Cryorig R1 Ultimate vs Noctua NH-D15 vs other

miha2 · Oct 13, 2018

Hi all, I want to get the best air cooler possible. I'm thinking to buy the Cryorig R1 Ultimate, but with my current build, I don't think it's possible. My motherboard is Gigabyte Z97X-SLI (Rev. 1.1) and the cooler is quite large for this motherboard. Also, according to the FAQ for this motherboard, the CPU cooler weight limit is 450g/1 lb. Should I be concerned about it as well?

I have all 4 memory slots occupied with G.Skill Sniper (42mm high), and it's not an option to remove the 2 sticks. Why? Well, I need all 4 for now (unless you are willing to spare me 2x8), but I'm planning to get a new motherboard and the CPU (and as such, the memory) once the Intel's 10-nm CPU is released, which is going to happen in the next year.

Currently, I'm choosing between these air coolers:

1. be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
2. Noctua NH-D15
3. Cryorig R1 Ultimate

If you know of any other good air coolers that will fit my current build, I may take a look at them, and if it's good enough, I may consider buying that cooler instead. Please, however, no liquid coolers. I want a super quiet system.

The cooler must fit into my current build, and it should not block the memory slots. I did rough calculations, and the R1 may not fit: it may block the memory slot. But that's just my rough calculations. If somebody here has roughly the same build (the same lenght CPU<->memory) did it fit perfectly? Does it block the memory slot(s)? Is there any better cooler?

I'm plannnig the next motherboard to be E-ATX, so that will not be a problem starting the next year.

Darkbreeze · Oct 13, 2018

The NH-D15 is a direct, no interference, no problem fit on the Z97X-SLI according to the Noctua product page. And I've seen this board with all of the big air coolers on it at various times. The are no indicated memory interference issues listed as there are with some other motherboard models.

https://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail/nh-d15/comp

If you are unsure however, the R1 Ultimate is within a degree or two anyhow. Plus, just about any of these big air coolers will get 2-3°C better temps by adding a pair of Noctua NF-A14 PWM or NF-A14 PWM Chromax black swap fans.

Actually, the NH-D14 beats them all with a pair of high end fans. If you want to go one step further, you can add the NF-A14 2000RPM iPPC industrial Noctua fans and drop another 2-4°C, and honestly even at high speed they are not as loud as a lot of other coolers with their included fans.

https://www.overclockers.com/noctua-nh-d14-redux-modern-fans-on-an-old-heatsink/

I have a pair of NF-A14 2000RPM industrial fans on my NH-U14S, with my 6700k overclocked to 4.6Ghz, and my core and package temps never exceed 70°C, and are usually more like 68°C at full load running Prime95 version 26.6 Small FFT, even during the middle of the summer.

miha2 · Oct 13, 2018

Darkbreeze :

That does play a huge role, as I live on the (last) floor, and it gets hotter than on the street, I would say.

Darkbreeze :

Can you tell me more on it? Does the motherboard hold the big, heavy coolers just fine? It's 3x the recommended maximum weight. Please note, I'm not going to move it a lot - maybe once every 6 months at most - just to blow it. I think about 30' one side, and I won't be throwing it all around. But as I have the removable air filters, I don't think it'll be a big problem. I don't think I'll be moving it every 6 months at all, actually.

Does the cooler (either Noctua or Cryorig) cover the memory slot? Can I lift the front fan to 12mm? Is it still worth to try? Or will it work a little worse? These 2 are my only concerns for today.

Darkbreeze · Oct 13, 2018

If you visit the link I posted, with Noctua's compatibility notes, there are none for the D15 on this motherboard. Normally, if there are any concerns they will be listed there. Noctua does extensive compatibility testing with every board listed there to determine compatibility or issues. Now, I've never personally used THAT cooler on THAT board, but others have. I don't think ANY board will list the D15's weight as "approved", but if Noctua says it's good, my opinion is that it's good.

Personally, I really don't see the need for a twin finstack cooler for most configurations. My single finstack NH-U14S gets as good or almost as good thermal results on the majority of tests I've read. Especially with dual fans and even more so with dual NF-A14's or A14 2000RPM fans.

What are you planning to run on this, and what kind of configuration are you intending to pursue?

miha2 · Oct 14, 2018

I'll be using it for gaming, and maybe with time, rendering.

I've been to Gigabyte web site for other (modern) motherboards, and there is no question about cooler weight, so I would assume the modern motherboards can hold practically any cooler.

I'm picky, and I want both fans to be on. As such, I want to find the cooler that will be a perfect fit for my system.

I visited the link you posted, even before you did, but is it a possibility that the motherboard was laying flat? With low-profile/2/1 memory stick(s)? You see, I want not just good, but the best cooler. These 3 seem to me among the best, but will they not interfere with the memory and will they not break the motherboard?

