Question 2mm difference between case cooler clearance and cooler height: is that ok?

[Bobsy]

I am planning my next build and would like to reuse a Noctua NH-U12S CPU cooler that I already own. I am shopping for a new case and find myself leaning towards the Phanteks P400A. It has a 160 mm clearance for the CPU cooler. The NH-U12S has a height of 158 mm. It just works, right?

 

[UsandThem]

I am planning my next build and would like to reuse a Noctua NH-U12S CPU cooler that I already own. I am shopping for a new case and find myself leaning towards the Phanteks P400A. It has a 160 mm clearance for the CPU cooler. The NH-U12S has a height of 158 mm. It just works, right?

160mm > 158mm

So it should fit, although it won't be by much (manufacturing allowances and such).

I put a NH-U14S (165mm) in a Fractal Design Define C (170mm) and there wasn't much room left (so I ended up shifting the CPU cooler fan down towards the board some).

 

[Stuka87]

2mm is close enough that a buildup of tolerances could make it not fit. Basically if the cooler is slight larger, and case is slight smaller, it could hit. Dimensions always have a tolerance spec. How wide that spec is depends on the quality of the manufacturing process.

 

[aigomorla]

i honestly have not found any issues with a u12 not fitting in modern cases.
The u14 is where you may run into some issues with the side panel not fitting correctly...
But im fairly confident to say the u12 should work.