CPU Air Cooler Mega Test
Technical Specification
| Dimensions | 165x150x161mm (HxWxD) |
| CPU | Intel: 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 2011/v3. Â AMD: FM1, FM2/+, AM2/+, AM3/+ |
| Heat pipes | 6x6mm copper pipes |
| Fins | 45 |
| Materials | Aluminium fins, copper base |
| Fan Speed | 2x140mm fan @1500 |
| Noise Level | Max 24.6dB(A) |
| Air Flow | 82.5CFMÂ |
| Air Pressure | Not given |
| Weight | 1320g |
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Up Close
If you’ve read our previous Noctua reviews you’ll know how much we love the way they present the contents of the main box to you. Â Everything is neatly laid out, with component parts in their individual boxes. Â Just have a look at how many accessories boxes you get with the NH-D15!
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So we arrive at the cream of the Noctua crop, the flagship NH-D15. Â It is of course based on the legendary NH-D14, but has a wider 150mm fin stack to it so it’s a perfect match for the 150mm wide framed 140mm tall NF-A15 fans.
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The NH-D15 can be run in single fan mode with its stepped fin stack design allowing the use of RAM up to 64mm tall. Â With the front fan installed you are though limited to standard height RAM. Â As with most Noctua heat sinks, the heat pipes are distributed evenly within the fin stack, and it’s this we think that gives Noctua part of its edge over a good many other manufacturers who seem intent on placing their pipes towards the outer margins.
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It may be the flagship model, but the NH-D15 is still as bland in the looks department as all the other Noctua coolers. Â Yes we appreciate that the natural Aluminium fin stack combined with diarrhea brown and prosthetic limb beige fans are a Noctua trademark, but would it kill them to produce some coolers that have at least a small chance of coordinating with the average case interior.
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The way it looks in our test rig just serves to illustrate our point. Â It might be impressive, perhaps even intimidating, it might perform wonderfully and be super quite, but to be frank it sticks out like a turd in a punch bowl. Â C’mon Noctua, combine the stella quality and stunning performance with some drop dead looks and you’ll be the first manufacturer ever to get a perfect score in the CPU cooler Holy Trinity that is looks, performance and silence. Â For the meantime you’ll just have to console yourself with the fact that you make the best performing Air Cooler on the planet.
