Review on Noctua NH-U12S SE-AM4: Top-Tier CPU Cooler for AMD AM4 (Brown) by Joe Jordan

Given the popularity of this cooler, it would probably be wiser to start with the cons. . . probably not as easy as expected, at least for me. It's simpler than many AM4 options, as AM4 coolers are typically Goldberg-style puzzle machines that defy common logic, but compared to most Intel platforms I've used, the process was quite complex and demanding. . You'll need to hold the backplate itself in place when installing the CPU-supporting cross braces, and installing the CPU itself requires a very steady hand to tighten the mounting screws as they don't go into their holes naturally. Secondly. . . Aside from the price, the U12-AM4 doesn't have any downsides if you ask me. Unlike Intel platforms where the U12's performance is comparable to something cheaper like the 212 EVO, Ryzen's larger and (better) soldered heatsink really lets the U12's gargantuan baseplate and fully soldered construction shine. These aren't scientific numbers, but in a 68F room I've observed idle temperatures as high as 22C and a ridiculously low max temperature of 48C in the AIDA64 FPU benchmark with the CPU on. (Meanwhile, the fan never ran above 75%.) Noise levels are nominal for normal desktop use; The fan is clearly audible in situations (gaming, rendering) where your case is being flooded with heat from the GPU, but it's a much quieter and less obnoxious noise than you'll hear from any GPU fan. TL; DR: You have to be careful and patient during the installation process, but the results are excellent.