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Noctua’s all-black cooler teaser was confirmed the next day: the NH-D15 G2 chromax.black launched on November 19, 2025. It is the black-finished version of the NH-D15 G2, not a new cooling generation. Its key buying considerations are the announced U.S. MSRP of $189.90 and a 168 mm height before any adjustment to the front fan.
The teaser became an official launch
On November 18, 2025, Noctua showed an unnamed black dual-tower cooler. Its shape and the timing led to reports identifying it as the long-awaited black NH-D15 G2; Noctua confirmed that identification on November 19. The teaser story is now historical: Noctua lists the cooler as a released product. Guru3D’s November 18 report records what was known before the announcement, while Noctua’s announcement confirms the launch.
What Noctua launched
The announcement covered the NH-D15 G2 chromax.black and four matching fan products: NF-A14x25 G2 PWM chromax.black, NF-A14x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP chromax.black, NF-A14x25r G2 PWM chromax.black, and NF-A14x25r G2 PWM Sx2-PP chromax.black. The cooler itself includes two NF-A14x25r G2 PWM chromax.black fans.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Noctua said the cooler was available immediately through its official Amazon stores on launch day, with other retailers expected to receive stock shortly. That launch-day statement does not establish current stock or pricing in a particular region. Its buying page directs customers to regional Amazon stores and local sales partners.
#1 Best Overall
- Further improved second generation of the iconic, award-winning NH-D15: Even better quiet cooling performance thanks to 8 heatpipes, 20% more surface area and novel NF-A14x25r G2 fans!
- All-black chromax version, ideal for AMD Ryzen (e.g. 9800X3D, 9950X3D, 9900X3D, 9950X, 7950X, 7800X3D, 5800X3D) and Intel Core or Core Ultra CPUs (e.g. 285K, 265K, 245K, 14900K, 13900K, 12900K)
- Two state-of-the-art NF-A14x25r G2 140mm fans with speed-offset for acoustic fine-tuning, Low-Noise Adaptors and PWM for automatic speed control: maximum efficiency under load, near silent at idle!
- Offset design with recessed lower fins clears top PCIe x16 on most current motherboards and offers 59mm RAM clearance in single fan mode (32mm with both fans, see Noctua Compatibility Centre)
- Includes superior NT-H2 thermal paste and Torx-based SecuFirm2+ mounting system with NM-SD1 screwdriver for easy installation on AMD AM5 & AM4 as well as Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200 & LGA115x
What the black version changes—and what it does not
The chromax.black model applies black finishes to the heatsink, fans, anti-vibration pads, clips and mounting hardware. Noctua describes its core performance and feature set as the same as the standard NH-D15 G2. The black finish is an aesthetic option, not a higher-performing tier; an owner of the regular NH-D15 G2 should not expect a cooling upgrade from changing to this model.
It is, however, more than a recoloring of the original NH-D15. The G2 platform has eight heatpipes rather than six, revised asymmetrical fin stacks, two NF-A14x25r G2 fans, and updated Torx-based SecuFirm2+ mounting hardware. Noctua specifies approximately 20% more fin surface area than the original NH-D15. The package includes an NM-SD1 screwdriver and NT-H2 thermal compound, and the mounting system supports AM5 offset mounting. Noctua says the G2’s improvements matter most under high heat loads, including workloads around 250 W and beyond; that is the manufacturer’s guidance, not an independent test result. See Noctua’s NH-D15 G2 information for its explanation of the generation’s design.
Rank #2
- Proven premium heatsink (more than 300 awards and recommendations from international hardware websites), now available in an all-black design that goes great with many colour schemes
- Extra-wide 140mm dual-tower design with 6 heatpipes and dual fans provides maximum quiet cooling efficiency on a par with many all-in-one watercoolers, ideal for overclockers and silent-enthusiasts!
- Dual-fan design with renowned, award-winning NF-A15 140mm fans with Low-Noise Adaptors and PWM for automatic speed control: Full cooling performance under load, whisper quiet at idle!
- Includes high-end NT-H1 thermal paste and SecuFirm2 mounting system for easy installation on Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x and AMD AM5 & AM4 (offset mounting option for best efficiency)
- Renowned Noctua quality backed up by 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, deluxe choice for Intel Core & Core Ultra (e.g. 285K, 265K, 245K) and AMD Ryzen (e.g. 9950X, 9900X, 9700X, 9600X)
Specifications at a glance
| Specification | NH-D15 G2 chromax.black |
|---|---|
| Dimensions with fans | 168 mm high × 150 mm wide × 152 mm deep |
| Depth without fans | 127 mm |
| Weight with fans | 1,525 g |
| Weight without fans | 1,180 g |
| Fans | 2 × 140 × 140 × 25 mm round-frame |
| Fan speed | 0–1,500 rpm |
| Maximum airflow per fan | 155.6 m³/h (91.58 CFM) |
| Maximum noise per fan | 24.8 dB(A) |
| Maximum static pressure per fan | 2.56 mmH₂O |
| Heatpipes | 8 |
| NSPR | 228 |
| Warranty | 6 years |
| Finish | Black |
These are Noctua’s published specifications; fan maximums are per fan. The complete specification list and included accessories are on Noctua’s specifications page.
Check socket support and choose the right variant
Noctua lists compatibility with AMD AM4 and AM5, and Intel LGA115x, LGA1200, LGA1700 and LGA1851. There is an apparent data inconsistency: the chromax.black specifications table shows “LGA1954,” while the compatibility description and Noctua’s standard NH-D15 G2 information identify LGA1851. Treat LGA1954 as an apparent page error, not a separately established supported socket, and confirm compatibility with Noctua before buying if your platform depends on it.
