Introduction
Noctua is a company specialized in designing and producing of high end coolers and fans for PC type systems. The company was founded in 2005 by Rascom Computerdistribution and Taiwanese company Kolink International. Today Noctua is present in more than 30 countries, being one of the most known manufacturers of cooling solutions.
Official product link:
http://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail/nh-d15
Packaging and accessories
The cooler is packaged in a multicolored cardboard box, it has the following dimensions: 23.5(L) – 19(W) – 27(H)cm. The front side of the packaging has a two-tone abstract design, in the middle a couple of the cooler’s features are listed while the name of it is printed on the left side.
The side of the packaging presents the features and specifications of the cooler in 9 different languages, while on the right the name and a small diagram are printed.
The backside of the packaging presents the features of the product while on the right a QR code and the name of the cooler are printed, on the lower part, the logo and logo of the website are placed.
The main components of the cooler are individually packaged, including the mounting system, accessories and the additional fan.
Accessories
The product comes with the following accessories:
– 1x Manual
– 2x NF-A15 PWM premium fan
– 2x Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.)
– 1x Y-cable
– 1x NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound
– 1x SecuFirm2™ Mounting Kit
– 1x Noctua Metal Case-Badge
Specifications
Model: NH-D15
Supported sockets:
Intel: LGA2066, LGA2011-0 & LGA2011-3 (Square ILM), LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150
AMD: AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate required), AM4 with NM-AM4
TDP: 220 W
Heatsink:
Materials: Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating
Dimensions: 165 x 150 x 161 mm
Heatpipes: 6x – Ø6 mm
Weight: 1320 g
Fan(s):
Model: NF-A15 PWM
Dimensions: 140 mm x 150 mm x 25 mm
Bearing type: SSO2
Rated Current:
Max. Rotational Speed (+/- 10%): 1500 RPM
Max. Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%): 1200 RPM
Min. Rotational Speed (PWM, +/-20%): 300 RPM
Max. Acoustical Noise: 24,6 dB(A)
Max. Acoustical Noise with L.N.A.: 19,2 dB(A)
Connector: 4-Pin PWM
MTBF: > 150.000 h
Warranty: 6 Years
Features:
– 6 heatpipe dual tower design: As compared to conventional single tower heatinks, the NH-D15’s fine-tuned six heatpipe dual tower design provides more surface area, better heat-distribution and superior airflow efficiency in dual fan mode.
– High RAM compatibility in single fan mode: Thanks to its recessed lower fins, the NH-D15 provides 64mm clearance for tall memory heatsinks in single fan mode, making it compatible with most high-end RAM modules on the market. In dual fan mode, the NH-D15 should be used with standard height RAM (up to 32mm).
– Dual NF-A15 140mm fans: The NH-D15 features two of Noctua’s premium class NF-A15 140mm fans. Complying with Noctua’s AAO standard and featuring sophisticated aerodynamic design measures such as Flow Acceleration Channels, the NF-A15 has quickly built up a reputation as one of the best 140mm fans on the market.
– Excellent component cooling: Extending below the fin-stacks, the large NF-A15 fans not only contribute to the NH-D15’s superb CPU cooling capabilities but also provide massive airflow over surrounding motherboard components and heatsinks, thus ensuring excellent component cooling performance.
– SecuFirm2™ mounting system: Noctua’s SecuFirm2™ mounting systems have become synonymous with quality, safety and ease of use. Supporting Intel LGA115x (LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156), LGA2011, LGA2066 and AMD (AM3(+), AM2(+), FM1, FM2(+)), the SecuFirm2™ mounting included with the NH-D15 guarantees perfect contact pressure and maximum convenience on all current sockets.
– Compatibility with past and future sockets: Complying with the open SecuFirm™ standard, the NH-D15 can be made compatible with the older LGA1366 and LGA775 sockets using the optional NM-I3 mounting kit, which is provided by Noctua free of charge. If technically possible, Noctua will also provide upgrade kits for future sockets.
– NT-H1 thermal compound: Noctua’s much-acclaimed NT-H1 is a well proven pro-grade TIM solution that provides minimum thermal resistance, excellent ease-of-use and outstanding reliability, which makes it suitable for use in professional server and workstation environments.
