Where to begin? From a performance and quality standpoint, Noctua delivers yet again, holding the crown for the best-performing air cooler. On the AMD AM5 test bench, it maintains the highest overall TDP during testing at 242.6 watts, beating the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO by around 3 watts. On the Intel LGA1700 test bench, it holds a 2-watt lead at 323.0 watts versus 321.5 watts. Both coolers registered the same 53 dBA at max fan speed.

Limiting the coolers to 45 dBA in the noise-normalized tests, the NH-D15 G2 handles 234 watts on AMD versus the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO at 231, meaning the difference remains similar. However, on Intel, where power usage is far higher, the gap between them widens, with the Noctua cooler pulling ahead by 12 watts. This translates to the NH-D15 G2 having a 1-3°C or larger lead over its closest competitors, including be quiet!'s Dark Rock Elite and DeepCool's Assassin IV. Suffice to say, Noctua holds the crown again, but only in the purest form.

Looking at performance per dollar, the Noctua NH-D15 G2 is abysmal value. Priced at $150, it gets completely dominated by ID-Cooling's FROZN A620 PRO SE, along with Thermalright's Phantom Spirit 120 EVO and Peerless Assassin. All three of these competitors can regularly be found for under $50, with the FROZN A620 PRO SE being priced ultra-competitively at $30. The more affordable competition makes far more sense from a value standpoint, and there is no way to ignore that fact.

Where the NH-D15 G2 does have an edge over the competition is in the overall noise profile. While it is not the quietest cooler at max RPM, the noise output is a deeper sound of air rushing through the heatsink. I noticed no rattling, strange tonal hums, or other oddities that might prove distracting to silence-focused enthusiasts. Essentially, the overall noise of the cooler, while noticeable, is far more pleasant across the entire PWM range. Furthermore, our manual 45 dBA testing is essentially the same as if you used the low noise adapters provided by Noctua.

With air coolers, I find long warranties less of a bonus compared to liquid coolers. Still, Noctua's six-year warranty is impressive, even if not entirely necessary. However, their support is something that sets them apart. It is top-notch, and knowing that this cooler will be compatible with future sockets as Noctua creates new mounting hardware means it is not uncommon for a Noctua cooler to last through many builds, consistently performing well. One such example is the NH-U12S, which I reviewed 11 years ago and now has updated mounting hardware for use with the latest mainstream sockets. That support does come at a price, though, and only you can decide if it's worth it or not.

Build quality is exceptional, and the mounting hardware is incredibly easy to work with. I was also surprised to see Noctua's new mounting setup offers an offset option for AMD by default and is properly outlined and preferred as stated in the installation manual. However, the switch to Torx over Phillips head screws left me scratching my head, as there really is no benefit for the consumer. Thankfully, Noctua includes a nice Torx driver, which is appreciated since I don't have any nearly long enough to do the required job. The NH-D15 G2's aesthetics are its primary downside, as the cooler 100% falls into either the love-it or hate-it camps. There is no real middle ground. Also, if you even think of touching the bare aluminium, you will find it covered in fingerprints. While that's normal for aluminium, it always seems more noticeable with Noctua coolers. An all-black version with a top cover would really improve the visual appeal, but Noctua remains committed to their traditional color scheme. While I do applaud that to a certain degree, it is also vexing. Hopefully Noctua will, sooner rather than later, release a chromax.black variant.

As for what to get; be it the standard, HBC, or LBC version, Noctua has their own recommendations here. But to summarize, if you are on AM4 or AM5 the standard versions will do fine and the same goes for Intel LGA1700 if you are using a contact frame. The other options come into play depending on your needs, likely offering small improvements in overall cooling performance in exchange for a more limited suitability favoring specific CPU sockets. Overall, just something to keep in mind before you buy.

In summary, Noctua is severely lagging on the price-to-performance front, with both Thermalright and ID-Cooling's offerings proving to be far more compelling value options, even various AIOs are better value. However, if price is not a concern, and you want the best performing air cooler, along with the highest level of reliability and quality you can get from a CPU cooler, then I can still recommend the NH-D15 G2, but it's entirely based on Noctua's stellar support, build quality, and long term consistency.