Tuesday, July 2nd 2024
Noctua Announces $150 Flagship NH-D15 G2 CPU Coolers and NF-A14x25r G2 140mm Fans
Noctua today released its long-awaited NH-D15 G2 next-gen flagship model CPU cooler and NF-A14x25r G2 round-frame 140 mm fans. Continuing the legacy of the iconic NH-D15 and its NF-A15 fans, the new G2 products come packed with Noctua's latest technologies and have been carefully refined in all respects to provide even better quiet cooling performance than their award-winning predecessors.
"Our G2 products have been years in the making, and it feels amazing to finally be able to offer the first of them to our customers", says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "We faced various challenges in both design and manufacturing, but we've cut no corners and gone the extra mile to make sure that the G2's will be worthy successors to some of our most iconic models. When you have them in your hands, I'm confident that you'll be able to sense some of the dedication and perseverance that went into creating these fans and coolers."
The NH-D15 G2 is the further improved second generation of Noctua's iconic NH-D15. With its state-of-the-art, speed-offset NF-A14x25r G2 PWM fans, eight heatpipes and asymmetrical fin-stacks that have been carefully fine-tuned to work in tandem with the new fans, it achieves even better quiet cooling performance than its award-winning predecessor. As such, the G2 version is a true flagship model that continues the legacy of the original NH-D15 by pushing the boundaries of air cooling and rivalling the efficiency of many all-in-one (AIO) water cooling solutions.
In addition to its further improved performance, the NH-D15 G2 also offers enhanced compatibility thanks to an offset construction that allows it to clear the top PCIe x16 slot on most current motherboards. Last but not least, the G2 version has been upgraded to the Torx -based SecuFirm2+ multi-socket mounting system with included NM-SD1 screwdriver as well as to Noctua's superior NT-H2 thermal compound. In short, the NH-D15 G2 has been further refined in virtually all respects from the heatsink and the fans all the way down to the mounting, thermal paste and accessory package. Topped off with Noctua's trusted 6-year manufacturer's warranty, it's the new number one choice for customers who demand the best of the best in air cooling.
Taking platform-specific optimisation to a new level, the NH-D15 G2 is available in a regular, standard version and two specialised variants: The regular NH-D15 G2 uses the same medium base convexity as most other Noctua heatsinks, which makes it a perfect all-rounder that provides optimal results on AM5 with the included offset mounting and on LGA1700 CPUs when utilising the included NM-ISW1 shim washers (or optional, so-called contact frames ) to reduce CPU deformation from ILM pressure. The HBC (High Base Convexity) variant is specifically optimised for LGA1700 processors that are used with full ILM pressure or have become permanently deformed in long-term use, providing excellent contact quality despite the CPU's concave shape. The LBC (Low Base Convexity) variant, by contrast, is specifically optimised for relatively flat CPUs. As such, it offers excellent contact quality on AMD AM5 even without the offset mounting as well as on other comparably flat CPUs (e.g. AM4, LGA2066, LGA2011(-3), lapped or custom flat heatspreaders, etc.).
For customers who would like to upgrade existing heatsinks such as the first-generation NH-D15, NH-D15S or NH-U14S series coolers, the new round-frame NF-A14x25r G2 fans will also be available separately, both in a regular single fan package (NF-A14x25r G2 PWM) and a dedicated dual fan package for push-pull configurations (NF-A14x25r G2 PWM Sx2-PP). Like the fans that come pre-installed on the NH-D15 G2, the ones included in the Sx2-PP set are fine-tuned with a 50rpm speed offset to prevent acoustic interaction phenomena such as periodic humming or intermittent vibrations.
The square frame version of the NF-A14x25 G2 fan for water cooling radiators and case cooling applications is currently scheduled for September.
Performance Claims
[Editor's Note: Some of the graphs do not start at 0, which could visually skew the results for you.]
Refer to this Noctua article for the company's performance claims.
Product PagesSuggested retail prices
The manufacturer's suggested retail prices are as follows:
"Our G2 products have been years in the making, and it feels amazing to finally be able to offer the first of them to our customers", says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "We faced various challenges in both design and manufacturing, but we've cut no corners and gone the extra mile to make sure that the G2's will be worthy successors to some of our most iconic models. When you have them in your hands, I'm confident that you'll be able to sense some of the dedication and perseverance that went into creating these fans and coolers."