– 6-year manufacturer’s warranty: Noctua products are renowned for their impeccable quality and outstanding longevity. Like all Noctua fans, the supplied NF-A15’s feature an MTTF rating of more than 150.000 hours and the entire NH-D15 package comes with a full 6-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Visual inspection
The Noctua NH-D15 is based on the highly acclaimed NH-D14, using a dual tower design and a solid build, the materials used are aluminum for the fins and copper for the base of the cooler and the six heatpipes. The cooler has a cooling capacity of 220W due to its design and the used materials, in addition the cooler is accompanied by two 140mm NF-A15 fans, these are part of the NF line of fans, with a maximum speed of 1500RPM.
One of the major changes that the NH-D15 brings when compared to the NH-D14 are the the shaped fins at the bottom of the heatsink, these are shaped in order to improve RAM compatibility. The cooler itself uses 45 aluminum made fins.
The NH-D15 model uses six heatpipes each with a diameter of 6mm; these are arranged in a U shape to facilitate heat transfer and dissipation. At the base, a nickel plated-copper plate covers them.
The base of the cooler is made out of nickel plated copper, it is brushed to a reflective finish. By default, the Intel mounting system is installed on the base of the cooler.
The two fans of the cooler are part of the NF line, both are NF-A15 model with the dimmensions140x150x25 mm. They use the proprietary Noctua SSO-Bearing mechanism and feature a speed between 300 RPM and 1500 RPM. The fans feature PWM and rubberized corners for vibration dampening.
Testing
The following system was used to test the cooler:
– Processor: Intel i5 4690K @ 3.9 GHz and overclocked to 4.5 GHz
– Motherboard: MSI Z97 Gaming 9 ACK
– RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB DDR3 @ 2133MHz
– GPU: GeForce GTX 1070 Founder’s Edition
– SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB
– HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB
– PSU: Antec Edge 550W Gold
– Display: AOC i2769VM
– Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe White
– Thermal compound: Arctic Cooling MX-4
Software used for testing the cooler:
– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 5.92.4300 (06/19/2017)
– Intel Burn Test v2.54
– Prime95 29.1
The cooler was tested with the CPU at the default turbo frequency of 3.9 GHz and overclocked to 4.5 GHz with a core voltage of 1.187 V.
Also, the included fans have been used at their maximum speed.
The room temperature was approximately 26°C (78°F), with 2°C margin of error.
The idle test consists of the CPU sitting idle at the desktop for 30 minutes, the temperature was measured at the end of the test.
The settings of the software used are the following:
Intel Burn Test v2.54 – Stress level: Maximum
Prime95 29.1- small FFT
AIDA64 Extreme Version – Temperature monitoring.
Each test was conducted for 40 minutes.
Idle
Full Load
The noise level was measured at three different distances from the fans (10cm, 20cm, 30cm.) the noise was measured with a margin of error of ± 5 db.
The space between the DIMM slots and the front fan is approximately 62mm.
Final thoughts
Like the previous model, the Noctua NH-D15, is placed among the top air cooling systems on the market, offering a very good performance being silent at the same time.
The SecuFirm 2 mounting system is efficient, the cooler being easy to install, the average installation time is about 5 minutes.
The accessory package is rich including all the necessary components and a metal screwdriver, in addition, each set of accessories is individually packed, the same can be said with regards to the cooler and fans.
Due to the shape of the bottom of the cooler, the NH-D15 offers about 62mm of space for DIMM modules, but the size of the cooler once both fans are mounted prevents the installation of RAM with tall heatsinks.
FAQs
Noctua NH-D15 - CPU Cooler Review? ›
Considering the mid-range pricing for a high-end CPU air cooler coupled with the impressive thermal performance, we would say the Noctua NH-D15 is definitely worth it. Arguably, the NH-D15 is one of the best coolers on the market.
Is Noctua NH-D15 the best CPU cooler? ›Considering the mid-range pricing for a high-end CPU air cooler coupled with the impressive thermal performance, we would say the Noctua NH-D15 is definitely worth it. Arguably, the NH-D15 is one of the best coolers on the market.
Is NH-D15 enough for i7 12700K? ›Noctua NH D-15 is one of the best if not the best air cooler on the market. It is easily enough to cool i7 12700k, provided that the airflow in the case is sufficient.
