It took a decade, but Noctua has finally created a follow-up to its flagship CPU cooler.
The NH-D15 G2 is now on sale for $149 and refines the first-generation NH-D15's fan "to provide even better quiet cooling performance," according to Noctua.
The company decided to retain the dual fan and heatsink design, along with the classic brown and tan coloring. But Noctua increased the number of heatpipes from six to eight to offer better cooling performance at higher temperatures.
(Credit: Noctua )In addition, the tightly packed fin stacks on the heatsink cover 20% more surface area. The results promise to bring down the CPU cooling temperatures by two to three degrees Celsius compared to the first-generation NH-D15, according to Noctua’s benchmarks.
An "offset" option tackles fan noise so the NH-D15 G2 runs quieter. Noctua also refined the installation process, including offering support for its SecuFirm2+ multi-socket mounting system.
“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 G2s will be worthy successors to some of our most iconic models,” says Noctua CEO Roland Mossig.
Noctua is releasing three models of the NH-D15 G2: a regular version and two “specialized” variants optimized to mount on top of certain Intel and AMD processors. The company created an FAQ advising customers which fan variant is best for their CPU.
On the downside, the NH-D15 G2 comes with a price bump to $149, which is $50 more than what the first-generation NH-D15 cost when it was introduced back in 2014.