Noctua has made available an alternative mounting option for its NH-L9a low profile heatsink, allowing for easier installation of the cooler in specific AMD systems.
The new mounting option does not make use of a backplate and thus now permits to install the NH-L9a on AMD mainboards that have components in the area at the rear side that is reserved for the backplate in the AMD specifications.
The new mounting parts will be provided to NH-L9a users free of charge.
Noctua syas that its SecuFirm2 mounting system of the NH-L9a complies strictly to the AMD specifications and guarantees 100% compatibility with mainboards that follow these specifications. However, some mini-ITX mainboards do not
follow the AMD specifications, so the NH-L9a could not be installed on these.
The NH-L9a's original mounting system uses a
backplate as per the AMD specifications in order to assure perfect contact pressure and to prevent the mainboard from being bent. However, this system is incompatible with mainboards such as the ASRock FM2A75M-ITX or FM2A85X-ITX, which do not use a stock backplate and have
components on the rear side, inside the area which, according to the AMD specifications, is reserved for the backplate. The new, alternative mounting option makes use of four separate spacers instead of the backplate and thus allows to install the cooler on these mainboards.
Users can obtain the new mounting parts from Noctua's customer service free of charge after providing a proof of purchase (scan, photo or electronic copy of the invoice) of both a Noctua NH-L9a heatsink and
an AMD mainboard that is incompatible with the original mounting system.
In addition, the new NM-APS3 spacers will from now on be included within the NH-L9a's scope of delivery.