Posted: November 17, 2017
Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler Review
Cooling solutions come in all shapes and sizes but the dual-tower design is a very distinct model that is mostly associated with the extremely popular Noctua NH-D14. There may be CPU coolers with dual tower designs that came before it but the NH-D14, with its saw-tooth aluminum fin radiators and uniquely colored Noctua fans is an enthusiast favorite for its excellent heat management while operating fans that are not distractingly loud. The NH-D14 however is several years old now, so like most of other PC related components, it is due for an upgrade.
The Noctua NH-D15 replaces the massively successful NH-D14 as Noctua’s flagship CPU cooler offering, moving towards a more efficient design and equipped with a pair of Noctua’s latest NF-A15 fans. Users with tall RAM heatspreaders will also be delighted by the fact that RAM compatibility has been taken into account in designing the NH-D15, moving the lower fin stack to provide 64mm of clearance for the first and second DIMM slot when installed. The NH-D15 is available with an MSRP of $99 USD and carries a 6-year warranty covering the heatsink build, accessories and fans.
Specifications:
| Heatsink Specifications: |
|
| Socket compatibility: |
Intel LGA2011 (Square ILM), LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1150 & AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate required) |
| Height (without fan): |
165mm |
| Width (without fan): |
150mm |
| Depth (without fan): |
135mm |
| Height (with fan): |
165mm |
| Width (with fan): |
150mm |
| Depth (with fan): |
161mm |
| Weight (without fan): |
1000g |
| Weight (with fan): |
1320g |
| Material: |
Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating |
| Fan compatibility: |
140x150x25 (with 120mm mounting holes), 140x140x25 (with 120mm mounting holes), 120x120x25 |
| Scope of delivery: |
|
| Warranty: |
6 years |
| Fan Specifications: |
||
| Model: |
Bundled Noctua NF-A15 PWM | Retail Noctua NF-A15 PWM |
| Bearing: |
SSO2* | SSO2 |
| Max. Rotational Speed (+/- 10%): |
1500 RPM | 1200 RPM |
| Max. Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%): |
1200 RPM | 900 RPM |
| Min. Rotational Speed (PWM, +/-20%): |
300 RPM | 300 RPM |
| Max. Airflow: |
140.2 m³/h | 115.5 m³/h |
| Max. Airflow with L.N.A.: |
115.5 m³/h | 88.7 m³/h |
| Max. Acoustical Noise: |
24.6 dB(A) | 19.2 dB(A) |
| Max. Acoustical Noise with L.N.A.: |
19.2 dB(A) | 13.8 dB(A) |
| Input Power: |
1.56W | 0.96W |
| Voltage Range: |
12V | 12V |
| MTBF: |
> 150.000 h | > 150.000 h |
SSO2 = Noctua’s 2nd Generation Self-stabilising oil-pressure bearing, a type of fluid dynamic bearing design with a magnet placed close to the rear of the rotor axis.