Performance and Conclusion
Performance
To test performance we fitterd the Noctua (and the other coolers) to our Core i7 2600K based test rig. It uses an Asus Sabertooth P67 motherboardand 8GB of Corsair memory. The whole rig is overclocked to 4.8GHz and a passive video card and PSU are used to allow careful subjective noise level comparison. Temperatures are read using CoreTemp - the hottest temperature hit by any single core was used to generate the data below.
Without the low noise resistors fitted the Noctua provides predictably exceptional performance. The chip never went beyond 69 degrees Celsius, and the noise level, although noticeable, was not aggravating. Much of this is down to the quality bearings of the Noctua fans – although their rotational speed is relatively high, they still sound smoother than, for example, the unit employed on the Zalman CNPS9900 Max. With the low noise resistors fitted the NH-D14 is extremely quiet; right up there with the noise levels of the resistor-equipped Thermolab Trinity. Despite this marked reduction in rotational speed, the bulk of the NH-D14 still grants it formidable performance. The chip reached a maximum temperature of just 73 degrees, a degree cooler than the Trinity at a similar noise level and still well within the processor’s safety margin.
Conclusion
The NH-D14 is a highly impressive product then, but where it will fall down for some customers is its hefty price tag. At £70 it’s more than double the price of the Thermolab Trinity and even pricier than the Zalman CNPS9500-LED. Granted the build and fan quality is superlative, but the advantage of a couple of degrees means that this a cooler for those clients with deep pockets, or simply those who enjoy the finer things in life.
Ian Jackson
| We Like |
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Verdict |
Score |
- Great, secure mounting
- Build quality is simply amazing
- Great performance
- Quiet with resistors
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The NH-D14 provides the best performance we have ever seen from a heat sink, but at double the price of other high performance coolers like the Thermolab Trinity and the Corsair A70, it’s recommended to those who want the best of the best rather than those looking for the best "bang for buck".
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89 |
| We Don't Like |
|
- Expensive
- PWM controllable fans would be better.
- Standard version should come with socket 2011 clips.
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