NOCTUA NH-D15S Chromax Black Review

NOCTUA is a well-known brand founded in 2005 by Rascom Computerdistribution and Kolink International, a Taiwanese firm. Since then, Noctua has become one of the most popular PC cooling brands. Noctua products are utilized by a wide range of people, from gamers to industrial clients. Noctua is recognized for its exceptional quality and low noise levels among PC enthusiasts.

Noctua has released the chromax.black lineup in addition to their standard CPU cooling solutions. This series includes their well-known NH-D15S and NH-U9S in an all-black aesthetic for the fanatics. In this post, we’ll look at the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black and put it to the test. We had already reviewed the older Noctua NH D15, so take a look at that as well.

The newer Noctua NH-15S is very identical to the earlier NH-D15. The heatsink design on the NH-D15S has been altered to make it more symmetrical, and Noctua has also removed a fan; the NH-D15S comes with only one NF-A15 fan. There are no distinctions between the NH-D15S and the NH-D15S chromax.black version now, other from the chromax.black version’s all-black appearance.

Here is our video review so you can get quick glance at the product.

Previous Awards by Tech4Gamers for Noctua NH-D15S Chromax Black:

• Best CPU Cooler for AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
• Best CPU Cooler For i9 12900k

The Noctua NH-D15/S has a strong following because, although being an air cooler, it offers thermal characteristics that are comparable to those of an AIO cooler. As a result, Noctua has now developed an all-blacked-out version. 

We’ll be looking at and testing the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black in this article. The following are some of the features and specs of the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black. Before we jump into the Noctua NH-D15S Chromax Black Review, let’s look at the specifications.

• All Black Aesthetic
• Compatibility for a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets
• Asymmetrical design for better PCIe compatibility
• Dual tower six Heatpipe design
• 1x NF-A15 140mm Fan
• 6-year International Warranty
• Better RAM compatibility

Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black Unboxing

Kicking off our Noctua NH-D15S Review with Unboxing – The package comes in a cubic chromax.black box. The packaging has a glossy finish and the NH-D15S chromax.black branding on all sides.

The NOCTUA NH-D15S chromax.black logo is included on the front of the package, along with a photograph of the actual cooler, which clearly shows the six heat pipes and twin tower design.

The Specifications are printed on the right side of the package, alongside the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black branding. Some of the D15S’s standout characteristics are also detailed above the specs.

The D15S chromax.black characteristics are described in further depth on the backside of the Noctua package, which is exclusively in English. A picture of the tower and a fan is also included.

• CHROMAX.BLACK DESIGN
• HIGH-COMPATIBILITY
• ASYMMETRICAL LAYOUT
• PWM SUPPORT AND LOW-NOISE ADAPTOR
• NF-A15 140MM FAN
• EXCELLENT RAM COMPATIBILITY
• SECUFIRM MULTI-SOCKET MOUNTING SYSTEM

The NH-D15S is described as an award-winning cooler on the left side of the packaging. The cooler’s dimensions are (H)160mm x (W)150mm x (D)135mm mentioned on the bottom.

The Chromax logo is in big letters on the top, along with the award-winning badge and premium fan introduction.

When the lid is raised, a big piece of styrofoam cushioning greets us.

We grab two additional cardboard boxes after lifting the foam cushioning. The cooler is in one package, and the essential accessories are in the other.

Contents

The smaller brown box on the left includes all necessary accessories for your cooler. 

