Placing the Noctua NH D14 or 15 vertically?

[Alir]

I'm talking about your typical ATX tower chassis.

 

1) From my understanding, air coolers are more effective vertically? With colder air being pulled from below and hot air being pushed up, as opposed to air being blown from the front of the case, to the back? If this is true, why do companies not make cpu coolers with this in mind?

 

2) The D15 has a cutout on the side to accomodate large cpu heatsinks, would the ram slots be obstructed in any way by changing it to a vertical configuration?

 

3) I have heard conflicting reports - which is better at cooling, the D14 or the D15?

 

If the D15 is better I would ideally want it in a vertical configuration, would this be possible? And as already mentioned, would anything like ram be obstructed? Also how would it affect the pcie slots?

[othertomperson]

The D15 is better. Why would Noctua replace the D14 with something worse? Thermodynamically, I can't see it making much difference. The intake should be pretty close to a front intake if your case has one, and pushing from bottom to top is only marginally better than pushing air horizontally.

 

I'd be careful about compatibility though. The D15 has a larger RAM cutout for compatibility but overhangs the top PCI/PCI-E (depending on your motherboard) slot so turning this sideways *might* cause you problems.

[Enderman]

Yes the D15 is better than the D14.

No you can only mount it facing the rear. AFAIK

It is more common for cases to have front intake and rear exhaust than bottom intake and top exhaust.

Heat rises slowly and there is no temperature difference in having it facing a certain way as long as you have case fans.

[Shaqo_Wyn]

I'm talking about your typical ATX tower chassis.

 

1) From my understanding, air coolers are more effective vertically? With colder air being pulled from below and hot air being pushed up, as opposed to air being blown from the front of the case, to the back? If this is true, why do companies not make cpu coolers with this in mind?

 

2) The D15 has a cutout on the side to accomodate large cpu heatsinks, would the ram slots be obstructed in any way by changing it to a vertical configuration?

 

3) I have heard conflicting reports - which is better at cooling, the D14 or the D15?

 

If the D15 is better I would ideally want it in a vertical configuration, would this be possible? And as already mentioned, would anything like ram be obstructed? Also how would it affect the pcie slots?

 

1) because it's total BS, both configs should perform similarly

 

2) Probably not if it's as wide as it is long, but it might cause problems with a GPU in the top slots

 

3) D15 is slightly better but it's main improvements are better RAM compatibility

 

4) again, if it's as wide as it is long it shouldn't be anymore a problem if it doesn't hit the RAM. But you won't have the better compatibility without the cutouts to help. You should be able to mount it vertically no problems.

[WoodenMarker]

1. The bottom of the heatsink is generally where the graphics card is so the air is likely warmer.

2. It might block 2 slots depending on the motherbord.

3. The D15 is better. 

It's possible but would probably block the top slot since it's wider than it is thick.   

No you can only mount it facing the rear. AFAIK

Not true.

[Enderman]

Not true.

 

Well you would have to remove one of the fans to make it fit...

[Alir]

Well you would have to remove one of the fans to make it fit...

 

how would you have to remove fans?  And which fan(s)?

 

The pic looks like everything fits perfectly... apart from the gpu there which is reaally close to that cpu cooler.

[Enderman]

how would you have to remove fans?  And which fan(s)?

 

The pic looks like everything fits perfectly... apart from the gpu there which is reaally close to that cpu cooler.

The fan thats supposed to be where the GPU is.

[Alir]

The fan thats supposed to be where the GPU is.

 

ah see what you mean. cheers