Does Noctua make good CPU coolers? ›The Noctua NH-D15 is one of the company's best-performing air coolers. It can handle high-performance CPUs like the Ryzen 9 5950X, thanks to its high cooling capacity due to its size, and has whisper-quiet fans. Noctua's NH-D15 is one of the highest-performing CPU fan coolers available.
How long does Noctua D15 last? ›Noctua products are renowned for their impeccable quality and outstanding longevity. Like all Noctua fans, the supplied NF-A15's feature an MTTF rating of more than 150.000 hours and the entire NH-D15 package comes with a full 6-year manufacturer's warranty.
Why is Noctua so much better? ›Noctua's new A-series fan has a tiny tip clearance—the space between the fan blades and the housing—of about 0.5 mm. This will make the fan more efficient, particularly when used in air coolers and radiators. "When you have a fan blowing against a heatsink or a radiator, it builds up pressure," Dellinger says.
Can you put any fan on Noctua cooler? ›Print. Additional fans can be installed on all Noctua U-type and D-type cooler. Although it is technically compatible and easy to do, it will yield minimal improvements in cooling performance (0.5°C max.), but noise levels will increase significantly.
What is too hot for an i7 12700K? ›As a result, the CPU throttles, and the performance is reduced. When it comes to gaming, the performance of the stock cooler is acceptable. The peak CPU temperature is 50°C ~86°C for Core i5-12600 and Core i7-12700.
Is i7 12700K overkill for gaming? ›Overall these CPUs are fine, but there's better options in both performance and cost. Cost-to-performance ration of these (6800K, 6850K) vs. a current or previous generation i5 or i7 is poor. Most games do not make good use of anything beyond 3 or 4 cores.
Is i7 12700K high end? ›The Intel Core i7-12700K is a good choice for those looking for a mid-to-high tier CPU with a performance boost over the Core i5-12600K. The Core i7-12700K features the ability to overclock and with the new architectural design from the Alder Lake series, users can expect maximum performance.
What is the worlds best CPU cooler? ›
| Best overall | Noctua NH-D15 chromax.Black | SEE IT |
|---|---|---|
| Best for gaming | Be Quiet! BW006 Pure Loop 240mm AiO Cooler | SEE IT |
| Best high-end | Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD Liquid CPU Cooler | SEE IT |
The Noctua NF-P12 redux is cheaper and quieter then the Corsair ML120, so it is best for most situations. The Corsair ML120 is great when you need a fan that can run both quiet or loud and powerful.
What cools the CPU the best? ›- Noctua NH-D15. Best CPU Cooler. ...
- Source: Cooler Master. Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360 Illusion. ...
- Source: Cooler Master. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition. ...
- Source: DeepCool. ...
- Source: Noctua. ...
- See More.
Overall the NH-D15 is a fantastic cooler. However, compared to the Coolermaster AIO cooler mentioned earlier, it's only at a 30w TDP deficit, with a maximum TDP of around 220w, whereas the AIO cooler comes with 250w.
What is the maximum fan speed of NH-D15? ›For example, the standard NF-F12 PWM emits a noise level of 22.6dB(A) at its maximum speed of 1500rpm whereas the NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM emits a noise level of 29.7dB(A) at its maximum speed of 2000rpm.
Is Noctua a Chinese company? ›About Noctua. Designed in Austria, Noctua's premium cooling components are internationally renowned for their superb quietness, exceptional performance and thoroughgoing quality.
What fans are better than Noctua? ›- Noctua NF-S12B redux-1200. The best PC fan. ...
- Scythe Kaze Flex 120 PWM. The best budget PC fans. ...
- Corsair LL120 RGB. The best RGB PC fan. ...
- Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM. Best high-airflow PC fan. ...
- Thermaltake Toughfan 12 Turbo. The best compact/radiator PC fans. ...
- NZXT Aer RGB 2 120mm. ...
- Cooler Master MF120R A-RGB.
Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black
The Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black is considered by many to be the best air cooler on the market.
Noctua has no plans to go RGB. The company has made a concession to looks, though, by adding more all-black components to its Chromax line, so it'll be easier to get svelte black CPU coolers and fans that deliver Noctua-caliber performance while blending into a case.
