Noctua has launched the “chromax.black” version of its iconic NH-D15 G2 cooler, improving socket compatibility, updating its looks for the new black aesthetic, and releasing a range of compatible fans for replacement and uniform looks elsewhere in your system. The NH-D15 G2 chromax.black is now available for purchase at the eye-watering price tag of $189, VideoCardz reported Wednesday.
All-in-one watercoolers and custom loops are more affordable than ever, but they still introduce added complexity. More moving parts, more points of failure, more water…sometimes it’s just better, easier, and safer to opt for a classic air cooler. If you want the best of the best there, Noctua’s designs are top of the pile. Expensive, but about as good as you can get.
The NH-D15 G2 is a classic example of this pedigree. It’s the best performance you’re going to find in an air cooler, but it’s seriously lagging on the price-to-performance scale. You can find coolers for less than half the price that are nearly as good. But if you want the best, ultra-quiet, and high-quality build, the NH-D15 G2 is hard to beat. The new black version will serve another market niche that Noctua is well known for avoiding: anything but brown.
It has the same core specs as the standard NH-D15 G2, with an eight-heatpipe heatsink, 168mm vertical height, and twin 140mm round-frame PWM cooling fans. Where Noctua has upgraded it is in compatibility. It confirms that it will work on next-generation Intel LGA-1954 socket designs, meaning you can run this without an extra mounting bracket on future Nova Lake designs.
If you want to match the fans from your cooler to the rest of your case, Noctua also has black versions of its NF-A14x25 G2, available with both square and round frame options.
As you might expect, given the cooler’s price, the fans are equally damaging to your wallet. A single black NF-A14x25 G2 PWM fan costs $45.