Review: Noctua NH-D15 G2

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Conclusion

We’ve come to the end of this test of Noctua’s NH-D15 G2. Are we dealing with a successful product? Let’s take a closer look!

After all these years, the next generation is assured!

It’s been a long wait to get our hands on this new heatsink. And for this second-generation heatsink, Noctua has done things right, with a better-equipped heatsink and new-generation fans. However, the dimensions are still imposing, and you’ll need to check compatibility with your case. Fortunately, this model comes with an eccentric base to maximize compatibility with the first PCIe slot, but not the memory.

However, given its size, it’s easy to assemble, making it possible to deal with any situation: AMD offset mounting, too much pressure on the LGA-1700, screwdriver supplied, and so on. Noctua even goes so far as to offer a cleaning wipe to remove the old thermal paste from your processor – how cool is that?

Next to that, we’re treated to a cooler with an impeccable finish, just be careful where you put your fingers. Unfortunately, Noctua continues to use aluminum, which is extremely susceptible to fingerprints.

Noctua NH-D15 G2 MBC

All in all, very good performance!

In absolute terms, the heatsink is audible at full volume, and that’s a shame. However, it also has an excellent temperature-to-noise ratio in these conditions. It will easily outperform other high-performance models such as DeepCool’s Assassin IV.

On the other hand, this model’s performance is heavily impacted at low rpm, where the fans don’t spin very fast. This tends to have a negative impact on temperatures.

However, at high power consumption levels, this model clearly stands out from its dual-tower rivals, with a much higher level of performance. However, it fails to keep our CPU from heating up at low speeds on an Intel or AMD processor consuming 170W.

The bill explodes:

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Unfortunately, the bad news comes in the form of an exploding price tag. The latter now stands at around €150 on the brand’s official Amazon store. At this price, we’re starting to see some very serious AIO watercooling kits.

Noctua NH-D15 G2:

We like:
  • The heatsink’s consistently high level of finish
  • The extensive accessories section!
  • Simple assembly
  • Eccentric base frees up the first slot on the motherboard
  • Excellent high- and mid-speed performance
  • Controlled noise at mid-range and golden silence at low speed
What we didn’t like :
  • The fact that aluminum is so susceptible to fingerprints
  • Its imposing size, which means it won’t fit everywhere!
  • Noisy at full speed
  • Low-speed performance
  • The soaring price tag

Despite its very high performance on Intel or AMD CPUs, the NH-D15 G2 is not without its faults. Like many dual-tower cooling systems, it takes up a lot of space. Noise is also very noticeable at full speed, while low-speed operation has a negative impact on performance. It also comes at a high price, while its finish – excellent though it is – will keep fingerprints. In spite of everything, we’ve decided to give it a silver award.

Many thanks to Noctua !