How many Noctua fans per header? ›
Using the NA-FH1, you can easily connect up to 8 fans to one fan header. The power is supplied via S-ATA when connected and allows a maximum power consumption of 54W. If the S-ATA power connector is not used, a maximum of 24W can be supplied to the fans.
What is the maximum fan speed for Noctua? ›Low-Noise Adaptor
The NF-P12 PWM is supplied with a (L.N.A.) that reduces the maximum fan speed from 1300 to 900rpm. The L.N.A. can be used either to run the fan at a fixed speed of 900rpm or to cap the maximum speed when using automatic PWM control.
The Core i7-12700K can perfectly handle gaming and at high quality settings. The Core i7-12700K is bottlenecking RTX 3060 Ti by 4.6% at 1080p using ultra quality settings in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Unless you're adamant on having insane quality, yeah it is perfectly fine.
What is normal CPU temp i7 while gaming? ›What is the typical CPU temperature when gaming? A CPU temperature of between 142° F and 164° F (61° C and 73° C) is considered normal during gaming.
How hot should Intel i7 get gaming? ›...
Optimal CPU Temperature.
| Processor Series | Average Temperature Range |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i7 | 50-65 °C |
| Intel Core i5 | 50-62 °C |
| Intel Core i3 | 50-60 °C |
| Intel Core 2 Duo | 45-55 °C |
Intel Core i7 12700K: future-proof
In addition, the 12700K is a processor for the future, thanks to the DDR5 compatibility, for example. You do need an LGA 1700 socket on your motherboard for this processor, otherwise it won't work. That means you probably need a new motherboard and RAM.
The best gaming CPU you can get right now is the Intel Core i5-12600K. It has a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, but allows you to boost it to 4.9GHz for even faster performance. It also has integrated graphics so you don't need to invest in an expensive, dedicated GPU to play less graphically intensive games.
Which is the most powerful i7 processor? ›- 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13900K desktop processor. ...
- 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700KF desktop processor, without processor... ...
- Build a powerful PC with this 10th Gen Intel Core i7 desktop processor.... ...
- 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-11700K unlocked desktop processor.
...
Intel Core i7-12700K.
| Series | Intel Alder Lake-S |
|---|---|
| Number of Cores / Threads | 12 / 20 |
| Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power) | 125 Watt |
| Manufacturing Technology | 10 nm |
One of the best processors for gaming in 2023 are the Intel Core i7 11700K. It has a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz and a boost clock speed of 5 GHz. It has eight cores and sixteen threads. These processors offer the best performance for gaming.
What is the hottest CPU in the world? ›
1. Intel Itanium 2—Intel's Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC) architecture gives the Itanium 2 an unmatched degree of parallelism.
What is the most extreme PC cooling? ›Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) / Dry ICE
This cooling method is by far the most extreme and sometimes can be very dangerous but allows for mind-boggling overclocking!
Intel has announced an enhanced version of its 13th-Generation Core i9-13900K processor, which is its first to reach speeds of 6.0GHz without overclocking. The new Core i9-13900KS is Intel's fastest-ever CPU and the fastest one currently on the market from any manufacturer.
How do I choose a Noctua cooler? ›Pick one of the models that offer the highest turbo/overclocking headroom if you want to make full use of your processors turbo mode and/or if you want the cooler to run as quiet as possible. Case compatibility and cooler height: Different PC cases offer different amounts of clearance for CPU coolers.
Which Noctua fans are for airflow? ›For best results in all types of application, Noctua recommends the NF-A12x25. Alternatively, the NF-F12 is a pressure-optimised fan that excels on heatsinks and radiators and the NF-S12A is an airflow-optimised fan that provides excellent results as a case fan and in other low- to mid-impedance applications.
Which Noctua cooler is best for Intel? ›Noctua NH-L9i / Noctua NH-L9a
The best low profile CPU cooler is the Noctua NH-L9 series. Breaking down the confusing model names first, the NH-L9i will fit Intel sockets and the NH-L9a will fit AMD sockets, but both are the same heatsink and fan design.
Air coolers are quite good at relocating heat away from the CPU, but keep in mind that heat is then dispersed into the case. This can raise the ambient temperature of the system overall. Liquid coolers do a better job of relocating that heat outside of the system via the fans on the radiator.
How do I maximize my CPU cooling? ›- Keep your system away from vents and windows. ...