Darkbreeze · Oct 14, 2018

Noctua is the preeminent PC air cooler manufacturer in the world, arguably, most enthusiasts would agree. In light of that, you can be sure they know that for the last 25 years 90% of enthusiast systems are tower style vertical mounted motherboard systems. They would not test the cooler flat and if they thought that the motherboard had a thin or weak PCB, they would not declare that cooler a non-issue compatible fit for that board.

Again, that is my opinion, based on about 30 years of working with an building computer systems. Especially in the area of enthusiast builds and system modifications. Could it damage that board? Sure. Could a cooler that heavy damage ANY board? Sure.

My advice would be that if it's that big of a concern to you, and I'm not saying that it shouldn't be, but if it is and if you have the finances to want "the best", get a better board. The age of the board isn't a problem. To the best of my knowledge, MSI and ASRock are the two manufacturers that in the past tended to have thinner PC boards. ASUS and Gigabyte didn't tend that way, but again, the higher tiered the board, from any generation between Ivy bridge and now, including the AM3+ AMD boards, the thicker the PC board is probably going to be.

If it were my board, I would have no issue using that cooler on it.

larrycumming · Oct 14, 2018

If case and memory module fitting is your primary concern, Scythe Ninja 5 is a very good cooler with great performance that will fit most with great clearance for tall memory modules. My 45mm memory sticks fits right under it and keeps my overclocked i7-5960X very cool.

Darkbreeze · Oct 14, 2018

Not even remotely in the same category as D15, R1, Silver arrow IBE, etc., but still a good cooler. Just not, THAT good.

miha2 · Oct 14, 2018

I will get a better board, once Intel starts selling 10nm CPUs. I don't want to spend much money on a board for the CPU that is what, 4,5 years old? So, if I need to wait, I'll wait. No problems here. But if it'll hold it AND it will not block the memory - that's all I need.

larrycumming · Oct 14, 2018

Darkbreeze :

I wouldn't say "not remotely" just not as good, and fits much much better than D15 D15S SA IBE. The D15 is a known fitting nightmare that's why they came up with a minorly better fitting D15S. The Ninja 5 drops right into my m-atx mobo and case and keeps my overclocked 8-core cpu running cool, that's what matters most to me.

Darkbreeze · Oct 14, 2018

IDK where you get the nightmare idea. The vast majority of boards show no fitment problems, memory, GPU card or otherwise. Only some have problems, the majority of which are mATX and mini-ITX configurations. There are a small percentage of ATX boards with interference issues, but if you ACTUALLY look through the compatibility list you will find that the number of ATX motherboards with actual interference issues, even with tall RAM, is actually quite minimal. Certainly not "nightmare" status. Now, the recent Fooler Master Masterwatt lite 600w unit, THAT is a nightmare. For them. I don't see the D15 being nightmare status anytime soon.

You always have some funny opinions about things anyway, so I guess this is rather mild.

https://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail/nh-d15/comp#socket_3297_manuf_30

volkgren · Oct 14, 2018

I've got the NH-D15S and the Cryorig R1 Universal, and I much more prefer the NH-D15S. Better cooling and less noise. Only thing Cryorig has going for them is better looks.

mdd1963 · Oct 14, 2018

My D15 was/is so tall that the 2nd fan (which must mount a little higher for RAM clearance) would not quite clear the Corsair 100R case's viewing window, but, I simply mounted the 2nd fan a few inches away as an intake fan, but, it still blows air directly into the sink. The NH-D15 is whisper quiet at medium speeds, netting only 64C on v26.6 Prime95 blended speeds, 72C or so with MCE on at 4.5 GHz on all cores with 7700K. (It will be a while before the D15 is surpassed, in my opinion)

Darkbreeze · Oct 14, 2018

As I said earlier, the D15 is already surpassed. By the D14.

https://www.overclockers.com/noctua-nh-d14-redux-modern-fans-on-an-old-heatsink/

When a heatsink performs better, regardless of the fans used so long as they are the SAME fans, it's a better product. Only problem with the D14 is that it DOES have more interference issues than the D15. On systems where that isn't a concern, it's practically impossible to beat the D14 with the iPPC fans on it.

You can find good condition D14's used for like 40-60 bucks most of the time.

miha2 · Oct 14, 2018

OK, I don't really know how the magic works, but here's what I found:

1. http://www.legitreviews.com/noctua-nh-d15s-versus-nh-d15-cpu-cooler-review_188613/3
2. https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/7301/noctua-nh-d15s-style-cpu-cooler-review/index6.html (D15S is green, and 3rd from D15S is D15)

Is it true? Is the NH-D15S as good as the D15? If so, what would you say about this config: NH-D15S+120mm fan in front? This will make it clear from the memory modules, and it'll cool it as good, or even better than, NH-D15. And it'll stay quiet. As for me, it seems to be a good setup. Or D15S alone. What would you recommend?

