Performance
Cooling a stock-clocked Core i7-4770K is child's play for an enthusiast heatsink such as the NH-D15. Right from the off, it's proving to be a match for Corsair's 240mm liquid cooler, the Hydro Series H105.
With more voltage running through its veins and clock speed heightened to 4.4GHz, the Core i7-4770K produces far more heat and poses more of a challenge for the coolers on show. There's no mistaking the NH-D15's ability - it delivers the best results we've seen on our Intel Haswell test platform and ekes out a small lead over the costlier Hydro Series H105.
Cooling performance is exceptional, but what we really appreciate is the fact that the NH-D15 runs very quietly. It's hard to tell the difference between Noctua's cooler and the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3, both are barely audible over the chassis fans in a Corsair 600T. Adding the low-noise adapter cables lowers noise levels even further, with the under-load reading dropping to a very agreeable 34.3dB.