We get several tools and brackets;

• 1x Intel backplate [NM-IBP2]
• 2x Intel brackets [NM-IMB2]
• 2x AMD brackets [NM-AMB8]
• 4x White color spacers for AMD sockets [NM-APS5]
• 4x Gray color spacers for AMD AM4 socket only [ NM-APS4]
• 4x NM-ALS1 Screws for AMD
• 4x Black color spacers for Intel [NM-IPS1]
• 4x NM-ITS1 Thumbscrews
• 4x NM-IBT2 Bolts for Intel Socket LGA-20xx
• Installation guides for the Intel LGA20xx socket, Intel other sockets, and AMD sockets
• 1x Noctua NT-H1
• 1x Low Noise Adapter NA-RC7
• 2x Metal Fan Clips in black color
• 1x Screw Driver
• 1x Metal Noctua Case Badge

Closer Look at the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black

It’s time to examine the NH-D15S chromax.black in further detail. The Noctua NH-D15S is an award-winning cooler with the excellent build quality and thermal performance. Apart from the all-black Look, the chromax.black version is identical to the previous NH-D15S. The NH-D15S has an asymmetrical twin tower, making it one of the finest air coolers available in PCIe and RAM compatibility. It also has a single 140mm NF-A15 PWM fan. The cooler is also lightweight; many people may assume it would be heavy with such a large heatsink, but it is not. It also comes with the SecuFirm multi-socket mounting system, so don’t expect your cooler to go anywhere. The Noctua NT-H1 thermal compound is provided because the cooler does not arrive with any pre-applied thermal paste. The Noctuas NH-D15S chromax.black is deserving of all the praise, with an all-black exterior and a 6-year international guarantee. Jumping further into our Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black Review, here is how you unbox it safely.

Remove the larger box on the right and unfold it to reveal the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black cooler.

The fan is already fitted between the two enormous heatsinks of the cooler. The cold plate is protected with a plastic cover.

With the cooler out of the packaging, remove the cardboard cushioning from between.

The cooler is massive, measuring roughly 160x150x135mm (HxWxD). These measurements are the same with a single 140mm fan, but they will alter if you add an extra fan later. With the single NF-A15 fan mounted, the cooler weighs roughly 1150 grams. The cold-plate is large enough to support a variety of Intel and AMD sockets (LGA2066, LGA2011-0, and LGA2011-3 (Square ILM), LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150, LGA1200, and AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate needed), AM4).

Looking at the cooler from the top, we see the Noctua branding on both towers. The NH-D15S chromax. Black comes with six heat pipes on either tower, so we see the tips of the heat pipes on top—featuring the dual tower design, the single NF-A15 fan is installed in between the towers. The asymmetrical arrangement is impressive on both towers, which also has a slight bend in the middle for reduced noise and air resistance. The cooler is entirely matte black which is why you have to be careful with fingerprints all over it. 

The Noctua branding can be seen on both towers of the cooler when viewed from the top. The NH-D15S chromax.black has six heat pipes on each tower, which is why the heat pipes’ tips are visible on top. The single NF-A15 fan is situated between the towers in the twin tower arrangement. The asymmetrical form is striking on both towers, with a bend in the middle for less noise and air resistance. Because the cooler is matte black, you must be careful not to get fingerprints on it.

Both the front and back of the cooler have the same appearance. The heatsink is made up of 45 black metal fins. To improve RAM clearance, the heatsink towers are separated into two stages, each with 38 and 7 fins.

We may look at the Heatpipe distribution to evaluate the asymmetrical design. The heat pipes are distributed more uniformly on the right side rather than bludging them on the left, which improves PCIe compatibility.

The six heat pipes may be seen at the bottom. A solder connects the heat pipes, which are all black, to the base plate. The heat pipes have a thickness of 6mm. The copper base is 38x39mm in size, which explains why we have such a wide range of socket compatibility. The base plate is nickel-plated with a gleaming finish and is protected by the plastic cover seen earlier.

The mounting plate is already screwed into place on the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black. Two spring-loaded screws are provided on both sides of the cooler to attach it to your Motherboard.

NF-A15 Fan:

The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black comes with a single NF-A15 140mm industry-graded fan. It comes already attached to the tower using all black fan clips. A set of extra fan clips are also provided to attach another fan in the future.

The fan’s dimensions are 140x150x25mm. The fan features PWM control alongside Noctua SSO2 bearing. The fan is entirely black, with the CHROMAX logo and power ratings on the back. We are also provided anti-vibration cushions on all four sides. The fan has seven blades, and suction side Flow Acceleration Channels for optimal airflow and minimum noise.

