Noctua NH-D15 motherboard compatibility

The Noctua NH-D15 is a large dual-tower CPU cooler, and its compatibility with motherboards depends on several factors:

Clearance Issues: The NH-D15 needs at least 165mm of height clearance to be used. It can be very cumbersome to pack items in this kind of cases especially where the case is small or where the items are thin.

RAM Compatibility: It also blocks some RAM modules as the heatsink of this cooler is 150mm wide for tall RAM modules. RAM height compatibility is limited to standard size up to 32-35mm height where higher RAM could interfere with the cooler’s fan.

Also check your motherboard compatibility now.

IO Shield and Heatsink Clearance: Some problems may arise during fitting for example the MPG B550 Gaming Edge WiFi comes with built-in IO shield and large VRM heatsinks. However, the NH-D15 generally aligns with AM4 and AM5 motherboards if an AM4/AM5 mounting kit is obtained, which is provided starting from 2019. As for older units, you may require the NM-AM5/4-MP83 mounting kit which can be procured for free from Noctua.

Installation Advice: Make sure that there is little as 37mm between the CPU socket and the initial PCIe slot to avoid interfering with the installation of graphics cards. It is crucial always to check the specific size of the motherboard and the space available for the cooler.