When purchasing a retail computer CPU, the standard cooler included often falls short of enthusiasts’ performance expectations. This often leads to the purchase of a more advanced cooler to meet their specific needs. Selecting the right cooler isn’t straightforward; it’s a journey considering your requirements, preferences, budget, and setup space. These aspects are crucial in choosing the perfect cooler.
Noctua is a prominent name in the realm of high-performance coolers. Celebrated for their exceptional build quality and outstanding cooling capabilities, Noctua coolers have been a staple in the PC building community for many years. Typically, these coolers are known for their whisper-quiet fans and top-tier cooling efficiency, making them an optimal choice for overclockers and builders aiming for cool and silent system operation.
This review delves into the NH-D15 G2 cooler, succeeding the legendary NH-D15. With a substantial price of $150, it pledges unparalleled performance for an air cooler. The NH-D15 G2 is available in three versions: the standard version and two specialized variants – LBC (Low Base Convexity) and HBC (High Base Convexity). These variants are designed for optimal contact with specific CPUs; LBC is ideal for AMD AM5 processors while HBC is geared towards Intel LGA1700 processors, respecting the slightly different heatspreader geometries. In contrast, the standard version provides a universal approach for users valuing long-term compatibility over extracting the maximum cooler potential.
This review focuses on the LBC version, tested on our solid copper station lacking convexity, ensuring optimal performance assessment.
| Noctua NH-D15 G2 CPU Cooler Specifications |
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| Type | Air Cooler (Dual Tower) | ||
| Dimensions | 168 x 150 x 127 mm (H x W x D) 1525 gr |
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| Fans | 2 x 140 mm SSO2 Bearing Fans 1525/1475 RPM (max) |
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| RGB | No | ||
| Supported Sockets | Intel: LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x
AMD: AM5 / AM4 |
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| Warranty | 6 Years | ||
| Price | $150 | ||
Packaging & Bundle
The NH-D15 G2 arrived in a sturdy cardboard box, showcasing Noctua’s tradition of simple, information-centric packaging. Most of their packaging material is recyclable cardboard, excluding the small plastic shield protecting the cooler’s base.
The cooler was securely stowed away beneath substantial layers of thick cardboard inside the box, ensuring significant protection. The mounting hardware and additional accessories were well-organized in a smaller, compartmentalized box within the main package. Notably, there is no mounting hardware for Threadripper or LGA20XX processors, likely because Noctua offers specialized solutions for these processors.
Noctua includes several additional accessories alongside the standard mounting hardware required for NH-D15 G2 installation on a CPU socket. You will find a Torx screwdriver, a fan power splitter cable, two “low noise” adapters to control fan speed, a tube of NT-H2 thermal grease, a thermal paste wipe, and a metal case badge.
The Noctua NH-D15 G2 CPU Cooler
Noctua crafted the NH-D15 G2 as the apex air cooler, targeting peak performance while maintaining the company’s minimalist and elegant design philosophy, eschewing unnecessary embellishments.
Physically, the NH-D15 G2 is a substantial yet relatively simplistic CPU cooler. Assembled, it weighs over 1.5 kg, despite utilizing lightweight aluminum.
The design favors a classic dual-tower layout, maintaining the fins above a compact base and using heatpipes to transport thermal energy from that base to the main cooler body. This cooler incorporates optimized, asymmetrical fin stacks and an enhanced fan arrangement, reducing fin spacing from 1.9mm to 1.6mm. This adjustment allowed for the addition of 23 extra fins, expanding the total fin surface area by 20% compared to the NH-D15. Note, however, the thinner fins are slightly more fragile and can be bent if mishandled.
Compared to the original NH-D15, Noctua has bumped up the number of heatpipes from six to eight. The copper heatpipes are nickel-plated for durability and visual appeal. The junctions between the heatpipes and the fins are soldered, ensuring peak thermal transfer and mechanical integrity.
Despite these additions, the NH-D15 G2 is slightly more compact than its predecessor. The thick fin array and dual-fan setup make the cooler broad, but Noctua ensured it avoids interfering with the PCI Express slots on typical (m)ATX motherboards. Still, it may slightly obstruct some RAM slots, capping RAM height at 32 mm on these slots when both fans are installed (standard RAM height).
Noctua’s engineers enhanced airflow and acoustics with two 140 mm fans instead of one. These fans are Noctua’s own designs equipped with SSO2 engines (a blend of fluid dynamic bearing and magnetic levitation technique). Interestingly, these fans possess slight disparities in speed rating (1475 RPM & 1525 RPM). According to Noctua, adjusting the fan speeds’ offset by approximately 25 RPM minimizes unwanted harmonic effects, such as periodic humming or occasional vibrations. This approach purportedly achieves smoother acoustic performance without sacrificing cooling efficiency. Users can further fine-tune the fan speeds using PWM control or low-noise adapters for custom acoustics.
The cooler’s base, connecting with the processor, is divided into two parts. The bottom half comprises nickel-plated copper, enhancing heat transfer efficiency from the CPU to the heatpipes. It is expertly machined and smooth. As previously noted, the base’s convexity varies based on the cooler version – our LBC variant appears perfectly flat, while standard and HBC versions exhibit increasing convexity. The upper metal brace solely provides mechanical support.
