Overview of the processor cooler Noctua NH D15. Photos and reviews

For some reason, in the race for high performance, many customers completely do not pay attention to the cooling system, hoping that the staff coolers of processors can easily cope with the task. And only after a time when it is overheating that becomes a weak link in the work of the entire system, and the buzz of the fan in peak loads is boring, the user starts to look for solutions. In the focus of this article, the legend of the world market of computer components in the niche of CPU coolers - Noctua NH D15 cooling systems.

The king is dead, long live the king!

The products of an expensive Austrian brand can not be called consumer goods. If the producer produces something on the market, it is the result of teamwork of designers, technologists and designers, which does not need further development. This was the case with the predecessor of the legendary cooler, the model Noctua NH D14, which is too early to write off.

Naturally, the novelty Noctua NH D15 cooler is a more perfect system that took all the best from an outdated model and, keeping up with modern technologies, embodied the desires and needs of users in the final product. In fact, this is the usual evolution of processor cooling systems. Undoubtedly, after some time there will be new items (16, 17th and other versions), from this no one is insured, most importantly, the buyer should know, acquiring the products of a highly respected manufacturer in the market, that at the time of purchase he has the best in his hands And the most technological device in the world.

Was it an awl for soap?

Unequivocally, the final consumer is primarily interested in the difference in the technical characteristics of the new cooler from the performance of its predecessor. Therefore, it's time to proceed to the long-awaited comparison of Noctua NH D15 vs Noctua NH D14 models, the review of which is presented as a comparison.

1. The novelty has added in the sizes: width has increased from 140 mm to 150 mm, height - from 160 mm to 165 mm and depth from 130 mm to 135 mm. This does not mean that now without Full ATX can not do, the manufacturer has increased the area of the radiator with the calculation of its installation in any system case.
2. Evolved the proprietary production technology of the SSO-bearing, which received the corresponding figure in the marking - SSO2-bearing. The hydrodynamic bearing, as before, has magnetic stabilization, only in its production new technologies are used.
3. The air flow of the fan increased from 110.3 CFM to 140.2 CFM.
4. It was possible to change the speed of rotation of the cooler (300-1500 rpm).
5. The noise level at the maximum rpm has slightly increased (not more than 24.6 dB).

Serious approach to the buyer

About how the manufacturer relates to end-users, you can judge by packaging and bundling, which accompanies the goods. The cooler Noctua NH D15 will definitely attract the attention of any buyer, and manufacturers of many computer components will certainly envy the Austrian brand. A huge box of sizes with a blender has a conservative appearance. On one side, the manufacturer indicated a complete list of components supplied with the cooler.

After opening the box, the user will find inside a lot of cardboard boxes, on which are inscriptions and drawings reflecting the contents. Naturally, the complete set contains a complete instruction for assembling and installing the device with the manufacturer's recommendations. Numerous customer reviews in the media note that to install the cooler in the system nothing to buy, you need everything in the box, including adapters and thermal paste.

This is a monster!

All owners without exception, who preferred the Austrian brand, recommend immediately after purchase unpack the box and take in the hands of cooler Noctua NH D15. Overview of the CPU cooler at the same time causes a few feelings - delight, respect and curiosity, because not every day you have to contemplate such a monster.

Six copper tubes are bent in the form of a letter U, in the base of which there is a platform that contacts the processor. On the other hand on the tube planted 45 aluminum plates, which look like two towers.

One fan with the help of special brackets, which are included, is fixed between the blocks, and the second one is mounted on one of the sides. The manufacturer proposes to install a third fan, which is not included in the kit, but user reviews assure that the system performance provided by Noctua NH D15 cooler is sufficient with two devices.

Mounting Features

And if cooling Noctua NH D15 does not cause any doubts among potential buyers, then about installing a cooler in the system, users have a lot of questions. In the responses that can be found in the media, the owners note that there are many different adapters for different sockets in the bundle, so there is no reason to worry. Full compatibility with all existing AMD platforms, starting from the current millennium. All available Intel sockets are supported, starting with LGA775.

