fan count, 2 on the Corsair A115 versus 1 on the Noctua NH-D12L. Add airflow to that, 84.5 CFM on the Corsair A115 versus 60.09 CFM on the Noctua NH-D12L, and the pattern holds. Noctua NH-D12L also leads on static pressure, 1.73 mmH2O on the Corsair A115 versus 2.34 mmH2O on the Noctua NH-D12L. Add max speed to that, 1600 RPM on the Corsair A115 versus 2000 RPM on the Noctua NH-D12L, and the pattern holds. Warranty runs the same way, 5 years on the Corsair A115 versus 6 years on the Noctua NH-D12L, another win for Noctua NH-D12L.
Who each one is for
The Corsair A115 suits high-end builds needing roughly 240W of air-cooling headroom, though it is not the pick for the smallest cases, given the large dual-tower footprint. It also earns its place with Corsair ecosystem buyers who want a flagship air cooler that matches other iCUE components. Avoid it for buyers chasing the single best raw air-cooling performance, where the Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black, covered elsewhere on this site, generally edges ahead. Buy the Noctua NH-D12L for builds with tall heatsink-covered RAM modules and quiet-focused mid-range and upper-mid-range CPUs, though it is the wrong buy for extreme overclocks needing maximum dual-fan airflow and buyers wanting RGB aesthetics.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Corsair A115 and Noctua NH-D12L differ on noise level?
Yes. Noise Level reads 33.9 dBA on the Corsair A115 versus 22.6 dBA on the Noctua NH-D12L.
Is the Cooler Type the same on the Corsair A115 and Noctua NH-D12L?
It is. Both are listed at Air Tower, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Corsair A115
- Corsair
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Noctua
Cooler Type
- Corsair A115
- Air Tower
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Air Tower
Series
- Corsair A115
- Corsair A115
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Noctua NH-D12L
Tower Type
- Corsair A115
- Dual-Tower
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Dual-Tower (Asymmetric)
Model Number
- Corsair A115
- CT-9010011-WW
- Noctua NH-D12L
- NH-D12L
Height
- Corsair A115
- 164.8 mm-14%
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 145 mmBest
Socket Compatibility
- Corsair A115
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200/115X
- Noctua NH-D12L
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X
Tower Layout
- Corsair A115
- Dual-Tower
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Dual-Tower
Fan Count
- Corsair A115
- 2Best
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 1-50%
Noise Level
- Corsair A115
- 33.9 dBA
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 22.6 dBABest
RGB Lighting
- Corsair A115
- No
- Noctua NH-D12L
- No
Cooler Width
- Corsair A115
- 153 mm
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 125 mm
Heatpipe Count
- Corsair A115
- 6
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 5
Base Material
- Corsair A115
- Copper
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Nickel-Plated Copper
Fan Size
- Corsair A115
- 140 mm
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- Corsair A115
- 1600 RPM-20%
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 2000 RPMBest
Airflow
- Corsair A115
- 84.5 CFMBest
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 60.09 CFM-29%
Static Pressure
- Corsair A115
- 1.73 mmH2O-26%
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 2.34 mmH2O
PWM Control
- Corsair A115
- Yes
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Yes
Warranty
- Corsair A115
- 5 years-17%
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 6 yearsBest
Fans
- Corsair A115
- 2x AF140 ELITE PWM, 140mm
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 1x NF-A12x25r PWM 120mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose Corsair A115 if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 1) and the higher airflow (84.5 CFM vs 60.09 CFM).
Choose Noctua NH-D12L if you want the lower height (145 mm vs 164.8 mm), the lower noise level (22.6 dBA vs 33.9 dBA) and the higher max speed (2000 RPM vs 1600 RPM).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Corsair A115 | Noctua NH-D12L |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Corsair A115
8.2 / 10 Expert Rating
A capable flagship air cooler whose main draw is fitting neatly into an all-Corsair build rather than leading on raw thermals.
Noctua NH-D12L
8.3 / 10 Expert Rating
An excellent no-compromise pick when tall RAM rules out a standard dual-fan tower.