Hmm, surely you can orient them horizontally?
That second fan is so close to the GPU that it won't pull practically any air, and the air that'll be able to pull will be warmed from the GPU itself.
Surely you can position the fan to be higher than the fins, until you have the required clearance? Sorry, if the socket is different, then it's a bit out of my knowledge
You do not need to mount the fan square on the heatsink, you can mount it a little higher so it gives the proper clearance to the RAM, maybe then it'll work?
Maybe this will help: https://noctua.at/pub/media/catalog/product/n/o/noctua_nh_d15_clearance_updated-border_1_1.png
You move the fan higher on the heatsink. Assuming you have enough space between the cooler and your side panel it works. It probably doesn't make difference if you truly have to mount it so the fans point at the GPU.
So you want me to flip the heatsink orientation to horizontal, then move the fans higher up on the heatsink for RAM clearance. Problem is the actual metal fins are going to hit the DIMM slots.
Would it not make more sense to remove the bottom fan from the cpu cooler?
In the current configuration the bottom fan has most of its area blocked by the gpu. I don't think it can draw much air and might actually create noise.
You can then use the spare fan as intake for the case.
This is the only way I can orient the NH-D15 for my motherboard. It's a tight squeeze but I was just curious if this configuration is OK and won't damage anything.
Ah.
Well, I mean technically this isn't going to hurt the fan but it may restrict airflow through the cooler more than it actually helps. Will probably be louder too.
I do have to wonder why you would spend $800 on a motherboard and then use an air cooler.
I was wondering the same thing, clearly this configuration is suboptimal and at best restricting airflow. If I was picking this MB one of my first thoughts would be I'm going to have to use an AIO or top flow air cooler like the Dark Rock TF 2.
Weird your socket is rotated, but my understanding has always been it's fine to rotate the cooler in any 90° increment relative to the socket, just so the hunk of metal fits. IMO there's usually no good reason to, but this would be the exception. If you really cannot rotate, then maybe a slim 120mm fan instead (NF-A12x15), possibly another slim fan on the opposite side. The wire mounts should fit the 120mm fans.
Looking at the photo again, no room for a second slim fan. Another option would be to remove case fans, and then put your two CPU fans on the opposite side of each tower. I can't see your case layout, but a GPU riser might be another path. Also, assuming the other PCI slot not used by your GPU is slower (so would not want to move the GPU to the farther slot).
I have the Fractal Torrent case and tried the DH15 with similar results. I ended up returning it and swapping for a U12A. That fits a LOT better for clearence [and my sausage fingers] even with the AM5 offset brackets. [I know you're using an Intel board]
But, yeah. Did you purchase the DH15 for this build? Is returning/swapping it out for a U12A possible?
i saw your other photos. it certainly looks like you can orient it vertically rather than horizontally(not sure why everyone in thread is saying it is vertical now and to put it horizontally - up and down is vertical, unless your photos are sideways, yours is currently horizontal)
Send the air cooler back and get a 360 AIO. That motherboard isn't meant for an air cooler like that. Either that or get a different motherboard. You are going to struggle with proper air flow and will most likely have cooling issues
Additionally, that cooler is not on the compatibility list for the NH-D15, it has been under evaluation for some time but not compatible for this very reason.
Yeah I saw that but I checked the compatibility under the Z690 board where it's essentially the same thing. I do have an 360 AIO I've used before but I've gotten the exact same temp results as with the D15. I'm just going to eventually go with a custom loop.
Just take out this second fan..moat likely 2 or 3C difference buy personally I will stay more safe without it beeing so close to the GPU and smd components
Hmm, surely you can orient them horizontally? That second fan is so close to the GPU that it won't pull practically any air, and the air that'll be able to pull will be warmed from the GPU itself.
The RAM DIMM slots are on top of the board because the socket is rotated which is why I can't orient it horizontally.
Surely you can position the fan to be higher than the fins, until you have the required clearance? Sorry, if the socket is different, then it's a bit out of my knowledge
Not sure I understand what you mean. You mean mount a fan on the other side of the top heat sink spreader?
You do not need to mount the fan square on the heatsink, you can mount it a little higher so it gives the proper clearance to the RAM, maybe then it'll work?
Only problem with that is there won't be clearance for the top two exhaust fans.
Then there's actually no reason for you to use the second fan, just take it out
I would think it would be better to use more CPU fans than exhaust fans, assuming there’s already front to back airflow
You can mount the fan higher on the cooler (so closer to your side panel), this would not interfere with top exhaust fans.