The fan clip is attached using the screw holes on either side of the fan. In the accessories package, we also find an NA-RC7 cable to aid with low noise levels by lowering rotational speeds.

NF-A15 Fan Specifications:

• Dimension: 140x150x25mm
• Speed RPM: 300 ± 20% ~ 1500 ± 10%
• Airflow (m³/h): 140.2
• Noise [dB(A)]: 24.6
• Voltage (V): 12
• Current (A): 0.13
• Power (W): 1.56

Installation:

The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black is simple to set up. Ensure your CPU is clear of any prior paste residue before installing it. You may accomplish this by wiping some rubbing alcohol on top of it.

Before you begin, double-check that you’re using the correct screws and brackets for your Socket. To begin, secure the bolts on the backplate with the NM-ICS1 clip-on spacers, then securely attach the backplate to your Motherboard in the proper location.

Before installing the mounting bar, use the blue or black spacers to hold the rear plate in place. When installing the mounting bars, ensure you utilize the correct hole position for your CPU socket. The mounting bar can be mounted horizontally or vertically, with the curbed sides pointing outwards.

Now attach the mounting bars and install with the four NM-ITS1 thumbscrews, making sure the connection is tight and firm (not too strong).

Apply sufficient thermal paste to the cooler and position it on the mounting brackets with the fan removed. Secure the spring-loaded screws and tighten them using the screwdriver provided for easy access. Make sure the screws aren’t overtightened.

Attach the fan to the cooler as previously, making sure it is facing the desired direction (airflow arrows can be seen on the side of the fan). Connect the fan to the 4-pin PWM connector once it’s been installed.

Clearance:

The single NF-A15 and the asymmetrical design give us a lot of space for clearance. The minimum RAM clearance is about 65mm, but if you want to install a second fan, it can drop down to 32mm with a 140mm or 52mm with a 120mm fan. 

With larger chases, like the Thermaltake View 71t in our case, we were able to have enough room for top fans, even with the cooler pointing up for PCIe clearance. Depending on your chassis, you may occasionally need to remove the top chassis fans. We also installed a massive Asus Strix RTX 3060 in the first slot because of the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black’s outstanding clearance capabilities.

Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black Temperature Benchmarks:

One thing that we had in our mind prior to Reviewing Noctua NH-D15S Chromax Black was to prove that NH-D15S chromax.black is indeed an award-winning cooler – we will have to put it to the test. The tests were not conducted on an open bench. As a result, the thermal values here apply to any user; however, keep in mind that the number of intake and exhaust fans may differ.

Test System:

The Intel Core i7-10700K will be used in our testing with three distinct settings: stock @ 3.8Ghz, OC @ 4.7Ghz, and OC @ 5.0Ghz. The following are the remaining system specifications:

• Intel Core i7-10700K 
• Gigabyte Aorus Motherboard
• 16GB (8×2) Corsair Vengeancence Pro 3200Mhz
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
• Windows 10 running off of SATA SSD 
• Corsair RM750x PSU
• Thermaltake View 71 Case with 3x (Front, Bottom) drawing air in, while 1x (Rear) drawing air out.

Testing Methodology:

We utilized an Intel Core i7-10700K for this test and used the factory CPU settings of 3.8GHz at 100% load to put the cooler to the test. The second and third tests were performed with an OC stage of 4.7GHz and 5.0GHz, respectively. We wanted to see how well the Noctua NH-D15S performed in standard and high-end OC modes.

The stress tests were carried out with AIDA64 Extreme. We went with the Thermaltake View 71t instead of an open-bench setup. Three intake fans are located in the front of the Thermaltake View 71t, while one exhaust fan is located at the rear.

The Noctua NF-A15 fan is set to draw air out through the rear of the case fan. We put the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black against the EK AIO 240 D-RGB alongside the Noctua NH-D15 and other AIO coolers. 

