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Corsair A500 vs Noctua NH-D12L: Comparison
Corsair A500 vs Noctua NH-D12L: the height difference
The gap that matters here is height: Corsair A500 165 mm against Noctua NH-D12L 145 mm, which puts Noctua NH-D12L 14% ahead. Corsair A500 also leads on fan count, 2 on the Corsair A500 versus 1 on the Noctua NH-D12L. Add static pressure to that, 4.2 mmH2O on the Corsair A500 versus 2.34 mmH2O on the Noctua NH-D12L, and the pattern holds. Add airflow to that, 75 CFM on the Corsair A500 versus 60.09 CFM on the Noctua NH-D12L, and the pattern holds. Max speed runs the same way, 2400 RPM on the Corsair A500 versus 2000 RPM on the Noctua NH-D12L, another win for Corsair A500. Warranty runs the same way, 5 years on the Corsair A500 versus 6 years on the Noctua NH-D12L, another win for Noctua NH-D12L.
Corsair A500 vs Noctua NH-D12L: which one fits your build
The Corsair A500 is the one to take for High-TDP builds wanting flagship air cooling without RGB and builders already in Corsair's fan and case ecosystem, though it is not the pick for small cases without room for a 165mm-tall dual-tower cooler and builders who want RGB lighting. It is not the one for anyone chasing the absolute best air cooling result, where Noctua's NH-D15 G2 tests slightly ahead. The Noctua NH-D12L suits 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 A500 and Noctua NH-D12L differ on noise level?
Yes. Noise Level reads 37 dBA on the Corsair A500 versus 22.6 dBA on the Noctua NH-D12L.
Is the Cooler Type the same on the Corsair A500 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 A500
- Corsair
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Noctua
Cooler Type
- Corsair A500
- Air Tower
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Air Tower
Series
- Corsair A500
- Corsair A500
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Noctua NH-D12L
Tower Type
- Corsair A500
- Single-Tower
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Dual-Tower (Asymmetric)
Model Number
- Corsair A500
- CT-9010003-WW
- Noctua NH-D12L
- NH-D12L
Height
- Corsair A500
- 165 mm-14%
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 145 mmBest
Socket Compatibility
- Corsair A500
- AMD AM4, Intel LGA115X/2066/2011-3
- Noctua NH-D12L
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X
Tower Layout
- Corsair A500
- Single-Tower
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Dual-Tower
Fan Count
- Corsair A500
- 2Best
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 1-50%
Noise Level
- Corsair A500
- 37 dBA
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 22.6 dBABest
RGB Lighting
- Corsair A500
- No
- Noctua NH-D12L
- No
Heatpipe Count
- Corsair A500
- 4
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 5
Base Material
- Corsair A500
- Nickel-Plated Copper
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Nickel-Plated Copper
Fan Size
- Corsair A500
- 120 mm
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- Corsair A500
- 2400 RPMBest
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 2000 RPM-17%
Airflow
- Corsair A500
- 75 CFMBest
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 60.09 CFM-20%
Static Pressure
- Corsair A500
- 4.2 mmH2O
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 2.34 mmH2O-44%
PWM Control
- Corsair A500
- Yes
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Yes
Warranty
- Corsair A500
- 5 years-17%
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 6 yearsBest
Fans
- Corsair A500
- 2x CORSAIR ML120, 120mm
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 1x NF-A12x25r PWM 120mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose Corsair A500 if you want the higher fan count (2 vs 1), the higher max speed (2400 RPM vs 2000 RPM) and the higher airflow (75 CFM vs 60.09 CFM).
Choose Noctua NH-D12L if you want the lower height (145 mm vs 165 mm), the lower noise level (22.6 dBA vs 37 dBA) and the higher warranty (6 years vs 5 years).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Corsair A500 | Noctua NH-D12L |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
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 A500
8.1 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely strong flagship-tier air cooler that trades a few degrees against Noctua's best for a lower price and Corsair's ecosystem familiarity.
Noctua NH-D12L
8.3 / 10 Expert Rating
An excellent no-compromise pick when tall RAM rules out a standard dual-fan tower.