Noctua NH-D15 Fan Setup and Clearance

[vanya2006]

Looking to replace my be quiet! Dark Rock 3 with a Noctua NH-D15 to get better overclocking headroom on my 7700k that I've recently delidded. I want to get the NH-D15 with the cooling tower caps in white and black replacement fans to fit my system theme. However, both the NH-D15 and NH-D15S do not give enough clearance for my Corsair Vengeance LED ram, which is 49mm(?), with a fan installed on the front of the right fin tower. I want to know that the cooler I get will be compatible with my system before ordering, so I wanted to ask if it would be reasonable and worth it to move the fan that interferes with the ram to the left fin tower AKA the side closest to the case exhaust. 

[Zando_]

Yep, you can stick a fan on the back instead of the front. Be aware it can interfere with the mobo VRM heatsinks though, depending on whether they're the fancy aluminum ones or more effective finned ones that are usually lower profile. Some mobos have the big I/O covers too. 

[WoodenMarker]

What motherboard are you using?

[_Hustler_One_]

What is your motherboard, is it an ATX or smaller form factor?

 

But with that RAM and your option between D15/D15S you mentioned, the D15S will gave you better clearance, while with D15 and moving the front fan to the rear, mind the I/O cover or VRM heatsink if they are exist on your motherboard they might become problem with the fan..

 

Have you checked the Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT?   No compatibility issue with any other components if we have to comparing this cooler to NH-D15/S..

[vanya2006]

On 1/22/2019 at 5:48 PM, WoodenMarker said:

What motherboard are you using?

Using a GIGABYTE Z270XP-SLI. Full ATX.

[vanya2006]

On 1/22/2019 at 6:29 PM, _Hustler_One_ said:

What is your motherboard, is it an ATX or smaller form factor?

 

But with that RAM and your option between D15/D15S you mentioned, the D15S will gave you better clearance, while with D15 and moving the front fan to the rear, mind the I/O cover or VRM heatsink if they are exist on your motherboard they might become problem with the fan..

 

Have you checked the Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT?   No compatibility issue with any other components if we have to comparing this cooler to NH-D15/S..

Problem is that the D15S doesn't provide enough clearance for the ram if I configure it like I intend with two fans.

[vanya2006]

Perhaps this would be a better option--getting a D15 or D15S and for the second fan using a chromax NF-F12 for increased clearance. I have heard it has good static pressure. If only they made the NF-A12x25 in chromax  but the materials are sensitive to dye apparently.

[WoodenMarker]

3 minutes ago, vanya2006 said:

Perhaps this would be a better option--getting a D15 or D15S and for the second fan using a chromax NF-A12x25 for increased clearance. I have heard it has good static pressure.

The NF-A12x25 is probably the best 120mm available but the Chromax version isn't available yet. 

If you're looking for the best in air cooling, the NH-D15S with an additional NF-A12x25 is probably it.

[_Hustler_One_]

24 minutes ago, vanya2006 said:

Problem is that the D15S doesn't provide enough clearance for the ram if I configure it like I intend with two fans.

Sorry, the pic I posted is not the Thermalright LGM RT, but it's Macho Rev.B instead..

 

24 minutes ago, vanya2006 said:

D15 or D15S and for the second fan using a chromax NF-F12 for increased clearance.

This is a good idea. I have some pics taken from internet. This person is also setting up his/her D15/S that way.. Check this out..

 

[Defyant]

That's kinda why i went with the cheaper option of the d14,  120mm fan  up front for ram clearance and the larger 140 in the guts...

 

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