Rank #3
- Proven premium heatsink (more than 150 awards and recommendations from international hardware websites), now available in an all-black design that goes great with many colour schemes
- Asymmetrical, single-fan design for dual-tower performance with high compatibility: 160mm height fits most tower cases, 65mm RAM clearance, does not block the PCIe slot on most ATX & Micro-ATX boards
- Renowned, award-winning NF-A15 140mm fan with Low-Noise Adaptor and PWM for automatic speed control: full cooling performance under load, whisper quiet at idle!
- Includes high-end NT-H1 thermal paste and SecuFirm2 mounting system for easy installation on Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x and AMD AM5 & AM4
- Renowned Noctua quality backed up by 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, deluxe choice for Intel Core & Core Ultra (e.g. 285K, 265K, 245K) and AMD Ryzen (e.g. 9950X, 9900X, 9700X, 9600X)
The NH-D15 G2 family also has standard, HBC and LBC base-convexity variants. These address differences in CPU heat-spreader contact geometry; they are not performance tiers, and the black finish does not determine which variant suits a processor. Use Noctua’s product and compatibility information to check the specific CPU and platform rather than choosing by appearance alone.
Measure the case and account for memory
At 168 mm with fans in the standard position, this is a large tower cooler. A case listing exactly 168 mm of CPU-cooler clearance leaves no practical allowance, and may not work if the front fan needs to be raised. The fan can be moved upward to clear tall memory modules, but doing so increases the cooler’s total height. Check the final fan position against the case limit, not only the heatsink dimensions.
Rank #4
- Award-winning, low-profile (145mm) dual-tower heatsink with outstanding cooling performance and excellent quietness of operation, now available in all-black!
- Compact design guarantees 100% RAM compatibility, fits most 4U rackmount server chassis as well as many ITX and Small Form Factor (SFF) cases (e.g. DAN C4-SFX, Cooler Master NR200 series)
- State-of-the-art NF-A12x25r 120mm fan with Low-Noise Adaptors and PWM for automatic speed control: full cooling performance under load, whisper quiet at idle!
- Includes high-end NT-H1 thermal paste and SecuFirm2 mounting system for easy installation on Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x and AMD AM5 & AM4 (offset mounting option for best efficiency)
- Renowned Noctua quality backed up by 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, deluxe choice for Intel Core & Core Ultra (e.g. 285K, 265K, 245K) and AMD Ryzen (e.g. 9950X, 9900X, 9700X, 9600X)
- Confirm the case’s CPU-cooler height limit and leave margin beyond the nominal 168 mm.
- Check RAM height and motherboard-specific clearance around the front fan and memory slots.
- Consider the cooler’s 150 × 152 mm footprint and nearby motherboard heatsinks, graphics-card area and PCIe-slot access.
- Recheck the exact chassis and board layout even if the case is described as suitable for a 5U rack environment.
Price and buying context
Noctua announced MSRPs of $189.90 in the United States, $159.90 internationally (ROW), and €159.90 in the European Union. The company said the U.S. MSRP could change with U.S. trade conditions. These are launch MSRPs from November 19, 2025, not verified live retail prices for August 2026; local prices, availability and import conditions can differ. Noctua’s launch announcement provides the original figures.
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The box includes the heatsink, two fans, two NA-RC16 low-noise adapters, an NA-YC1 PWM splitter, NT-H2 thermal compound, an NA-TPG1 AM5 thermal-paste guard, an NA-CW1 cleaning wipe, black SecuFirm2+ mounting hardware, the NM-SD1 Torx T20 screwdriver and a metal case badge. For a normal installation, the included kit supplies the mounting system, paste and fan splitter.
Best Value
- Further improved second generation of the iconic, award-winning NH-D15: Even better quiet cooling performance thanks to 8 heatpipes, 20% more surface area and novel NF-A14x25r G2 fans!
- Regular all-round version for optimal results on AMD AM5 using the included offset mounting as well as on Intel LGA1851 (and LGA1700 when using the included NM-ISW1 washers to reduce CPU warp), ideal for Ryzen 9 9950X, Core Ultra 285K, etc.
- Two state-of-the-art NF-A14x25r G2 140mm fans with speed-offset for acoustic fine-tuning, Low-Noise Adaptors and PWM for automatic speed control: maximum efficiency under load, near silent at idle!
- Offset design with recessed lower fins clears top PCIe x16 on most current motherboards and offers 59mm RAM clearance in single fan mode (32mm with both fans, see Noctua Compatibility Centre)
- Includes superior NT-H2 thermal paste and Torx-based SecuFirm2+ mounting system with NM-SD1 screwdriver for easy installation on AMD AM5 & AM4 as well as Intel LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200 & LGA115x
Who should consider buying it?
- Building a premium black system: It combines the NH-D15 G2 platform with a coordinated black finish, provided the case, memory and budget suit a large air cooler.
- Upgrading from the original NH-D15: The G2 brings architectural and mounting changes, rather than just a color option. Whether those changes justify replacement depends on the existing cooler, CPU workload and fit.
- Already using the regular NH-D15 G2: The chromax.black version is principally an appearance choice, not a reason to expect better cooling.
- Working with a compact case or tall RAM: A smaller cooler may be simpler if the front-fan adjustment would exceed the case limit or interfere with components.
- Choosing between air and liquid cooling: Compare the case layout, installation preferences and cooling needs. Air cooling avoids a pump and liquid loop, while an AIO can offer different radiator-placement options; neither choice alone guarantees a particular temperature or noise result.
For comparison, the standard NH-D15 G2 uses the same underlying G2 platform without the all-black finish. The older NH-D15 chromax.black may be worth considering if discounted, but it is the prior six-heatpipe generation rather than the G2 design.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
