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Today — 25 June 2026Main stream

Noctua NL-LC1-360 360mm AIO CPU Cooler Review

24 June 2026 at 11:42

Today we're taking a look at something that has been a very long time coming – the NL-LC1-36, Noctua's first-ever all-in-one liquid CPU cooler. It's built around Asetek's EMMA V2 platform, paired with several Noctua-specific enhancements including NF-A12x25 G2 fans, a dedicated pump noise absorber, SecuFirm2+ mounting hardware and an optional auxiliary fan designed to improve airflow around nearby motherboard components. As expected, Noctua is aiming the focus on acoustics, reliability and attention to detail that made its air coolers so popular over the years, but now implementing that into liquid cooling. In this review, we'll be testing installation, build quality, acoustics and, of course, thermal performance to see how the NL-LC1-36 compares against the best 360mm AIO coolers currently on the market.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
01:11 Versions and pricing
02:06 Product information
03:56 The Mode Switch / Sound Tests
04:56 Top Cover and fan accessory
06:12 Coldplate and fitment
06:50 James thoughts so far
07:12 The Fans / kit
09:07 Accessories
10:27 Setting up the test system
12:33 Noise Output
13:20 CPU Temperature – Manual OC, 100% fans
13:58 CPU Temperature – Manual OC, 40dBA
14:37 CPU Temp and Clocks – PBO
15:21 James Closing Thoughts

Features:

  • Based on Asetek’s Emma V2 Platform – Asetek’s flagship pump that uses a closed impeller design for improved efficiency and performance. Compared with its predecessor Emma V2 provides 58% higher flow rate, and 124% higher head pressure as well as offering a 40% reduction in energy consumption.
  • Equipped with Noctua NL-PNA1 Pump Noise Absorber – Improved pump acoustics by reducing SPL and shifting the pump's sound signature towards lower, less distracting noise frequency.
  • High Purity Copper Cold Plate – Manufactured from 99.95% CU110 copper with a large 32.5 x 22.5mm micro-skived fin array.
  • Noctua NF-A12/A14x25 G2 Fans Included – All Noctua NL-LC1 series AIO’s include Noctua NF-A12 or A14 X25 G2 fans

Specifications:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1700/LGA1851
  • Radiator Material: Aluminium
  • Radiator Dimensions: 400x120x30mm
  • CPU Block/Pump Dimensions:
  • Pump Speed: 750~3400 RPM (±10 %) Max (Manual Mode)
  • Cold Plate Material: Micro Skived Copper
  • Pump Connector: 4-Pin PWM
  • Tubing Material: EPDM with braided sleeving
  • Tubing Length: 410mm
  • Fan Dimensions: 120 x120 x25mm
  • Fan Speed: 0 – 1800 rpm
  • Air flow: 63.15 CFM
  • Air Pressure: 3.14 mm H₂O
  • Fan Noise: 22.5 dB(A) (Per Fan)
  • Fan Connector: 4 – Pin PWM
  • Warranty: 6 years

Test System Specifications:

The post Noctua NL-LC1-360 360mm AIO CPU Cooler Review first appeared on KitGuru.
Before yesterdayMain stream

Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 receives all-black chromax treatment

13 May 2026 at 13:30

Noctua has announced the chromax.black edition of its flagship NF-A12x25 G2 120mm fan. The new all-black variants maintain the technical specifications of the regular G2 model, including the Progressive Bend impeller and Sterrox liquid-crystal polymer construction. The fans are available immediately in single units and speed-offset dual-packs.

The NF-A12x25 G2 features a 0.5mm tip clearance and a Centrifugal Turbulator hub to improve performance-to-noise efficiency. It features Noctua's etaPERF motor with SupraTorque technology, providing additional torque headroom for high-impedance applications, such as water-cooling radiators. The chromax.black version is compatible with Noctua's optional coloured anti-vibration pads for aesthetic customisation.

