Features and Cooler Design
Features
Courtesy of Noctua
- 6 heat pipe dual radiator design
- Dual NF-P14/NF-P12 fan setup
- Asymmetrical design for high compatibility
- Excellent component cooling
- SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system
- NT-H1 thermal compound
Noctua constructed the NH-D14 CPU cooler from both copper and aluminum to maximize the cooling potential of the unit by taking advantage of the unique cooling-related properties of those materials. Copper is very good at absorbing heat, while aluminum is very good at dispersing heat to a different medium. Therefore, the copper-based CPU base plate and heat pipes absorb the heat while spreading it along the pipe length. The aluminum radiators then transfer the heat from the heat pipes to the air flowing through tem. To protect the copper from unnecessary harm (such as accidental scratches, oxidation, or corrosion), Noctua chose to nickel-plate the copper surfaces. The nickel-plate is thin enough to minimize adverse effects to the copper's heat absorption capabilities while adding a more durable finish to the cooler. The cooler's twin radiators were designed with a fin density of 11 fps (fins per inch), allowing for great heat dissipation potential when combined with the width of the air flow channels. However, effective dissipation requires higher pressure fans to keep the air flow viable through the entire width of the dual radiator structure.
Seen from the side, the NH-D14 cooler's twin radiators are each approximately double in depth of a standard fan (being 25mm) with a seam along the mid-point in-line with the heat pipe pass-through point. There is sufficient spacing between the dual radiators to accommodate up to a 150mm fan (as long as it is no more than standard 25mm thickness). The heat pipes form the structural U-shape of the cooler, providing both structural integrity and dual heat dissipation paths to the unit. The interfacing between the heat pipes and aluminum fins is cleanly done with no solder or manufacturing residue apparent.
Noctua designed the radiator towers in the typical rectangular shape, with grooves along the outside walls for the fan mounts and removable plastic channels along the inside to brace the fan against to prevent the blades colliding with the radiator fins. The plastic mounts can be moved to either side of either tower, giving a multitude of fan mounting options. The faces of the radiators have been serrated most likely to increase air turbulence as the air passes through the radiator fins to aid in heat dissipation. All embedded heat pipes are capped at both termination points to seal against leakage and ensure that the heat pipe medium remains under pressure for optimal heat transfer from the base plate to the radiator fins. The heat pipes are soldered in place to maintain stability and ensure optimal copper to aluminum interfacing.
The NH-D14's base plate is a large nickel-plated copper construct consisting of an upper and lower plate. The plates sandwich the six heat pipes and are held together with four screws along each of the outer edges of the bottom plate. The CPU contact point in the base plate has been ground and polished to an almost-mirror finish to ensure optimal mating with the CPU surface. Notice that the base plate has a built-in hold down plate for mating the cooler to the CPU mounting bracket. The hold down screws are held in place with locking washers and have been hollowed out to accept the screws integrated into the CPU mounting bracket.
To hold the cooler firmly mated to the CPU surface, Noctua integrated two hold down screws into the cooler's base plate. These screws have tension springs attached and are held in place with locking steel c-washers. The insides of the screws are hollow so that they act as nuts for the embedded screws in the CPU mounting bracket.
Mounted to an ATX form factor Z87-based board, the cooler's front radiator comes right up to the edge of the board memory slots, with the front fan overlapping the slots closest to the CPU. However, the front fan can be moved up or removed entirely to account for space related issues. The back radiator overlaps the VRM heat sink above the CPU. While use of overly large components could cause space related issues, Noctua developed the NH-D14 with enough height to accommodate most configurations. Further, the cooler can be rotated 90 degrees so that the radiators are flush with the PCIe slots and the case upper panel.
When mounted and assembled, the center fan has a portion that sits underneath the radiators. This allows air to blow underneath the radiator, promoting airflow through the surrounding components such as the VRM heat sinks. The cooler hold down screws can be seen with the springs compressed to hold the cooler firmly in place.
Agree with pdjblum.
And
Agree with pdjblum.
