Noctua NH-D15S D-Type Premium CPU Cooler Review

DESIGN OVERVIEW

Once we get the NH-D15S out of the cardboard packaging, you will see that it features an asymmetrical design. The design allows for the pre-installed NF-A15 PWM fan to extend below the fin-stacks to provide cooling to not only the heatsinks, but also the remainder of the surrounding PC components.

The NH-D15S measures in at 150mm wide, 135mm in depth and 165mm in height, which we found to not exactly fit in our In Win 805 chassis. We were required to reinstall our NF-A15 PWM fans after installation, to position them as low as possible in order to allow our tempered glass side panel to be installed.

The NH-D15S features twelve (12) nickel-plated copper heat-pipes which protrude out from the top side of the heatsink and meet a the base. The aforementioned base is made of a nickel-plated copper and features a mirror-like finish. The top of the CPU cooler shows the Noctua logo, as well as the twelve heatsinks capped off.

The NF-A15 premium PWN fan has a max rotational speed of 1200 RPM, max airflow of 115.5 m3/h, is listed to have a max acoustical noise of 19.2 dB/A and is listed to have a MTBF of greater than 150,000 hours. The NF-A15 measures in at 140 x 150 x 25mm, and features an SSO bearings.

The  seven  fan blades also feature three angled ridges at the top, which is what Noctua calls ‘Flow Acceleration Channels’. This is said to speed up airflow at the outer portion of the blades, which would reduce suction side flow separation, allow for better efficiency and lower noise.

The fan is attached to the NH-D15S using metal clips that fit through the fans mounting holes. Rubber padding can be found around the corners to help with noise dampening. The fan’s 4-pin PWM power cable is sleeved with an all black dimpled rubber and has heat shrunk tubing to give the cables a sleek and minimalistic appearance.