Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC

Der Noctua NH-D15 G2 ist eine erstklassige Lösung für alle, die höchste Kühlleistung bei gleichzeitig niedrigem Geräuschpegel suchen. Im Test überzeugt der Dual-Tower-Kühler mit hervorragender Verarbeitung, durchdachtem Design und einfacher Montage. Die Kühlleistung ist selbst für leistungsstarke High-End-CPUs mehr als ausreichend und sorgt für eine stabile Leistung ohne dabei das Temperaturlimit zu erreichen.

Noctuas NH-D15 war für Jahre der Referenzkühler unter den großen Dual-Towerkühlern. Nach langer Wartezeit kommt mit dem NH-D15 G2 ein Nachfolger auf den Markt. Doch kann Noctua damit die Flaggschiffe der Konkurrenz wirklich schlagen? Und was hat es mit den drei unterschiedlichen Varianten auf sich, die vom NH-D15 G2 angeboten werden?

When the NH-D14 CPU cooler by Noctua made its debut roughly 16 years ago it was the best model in the market, even compared to other dual-tower sandwich type ones by the competition. Same exact thing happened when Noctua unveiled the NH-D15 roughly 5 years after the NH-D14 even though there were far more dual-tower sandwich coolers available by then. 11 years have passed since Noctua unveiled the NH-D15 and the new NH-D15 G2 (Gen 2) doesn’t disappoint by delivering almost 2 full degrees Celsius less in comparison during my LGA2011 tests (unfortunately it does so with higher noise levels). Where the focus should be however is its cooling efficiency with the Intel Core Ultra 285k and here it does very well by even managing to surpass one of the 360mm AIO models in my charts. What about cost, however?

If you are looking for the absolute best in air cooling, demand near-silent operation, and are willing to invest in a cooler that will likely last through multiple system builds, then the Noctua NH-D15 G2 is an outstanding choice. It’s a testament to Noctua’s engineering excellence and a worthy successor to the legendary D15. While the price might be a barrier for some, the performance, build quality, and quiet operation are not in doubt, but at the same time, it’s hard to ignore than you can get equal cooling performance for a lot less money, and even extremely quiet cooling for less money, but here you most certainly have both. It’s really down to what you want as a user from your cooler in terms of budget and quality.

In this review, we'll be taking a closer look at the NH-D15 G2 cooler, the successor to the legendary NH-D15. This cooler comes with a hefty price tag of $150 but promises to deliver the best performance that an air cooler can currently achieve. The NH-D15 G2 is available in three versions: one standard version as well as two specialized variants – LBC (Low Base Convexity) and HBC (High Base Convexity). These variants are designed to make better contact with specific CPUs; the LBC is recommended for AMD AM5 processors, while the HBC is tailored for Intel LGA1700 processors, mirroring the slightly different geometry of their respective heatspeaders. Conversely, the standard version is an “one size fits all” approach for users who care more about long-term compatibility over squeezing out every ounce of potential the cooler has.

It has been awhile since I have reviewed a Noctua cooler, and I am always happy to see what they have in store. Today's review will focus on Noctua's latest design, the NH-D15 G2, which replaces the time tested and venerable NH-D15. This new release offers several options including a standard version and two specialized variants. Today's review is of the standard version which is Noctua's recommended option for most. On the other side is the HBC and LBC offerings (High Base Convexity and Low Base Convexity). HBC is meant for Intel LGA1700 chips that have experienced deformation from pressure over time. Meanwhile, LBC is for flat CPUs such as AM4 or in situations where the end user has lapped the CPU IHS or has opted for a custom heat spreader. All versions of the NH-D15 G2 have eight heatpipes compared to six on the NH-D15, along with a higher fin density and entirely new NF-A14x25r G2 fans. All together this should result in a potent air-cooler, but will it be enough to leave its predecessor in the dust along with the competition? Well, let's find out!