Noctua NH-D15 Review

Noctua NH-D15 Cooler Review

Cooler Test Setup and Results …

After the easy installation, the NH-D15 can now show if it also scored in the main discipline.

Test Setup …

As a test system, the following configuration is used: Intel Core i7 2600K @ 4012 MHz with 1.19 Volt Asus P8P67 Pro Rev 3.1 4x 4 GB DDR3-1600 MSI GeForce 780ti Seasonic Platinum 760 Watt PSU CM Storm Stryker case Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit Service Pack 1

Following testing software is used: Prime95 V27.9 Core Temp 1.0 RC6 Asus AiSuite2

Thermal compound:
Cooler Master X1 Extreme Fusion 9,5W/mK. *Ad

The idle temperature was measured at 500 rpm, and thereafter at the maximum speed first with no load at all. The Test ran in an air conditioned room at 20°C. Anyone who has experienced the temperatures of the summer knows that it gives reasonable results only at ambient temperature 20°C. But then we had to generate some heat again. This was accomplished by Prime95 which uses all CPU cores physically and logically. Thereafter, the temperature was read directly from the CPU diode independent of the typical -10°C Asus measurement error with the Core Temp program.

Noctua NH-D15 test results …

The results of this test, we have shown in the following diagram. Phanteks PH-TC14PE is used as CPU cooler comparison.

Even a very good cooler like the Phanteks PH14-D has no chance against the Noctua NH-D15 ! The fans are pleasantly quiet even at full speed, and not stand out from the background noise of the computer.

Noctua NH-D15 Result and general impression …