Noctua NL-LC1 AIO Cooler Series Review: Solid First Attempt

Noctua's NL-LC1 series of AIO coolers marks the Austrian brand's first foray into the liquid cooling market, following a long-standing stance against entering said industry. This review will cover two models from the series, the 240mm and 360mm versions. Announced in June of this year, the NL-LC1 series comes in three sizes: 240mm, 360mm, and 420mm. For this review, I will be focusing on the 240mm and 360mm models.

The NL-LC1 series represents the culmination of a prototype Noctua introduced at Computex 2024. At the time, the design utilized a two-phase thermosiphon heat dissipation principle, which vaporized the liquid from the CPU block and transported the vapourised liquid through the radiator, which was then cooled by the fans attached to it. Since then, the design has evolved to incorporate Asetek's premium-grade Emma V2 platform, renowned for its thermal efficiency and long-term reliability.

What sets the NL-LC1 coolers apart is Noctua's custom-engineered NL-PNA1 pump noise absorber. Utilising a three-layer acoustic soundproofing structure and the tuned-mass damper effect, this innovative component reduces both air-borne noise and structure-borne vibrations, resulting in significant improvements in pump acoustics. It's worth noting that, unlike many other AIO brands, the fans for the NL-LC1 series are not pre-installed and some assembly is required. Additionally, the CPU pump cover is detachable and replaceable with a mini fan.

In terms of performance, Noctua has delivered a commendable first attempt with the NL-LC1 series. Out of the box, all fans run at full speed and generate less than 60 decibels (dB) of noise, with a precise measurement of 52dB. To put this into perspective, 30dB is comparable to the sound level of a whisper at a distance of five to six feet from someone's ear, or as Richard Hammond once described it, akin to custard rustling inside a cupboard.