Announcement Noctua releases 3 coolers in all...........black!

[UsandThem]

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/noctua-black-cpu-coolers-chromax.black-nh-d15-u12s-l9i,40592.html

Noctua is introducing three classic CPU coolers as chromax.black variants: the renown NH-D15, NH-U12S, and the NH-L9i. With this release, Noctua covers the enthusiast, mid-tier, and low-profile sizes, so there should be something here for most folks.

Apparently they finally figured out a coating that met their manufacturing / performance needs. I personally could care less about them offering anything other than the OG brown (I generally buy windowless cases), but I understand many people do care about matching / coordinating / blinging out their PCs. I'm sure they were missing out on some easy sales, and competitors like Be Quiet have been happy to fill that need for a while now.

 

[cellarnoise]

I am interested in seeing reviews on the tr4 D15 vs the older U14 version. Still debating on going custom water over the simple U14 version that works well. Why change? Why stay the same when you like to play around and don't mind life more difficult. The U14s works great, but struggles on threadripper over 3.8 16C going full tilt.

 

[DigDog]

dayum tho, $100 for an air cooler.

 

[UsandThem]

dayum tho, $100 for an air cooler.

People spend that and more on AIO coolers, and air coolers should last a lot longer than they do.

Me though, I don't mind saving money with the original versions. In fact, I just got done installing a NH-D15S today in my main PC. At $80 they are not cheap, but it cools very well and is quiet.

Even mid-range coolers (like the Mugen 5) are $50.

 

[mnewsham]

People spend that and more on AIO coolers, and air coolers should last a lot longer than they do.

Me though, I don't mind saving money with the original versions. In fact, I just got done installing a NH-D15S today in my main PC. At $80 they are not cheap, but it cools very well and is quiet.

Even mid-range coolers (like the Mugen 5) are $50.

Yeah, I personally didn't buy my AIO to beat top-end air cooling performance, I bought it due to the aesthetics, the NH-D15 and similar air coolers perform very well compared to even large AIOs, but the NH-D15 is a LARGE chunk of metal sitting right in the middle of the motherboard. That's not my personal preference. I realize paying $100-150 every ~3-5 years for a new AIO is far more expensive than $100 for a high-end air cooler that at most you're just replacing a mounting bracket or fans but meh. I'm willing to pay for it since I enjoy how an AIO looks in my case.

 

[UsandThem]

Yeah, I personally didn't buy my AIO to beat top-end air cooling performance, I bought it due to the aesthetics, the NH-D15 and similar air coolers perform very well compared to even large AIOs, but the NH-D15 is a LARGE chunk of metal sitting right in the middle of the motherboard. That's not my personal preference. I realize paying $100-150 every ~3-5 years for a new AIO is far more expensive than $100 for a high-end air cooler that at most you're just replacing a mounting bracket or fans but meh. I'm willing to pay for it since I enjoy how an AIO looks in my case.

The NH-D15S definitely is a big 'ole hunk of metal.

It's by far the largest cooler I ever used (the previous largest was the NH-U14S). I haven't had any issues with them, and I know the OG brown isn't everyone's cup of tea. I also buy window-less cases, so I've got fans of every color in my PCs. My builds definitely wouldn't win any internal beauty contests for sure. 😛

 

[DigDog]

People spend that and more on AIO coolers, and air coolers should last a lot longer than they do.

ye, but the 212 evo is still $30 and, i mean, they are not THAT different in materials. AT least when you buy a $130 AIO you can see the additional work required and the various parts and materials that make up the cost.
Don't get me wrong, the results justify the expense; but you know there is more markup on a DH15 than in a H110i.

 

[UsandThem]

ye, but the 212 evo is still $30 and, i mean, they are not THAT different in materials. AT least when you buy a $130 AIO you can see the additional work required and the various parts and materials that make up the cost.
Don't get me wrong, the results justify the expense; but you know there is more markup on a DH15 than in a H110i.

Could be. Since I am not an AIO guy, all I've seen from them is the pictures people post online. I've never built with an AIO. Someone like @aigomorla would know a whole lot more about what the build quality and materials that go into AIO coolers.

But the workmanship and material between a cooler like 212 EVO and a cooler like the NH-D15S is pretty substantial as well. I still have a pulled 212 EVO sitting in my closet from a build I did many years ago, and the difference and quality is pretty substantial.

 

[mnewsham]

Also something to remember, it's not JUST about material cost, it's about manufacturing method and R&D.

Noctua heat pipes are very compact to fit in that tight of a space, their fins are also well designed, and both of these things likely require some decent R&D investment, as well as expensive manufacturing.

On top of that, you're getting high end fans, that also require some solid R&D $, and they come with a 6 year warranty. So yeah, you're paying a premium compared to something like the 212 evo, which has a 2 year warranty and has less dense fins, and fewer heatpipes.

Noctua was showing off an updated NH-D15 with 7 heatpipes back in june at a trade show as well, so that'll be something to look forward to.

 

[UsandThem]

Also something to remember, it's not JUST about material cost, it's about manufacturing method and R&D.

Noctua heat pipes are very compact to fit in that tight of a space, their fins are also well designed, and both of these things likely require some decent R&D investment, as well as expensive manufacturing.

On top of that, you're getting high end fans, that also require some solid R&D $, and they come with a 6 year warranty. So yeah, you're paying a premium compared to something like the 212 evo, which has a 2 year warranty and has less dense fins, and fewer heatpipes.

My wife (who could care less about computer parts and tech) walked by the dining room when I was getting ready to start putting the computer together, and had the NH-D15S (out of the package) sitting on the table. I also had things like the video card, motherboard, and the power supply on the table as well. Surprisingly she came in and went straight to the cooler and asked what it was. I told her it was to keep the processor cool, and she said that it was really "pretty" and kind of "cool looking". I've been married for almost 20 years, and that is the only time she has said anything about any computer component I've had around. 😛

They are pricey for sure, but they do make a pretty high-end product.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I have always liked the Noctua fans!1 Top of the line!1
But I also like bling and I just love my zalman fans!1 The copper looks so cool!!

 

[aigomorla]

AT least when you buy a $130 AIO you can see the additional work required and the various parts and materials that make up the cost.

actually your getting ripped off at that 130 dollar AIO.

Estimate Wholesale prices are:
A Aluminum radiator at most will run you around 20-30 dollars. (Aliexpress)
The tubing will again run you at most 5 dollars.
The Cheap pump block will probably also run you about 15 dollars, there not revolutionary.
Its a weak pump attached to a copper plate, that's it.

That makes one hell of a markup for an AIO...

While i do agree Noctua also has one hell of a markup as well, you do see performance gains from a EVO vs DH15.
Also the DH15 weights a lot more massive, meaning it has more materials invested in it.

@UsandThem you should go full CustomLCS.
I bet your wife's face would be epic...
She would be like.... that is water right.... isnt water + computer bad?
Then you could reply... no its like supercharging your hair dryer.

 

[DigDog]

eh, dont forget you also get 2x fans.
and packaging. and swaggy RGB lights. a nice plastic logo plate, a tab of pre-made TIM, plus the software, all in all it doesn't see *that* much of a markup, rather, in line with most industrial products.

*some sarcasm may be present*

 

[DrMrLordX]

Interesting that Noctua went to the trouble of re-releasing coolers in black. They actually need a bigger HSF because of chips like the 3950X which are not easy to cool, not to speak of 10c Comet Lake-S and so forth. The NH-D15 may be massive, but it still isn't "enough" sometimes.