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Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX vs Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black: Comparison
What is the difference between Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX and Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black?
On height the spread is 485%, Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX 27 mm against Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black 158 mm, so Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX takes it. Fans is not the same on both, 2x RX120 iCUE LINK ARGB, 120mm on the Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX versus 2x NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black, 120mm on the Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black.
Which should you buy, Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX or Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black?
Buy the Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX for builds prioritizing clean single-cable routing over absolute lowest price and mainstream to moderately overclocked builds needing roughly 240W of headroom. It is equally the pick for buyers already invested in Corsair's iCUE LINK ecosystem wanting a matching mid-size AIO. It is the wrong buy for buyers chasing the best value-per-degree, where the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240, covered elsewhere on this site, cools more for less. Take the Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black for buyers who want near-flagship cooling in a case too tight for a full dual-tower cooler. It also earns its place with builders who want tall RAM clearance without giving up much thermal capacity. Avoid it for the heaviest overclocking, where the larger Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black, covered elsewhere on this site, has more headroom. Our rating of the Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX (8.1/10): A well-executed mid-size entry into Corsair's cable-simplifying iCUE LINK ecosystem, priced for the ecosystem rather than raw thermals alone. Our rating of the Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black (8.8/10): Noctua's compact flagship proves a well-engineered single-tower can rival dual-tower coolers, at a real premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX and Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black differ on noise level?
Yes. Noise Level reads 28.4 dBA on the Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX versus 22.6 dBA on the Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black.
Is the Fan Count the same on the Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX and Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black?
It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- Corsair
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- Noctua
Cooler Type
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- AIO Liquid
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- Air Tower
Series
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
Model Number
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- iCUE LINK H100i RX
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- NH-U12A chromax.black
Height
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- 27 mmBest
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- 158 mm-485%
Socket Compatibility
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1851/1200
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X
Fan Count
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- 2
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- 2
Noise Level
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- 28.4 dBA
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- 22.6 dBABest
RGB Lighting
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- Yes
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- No
Fans
- Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX
- 2x RX120 iCUE LINK ARGB, 120mm
- Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- 2x NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black, 120mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX if you want the lower height (27 mm vs 158 mm) and the higher fan count (2 vs 2).
Choose Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black if you want the lower noise level (22.6 dBA vs 28.4 dBA).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Corsair iCUE LINK H100i RX | Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black |
|---|---|---|
| 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 iCUE LINK H100i RX
8.1 / 10 Expert Rating
A well-executed mid-size entry into Corsair's cable-simplifying iCUE LINK ecosystem, priced for the ecosystem rather than raw thermals alone.
Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
8.8 / 10 Expert Rating
Noctua's compact flagship proves a well-engineered single-tower can rival dual-tower coolers, at a real premium.