For multi-fan configurations, Noctua offers the Sx2-PP set, which includes two fans with a ±50rpm speed offset. This design is intended to prevent acoustic interference and harmonic phenomena, such as periodic humming, when fans are used in push-pull or side-by-side on 240mm or 360mm radiators.

The fans feature the SSO2 bearing system and carry an MTTF rating exceeding 150,000 hours. Noctua backs the series with a 6-year manufacturer's warranty. The NF-A12x25 G2 PWM chromax.black is priced at €34.90/$34.90 for the single fan, while the Sx2-PP dual-pack is available for €64.90/$64.90.

KitGuru says: Were you waiting for Noctua to release the chromax.black variant of its NF-A12x25 G2? 

The post Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 receives all-black chromax treatment first appeared on KitGuru.

Noctua explains why its chromax.black fans take so long to release

4 May 2026 at 16:00

Noctua has published a technical blog detailing why chromax.black versions of its fans often launch months or years after the standard brown and beige models. The company attributes these delays to the complex engineering required when introducing new pigments into the injection moulding process, which can alter material properties and disrupt the tolerances of its designs.

According to Noctua, its fans are designed with extremely tight tip clearances between the impeller and the frame, measuring approximately 0.5mm for 120mm fans and 0.7mm for 140mm fans. The company states that introducing third-party pigments can disrupt the structure of its Sterrox liquid-crystal polymer (LCP). Noctua claims that pigment particles possess unique characteristics that affect the behavior of the molten plastic during injection moulding, potentially leading to microscopic structural changes.

The manufacturer compares the process to the precision required in Formula 1 engineering rather than a simple aesthetic change. These material variations reportedly impact the results of Noctua's lab performance testing, necessitating extensive re-evaluation to ensure the black versions match the performance of the original designs.

Noctua confirmed it is currently preparing the chromax.black version of the NF-A12x25 G2, scheduled for release approximately 10 months after the launch of the original model. By comparison, the first-generation NF-A12x25 chromax.black took three years to reach the market, a delay the company attributed to a combination of engineering hurdles and pandemic-related logistical issues.

KitGuru says: Have you ever wondered why the Noctua chromax.black fans take so much longer to release? 

The post Noctua explains why its chromax.black fans take so long to release first appeared on KitGuru.

Noctua and Asetek AIO liquid coolers set for Q2 2026 launch

1 April 2026 at 14:45

A year after their Computex 2025 announcement, Noctua and Asetek have confirmed that their joint flagship AIO liquid coolers have completed the Production Validation Test (PVT) phase. This milestone marks the final hurdle before mass production, with both companies officially targeting a global retail launch in Q2 2026.

The heart of this high-end cooling solution is the Asetek Emma (G8) V2 pump, which operates at speeds up to 3,600 RPM. To align with Noctua's philosophy, the pump has been outfitted with a custom triple-layer noise-reduction cover that dampens both acoustics and structural vibrations. A physical switch on the AIO will let you toggle between different default speed settings.

For this collaboration, the brands are pairing Asetek's latest radiator technology with Noctua's G2 cooling fans. The Emma (G8) V2 radiators utilise a unique fin design that offers lower airflow resistance and is significantly less prone to dust accumulation over time. For the 120mm models, the award-winning NF-A12x25 G2 fans will be used. As for the 140mm models, the NF-A14x25 G2 fans will be paired with the cooler.

To ensure long-term stability, the coolers bypass typical software-only control in favour of an Asetek-customised analogue PWM controller tuned by Noctua. This hardware-level control ensures consistent fan and pump behaviour across different motherboard platforms without the bloat of proprietary software suites.

Installation is made easier thanks to Noctua's new SecuFirm2+ mounting system, which transitions to Torx T20 hardware for improved durability and ease of use. Crucially, the kit includes offset mounting options for both Intel (LGA 1700/1851) and AMD (AM4/AM5) sockets. By placing the cold plate directly over the CPU's primary hotspots, testing has confirmed a 1–3°C reduction in temperature compared to standard mounts.

