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Noctua NH-D15 G2 — Twin-tower air · NF-A14x25r G2 · LGA1851/AM5
Noctua

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Twin-tower air · NF-A14x25r G2 · LGA1851/AM5

95
/ 100
From $149
VS
Noctua NH-D15 G2 wins by 5
Noctua NH-U12A — Air tower
Noctua

Noctua NH-U12A

Air tower

90
/ 100
From $109
Specdex verdict

Noctua NH-D15 G2 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Noctua NH-D15 G2 lands at 95 and Noctua NH-U12A at 90. That puts Noctua NH-D15 G2 ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Noctua NH-D15 G2 if…

  • ✓Air-cooling king
  • ✓Whisper-quiet fans
  • ✓Rock-solid mounting

Pick Noctua NH-U12A if…

  • ✓Multi-socket bracket support
  • ✓Quiet fans at idle
  • ✓Strong TDP rating
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Thermals

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Compared on the thermals sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on thermals (96 vs 90).

Noise

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Compared on the noise sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on noise (98 vs 86).

Install

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Compared on the install sub-score

Noctua NH-D15 G2 leads on install (92 vs 88).

Value for money

Noctua NH-U12A

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Noctua NH-U12A more score per dollar ($109 vs $149).

Noctua NH-D15 G2 95
vs
90 Noctua NH-U12A

Score breakdown

Noctua NH-D15 G2
95
thermals 96
noise 98
install 92
value 90
Noctua NH-U12A
90
thermals 90
noise 86
install 88
value 86

Specs side-by-side

Noctua NH-D15 G2 versus Noctua NH-U12A — full spec comparison
Spec Noctua NH-D15 G2 Noctua NH-U12A
Type
Twin-tower air
Air tower
Fans
2× NF-A14x25r G2
—
TDP rating
~280W
—
Height
168 mm
—

Noctua NH-D15 G2

Pros
  • +Air-cooling king
  • +Whisper-quiet fans
  • +Rock-solid mounting
Cons
  • −Large in case
  • −Three SKUs (tall/offset/low-profile)
  • −Brown isn’t for everyone

Noctua NH-U12A

Pros
  • +Multi-socket bracket support
  • +Quiet fans at idle
  • +Strong TDP rating
Cons
  • −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
  • −AIO pump noise varies
  • −Installation requires motherboard-off

FAQ: Noctua NH-D15 G2 vs Noctua NH-U12A

Which is better, Noctua NH-D15 G2 or Noctua NH-U12A? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Noctua NH-D15 G2 worth the price? +

At $149, Noctua NH-D15 G2 delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in noise.

Is Noctua NH-U12A worth the price? +

At $109, Noctua NH-U12A delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in thermals.

Does Noctua NH-D15 G2 or Noctua NH-U12A last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for thermals, Noctua NH-D15 G2 or Noctua NH-U12A? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 — leads on thermals (96 vs 90). Compared on the thermals sub-score.

Which is better for noise, Noctua NH-D15 G2 or Noctua NH-U12A? +

Noctua NH-D15 G2 — leads on noise (98 vs 86). Compared on the noise sub-score.