In addition to its further improved performance, the NH-D15 G2 also offers enhanced compatibility thanks to an offset construction that allows it to clear the top PCIe x16 slot on most current motherboards. Last but not least, the G2 version has been upgraded to the Torx -based SecuFirm2+ multi-socket mounting system with included NM-SD1 screwdriver as well as to Noctua's superior NT-H2 thermal compound. In short, the NH-D15 G2 has been further refined in virtually all respects from the heatsink and the fans all the way down to the mounting, thermal paste and accessory package. Topped off with Noctua's trusted 6-year manufacturer's warranty, it's the new number one choice for customers who demand the best of the best in air cooling.
Taking platform-specific optimisation to a new level, the NH-D15 G2 is available in a regular, standard version and two specialised variants: The regular NH-D15 G2 uses the same medium base convexity as most other Noctua heatsinks, which makes it a perfect all-rounder that provides optimal results on AM5 with the included offset mounting and on LGA1700 CPUs when utilising the included NM-ISW1 shim washers (or optional, so-called contact frames ) to reduce CPU deformation from ILM pressure. The HBC (High Base Convexity) variant is specifically optimised for LGA1700 processors that are used with full ILM pressure or have become permanently deformed in long-term use, providing excellent contact quality despite the CPU's concave shape. The LBC (Low Base Convexity) variant, by contrast, is specifically optimised for relatively flat CPUs. As such, it offers excellent contact quality on AMD AM5 even without the offset mounting as well as on other comparably flat CPUs (e.g. AM4, LGA2066, LGA2011(-3), lapped or custom flat heatspreaders, etc.).
For customers who would like to upgrade existing heatsinks such as the first-generation NH-D15, NH-D15S or NH-U14S series coolers, the new round-frame NF-A14x25r G2 fans will also be available separately, both in a regular single fan package (NF-A14x25r G2 PWM) and a dedicated dual fan package for push-pull configurations (NF-A14x25r G2 PWM Sx2-PP). Like the fans that come pre-installed on the NH-D15 G2, the ones included in the Sx2-PP set are fine-tuned with a 50rpm speed offset to prevent acoustic interaction phenomena such as periodic humming or intermittent vibrations.
The square frame version of the NF-A14x25 G2 fan for water cooling radiators and case cooling applications is currently scheduled for September.
Performance Claims
[Editor's Note: Some of the graphs do not start at 0, which could visually skew the results for you.]
Product PagesSuggested retail prices
The manufacturer's suggested retail prices are as follows:
- NH-D15 G2: EUR 149.90 / USD 149.90
- NH-D15 G2 LBC: EUR 149.90 / USD 149.90
- NH-D15 G2 HBC: EUR 149.90 / USD 149.90
- NF-A14x25r G2 PWM: EUR 39.90 / USD 39.90
- NF-A14x25r G2 PWM Sx2-PP: EUR 79.80 / USD 79.80
164 Comments on Noctua Announces $150 Flagship NH-D15 G2 CPU Coolers and NF-A14x25r G2 140mm Fans
Extremely. Premium. Packaging. Its a cardboard box. Come on.
Also there is a syringe with that gelid tranquillo too. Good paste at that. 25 bucks cooler. They also offer mounting kits. I mean... stop trying to find arguments for ludicrous brand premium and just call it what it is. We are talking about a product here that is brutally simple and hasnt changed much over the course of 20 years.
faqs.noctua.at/en/support/solutions/articles/101000440486
In my case they had a higher starting % than regular fans and would not start below 20% rpm
but at 20% rpm, the noise is already noticable.
That's why I switched back to regular A14.
I 've experienced the same behaviour on the A20s too
Experience may vary based on different fan controller hardware / software.
But it is just the inherent nature of high speed motor / heavier blade fans to have higher starting resistance.
For most other cases, I'd guess Thermalright can put them out of business though ;)
I am not sold at all on the premium experience argument.
The PA120 is not their best cooler lol.
Maybe Noctua should retire the D series and move on to a completely fresh design. Poll some customers if need advice..
I will concede that on a purely performance per dollar argument, Noctua's probably the last place you should be looking
D14 was released in 2009.
On the other hand
Thermalright was founded at 2001
Ultra 120 Extreme released at 2009
So Thermalright had doubled the experience in making coolers at that moment (2009).
I would say the D14 was quite an early product in this company's life cycle and Noctua had improved significantly since then.