When you buy a computer processor at retail, it usually comes with a standard cooler. However, most enthusiasts find that the standard cooler simply does not meet their performance requirements. Therefore, they often end up buying a more advanced cooler that better suits their needs. Choosing the right cooler is not a one-size-fits-all thing – it’s a bit of a journey. You need to consider what you need, what you want, what your budget is, and how much space you have in your build. All of these factors come into play when choosing the perfect cooler.
When it comes to high-performance coolers, Noctua is a name that often comes up among enthusiasts. Known for their exceptional build quality and excellent cooling performance, Noctua coolers have been a favorite in the PC building community for years. A typical Noctua cooler will feature incredibly quiet fans and top-notch cooling performance, making it ideal for overclockers and builders who want their systems to run cool and quiet.
In this review, we’ll be taking a closer look at the NH-D15 G2, the successor to the legendary NH-D15. This cooler comes with a hefty $150 price tag, but it promises to deliver the best performance an air cooler can currently achieve. The NH-D15 G2 comes in three versions: the standard one, and two specialized variants – LBC (Low Base Convexity) and HBC (High Base Convexity). These variants are designed to make better contact with specific processors; LBC is recommended for AMD AM5 processors, while HBC is tailored for Intel LGA1700 processors, reflecting the slightly different geometry of their respective heatsinks. The standard version, on the other hand, is a “one size fits all” approach for users who care more about long-term compatibility than squeezing every ounce of potential from their cooler.
For this review, we looked at the LBC version because our solid copper test bench has no protrusions, allowing for optimal performance evaluation.
| Noctua NH-D15 G2 CPU Cooler Specifications |
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| Type | Air cooler (double tower) | ||
| Dimensions | 168 x 150 x 127 mm (H x W x D) 1525 grams |
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| Fans | 2 x 140mm 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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| Guarantee | 6 years | ||
| Price | 150 dollars | ||
Packaging and package
We received the NH-D15 G2 in an extremely sturdy cardboard box. Noctua continues the tradition of using elegant, information-oriented graphics on the packaging of all its products, opting for simplicity over flashy design. All of their packaging is made from recyclable cardboard, with the only exception being the small plastic cover on the base of the cooler.
Inside the box, the cooler was securely placed under multiple layers of thick cardboard, providing excellent protection. The mounting hardware and additional accessories were neatly organized in a smaller, compartmentalized box within the main package. It should be noted that there is no mounting hardware for Threadripper or LGA20XX processors included in the package, likely because Noctua offers specialized solutions for these processors.
In addition to the usual mounting hardware required to install the NH-D15 G2 onto a CPU socket, Noctua includes a few extra accessories. In the box, you’ll find a Torx screwdriver, a fan power splitter cable, two “silent” adapters to limit fan speed, a tube of NT-H2 thermal paste, a thermal paste cloth, and a metal case badge.
Noctua NH-D15 G2 CPU Cooler
Noctua designed the NH-D15 G2 as its flagship air cooler, designed to provide the highest possible performance while still meeting the company’s minimalist and elegant design goals, free from unnecessary frills.
Physically, the NH-D15 G2 is a massive – if relatively simple – CPU cooler. Fully assembled, it weighs in at over 1.5kg, despite the fact that it has a lot of lightweight aluminium.
Design-wise, Noctua has stuck with the classic twin-tower design, with a series of fins floating above a small base and relying on heat pipes to transfer thermal energy from the base to the main body of the cooler. This cooler features optimized asymmetric fin stacks and an improved fan layout that allows the fin spacing to be reduced from 1.9mm to 1.6mm. This adjustment allows for the integration of 23 additional fins, increasing the total fin surface area by 20% compared to the NH-D15. It should be noted that the thinner fins are also somewhat more fragile and can be easily damaged if mishandled.
Compared to the original NH-D15, Noctua has increased the number of heatpipes from six to eight. The heatpipes are made of copper, but are nickel-plated for durability and aesthetics. The connections between the heatpipes and the fins are soldered, ensuring maximum heat transfer and mechanical integrity.
Despite these inserts, the NH-D15 G2 is slightly smaller than its predecessor. The thick fin array and the presence of two fans make the cooler wide, but Noctua has made sure that it is not near the PCI Express slots on a typical (m)ATX motherboard. It may, however, partially block some RAM slots, limiting the height of the RAM in these slots to 32 mm when both fans are installed (standard RAM height).
Noctua’s engineers have optimised airflow and acoustics by using two 140mm fans instead of one. The fans used are the company’s own designs with SSO2 motors (a combination of dynamic bearing and magnetic levitation technology). Interestingly, the two fans are actually slightly different, as each has its own rated speed (1475 RPM and 1525 RPM). According to the company, by slightly shifting the fan speed by around 25 RPM, unwanted harmonic effects such as periodic humming or intermittent vibrations are minimised. This technique supposedly provides smoother acoustic performance without compromising cooling performance. Users can further adjust the offset via PWM control or low-noise adapters for personalised acoustics.
The base of the cooler, which makes contact with the CPU, is split into two halves. The bottom half is made of nickel-plated copper, which maximizes the rate of heat transfer from the CPU to the heatpipes. It’s incredibly well-machined and smooth. As we’ve noted before, how convex the base is depends on the cooler version – our LBC version seems to be perfectly flat, while the regular and HBC versions will be increasingly convex. The top metal spacer is there just for mechanical support.