KitGuru says: It is about time Noctua got into the AIO liquid cooler market. Are you thinking about picking one of these up when they become available? 

The post Noctua and Asetek AIO liquid coolers set for Q2 2026 launch first appeared on KitGuru.

Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition PC Case Review

22 March 2026 at 13:19

Today we’re taking a look at the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition, a full-tower case designed around high airflow and low-noise performance. It combines Antec’s Flux Pro chassis with a set of pre-installed Noctua G2 fans, tuned to deliver strong cooling with minimal acoustic impact. The case features extensive ventilation and support for large radiators, high-end GPUs, and oversized air coolers. In this review, we’ll be checking build quality, layout, and thermal performance to see how it stacks up.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:44 Pricing / Costs
01:38 Accessories
02:02 Dimensions
02:14 Materials / Build
03:00 Recommended Fan Config
03:19 Front I/O (top)
03:47 Temperature display
04:27 Getting Inside the case / Colours
07:13 Install Options
12:27 Rotated PSU Design
13:36 Right hand side / drive positions
17:10 Floor of the case
17:55 Testing Methodology
19:08 Thermal and Noise Performance
21:09 Visual Airflow demo and thoughts
23:22 Closing Thoughts

Features:

  • Pre-installed Noctua G2 fans – Includes four Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 and two NF-A12x25 G2 premium fans, delivering high-end airflow straight out of the box.
  • Optimised for low noise operation – Noctua’s Extensive lab testing and offset fan speeds are designed to reduce vibration and “beat frequency” hum for quieter performance.
  • Integrated fan hub and clean wiring – It also comes with a pre-wired NA-FH1 fan hub for synchronised control and simplified cable management.
  • High-airflow Flux Pro chassis design – Flux Pro Noctua Edition is built on a low-airflow-resistance platform designed to maximise cooling efficiency for high-performance systems.

Specifications:

  • Case Type: ATX Full Tower
  • Dimensions (LxWxH): 530 x 245 x 546 mm
  • Materials: Steel, Tempered Glass, Walnut Wood, Silicone, Plastic
  • Motherboard Support: STX, Mini-ITX, µATX, ATX, E-ATX (Max 280mm)
  • Back-connect motherboard support: No
  • Expansion Slots: 8
  • Storage bays: 5” x 2 / 2.5/3.5” x 4
  • Max GPU Length: 455mm
  • Max CPU Cooler Height: 190mm
  • PSU Type: ATX up to 470mm (300mm with HDD) (180mm Rotated 90°)
  • Cable Routing Space: 5mm
  • Supplied Fans: 3x NF-A14x25 G2 PWM (Front), 2x NF-A12x25 G2 PWM (PSU shroud), 1x NF-A14x25 G2 PWM (rear)
  • Fan Support: 3 x 120 / 3 x 140mm (Front), 3 x 120 /  3 x 140mm (Top), 2 x 120 / 2 x 140mm (Bottom), 1 x 120 / 1 x 140mm (Rear) 3 x 120mm (PSU Shroud)
  • Radiator Support: 120/140/240/280/360/420 mm (Front/Top), 120/140mm (Rear/Bottom), 120/240/360mm (PSU Shroud)
  • Dust Filters:
  • Font I/O: 1x USB-C 3.1 (10 Gbit/s), 2x USB-A 3.0 (5 Gbit/s), 3.5 mm headphone/mic combo jack, Power / Reset / Temperature / Display Switch
  • LCD Screen: Yes – Temperature Display

Thermal Performance Testing

To simulate thermal demand, we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 30 minutes to load the system fully. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.

Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature, giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represents the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO, and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-20⁰C.

Test System Specification:

Thermal Performance Overview

We tested the case thermals using a Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC / 360mm AIO as the exhaust at the top and with the case in several different fan configurations. The default configuration shown in the charts is with the Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm front intake fans, 2 x 120mm PSU shroud intake fans, 1 x 140mm rear exhaust fan and with all panels installed.

