If your motherboard comes with a pre-installed CPU cooler
retention module, please first remove it by unscrewing it from
the backplate. The SecuFirm2™ mounting system will install
directly to the stock backplate, so please keep it in place.
Removing the stock retention module –
Putting the backplate in place
1
Caution: Choose the alignment of the mounting bars according
to the desired final orientation of the cooler:
If there are residual traces of thermal paste or thermal pads on
your CPU, please clean them off first. Then press a small drop
(4-5mm diameter) of NT-H1 onto the centre of the heatspreader.
Applying the thermal paste
3
Dear customer,
Congratulations on choosing the Noctua NH-U12S chromax.
black. The NH-U12S is the latest version of Noctua’s award-
winning NH-U12 coolers. First introduced in 2005, the
NH-U series has become a standard choice for premium
quality quiet CPU coolers and won more than 400 awards
and recommendations from leading international hardware
websites and magazines. Enjoy your NH-U12S!
Yours sincerely,
Roland Mossig, Noctua CEO
This manual will guide you through the installation process of
the SecuFirm2™ mounting system step by step.
Prior to installing the cooler, please consult the compatibility list
on our website (www.noctua.at/compatibility) and verify that
the cooler is fully compatible with your motherboard. Please
also make sure that your PC case offers sufficient clearance
for the cooler and that there are no compatibility issues with
any other components (e.g. tall RAM modules). Double check
that the heatsink and fan clips do not make contact with
the VGA card or other PCIe cards. Noctua cannot be held
responsible for any damage or losses caused by compatibility
issues. Should you encounter any difficulties, please check the
FAQs on our website (www.noctua.at/faqs) and don’t hesitate
to contact our support team at [email protected].
Multilingual versions of this manual are available on our web-
site: www.noctua.at/manuals
Required mounting parts:
Please first choose the correct set of plastic spacers and the
correct set of holes on the mounting bars depending on whether
you are using a socket AM4 or a socket AM2(+)/AM3(+)/FM1/
FM2(+) motherboard:
First put the plastic spacers onto the screw threads of the back-
plate, then fix the mounting bars using the four long screws.
Make sure that the curved sides of the mounting bars are
pointing outwards.
AMD stock backplate
(included with the motherboard)
4x NM-APS4
Plastic spacers for
AM4
4x NM-ALS1
Screws
2x NM-AMB11 Mounting bars
4x NM-APS5
Plastic spacers for
AM2(+)/AM3(+)
FM1/FM2(+)
If your motherboard does not come with a pre-installed CPU
cooler retention module, the AMD stock backplate should be
included with the motherboard accessories. Please put the
backplate on the rear side of the motherboard so that the screw-
threads of the backplate stick through the mounting holes of
the motherboard as shown below. If your motherboard does
not include a stock backplate, please contact Noctua customer
support at [email protected].
Attaching the mouting bars
2
NM-APS5 (white)
AM2(+)/AM3(+)
FM1/FM2(+)
NM-APS4 (grey)
AM4
Use the grey NM-APS4 spacers for AM4 and the white NM-
APS5 spacers for AM2(+)/AM3(+)/FM1/FM2(+).
Use the set of holes marked with “4” for AM4 and the set of holes
marked with “3” for AM2(+)/AM3(+)/FM1/FM2(+).
AM2(+)/AM3(+)
FM1/FM2(+)
NOCTUA NH-U12S chromax.black
INSTALLATION MANUAL
AMD
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Caution: Please first take off the fan as well as the protection
cover at the bottom side of the heatsink.
Fastening the heatsink to the CPU
4
AM4
Caution: Applying too much thermal paste will lower heat
conductivity and cooling performance!
