Noctua NH-D14 CPU Cooler

 So, what is the NH-D14 and why should you be looking into spending your hard earned cashola on this heat siphon? Let’s step over the company facts on this device, shall we? Below is quoted off of the company website, as well as the side of the box. Below each entry are some of my thoughts on each point.

 6 heatpipe dual radiator design
Providing more surface area, better heat-distribution and superior airflow efficiency than conventional tower style heatsinks, the NH-D14’s six heatpipe dual radiator design was developed to provide ultimate quiet cooling performance in dual fan mode.

-6 heat pipes folks. This thing is a beast! 

 Dual NF-P14/NF-P12 fan setup
The NH-D14 sports a premium quality dual fan setup consisting of Noctua’s award-winning NF-P12 (120mm) and NF-P14 (140mm) fans, both of which feature Vortex-Control Notches, SCD technology and SSO-Bearings in order to achieve a perfect balance of performance and quietness.

-120mm (outer) and 140mm (middle) fan. Each of these fans is *whisper* quiet, while whipping out copious amounts of airflow. 

 Asymmetrical design for high compatibility
An asymmetrical design that gives more clearance towards the RAM slots ensures good compatibility despite of the cooler’s size. The NF-P12 fan can be moved upwards or left off in order to further improve compatibility.

-Further info can be gained looking at the following diagram:

 Excellent component cooling
Hanging out at the bottom of the fin-stacks, the NF-P14 fan doesn’t only contribute to the NH-D14’s superb CPU cooling capabilities but also provides massive airflow over surrounding motherboard components and heatsinks, thus ensuring excellent component cooling performance.

–                         The 140mm fan definitely adds to the cross airflow under the CPU. As such, if the heatsink is oriented in a “front to back” orientation, chances are you would be putting that additional airflow over the voltage regulators and their heatsinks. If you go for a top/bottom orientation, then you may be helping to cool your nearby chipset component heatsinks. Either of these mounts have benefit, and it is nice that the fans blades on the 140mm center fan can offer that benefit due to the design of the heatsink.

 SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system
Noctua’s enthusiast grade SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting provides broad socket compatibility (LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA775, AM2, AM2+ and AM3) and meets the highest demands in safety, contact pressure and ease-of-use.

–                         If your motherboard has been made in the last few years, then this heatsink will fit on it! How is that for compatibility! 4 generations of Intel CPU’s and 3 generations of AMD

–                         Noctua’s TIM (thermal Interface material) is a highly regarded substance that has proven impressive thermal conduction properties, as well as not being electrically conductive. Also, there is no “burn in” time.

So, what do you get from all of this? Without opening the box, and going off of what you read here, you are getting a 6 pipe, dual fan CPU heatsink that has exceptional CPU mounting compatibility and can be mounted on either Intel or AMD current CPU’s as well as several generations of older CPU’s . You are getting a heatsink that quite probably will not interfere with your memory slots. You are getting a tube of their highly regarded CPU TIM, and you are getting whisper quiet fans.  On the surface, what is not to like? 

The “owl” has been busy…..