INTRODUCTION

   Tower CPU Coolers may have been around for roughly a decade now but dual tower CPU coolers (also known as sandwich CPU coolers) are quite new in and only count 5 years in the market (at least consumer models). Of course in these 5 years pretty much every single manufacturer has tried their luck such a solution but Noctua was the very first to do so with their massive NH-D14 back in late 2009 a CPU Cooler which is still considered as one of the best to date. Noctua did make some slight improvements on the NH-D14 in late 2011 and since they also made it compatible with the latest Intel LGA2011 socket they renamed it as the NH-D14 SE2011. Having known Noctua since the beginning however we knew that this wouldn't be their last attempt in the dual tower arena and since they just released the NH-D15 it seems that we were on the spot and what better way to celebrate than checking it out?

   Designed in Austria, Noctua's premium cooling components are internationally renowned for their superb quietness, exceptional performance and thoroughgoing quality. Having received more than 3000 awards and recommendations from leading hardware websites and magazines, Noctua's fans and heatsinks are chosen by more than a hundred thousand satisfied customers around the globe. Noctua comes from a cooperation of the Austrian Rascom Computerdistribution Ges.m.b.H. with the Taiwanese cooling specialist Kolink International Corporation, pooling more than ten years of experience in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-end cooling components. Established in 2005, Noctua took the international silent enthusiasts' hearts by storm and quickly developed into one of the most acclaimed suppliers of premium quality quiet cooling products. Today, Noctua is present in more than 30 countries across the globe and working with several hundred sales partners. Chosen by noise conscious PC users, system integrators and industry clients alike, Noctua has become synonymous with impeccable quality, excellent customer service and class leading quiet cooling performance.

   The first thing one will notice when taking a look at the NH-D15 is its size and since it's also larger compared to its predecessor the NH-D14 it's easy to realize why that is. Numbers have a way of speaking for themselves so to be more precise size wise the brand new NH-D15 measures 165x150x135mm and weighs a total of 1kg while the NH-D14 measures 160x140x130mm and weighs 900g. Both the NH-D15 and the NH-D14 feature six 6mm nickel plated heatpipes so not much have changed in this regard but clearly to make up for that Noctua has equipped the NH-D15 with two of their latest NF-A15 PWM 140mm fans (1500RPM/82.5CFM/24.6dBA) instead of the 120mm/140mm combo they used with the NH-D14 so that too should help increase the cooling efficiency of the unit. As you can all see the improvements Noctua has made are not massive so time to see just how much better the NH-D15 is compared to its predecessor the mighty NH-D14.