Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The Noctua NH-D15 Cooler4. Installing the Noctua NH-D155. Testing Methodology6. Thermal Performance7. Acoustic Performance8. Closing Thoughts9. View All Pages

It is clear that the Noctua NH-D15 is a very impressive cooler.  The revised dual tower design offers much better memory compatibility, although the increased size may pose an issue for some more compact cases.

The cooling performance offered by the NH-D15 was nothing short of incredible in our overclocked tests.  Even more impressive than the cooling performance is the tiny amount of noise generated by the fans during operation.  While they can be heard at full speed, a decent chassis will block out most of the noise.  For those looking to build a silent system, the included low noise adapters reduce the noise to almost inaudible levels.

As we have come to expect from Noctua, the build quality of the NH-D15 is very impressive indeed.  The cooler feels very solidly put together – the fans are constructed from high quality plastic and the product packaging is attractive, functional and simple.  Noctua's excellent mounting mechanism is also worth highlighting as it makes installation very simple indeed.

Perhaps the only negative attributes of the NH-D15 are the size and weight of the cooler itself.  It weighs a kilogram (before attaching the fans) which is sure to put quite a strain on the motherboard, and the sheer size of the cooler may cause compatibility issues in some cases.

At a price of £78 from Overclockers UK, the Noctua NH-D15 is very expensive indeed.  However, it is one of the best air coolers we have ever tested and is an therefore an excellent choice for those who want to build a high-end air-cooled system for overclocking.

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Pros

• Excellent overclocking performance.
• Solid build quality.
• Quiet operation.
• Simple mounting mechanism.

Cons

• Potential compatibility issues due to its size.
• Very heavy

Kitguru says: Another excellent high-end air cooler from Noctua.

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