Noctua NH-L9i Low-Profile CPU Cooler Review

Only a few months back I decided to move one of my systems over to an ITX sized form factor. I had always avoided ITX in the past because I could never find an ITX board that met all my requirements for a daily driver and gaming system. However, as CPU and motherboard chipsets have continued to evolve, the ITX form factor has become incredibly competitive, feature packed and affordable (many things it wasn't in the past). My new ITX system has been great, it takes up a small footprint, has more functionality than my old mATX board (surprisingly) and makes a sweet little gaming rig too. However, one thing I didn't anticipate with my move to the ITX form factor was the tight fit inside the ITX case I chose. I had to give up my large dual tower, dual 140mm silent fan Noctua cooler in favor a much smaller cooler I had in the parts bin (the only thing laying around that would fit the depth requirements). I wanted a better cooler, but I wanted something that was both ultra quiet (a big requirement for my regular usage) and high performing (for when I want to put on a game here and there). This is where Noctua's latest cooler, the NH-L9i, seemed to fit the bill.