As a brand, Noctua is well-known for its incredible line of cooling solutions.
Their line of air coolers is highly focused on providing superior performance.
The Noctua NH-D15 is such an air cooler that aims to provide your system with sheer cooling performance.
But is it better than then Noctua NH-D15s?
Well find it out shortly.
So, whats the waiting for!
Lets dive deep into the discussion.
Everything is almost indistinguishable, from dimension and socket compatibility to pricing and warranty.
However, there are some minor differences as well.
In any build, whether it is high-end or mainstream, a CPU cooler is always the crucial component.
It determines how well a processor performs to its potential.
Whether you should go for an air or a liquid cooling solution is a different debate.
Sounds interesting, right?
Both theNoctua NH-D15andNH-D15soffer better thermal performance than so many AIOs in the market.
On that note, the comparison betweenNZXT Kraken Z63 & Noctua NH-D15paints a better picture.
So, which one has the edge over the other?
Well, to draw a conclusion, weve done an in-depth analysis.
Heres how the Noctua NH-D15 stack up against Noctua NH-D15s:
1.
Noise Level
The noise level is quite crucial in the case of a CPU cooler.
But which one is louder?
Lets get straight to the point.
If you compare Noctua NH-D15 and NH-D15s sound levels, they are initially pretty much identical.
Both of these models have a noise level that ranges between19-25 dBA.
But, heres the kicker.
Since the Noctua NH-D15 has dual fans, it produces slightly more noise than the NH-D15s.
But for the NH-D15, it was slightly higher.
Mostly in the case of air coolers, there can be issues regarding bulkiness.
That said, such heft and bulkiness can cause hindrances to the DIMM slots in the motherboards.
As a result, RAM modules cant be installed properly.
But is it the same for Noctua NH-D15 and NH-D15s?
Well, its a bit complicated.
So, RAM sticks with more oversized and fancy heat sinks will be problematic to begin with.
So, in terms of clearance, the Noctua NH-D15s enjoys a slight advantage.
Though both the coolers are not fit for every PC case out there, especially mATX and ITX ones.
Apart from indistinguishable specifications, the performance of theNoctua NH-D15andNH-D15sare almost inseparable.
In our lab, we put these coolers through trials by fire.
Im referring to theIntel Core i9 13900K CPU.
Chilling down such a CPU under full load is indeed challenging.
And thats when we test the coolers out of the box.
But remember, NH-D15s allows you to add another 140mm fan.
In such an instance, there will be no visible performance difference between these two coolers.
Note:For the LGA1700 socket, it’s crucial that you buy an additional mounting kit.
Thats only a $10 difference.
Consider you are paying an extra dollar on NH-15 for the additional 140mm fan.
Final Verdict
Theres no harm going for either Noctua NH-D15 or NH-D15s.
Both of these coolers are top contenders to take the spot as premium air coolers.
Performance-wise, they are almost equivalent.
However, the NH-D15 performs better ever so slightly, thanks to the second 140mm fan.
The NH-D15s, on the other hand, offers more RAM clearance and quiet operation.
Not to mention the cheaper price.
To conclude, either one will serve you like a champ.
Considering whether you need better RAM clearance and a bit of a low price, pick the NH-D15s.
But for no compromise thermal performance, the NH-D15 will be better.
FAQs
Is Noctua NH-D15s good?
The Noctua NH-D15s is a great cooler that provides value for the money.
Its whisper-quiet and does an incredible job of keeping the temperature down under load.
What is the fan model in Noctua NH-D15s?
There is a single fan in the Noctua NH-D15s, which is the NF-A15 fan from Noctua.
Its a 140mm low-noise airflow fan.
What is the max RAM height for Noctua NH-D15?
The maximum RAM height for Noctua NH-D15 is 32mm.
