The Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC Cooler Review: Notoriously Big, Incredibly Good

Conclusion

The Noctua NH-D15 G2 exemplifies premium build quality, showcasing Noctua's commitment to excellence. Compared to the first generation NH-D15, Noctua has been able to increase the number of heatpipes by two and also increased the fin surface area – all without increasing the cooler’s volume – highlighting thoughtful engineering aimed at maximizing cooling efficiency. Every single fin is soldered on the nickel-plated heatpipes for maximum mechanical cohesion and reliable heat transfer. However, the thinner, more numerous fins can be fragile, requiring more careful than usual handling to avoid damage. Overall, the build quality is impressive, blending functionality with Noctua's traditional elegant, minimalist aesthetic.

In terms of thermal performance, the NH-D15 G2 stands out as the best air cooler currently available. At its maximum fan speed, it achieves an average thermal resistance of 0.0849 °C/W, surpassing the original NH-D15 and rivaling many dual-fan liquid coolers. Even at inaudible fan speeds, with the performance dip to 0.115 °C/W, it maintains exceptional cooling capabilities. This cooler is particularly suited for high-performance systems, offering remarkable efficiency and reliability, even under substantial thermal loads.

The acoustic performance of the NH-D15 G2 is equally noteworthy. Noctua's fan speed offset technique seems to be effective at reducing noise levels, with the cooler operating at a slightly quieter profile than its predecessor. At full speed, the noise output is 38.8 dB(A), which decreases to 33.3 dB(A) at half speed. Running the fans higher does lower the thermal resistance of the cooler measurably, allowing it to dissipate higher volumes of thermal energy efficiently, making the NH-D15 G2 highly suitable for high-wattage applications. The balance between cooling performance and noise levels is ideal for users seeking both power and quiet operation, allowing their systems to be quiet most of the time but with a cooling solution capable to handle massive thermal loads if need be.

We should also note that while there have been reports of vibration "rattling" noises coming from some early samples of the cooler, we did not encounter this issue with our test sample under any testing conditions.

At a retail price of $150, the Noctua NH-D15 G2 is undeniably a significant investment. Noctua set out to build a halo product, and this is exactly what they've accomplished; putting together a chart-topping cooler with a superior build quality, thermal performance, and acoustic refinement.

Suffice it to say, this is not the product we would recommend to everyone – only builders with very powerful and/or overclocked processors are going to come close to needing it – but Noctua did not design the NH-D15 G2 for the masses anyway. For budget-minded builders there are far better options at half the price – and even the classic NH-D15 is still a darn good cooler for $40 less – but none of those will match the NH-D15 G2. This is a halo product, one that is unrivaled in cooling performance while giving Noctua the right to claim that they have the best performing CPU air cooler available today.