The installation system itself is quite convenient. First, you need to completely remove all the mounts under the cooler, leaving 4 holes on the motherboard around the processor. By installing special expansion joints that adjust the height of the cooling system relative to the processor (included in the kit), the user must install the guides and secure them securely. After that, the cooler Noctua NH D15 is installed. It should be noted that the screws for tightening the cooling system to the processor are spring-loaded, this is done in order not to damage the processor inadvertently.

Test results

All potential buyers definitely want to see the potential that the cooler Noctua NH D15 is capable of. Review, photo and product description for many are lyrics, so it's time to read the test results. At an ambient temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, the Intel Core i7-4770K (3.5 GHz) processor in normal mode shows 25 degrees. Overclocking to stable 4.5 GHz forced the cooling system to operate in maximum mode, increasing the fan speed to the limit. At the same time, the core temperature did not rise above 78 degrees.

A similar test was performed with the cooling system Noctua NH D14, Corsair H110i GT and Akasa Venom Voodoo. The predecessor of the novelty has lost to its fellow only 7 degrees Celsius on overclocking, it seems that there seems to be less air flow. The cooling system Corsair showed slightly better results - 75 degrees, but Akasa Venom Voodoo lost by 11 degrees to the culprit review Noctua NH D15.

Structural features

Compared with the previous model at the base of the cooler Noctua NH D15 has a small groove, the manufacturer for this cut several aluminum plates. Thus, the installation of a cooling system is possible on all existing motherboards, and the user can be sure that during installation the heatsink does not come into contact with capacitors or memory modules (especially if they have additional radiators).

The manufacturer made changes in the production of fan impellers, adding special serifs, which, in his opinion, reduce the noise of the cooler. However, this statement by many experts is regarded as a marketing move by the Austrian company, designed to hide the true secrets that contribute to the quiet operation of the entire cooling system.

Work on bugs

The protection against vibrations of the rotating components of the cooler Noctua NH D15, whose review is given in this article, are designed to provide rubber gaskets located at the edges of the fan casing. Judging by the numerous reviews of IT professionals, users for a long time have been using rubber delimiters between the fan housing and the radiator, cutting them out of improvised tools, so the decision of Noctua was to everyone's liking.

The control of the rotation speed of the fan was clearly not enough in the previous model, which could produce high-quality cooling even with the cooler stopped. Therefore, many buyers appreciated the manufacturer's step taken in their direction. However, some owners note that there is still no way to completely disable the Noctua NH D15 cooler programmatically. According to the reviews of some enthusiasts, the device characteristics must be changed independently, using a soldering iron and a resistor.

Nearest competitor in performance

Many potential buyers were clearly disconcerted comparing the two cooling systems in the media: Noctua NH D15 vs Corsair H110i GT with water cooling. There is no logic: to choose between an air cooler and a water cooling system. And if it's about performance and efficiency?

In fact, there is nothing strange in the review, because both systems have practically identical radiators, are equipped with two fans, and the air flow with noise is almost identical. The only difference is in the installation - Noctua is attached directly to the processor, and in Corsair it is implemented in the form of a platform that is separated from the radiator by special tubes with liquid and installed on the motherboard independently. The difference is in the price, the Austrian competitor appreciates his creation very much, asking for it in the market almost double the cost of the air-cooled Noctua system, which is about 8 thousand rubles.

Market of similar devices

But many users try to compare devices in appearance and price, trying to choose a beautiful and inexpensive solution. For example, in comparison there is always a wonderful cooler from the budget class Arctic Cooling Freezer i30. Its cooling efficiency is in no way doubtful, especially when it comes to conventional computer systems, where you just need to replace the standard cooler. Naturally, with the overclocking of the game processor, this device can not cope.

If the buyer craves comparisons with Noctua NH D15 Ulmart, then the top models of cooling systems for processors, such as Akasa Venom Voodoo or Prolimatech Megahalems, should definitely be interested in it. The listed devices not only are the leaders of sales in the world market, but point out to small companies the direction of development.

Finally

All the existing reviews of the remarkable cooling system Noctua NH D15, which can be found in the media, lead to the idea that the device is perfect. There are no questions about the quality of the cooler's work, and users are not in a hurry to leave negative feedback. A lot of tests conducted in private laboratories only prove the effectiveness of the system. The cooler Noctua NH D15 is by far the best air cooling system for gaming stations based on the "price-quality" criterion.