Straight to the point, this NH-L12S is the newer and more compact version of the NH-L12, both from the same school of thought: top-down style CPU coolers. As we know from past experiences with the Black Ridge or the BeQuiet! TF, this category of heatsinks are quite versatile and compact at the same time, which makes them perfect for small enclosures with limited space. The Noctua NH-L12S, at just 70 mm tall is exactly that; a very potent and configurable solution.