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

1. Noctua NL-LC1-36 AIO CPU Cooler2. Testing Methodology and Test Result3. Closing Thoughts4. View All Pages

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:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
• Motherboard: ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
• Memory: 32GB G.SKILLTrident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000
• Graphics card: MSI Radeon RX 6600 XT Gaming X
• Storage: 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIe Gen4x4 NVME M.2 SSD
• Power Supply: Seasonic Prime TX-1600
• Chassis: Open Test Bench
• Thermal Compound: Arctic MX-6
• O/S: Windows 11 Version 24H2

Testing Methodology:

We are primarily focusing on the performance of each cooler at 100% fan speed and also when locked to 40dBA noise output. We will focus on cooling performance using a manual overclock with all-core frequency and VCORE locked to 5.2GHz/1.3V (AMD) and 5.5GHz/1.3V (Intel) and Precision Boost Overdrive performance.

• The test data is logged using HWINFO and the final 10 minutes of the data is calculated to find the average CPU temperature and CPU clock multiplier (AMD PBO Test) and then plotted in the charts.
• For testing, we use a 30-minute looped run of Cinebench R23 and record the steady-state CPU temperature at the end of the test. This ensures that the CPU has had ample time to warm up and reach a steady state under all of the coolers.
• The ambient is maintained at 19-21 degrees Celsius. Where there is variation beyond this temperature range, we add extra repeated tests to ensure consistency. However, this is well controlled now with A/C.
• We also test each cooler with at least two fresh installs (typically three) to mitigate the likelihood of poor mounting spoiling results.
• Ambient temperature and humidity are controlled via a mini split air conditioning system inside the test room. Ambient temperature is maintained between 19-20°C; temperature delta figures are shown in the charts (ambient temperature is deducted from the measured component temperature).

Test Results:

Acoustics

We'll start by looking at noise output, the NL-LC1-36 immediately puts in a very strong showing here. With the fans running at maximum speed, we record a noise output of just 41dBA, making it the quietest cooler in our entire comparison chart. That's 2 dBA lower than the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 ARGB and well ahead of many other 360mm AIOs we've tested, several of which sit in the high 40s or low 50s dBA range.

More importantly, the sound is very consistent and not distracting. There are no sharp tones from the fans and the pump noise stays in the background, even at full speed. Given Noctua’s focus on low noise, that result is not unexpected, but it still places the NL-LC1-36 right at the top of our noise results at maximum fan speed.

Thermal Performance: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Moving on to thermal performance, this is tested on a manually overclocked Ryzen 9 9950X running at 5.2GHz with 1.3V VCore, with the cooler operating at full fan speed to begin with. Under these conditions, the NL-LC1-36 records a steady-state temperature of 59°C over ambient. That places it within the group of high-end coolers, alongside models such as the be quiet! Light Loop 360 and Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 420.

Thermal performance is solid rather than exceptional. It’s competitive within the 360mm category, but it doesn’t move ahead of the best-performing designs we’ve tested under this 100% fan speed workload.

On to the noise-normalised thermal results, with all of the coolers set to a fixed 40dBA operating level. In this configuration, the NL-LC1-36 records a steady-state temperature of 62°C over ambient, placing it again within the top-performing 360mm AIOs. Putting it on par with a number of flagship 360mm designs, including the Corsair iCUE Link Titan 360 RX RGB and MSI’s MPG CoreLiquid P13, while staying within a very tight margin of the leading results in this test.

Performance is very consistent, delivering strong noise-normalised efficiency and staying very closely in touch with the best coolers in this chart.

Finally, looking at CPU performance on the Ryzen 9 9950X, with Precision Boost Overdrive enabled. The NL-LC1-36 records a steady-state temperature of 62°C over ambient, while maintaining an average CPU clock of 52.5x. That places it right alongside some of the strongest-performing 360mm and 420mm AIO coolers in this test, including the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 420, delivering similar thermals and boost behaviour.

Overall, PBO performance is very strong. The cooler produces impressive boost behaviour for the 9950X, keeping it within the group of high-end results, again sticking very closely to the leading coolers.

Taken as a whole, the NL-LC1-36 is a very strong first entry into the AIO market for Noctua. Thermal performance is solid across all of our test scenarios, including both at full fan/pump speed and for noise-normalised testing. It consistently sits in the upper tier of our liquid cooler performance charts, it doesn’t necessarily push ahead of the very top performing designs in every scenario, but it remains competitive throughout.

Where the NL-LC1-36 really stands out though, is acoustics. At full fan speed testing, it is class-leading at a mere 41 dBA and even under sustained load the overall noise profile remains smooth and unobtrusive. Combined with the strong thermal performance, it delivers exactly the kind of low noise and high performance you would expect from a Noctua product.

Build quality is also excellent. Everything feels perfectly engineered and well implemented, from the pump housing and Noctua-designed noise-absorbing cover to the overall fit and finish of the radiator and fans. It has the same attention to detail you would expect from Noctua’s air cooling lineup, carried over into a liquid cooling product without compromise.

The main drawbacks are the price and a couple of minor design choices around cabling. The individual fan wiring with a three-way splitter, along with the pump’s flat ribbon-style cable, do feel a little less refined than the rest of the product and could be improved from an aesthetic standpoint. However, these are relatively small issues in the context of an otherwise very impressive overall package, especially considering that Noctua is technically a newcomer to liquid cooling.

The Noctua Nl-LC1 AIO series is available to purchase now from Amazon UK starting at £190.95 for the 240mm version HERE, the 360mm is priced at £216.95 HERE, and the massive 420mm is £242.95 HERE. The optional NL-ACF1 Auxiliary Fan is also available priced at £17.99 HERE.

Pros:

• Best in class noise output and solid thermal performance.
• Installation and wiring are very quick and easy.
• No additional hubs or software needed for control.
• High-quality product.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• The traditional Noctua colour scheme is an acquired taste.
• No fan wiring innovation.

KitGuru says: The price of the Noctua NL-LC1 series might not appeal to your average gamer, but if you prioritise low noise, high performance and reliability backed by a long warranty, then this could be the perfect AIO for your latest build.

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