P.S. I mean, D15S has just 1 fan, while D15 has 2. But according to the reviews listed, they are identical, or almost identical. 1-2 degrees I could compensate with the 120-mm fan... Right?

Darkbreeze · Oct 14, 2018

It's not as good. You're looking at the stock load. ALWAYS look at the overclocked load. That is where weaknesses in the capability of any cooler come shining to the forefront. In the overclocked thermal results, the D15s drops by about a degree compared to the D15 AND you have to consider that practically ALL test reviews, no matter what site it is from, are using open air test beds which will have highly different results than a system in a closed case depending on ambient temps, case fan configuration and what kind of airflow path exists inside the case.

Obviously, a case with drive cages directly in line with the intake fans is not going to perform as well as one with nothing between the intake fans and the CPU cooler. This is one reason I really like cases designed for water cooling, even when water cooling is not going to be used. My Define S for example, has nothing between the intake fans and CPU cooler, because it does not support an internally mounted optical drive so no upper drive bays and the lower drive cage is removeable. No sweat, because there is room for five 2.5" drives to be mounted on the backside of the motherboard tray.

If you need to use 3.5" drives, then you probably need something there in the front of the case, but even so a bottom of case mounted drive cage offers very little interference to airflow.

Just about anything, on any heatsink, can be compensated with a higher RPM, higher airflow fan. The new Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM fans are fantastic with better performance AND lower noise levels than the NF-F12 fans that dominated the 120mm fan category previously.

I personally don't like mixing 120mm fans with 140mm fans, and when possible will always swap out a 120mm fan with a 140 if it's doable. It's not always, especially on coolers. It's a mixed bag but it is what it is.

miha2 · Oct 14, 2018

Legitreviews:
Case:
Tt Core X71

1. Idle:
NH-D15: 32.7
NH-D15S: 32.6
2. AIDA64:
NH-D15: 70.00
NH-D15S: 71.25
3. AIDA64 Overclocked (4.4GHz vs. stock 3.9GHz; 4770K):
NH-D15: 76.5
NH-D15: 77.25

TweakTown:
Case:
(forgot which, I think it's In-Win D-Frame; open case)

1. Idle:
(No info; presumable, low)
2. AIDA64:
NH-D15: 49.5
NH-D15S: 49.5
3. AIDA64 Overclocked (no info to what grade):
NH-D15: 69.33
NH-D15S:70.25

So, for the reason that the legitreviews benched it in the case, I think it'll have roughly the same temps in my case (be quiet! Dark Base 900 Pro rev. 2). Any other concerns?

I don't like mixing it either, but if it'll keep the CPU cooler and will not interfere with memory, it'll... do.

Darkbreeze · Oct 14, 2018

I'll be honest, if I was going to use a big cooler, I'd use the D15, and I'd simply use two 140mm fans. One in the middle, one in the back. There is no compelling evidence that I've seen that any of these coolers perform better with a fan mounted in front and some reviews suggest that pull configurations have slightly better results.

Pull pull configuration has just as good of temps, but has zero RAM clearance issues. Probably better temps, but can't say for sure, since dual 140mm fans rather than combination of sizes, or just one fan, like the D15s. Could go D15s and ADD a fan on the back maybe.

Karadjgne · Oct 14, 2018

The only considerations between pull/pull and push/push are speed and bleed. For lower than @1000rpm, pull is better, it gets 0 issues with the dead spot directly behind the motor housing. Above @1500rpm, there's generally enough pressure and turbulence that the dead spot becomes a non issue in push, combined with the greater sp and cfm, makes high speed push better than pull.

With push, there's enough restriction in the heatsink that inevitably you'll get bleed air coming out the sides of the heatsink, creating airflow around the area of the voltage regulatory circuitry surrounding the socket, the VRM's etc. With pull fans, there's not enough fan under the heatsink to create the same affect, so motherboard temps at the socket can be higher, especially on OC systems. Not much different than the affects of an aio pump vrs regular tower air.

There's always going to be plus/minus affects to any cooling layout, it's upto the user to decide what's the priority and what can be lived with.

Temps in cooler tests are almost always taken with static supply, Prime95 or hotplate etc. Gaming is anything but static, cpu usage will bounce from 30% to 100% in less than a second, and back again a second later. This means any of the big coolers are going to be equitable in performance, the 1-4°C static differences are invalid as a decision maker.

Get the cooler you want, they'll all be so similar in performance that it'll boil down to things like looks, noise, mount, ram clearance etc, not a degree here or there that'll be an issue.

larrycumming · Oct 15, 2018

mdd1963 :

Yeah, well, it's a bigger nightmare if you used it on a X99 motherboard like I do, with memory banks on both sides of the cpu socket.