Dude, stop talking. You're not seeing what's going on in the picture.
Sorry but I'm still having trouble with what you're suggesting. How can you mount a fan higher when theres no room?
Maybe this will help: https://noctua.at/pub/media/catalog/product/n/o/noctua_nh_d15_clearance_updated-border_1_1.png You move the fan higher on the heatsink. Assuming you have enough space between the cooler and your side panel it works. It probably doesn't make difference if you truly have to mount it so the fans point at the GPU.
So you want me to flip the heatsink orientation to horizontal, then move the fans higher up on the heatsink for RAM clearance. Problem is the actual metal fins are going to hit the DIMM slots.
Would it not make more sense to remove the bottom fan from the cpu cooler? In the current configuration the bottom fan has most of its area blocked by the gpu. I don't think it can draw much air and might actually create noise. You can then use the spare fan as intake for the case.
I'd just remove the bottom fan on the CPU cooler. Your airflow is surely heavily restricted with that fan clearance...
This is the only way I can orient the NH-D15 for my motherboard. It's a tight squeeze but I was just curious if this configuration is OK and won't damage anything.
>This is the only way I can orient the NH-D15 for my motherboard. Why..?
It is what Noctua stated on their compatibility website. I did try to mount the other way and it would not work.
>it would not work Why...........?
Because the RAM DIMM slots are on top of the board because the socket is rotated. It's a Z790 Dark.
Ah. Well, I mean technically this isn't going to hurt the fan but it may restrict airflow through the cooler more than it actually helps. Will probably be louder too. I do have to wonder why you would spend $800 on a motherboard and then use an air cooler.
Because that air cooler outperforms liquid while also requiring less maintainance and having a longer life
It is a very good air cooler. It does not out-perforn good AIO liquid coolers or custom loops
Yes. My NH-D15 was working reliably for 5.5 years before swapping over to my i5-13600k. Still working great.
Using a NH-D15s on my 13900k
Nice, what temps are you getting under a stress test? I've been able to cool atleast 255W.
Running a full d-15 on my 13900k as well, super pleased with its performance and noise levels - also have 4 a12x25s as case fans
I was wondering the same thing, clearly this configuration is suboptimal and at best restricting airflow. If I was picking this MB one of my first thoughts would be I'm going to have to use an AIO or top flow air cooler like the Dark Rock TF 2.
Dumb question but did you try to flip the brackets?
Weird your socket is rotated, but my understanding has always been it's fine to rotate the cooler in any 90° increment relative to the socket, just so the hunk of metal fits. IMO there's usually no good reason to, but this would be the exception. If you really cannot rotate, then maybe a slim 120mm fan instead (NF-A12x15), possibly another slim fan on the opposite side. The wire mounts should fit the 120mm fans.
Looking at the photo again, no room for a second slim fan. Another option would be to remove case fans, and then put your two CPU fans on the opposite side of each tower. I can't see your case layout, but a GPU riser might be another path. Also, assuming the other PCI slot not used by your GPU is slower (so would not want to move the GPU to the farther slot).
I'm using a Lian Li Lancool 216 in the "Air Cool" mode.
I have the Fractal Torrent case and tried the DH15 with similar results. I ended up returning it and swapping for a U12A. That fits a LOT better for clearence [and my sausage fingers] even with the AM5 offset brackets. [I know you're using an Intel board] But, yeah. Did you purchase the DH15 for this build? Is returning/swapping it out for a U12A possible?
not optimal but it will probably work.. stress test with prime95 and monitor for temp
i would orient the cooler vertically rather that horizontally, then your fans will not rest of anything.
i saw your other photos. it certainly looks like you can orient it vertically rather than horizontally(not sure why everyone in thread is saying it is vertical now and to put it horizontally - up and down is vertical, unless your photos are sideways, yours is currently horizontal)
Worst case you get bad turbulence noises. I'd just run with the middle fan instead, or get a C14S while they're still available.
Send the air cooler back and get a 360 AIO. That motherboard isn't meant for an air cooler like that. Either that or get a different motherboard. You are going to struggle with proper air flow and will most likely have cooling issues
Additionally, that cooler is not on the compatibility list for the NH-D15, it has been under evaluation for some time but not compatible for this very reason.
Yeah I saw that but I checked the compatibility under the Z690 board where it's essentially the same thing. I do have an 360 AIO I've used before but I've gotten the exact same temp results as with the D15. I'm just going to eventually go with a custom loop.
Just take out this second fan..moat likely 2 or 3C difference buy personally I will stay more safe without it beeing so close to the GPU and smd components