Noctua NH-L9a cooler is to be refreshed with full AM5 compatibility in early 2023

Noctua makes some of the most iconic and recognizable CPU coolers out there, and as such might be expected to keep pace with the imminent rise of AM5. To that end, the Austrian OEM has released an updated Socket Compatibility list, which may make for encouraging reading for those wishing to upgrade their current rigs with a potentially blazing-fast new Ryzen processor.

The list shows that some Noctua coolers made for the AM4 platform, such as the NH-L12S and its Ghost S1 Edition slbling, are also compatible with the newer socket out of the box. However, others such as the NH-L9a-AM4 and its chromax.black edition will require a mounting kit.

Never fear, Noctua has announced that those will still be available for free. In some cases, such as the NM-AM5-L9aL9i for the L9a to replace its current custom backplate, they will be available free of charge (with proof of cooler purchase) from the OEM's website starting in October 2022 - or, alternatively, on Amazon sooner if it is somehow an emergency.

In other cases, such as that of the NH-D15S, the kit might be found in its box should it have been bought in 2019 or later. The company's CEO Roland Mossig backs this initiative as it "is not only economical, but also helps to reduce unnecessary waste and save precious resources. By upgrading rather than replacing your cooler, you’re actively contributing to a more sustainable PC industry!".

On the other hand, Noctua is still a business, and has as such revealed that an updated "NH-L9a-AM5" is slated to become one of its newest products in the first quarter of 2023.