Funny ideas? I suppose darkbreeze will find this article funny too
https://techreport.com/news/28290/noctua-latest-coolers-wont-block-pcie-slots

Darkbreeze · Oct 15, 2018

I never said there weren't ANY issues with them. On some boards, and depending on whether you have really tall RAM like the old school Ripjaws and Corsair Dominator modules, or extra large double, or triple slot cards especially ones with backing plates, it's always possible depending on the board layout.

When more than 60% of boards don't present interference issues though I don't really call it a nightmare problem. I call it a hardware specific issue.

Also, that article is three years old. There are very few memory modules with that kind of height anymore and graphics cards are not only getting smaller but most layouts have provided for additional spacing between components that used to present interference issues a lot more regularly on ATX boards. For smaller boards, there are always going to be issues I think

Also, I was simply teasing you, not trying to be directly insulting or anything like that. No harm, no foul. I will add however that your reaction was much like a great many people have here. Their experience based on their own personal sample of one tends to color their belief system towards that hardware in a blanket policy and opinion which is usually not very accurate. I admit, I am sometimes guilty of it myself but I usually try to gather a good deal of supporting documentation and consensus of opinions before doing so.

Karadjgne, I'm aware of what some of the aerodynamics testing indicates, as well as the thermal testing, but I have found clear real-world evidence that is counter indicative in my experience. On my NH-U14S, which IS of course only a sample of one, I instantly got a 1°C lower peak load temp by simply moving my NF-A14 PWM fan to a pull orientation. I dropped two more degrees by moving it back in front and adding an NF-A14 2000RPM fan to the back in the pull position, so push-pull. 3°C drop by simply adding a fan is a worthy addition in my book.

Better than spending 30+ dollars on high end TIM to get a 1°C or no improvement in peak temp.

Karadjgne · Oct 15, 2018

Exactly. Move to pull at lower rpm gets better results. Add a push fan on top of that (notice it only got half the pull result) and you do a lot of cancelation on the negative affects. And I know you didn't run that AF-14 at its full 2000rpm constantly, probably somewhat closer to @1000rpm as even Noctua gets somewhat audible at that rotation speed.

And I wasn't singling you out, it was more of a general statement than anything, trying to show that no matter what orientation the fans are placed in, the results are similar enough not to really be an issue on temps as varied as gaming. You'd only really notice or care on a static load.

Darkbreeze · Oct 15, 2018

Actually, under full load, my front A14 is at about 1350RPM and my rear pull fan, the A14 2000RPM is at about 1600RPM. That is due to the curve profile I've configured. Since it keeps my core temps below 70 degrees, usually about 68 running Prime Small FFT, I see no need for it to run at a higher speed. It would seem I have the headroom to do so though if I wished to push clocks higher.

Honestly though, and if you haven't tested one of these iPPC 2000rpm fans then I understand it being hard to believe, even at or near it's 2000rpm rotation maximum the fan is quieter than one of the Aerocool DS 140s or any of my other collection of 140mm fans running at their maximum speeds which are generally between 1200 and 1500rpm. Yes, you can hear it. No, it is not loud or annoying considering the sheer volume of air it is moving at that speed. It is quiet enough that I could live with it at that speed for long periods of time when necessary. It does however have a "tone" at full speed that is clearly distinguishable from other fans like the A15 or even the regular A14. Likely due to different bearing design on the industrial version.

Karadjgne · Oct 15, 2018

Heh. Full load. So gaming speeds are about half those figures

.

How's that working out with the differential speeds on the fans btw? Most times I've ever run across that there's definitely been a slapping noise associated with the higher sp fan kicking the lower.

Darkbreeze · Oct 15, 2018

There are no noise issues or slapping noises, whatsoever.

And actually, I typoed that earlier. The 2000rpm pull fan on the back of the heatsink maxes out at about 1800rpm with the way the curve is configured. The front fan maxes out at about 1500rpm pushing. 1350 and 1600 are about what they are sitting at when I'm gaming or heavy encoding or batch converting big batches of book or music formats, among other things.

Fans never run at identical speeds, even when they are the exact same model. There will always be variances in motor output and rotational speed to some degree. When I had two of the NF-A14 Chromax black swap fans on there, there was a noticeable, audible, unpleasant tone/hum. Removing the rear fan, that went away.

Replacing it with the higher speed industrial version, it never came back. Wasn't due to the mounting or looseness. I'm even using the clips for the 120mm pattern A15 fans, which barely fit but are WAY tighter against the heatsink than the clips intended for use with the A14 fans.

Anyhow, way off topic now so I'm done.

Cryorig R1 Ultimate vs Noctua NH-D15 vs other

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Prominent

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Prominent

Retired Mod

Judicious

Titan

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Titan

Prominent

Retired Mod

Titan

Retired Mod

Titan

Retired Mod

Share this page