Reviews & awards

I have tested NL-LC1-36 using all three modes (Quiet, Balanced, and Manual), whereas the NL-LC1-42 was tested with Manual mode only. Also, the VRM fan is tested on the NL-LC1-36 only to make its case. In quiet mode, the NL-LC1-36 reached 80.9°C with only 0.2°C margin over the Game Max cooler.

The NL-LC1-36 in Balanced mode did 79.7°C, competing against the former topper of our graph, which 420mm cooler from DeepCool. The NL-LC1-36 did a fantastic job of 78.5°C in manual mode, making it a number one performer in the 360mm category. The NL-LC1-42 did marginally well comparing with NL-LC1-36 but it is right now on the number 1 slot in our graphs.

The selling point here is the noise-to-performance ratio. Noctua coolers with fans and pump at 100% PWM range are silent compared to other coolers in the graph. This is what makes these coolers a compelling, excellent cooling solution for your requirements. Clearly, these coolers have more head room for higher TDP.

I remember the days, when I used to install Noctua fans on Corsair AIOs for better acoustic and thermal performance. Fast forward to 2026 and Noctua makes its entry in the liquid cooler segment. This entry, though expensive brings an excellent and powerful cooling solution on the market while sticking with Noctua’s colors.