Thermal performance from the Flux Pro Noctua Edition is generally very strong. In the default configuration, CPU temperatures average 56°C over ambient, with the GPU at 45 °C. There is a clear improvement over the air-cooled setup when using a top-mounted 360mm AIO. This is due to the AIO's increased cooling power rather than any limitation of the case.

However, in the air-cooled setup, adding top fans as exhaust negatively affects CPU thermals, raising temperatures to 58°C, suggesting an airflow disruption. Adding a 120mm top intake fan can have a minor improvement in CPU temperature, but GPU temperature is unchanged with both top fan configurations, so leaving top fans out completely is fine.

GPU temperature remains consistent across most setups at around 45°C over ambient, highlighting the effectiveness of the case’s airflow design in the recommended configuration. Removing the PSU shroud fans leads to a small increase in GPU temperature at 48°C. Overall, the results show that the case performs best with balanced airflow in the default configuration, delivering solid all-around thermal performance.

Noise Output

Noise performance is fairly consistent across test configurations, with load noise at 46 dBA in the default setup, which doesn’t really change whether you switch to top intake or add extra exhaust fans. Noise shifts slightly when you remove the PSU shroud fans or install a top-mounted AIO, increasing to 48 dBA under load, suggesting those configurations introduce a bit of fan noise from the GPU cooler and from the AIO compared with the default configuration and using the D15 G2 air cooler.

Idle noise, however, is rock solid across the board at 36 dBA. Overall, it’s a pretty well-balanced acoustic in any configuration, but clearly best optimised in the recommended Noctua configuration.

Closing Thoughts

The Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition is a case that does exactly what it sets out to do — deliver strong airflow, great cooling and low noise performance. In testing, it handles both CPU and GPU thermals with ease, and more importantly, it manages to keep noise levels impressively low, not just at idle, but also under load. Something that case manufacturers don’t always get right with pre-installed fan configurations. However, the Noctua Fans are not pre-installed; this is the job of the user. They arrive in a separate box.

A big part of that comes down to the included Noctua fans. You’re getting a set of high-quality NF-A12x25 and NF-A14x25 G2 units, along with a Noctua fan hub, all designed to work together. Build quality is exactly what you’d expect from an Antec/Noctua partnership, and the colour scheme is carried throughout the case, giving it a very distinct look that suits the whole package very well and will no doubt please Noctua enthusiasts.

In terms of compatibility, there’s plenty to like here too, including support for dual 420mm radiator installation, as well as generous clearance for large air coolers such as the Noctua NH-D15 G2 and high-end graphics cards. So whether you’re building a high-performance air-cooled system or going all-in with liquid cooling, the Flux Pro has the space and layout to handle it. But this means the case is quite large with Full tower dimensions, not ideally suited to placement on top of the desk.

That said, it’s not without its downsides. At around £350, it’s a very expensive case; at that price, you start to expect a bit more in terms of features. There’s no integrated GPU support bracket, no back-connect motherboard support, and some of the internal panels — particularly the top and front fan mounting brackets could be more intuitive to remove. Even so, if your main priority is excellent cooling performance with low noise levels straight out of the box, the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition is a very capable, premium option.

The Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition is available to purchase now from Amazon priced at £348.90 HERE.

Pros: 

  • Great thermal performance and low noise.
  • Very high-quality fans included.
  • Built-in fan hub.

Cons:

  • Expensive.
  • Missing basic key features such as an integrated GPU support arm, tool-free parts, and back-connect motherboard support.
  • Fans are not pre-installed.

KitGuru says: If you have the cash to splash on a case and want a large chassis with great cooling and low noise, then this might be ideal, especially for Noctua enthusiasts. But in the current economic conditions, it could be money better spent on core system components.

The post Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition PC Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.
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