Noctua NH-D15 G2 Review & Benchmarks, HBC & LBC Comparison, & Best CPU Coolers
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Published 2024-07-03
This is our most in-depth CPU cooler review & benchmark yet. We test Noctua's new NH-D15 G2 for thermals (Intel & AMD temperature testing), acoustics, frequency response, flatness, pressure, and more. The benchmarks also cover Noctua's three alternatives for the Noctua NH-D15 G2, including the base model and HBC vs. LBC differences (High Base Convexity & Low Base Convexity). Because Noctua includes washers for a washer mod on the Intel ILM, we also ran benchmarks for that, plus tests of the old vs. new fans. The NH-D15 G2 is Noctua's first major dual-tower release since 2014, and now it faces competition from the Thermalright Peerless Assassin, ID Cooling A720, Arctic Liquid Freezer III, and other cheaper coolers.
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RELATED PRODUCTS [Affiliate Links]
Noctua NH-D15 G2 on Newegg: howl.me/cmANxEu9dM6
Noctua NH-D15 G2 on Amazon: geni.us/XRbD
Noctua NH-D15 G2 HBC on Newegg: howl.me/cmANx7zzUaG
Noctua NH-D15 G2 HBC on Amazon: geni.us/yC6n
Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC on Newegg: howl.me/cmANywlFmCH
Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC on Amazon: geni.us/r8SXENp
ALTERNATIVES TO NH-D15 G2 [Affiliate Links]
Thermalright Peerless Assassin SE on Amazon: geni.us/l3pXwA
Thermalright Peerless Assassin SE on Newegg: howl.me/cmANBMbp2JI
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 Black on Amazon: geni.us/5N1BRr9
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 Black on Newegg: howl.me/cmANC9Ym83T
ID Cooling A720 on Amazon: geni.us/byGjgA
Thermalright Frozen Prism 360 on Amazon: geni.us/NcSvA
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Noctua NH-D15 G2 Review & Benchmarks
02:16 - Price & Basics: NH-D15 G2 vs. LBC, HBC
06:42 - Laser Scanning: HBC, LBC, & G2 Coldplates
08:29 - Thermal Testing Methodology
10:32 - 200W AMD: Noctua-Only at Full Speed
12:33 - 200W AMD: Noctua-Only Noise-Normalized
12:51 - 250W Intel: Noctua-Only Noise-Normalized
14:10 - 250W Intel: Noctua-Only at Full Speed
14:40 - 250W Comparison, Noise Normalized (Intel)
16:13 - 200W Comparison, Full Speed (AMD)
17:54 - 200W Comparison, Noise Normalized (AMD)
18:20 - 250W Comparison, Full Speed (Intel)
19:11 - Core-to-Core Deltas (250W Intel)
20:10 - Pressure Testing (HBC vs. Washer vs. LBC vs. G2)
21:53 - Acoustic Testing
23:12 - Frequency Spectrum (NF-A14 G2 vs. Original)
24:34 - Noise Samples (NH-D15 G2 vs. NH-D15)
26:38 - AMD Installation Instructions (AM4 and AM5 )
28:47 - Intel Installation Instructions (Noctua NH-D15 G2)
30:26 - Intel Washer Mod Instructions
32:15 - Praise & Criticism of Installation
34:21 - Conclusion
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Steve Burke: Host, Test Lead, Writing
Mike Gaglione: Host, Testing
Vitalii Makhnovets: Camera, Video Editing
Tim Phetdara: Camera
All Comments (21)
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This is EXPENSIVE testing. To help support our ability to continue bringing high-quality and independent reviews like these, grab something on our store! store.gamersnexus.net/ -- Consider grabbing one of our 3D emblem commemorative pint glasses: store.gamersnexus.net/products/gn-3d-emblem-glasse… Watch our engineering interview on how the fans are designed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ia_FZcthQ Watch our Coldplate Engineering deep-dive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BMYsMGpyFY Buy a GN Large Anti-Static Modmat for PC Building! store.gamersnexus.net/products/large-modmat-gn15-a… Buy a GN Soldering & Project Mat: store.gamersnexus.net/products/gn-project-solderin…
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Now wait 4 years for a chromax black. Revolutionary.
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You can hear it in Steve's voice in the intro how excited he is to use all the testing equipment on the new Noctua. "THIS IS WHY I BUILT MY TESTING TEMPLE" ~Steve (Probably)
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Less than 1mm between the edge of the fan and the frame is wild.
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The fact that the Peerless Assassin can get within marginal degrees of temp difference, while keeping equal (or lower) noise levels on a 120mm fan setup vs Noctua's 140mm setup, and then do that at basically 5x lower cost... Noctua is doing some great stuff, but honestly the best thing they're doing, is free marketing for Thermalright lol.
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Time for Thermalright to make the Peerless-er Assassin.
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"We are not here for the basics" GN in a Nutshell <3
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I'm still running an NH-D15 after who knows how many years. The quality and longevity of the brand are prime reasons I'd buy Noctua again for this class of air cooler.
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Geez man, I don't know if people can really appreciate the depth of testing expertise displayed in this video. 9 passes for a single mount?! 13 dBA noise floor?! 3 different cold plates, fan swaps, two test benches. Easily over $100K in time and equipment. Well done guys. I bet Noctua are pleased to have their best tested by the best.
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Wake up samurai, the Noctua NH-D15 G2 review is real.
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I come here to see clean coolers to help heal my trauma. Thank you for your service.
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28:06 I love how you guys skip applying thermal paste, just to avoid the flamewar 😆 at the same time though, it'd be good for the alg
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Don't think I've ever mentioned it, but I sure have meant to.... That sound chamber looks really good with your colors on the sound absorbing tiles/peak/mountains/whateverthehellthey are called!
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Can't wait for the G3 in 20 years!
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Already saved this video knowing I might need this in 10 years
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I still have a Noctua NH-U9F, bought in 2008. Fan is still going strong, and Noctua providing me with a kit to fit it to an AM4 motherboard. Excellent customer service.
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I'm still running my Noctua NH-D14 I bought in June of 2012 - and have no desire to upgrade at this point. $88 for a fan in 2012 seemed insane, but Noctua continues to support their older fans by selling adapter plates each time a new CPU is introduced, and currently I'm running an AMD 5900X and it has no issues keeping it cool. I'll probably upgrade that to the next AMD chip that comes out, and I bet you this fan will continue to work just fine for another 12 years.
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5:41 Steve beat the urge to say "WOO WOO" lol
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Expensive testing that we get to see for free, thanks Steve and Gamers Nexus
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I'm impressed that you guys got the review out so early!
