Reviews & awards

The results were equally impressive with the Ryzen 9 9950X. The NL-LC1-36 recorded an average load temperature of 76°C and a peak of 84°C, while idle temperature remained at 49°C. Once again, the TRYX Panorama 360 ARGB was the closest competitor at 78°C average and 86°C peak. The remaining coolers in the comparison ranged from 82°C to 86°C average load temperatures, with peak temperatures reaching as high as 92°C.

The consistency across both platforms is perhaps more important than the absolute numbers themselves. Whether paired with Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K or AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X, the NL-LC1-36 remained at the top of the comparison. That gives some confidence that its performance is not simply the result of favouring one particular CPU platform or workload.

The NL-LC1-36 also performs well in terms of acoustics, with its pump remaining relatively quiet even under heavy CPU workloads. It is not completely silent at 100% duty, but the tuned-mass damper and three-layer soundproofing help reduce vibration and mechanical noise, resulting in a smoother and less intrusive pump sound compared with most of the AIOs we have tested.