The best CPU cooler in the world just got better

Noctua has unveiled an updated version of the Noctua NH-D15, long considered the best air CPU cooler you can buy, and the new one's even better.

New Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler

The Noctua NH-D15 is considered to be among the best CPU coolers if not the best CPU cooler in the world. The massive double-towered, twin-140mm-fanned behemoth can tame even the most extreme CPUs, such as the Intel Core i9-13900K, while remaining whisper quiet. However, nine years on from its debut, Noctua has found room for improvement and revealed details of the new Noctua NH-D15.

The second-generation NH-D15 will feature two extra heatpipes over the original, taking it from six to eight heatpipes and allowing it to wick away heat even more quickly from its base plate. Not only does this allow for better heat removal overall but it also makes the new NH-D15 better at tackling the off-center hotspots associated with modern chiplet CPUs such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.

Also on hand are two improved 140mm fans that have better static pressure and airflow characteristics than the previous versions, plus their frames are 9mm smaller, allowing for more PCIe slot clearance. Some of these improvements come from moving to a new liquid crystal polymer (LCP) plastic that is more thermally rigid than other plastics and allows for very tight gaps between the fan blades and frame. Other improvements include metal-reinforced hubs and self-stabilizing oil-pressure (SSO2) bearings.

These same fan developments will be incorporated into a new A-series 140mm fan that will be available separately from the NH-D15.

New Noctua A series 140mm fan

Images source: Gamers Nexus

While Noctua was showing off its new fans and coolers at the Computex  2023 trade show in Taiwan, we’ve a while to wait for the new products to arrive. The new fans are due in Q1 2024 while the new NH-D15 release date is Q2 2024.

Excited for a new NH-D15? Or does the Noctua color scheme and sheer size of this cooler put you off? Let us know your thoughts on the Custom PC Facebook page, via Twitter, or join our Custom PC and Gaming Setup Facebook group and tap into the knowledge of our 375,000+ members.