And remember this cooler came out in 2009 if I’m correct, which makes it even better for a 4-5yr old air cooler still able to amaze people!
*proud owner of a NH-D14*
bad ass hsf
bad ass hsf
“However, the NH-D14’s
“However, the NH-D14’s performance profile begins to break down as the processor is pushed to higher performance levels via overclocking. The fan’s equipped with the cooler simply cannot push enough air through the radiators to keep the CPU cool enough to remain stable.”
Morry, I think that last sentence needs a modifier. The fans will certainly be sufficient to allow the cpu to be overclocked and stable, just maybe not as much as some others in the comparison, though I doubt even that.
More importantly, countless enthusiasts the world over have been using the NH-D14 to successfully oc their rigs for years. In fact, I would argue the NH-D14 has been the air cooler of choice for the vast majority of enthusiasts since it came out years ago.
I currently have an i7 930
I currently have an i7 930 running @ 4ghz (1.2ghz oc) with hyper threading on. I push about 1.38 volts through this thing and the cooler keeps my cpu pretty cool. Even under heavy prime 95 benching it holds around 70 degrees, keep in mind, on everything stock on this cpu with stock cooler prime would push it to 83 degrees. All to say this thing is a champ and very quiet. I have not tested on haswell yet but imagine it can handle most things fine.
In the conclusion I think you
In the conclusion I think you mean 6″ tall though I would love to see what a 12″ tall cooler could do 🙂
I’m concerned that you consider a 2:3 crash rate a stable overclock. In general I think that running your cooler tests so close to the TDP may produce unreliable results. Thermal throttling is not something you want to encounter in a cooler comparison test. If throttling occurs a cooler that trips it more could end up with favourable numbers it doesn’t deserve.
Can you please specify whether you used either of the low noise adapters in testing? I assume not but I’d rather not have to assume.
I didn’t consider the cooler
I didn't consider the cooler to be stable under overclock, as i stated in the results and the conclusion. The overclocking level is a known stable overclock for that CPU, memory, board combination if temps can be kept under control. The Noctua just couldn't for 2 out of 3 runs.
As far as adapters used in testing, the fans were running full speed.
Looks like a torture device.
Looks like a torture device.
Noctua have promised at
Noctua have promised at Computex 2013 an upgraded version of this gem (fan) for Q4 2013.
The updates version sports dual 140mm fans with PWM and more optimized heatpipes.
The enemy of the good is the better one 😀
I am still waitung for this device.
noctua is a pretty good
noctua is a pretty good company, i tend to use thier low profile coolers in some cases.
but i think i would opt for a self contained water cooled option instead of pulling this hunk of metal out- the nh -d14 is way too much …
I completely agree with
I completely agree with pdjblum. The NH-D14 is considered to be one of the best coolers out there.
Here’s two reviews I found on the NH-D14 handling 3770K @ 4.6Ghz.
http://www.relaxedtech.com/reviews/noctua/nh-l9i-nh-d14/6
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/corsair_h110_review,13.html
“However, air flow through
“However, air flow through the radiators can be felt only barely on the exit end of the cooler.”,
Im sorry but if you dont feel any airflow with this cooler either you set it up wrong or this specific unit has something wrong with it.
I have nh-d14 on a 3930k, i
I have nh-d14 on a 3930k, i run all day, at 4.6ghz 1.40v, rock solid stable, and the 3930k is a hot beast.Somethings wrong with your methodology or setup, i have had this 3930k as high as 4.8 with some r4s strapped on to it, but, that creates to much noise.
I have nh-d14 on a 3930k, i
I have nh-d14 on a 3930k, i run all day, at 4.6ghz 1.40v, rock solid stable, and the 3930k is a hot beast.Somethings wrong with your methodology or setup, i have had this 3930k as high as 4.8 with some r4s strapped on to it, but, that creates to much noise.
ATX Cases !! Memory !!
ATX Cases !! Memory !! Ram!!
X58 sabertooth motherboard with Triple-Channel DDR3
Is there a nice list somewhere that fits/works with this awesome cooler