Noctua
Noctua NH-D15S, Ventirad CPU Dual Tower Discreet and Powerful
Bottom line: The Noctua NH-D15S: Asymmetric offset clears the top PCIe slot on most mATX and ATX boards; main trade-off: dual-tower 6-heat-pipe stack needs a full-size case, not SFF.
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Asymmetric offset clears the top PCIe slot on most mATX and ATX boards
- ✓ Fits RAM up to 65mm tall thanks to trimmed lower fins
- ✓ NT-H1 paste and SecuFirm2 mounts included, no extra purchase
- ✓ SecuFirm2 covers LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x, AM5 and AM4
Cons
- ✗ Dual-tower 6-heat-pipe stack needs a full-size case, not SFF
- ✗ Ships with one NF-A15 fan; second 120mm fan is a separate buy
- ✗ Beige and brown fan colorway clashes with most themed builds
- ✗ Low-Noise Adapter trades fan speed for quiet, capping peak headroom
Manufacturer description
The Noctua NH-D15S takes the dual-tower cooling that made the NH-D14 famous and shifts it off-center, and that asymmetric offset is the whole point. By pulling the fin stack away from the top PCIe slot, Noctua clears room for a graphics card on most microATX and ATX boards, while trimming the lower fins keeps memory modules up to 65mm tall fully accessible. Six heat pipes and a single NF-A15 140mm PWM fan handle the thermal load, and the design has collected more than 250 awards and recommendations from press and specialist sites. The included NT-H1 thermal compound and SecuFirm2 mounting…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Noctua NH-D15S using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the cooling & fans category. Noctua's cooling & fans lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for cooling & fans of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the NH-D15S block my graphics card?
No. The asymmetric single-fan design shifts the fin stack away from the top PCIe slot on most microATX and ATX motherboards, which is the main difference from the standard NH-D15.
Does it fit tall RAM with heat spreaders?
Yes, up to 65mm. Noctua reduced the lower fins of the heatsink specifically for memory clearance, so standard and most heat-spreader modules fit under the tower.
Which CPU sockets does it support?
The included SecuFirm2 mounting system supports Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200 and LGA115x, plus AMD AM5 and AM4.
Can it handle a Core i9-14900K or Ryzen 9 9950X?
Noctua lists both as target chips. The six-heat-pipe dual-tower design is built for overclocking headroom on i9, i7, i5, i3 and Ryzen 9950X, 9900X, 9700X and 9600X.
Do I need to buy thermal paste or extra fans?
No paste needed, NT-H1 is in the box along with a Low-Noise Adapter. A second 120mm fan is optional and sold separately if you want extra performance.
Key Features
- Super neat dual-tower design with 6 heat pipes, delivers excellent cooling for overclocking and near-inaudible systems
- Success to the famous NH-D14; more than 250 awards and recommendations from the Press and international specialized websites
- NF-A15 140mm hyper optimized fan with PWM compatibility, low noise adapter for automatic speed control and ultra-quiet operation
- Comes with premium thermal paste NT-H1 and SecuFirm2 mounting system for easy installation on Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x and AMD AM5 & AM4
- Noctua's famous quality: the obvious choice for Intel Core i9, i7, i5, i3 (e.g. 14900K, 14700K, 14600K) and AMD Ryzen (ex: 9950X, 9900X, 9700X, 9600X)
Full Specifications
| Brand | Noctua |
|---|---|
| Model | NH-D15S |
| Voltage | 12 volts |
| Material | copper (bottom and heat pipes), aluminium (cooling plates), welded & nickel-plated |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Noise Level | 24.6 db |
| Part Number | NH-D15S |
| Material Type | copper (bottom and heat pipes), aluminium (cooling plates), welded & nickel-plated |
| Cooling Method | Air |
| Item Type Name | Cooler |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Number of Packs | 1 |
| Air Flow Capacity | 65 cfm |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Included Components | 1 Piece |
| Power Connector Type | 4-Pin |
| Noctua's famous quality | the obvious choice for Intel Core i9, i7, i5, i3 (e.g. 14900K, 14700K, 14600K) and AMD Ryzen (ex: 9950X, 9900X, 9700X, 9600X) |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 1500 rpm |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 6.3"L x 5.91"W x 5.31"H |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 04716123315681 |
Benchmark data for other processors
Ready to buy?
Noctua NH-D15S, Ventirad CPU Dual Tower Discreet and Powerful is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
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