- Give your system some breathing room. ...
- Close your system's case. ...
- Clean your fans. ...
- Upgrade your CPU fan. ...
- Add a case fan. ...
- Add a memory cooling fan. ...
- Check your system's power supply fan.
Bundled with Noctua's premium-grade CPU coolers since 2007, NT-H1 has proven its excellent performance in countless of tests and reviews. Chosen again and again by overclockers and hardware enthusiast around the globe, it has established itself as a benchmark for premium-quality thermal interface materials (TIMs).
Do air coolers last longer than AIO? ›AIOs are prone to wear and tear, and Air Coolers can last decades. AIOs can be noisier at idle (pump-noise), so they might not be your go-to-choice for low-noise builds, but they can be less noisy when under full load, thanks to their potentially higher radiator mass, the number of fans, and fan sizes.
Why is AIO better than air cooler? ›
Size. Air coolers can be bulky, but that bulk is limited to one area, as opposed to being distributed across your system. With an All-in-One (AIO), on the other hand, you'll need space for the radiator, and will also need to factor in issues like proper orientation and alignment of the waterblock and coolant tubes.
How many watts can NH-D15 handle? ›| Socket compatibility | Intel LGA2066, LGA2011-0 & LGA2011-3 (Square ILM), LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150 & AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate required), AM4 with NM-AM4 |
|---|---|
| Input Power | 1,56 W |
| Voltage Range | 12 V |
| MTBF | > 150.000 h |
Noctua NH-D15 Dual Radiator Quiet CPU Cooler with Two NH-A15 Fans. Built on the basis of the legendary NH-D14 and carrying on its quest for ultimate quiet cooling performance, Noctua's flagship model NH-D15 is an elite-class dual tower cooler for the highest demands.
Is the NH-D15 loud? ›In terms of noise, they're rated at a level of 24,6 dB(A). Compared to the NH-D14, Noctua claims that the NH-D15 fans have 25-30% more airflow, meaning we'll surely see it climb up that list towards the top.
What is the life span of Noctua? ›Like all Noctua fans, the NF-A12x15 features an MTTF of more than 150.000 hours rating and comes with a full 6-year manufacturer's warranty.
Is a Noctua cooler worth it? ›Considering the mid-range pricing for a high-end CPU air cooler coupled with the impressive thermal performance, we would say the Noctua NH-D15 is definitely worth it.
Is Noctua the best cooler? ›The Noctua NH-D15 is one of the company's best-performing air coolers. It can handle high-performance CPUs like the Ryzen 9 5950X, thanks to its high cooling capacity due to its size, and has whisper-quiet fans. Noctua's NH-D15 is one of the highest-performing CPU fan coolers available.
Which device is best at cooling the CPU? ›| Best overall | Noctua NH-D15 chromax.Black | SEE IT |
|---|---|---|
| Best for gaming | Be Quiet! BW006 Pure Loop 240mm AiO Cooler | SEE IT |
| Best high-end | Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD Liquid CPU Cooler | SEE IT |
Air coolers are quite good at relocating heat away from the CPU, but keep in mind that heat is then dispersed into the case. This can raise the ambient temperature of the system overall. Liquid coolers do a better job of relocating that heat outside of the system via the fans on the radiator.
Does it matter which CPU cooler you use? ›If you only have a low wattage CPU, say 40w to 70w there really isn't much point in going for the largest cooler available, you would be better going for the cheaper, small to medium sized CPU coolers. If you have a CPU around or greater than 70w then you want to go for the bigger, more efficient CPU coolers.
What is the highest temperature CPU should run? ›
Generally, anything between 40–65°C (or 104–149°F) is considered a safe heat range for a normal workload. While running more intensive apps or games, the normal CPU temp range can increase to between 70–80°C (158–176°F).
What is the hottest a CPU can run? ›So how hot can a CPU get? Generally, your processor shouldn't run at anything greater than 75 degrees C (167 degrees F), but there is some wriggle room, especially if you're running lots of apps at the same time.
Should I liquid cool my PC? ›Performance – PC users who plan to game at maximum settings should consider water cooling. Pushing your PC to its limit requires more power, and therefore will potentially heat up your system to a dangerous level. Water cooling can bring these temperatures down faster and more efficiently than air cooling.