Thermal Performance @ Stock 3.8GHz:

The cooler was initially tested on an Intel Core i7 10700K with its default settings. The Noctua NH-D15 and other AIO coolers were compared to the cooler. The graph below displays idle and under load thermals during the stress test. The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black performs admirably in these conditions, though it does not outperform any of the other coolers, which is anticipated.

Thermal Performance @ OC 4.7GHz:

We then put the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black through its paces with the CPU overclocked to 4.7GHz. The Noctua NH-D15S outscored the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 in idle mode while remaining close to the NH-D15 (Remember, the NH-D15 has two 140mm fans attached). The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black lagged behind the NH-D15 throughout the stress test phase.

Thermal Performance @ OC 5.0GHz:

Finally, we pushed the cooler to its limits with a 5.0GHz OC phase on the CPU. In this OC phase, the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black looked impressive. It came extremely close to taking out the NH-15 and other liquid coolers in the competition.

In all of these tests, the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black could not outperform the other coolers by a significant margin, although it did perform admirably with only one fan. It takes a special kind of achievement for an air cooler to almost surpass liquid coolers in an OC phase of 5.0GHz and the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black proved that it is without a doubt an award-winning cooler from Noctua.

Comparison with other Premium Coolers

The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black air cooler isn’t just any air cooler; it’s one of the most powerful air coolers on the market. The NH-D15S chromax.black will outperform any 120mm AIO while competing closely with 240mm AIOs. The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black is not inexpensive, but it is comparable to a nice 240mm AIO.

Users must now select whether they want the Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black or any other air/water cooler. The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black stands out from competitors such as the Dark Rock Pro 4, EK AIO 240 D, and ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 because of its unique characteristics, like the all-black aesthetic, low noise levels, and solid build quality. 

It is down to personal choice since some offer RGB and others suggest something else, but we know that the Noctua chromax.black with low noise levels, is a work of art.

The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black is an excellent air cooler with 240mm AIO capabilities. The NH-D15S chromax.black features a modern Asymmetrical design with optimal RAM and PCIe clearance, making it a perfect choice for gamers and editors. The NH-D15S is also available in a matte black finish due to Noctua’s chromax series.

Should You Get Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black?

The chromax.black, the latest edition in the Noctua series, is an all-black version of the preceding NH-D15S. With award-winning thermal characteristics, the cooler has been a fan favorite. The NH-D15S is superior because of its asymmetrical design, which allows for more RAM and PCIe clearance. It also has a quality NF-A15 140mm fan for improved and quieter performance.

The cooler supports a broad range of AMD and Intel sockets (LGA2066, LGA2011-0, and LGA2011-3 (Square ILM), LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150, LGA1200, and AMD AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+ (backplate required), and AM4). The heatsink is entirely black and made of pure aluminum, with 45 aluminum fins. With the twin tower NH-D15S, we get six heat pipes with a tidy finish on top. The cooler weighs around 1150g with the fan mounted, and its dimensions are 150x150x135mm (HxWxD). The six heat pipes reach through the top of the cooler, which has Noctua branding on both towers. The copper base plate is pure nickel and has a mirror polish. The copper base plate is approximately 37x39mm in size. We don’t get any pre-applied thermal paste; however, the mounting plate is already fitted with two spring-loaded screws.

The Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black comes with a single NF-A15 fan; however, additional fan clips are included. However, depending on whether you use a 120/140mm, installing another fan may reduce your RAM clearance from 65mm to 32mm or 52mm. The Noctua NF-A15 HS-PWM chromax.black already included has a maximum speed of 1500 RPM. The fan has a power rating of 1.56W at 0.13A at 12V DC.

The Noctua NH-D15S chromax,black is available for roughly $100 at the time of this review. The Noctua NH-D15S chromax black is an air-cooler to purchase if you want extra RAM clearance, low noise levels, and a beautiful all-out black finish.

Thank you to Noctua for giving out their chromax.black NH-D15S. Here are some additional pictures for our readers showcasing the build.