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

I bought this for my Ryzen 7 3800XT processor for my very first PC build. As you read, keep in mind that this is the first time I've gone through the entire process, not just installing this fan. Right out of the box, this thing looks massive. It's quite big so make sure it fits in your pocket before you buy it. I did some research but thought about it anyway, but ended up fitting it together by just a few millimeters with no issues. This is probably the biggest problem you have to face before putting your real data in front of your eyes. The fan allows you to install any orientation you want to install it. PC and I were able to go in and add another memory stick without fiddling with anything. I can't speak for the horizontal, but it's pretty tall, so that might work as well. I have a ROG Strix X570-E gaming motherboard and didn't need to modify the backplate to install this part. The instructions are solid and you have several options to work with. Just take your time, watch the video if needed and make sure everyone is safe. It's bulky and somewhat heavy, so it's important that there aren't any loose screws. No need to over-tighten it either, just let it get where it needs to be, secure and you're done. Oh, and don't forget to put some thermal paste (included) inside as it has bare bottom metal. Plate without thermal pads. I put in about the size of a grain of rice and it didn't quite cover it so I added a little more and it spread perfectly and evenly across the platter and processor. Be sure to check it out again so you can get the most out of it. I'm not including timing here because I've never had a processor run on its own without cooling. As for the noise, yes it's a bit loud, but not loud. If you have headphones you will never hear it. Only recommend this to be on the safe side to keep your CPU cool.