Noctua Warns PC Builders That Cooler Clearance Specs Can Lie
Building a PC is not difficult, but it does require a series of checks for compatibility, including size and space constraints. This is especially true for small form factor (SFF) or mini-ITX builds. When it comes to cooling, whether a high-performance cooler clears the side panel or presses against the glass usually depends on the "Maximum CPU Cooler Height" printed on the case manufacturer's spec sheet, but according to Noctua, those official numbers are not always reliable.
In a technical blog post, Noctua reveals that it has been physically hand-measuring over 100 popular PC cases in-house. What the team discovered is that case manufacturers frequently underreport actual CPU cooler clearance, causing builders to settle for smaller, less capable heatsinks than their chassis can actually accommodate.
The difference in advertised versus real-world clearance metrics is not insignificant, either. Noctua's extensive testing indicates that the gap can be as much as 10...
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