Testing
The following system was used to test the cooler:
– Processor: Intel i9 9900K @ 5GHz
– Motherboard: ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X
– RAM: GOODRAM IRDM PRO 16GB DDR4-3600MHz
– GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio
– SSD: Crucial p5 500GB
– HDD: GOODRAM IRDM 1TB SSD
– PSU: Seasonic Snow Silent 750W Platinum
– Case: be quiet! Silent Base 802 White
– Thermal compound: Noctua NT-H2
Software used for testing the cooler:
– AIDA64 Extreme Version: 6.32.5600
– Intel Burn Test v2.54
– Prime95 29.1
The cooler was tested with the CPU at the default turbo frequency of 4.9 GHz and overclocked to 5 GHz with a core voltage of 1.261 V.
Also, the included fans have been used at their maximum speed.
The room temperature was approximately 26°C (78°F), with 2°C margin of error.
The idle test consists of the CPU sitting idle at the desktop for 30 minutes, the temperature was measured at the end of the test.
The settings of the software used are the following:
Intel Burn Test v2.54 – Stress level: Maximum
Prime95 29.1- small FFT
AIDA64 Extreme Version – FPU Benchmark & Temperature monitoring.
Each test was conducted for 40 minutes.
Idle
Full Load – IntelBurnTestV2
Full Load – AIDA64 CPU, FPU & Cache
The noise level was measured at three different distances from the fans (10cm, 20cm, 30cm.) the noise was measured with a margin of error of ± 2 db.
The NH-D14 will completely cover the RAM slots of an ATX motherboard. However, the front fan is smaller, at 120mm, and will allow the usage of medium sized RAM kits.
The PCIe expansion slot clearance is average, with a space of approximately 26mm between the heatsink and the backplate of the graphics card.
Final thoughts
The Noctua NH-D14 is still a great air CPU cooler that offers a great performance.
The performance difference between the Noctua NH-D14 and the newer NH-D15 is approximately 2 degrees Celsius. This means that if you already have the NH-D14, then upgrading to the NH-D15 purely for a performance gain is not a good idea. However, the NH-D14 has its shortcomings, and those have been either solved or mitigated by the NH-D15.
First of all, the size of the NH-D14 will cause clearance issues, not only with the RAM slots of the motherboard, but also with the PCIe slots. Many motherboards have their top M.2 socket installed above the PCIe slots, and the NH-D14 makes it inaccessible.
Second of all, the noise of the cooler is higher than in the case of the NH-D15. This is not only due to the usage of older fans, but also using fans with different sizes will create additional wind noise.
The build quality is very good, on the same level as the NH-D15. The aluminum fins of the heatsink are strong and have no sharp edges. The nickel-plating on the copper heatpipes is done well, with no blemishes or marks.
The installation process is very simple thanks to the Noctua SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system which is one of the best around. This mounting system also uses only solid metal components and a metal backplate.
In conclusion, the Noctua NH-14 is a great air CPU cooler that even after 12 years, manages to be competitive on the market. The performance is good and the same can be said for the noise output. The installation process is very easy and the mounting system uses only metal components. The only reason why you’d want to upgrade from the NH-D14 to the NH-D15 is for the lower noise output and for the better clearance.
