Bequiet Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH D15 – Full Comparison

Jack

By Jack

Update on

Bequiet Dark Rock Pro 4 Vs. Noctua NH D15

Our team of experts prepared a comparison between Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH D15 for you.

This article explains pretty much everything about these two products to help you make a rational purchase.

So, if you are looking for a superb CPU cooler, the information found here will be exceptionally helpful.

Is A CPU Cooler Necessary?

A strong CPU cooler is a must if you intend to get the most out of your processor’s potential.

Despite this, the basic CPU cooler included in your CPUs is able to maintain the processor’s temperature under check.

When you plan to overclock a processor, you should invest in an upgraded CPU cooler. Such an approach is necessary to provide the greatest, most stable, and most efficient cooling system possible.

Two of the best CPU air coolers currently on the modern-day market will be discussed in this comparison.

In other words, this article is a comparison of Bequiet Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH-D15. Both of these products come with unique characteristics. 

AIO cooling systems can’t compete with their efficiency. It’s pretty uncommon to see these two CPU coolers being compared to many other PC setups.

Let’s keep reading and learn everything you should know about these coolers.

Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. NH D15 – A Comparison of Specs

ProductNoctua NH-D15Dark Rock Pro 4
Compatible socketsIntel: LGA1151, LGA1150, LGA1155, LGA1200, LGA1156, LGA2011-3 (Square ILM) & LGA2011-0 and LGA2066 AMD: FM2+, FM2, FM1, AM2, AM3, AM2+, AM3+, AM4Intel: LGA1150, LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA2011-v3 (Square ILM) & LGA2011 and LGA2066 AMD: FM2+, FM2, FM1, AM2, AM3, AM2+, AM4, AM3+
SizeIncluding the fan: 161mm (D) 150mm (W), 165mm (H),  Without Fan: 135mm (D), 150mm (W), 160mm (H),Heat Sink: 145.7mm (D), 136mm (W), 162.8 mm (H)
WeightWith Fan: 1320gWithout: Fan 980gHeatsink: 1.13kg
Compatible fans150mm x 140mm x 25mm (including mounting holes of 120mm) 140 mm x 140 mm x 25 mm (including mounting holes of 120mm)  120 mm x 120 mm x 25 mmNot applicable: 1X Silent Wings 135mm PWM 1X Silent Wings 3 120 mm PWM
Maximum Airflow80CFM 115.5 m3/h or 140.2 m3/h (that comes with a Low Noise special Adapter)  
Minimum: 33CFM
90CFM Min: 34 CFM
Maximum Noise19.2 dB(A) (with Low-Noise Adapter) 24.6dB(A)24.3db(A)
Voltage12V12V

PS: if you are looking for the best CPU for RTX 3080 TI graphics card, this guide is just for you.

What is Good for a CPU Cooler?

There are many important things to consider if you purchase a good CPU cooler.

In this section of our Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH-D15 comparison, we intend to highlight those aspects.

01. Compatibility and Size

First and foremost, check your motherboard or laptop to ensure that you are purchasing the correct size components.

If the cooler is not compatible with the size of the motherboard, it is useless. 

02. Price

The pricing is an essential consideration. It has a significant impact on both performance and the quality of the product.

Air coolers may be reasonably priced, making them ideal for those on a tight budget.

While liquid-cooling systems are more costly, they offer the best cooling performance. However, this is dependent on your needs.

Air coolers remain your best choice if you’re on a tight budget.

On the other hand, however, liquid cooling offers the perfect combination for those who desire the best performance. 

03. Type of the Bearing

For the cooling system to run smoothly, you need to select a cooler with a decent bearing type.

For instance, you can choose types like Rifle, Sleeve, or Fluid Dynamic Bearing.

04. Bracket

A cooler can be fitted quickly and easily using brackets, but some models don’t require them.

Therefore, it is important to verify if you can do so before purchasing one.

05. Heat Sink

Is a heatsink required for a CPU?

Remember that its heat sink will quickly heat up if it does not have aluminum plates on it.

Because of its rapid heat dissipation, aluminum is superior to copper in terms of performance.

06. Air Flow

Heat dissipation is best achieved when airflow is measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute).

In fact, CFM determines the amount of air carried past a certain spot in a minute.

So, you should take that into consideration when choosing a cooler for your system.

07. Noise

The last thing you need is to have a noisy CPU cooler in your system.

So, it is compulsory to go for a fan that doesn’t make much noise.

Some coolers are exceptionally loud (particularly those with greater CFM).

So, you should pay attention to the length of the blades of the fan when choosing an air-based cooler.

The greater the size of the blade, the lesser the amount is.

08. Dimensions

The dimensions (size) of the cooler are important when you shop around for a good CPU cooler.

Be sure to choose a cooler that perfectly matches the system to avoid potential issues.

09. Socket Type

It is obvious that the cooler you purchase must match the socket of the motherboard.

If not, it will be a waste of money.

10. Voltage

Pretty much all the coolers have different voltage choices. You can adjust between those options.

In some models, however, these features are not found. It is completely up to the manufacturer to decide whether or not to include the voltage-adjusting option.

However, if you want to overclock your CPU, having such an option is very handy. The amount of power used by a CPU cooler is mentioned in its packaging.

11. Warranty

Last but not least, a warranty is important when you purchase a cooler for your CPU.

It’s always better to go for a product that offers a warranty so your money will not be wasted.

Besides, if searching for the best CPU for RTX 3070, just click to read more.

What is Better, Dark Rock Pro 4 or Noctua NH-D15?

In terms of overall temperature distribution, both coolers are extremely close.

They both provide performance comparable to some 240mm and even 360mm AIO coolers. For air-cooled CPUs, that’s quite a feat.

As with Dark Rock Pro 4, the NH-D15 cooler features an efficient dual-tower design.

However, the latter can give a performance that is about 3C degrees cooler under load.

CPU Temperature
CPU Temperature

Many elements, including aspects like case internals, ventilation, and numerous more, can impact thermal performance. This is dependent on many variables. Nevertheless, the Pro 4 version of Dark Rock is an excellent choice if you’re expecting a superior performance.

With that said, this NH-D15 system cooler comes with a good, straightforward design. The Heat Sink features a nice silver metallic finish, while the fans come with the usual brown Noctua theme. Six copper pipes are joined to its copper base plated in nickel, which acts as a heat sink.

The heat pipes are installed to the fins in the stacks directly. That will ensure the efficient functioning of the lower CFM fans. That increases the overall efficiency of the CPU cooler.

When compared to the fan positioning of the Dark Rock’s Pro 4, its rival has a simpler setup. Be Quiet! Updated the mounting mechanism for the Pro 4 version of their Dark Rock series.

This update is identical to the NH-D15 and far simpler and easier than the predecessor, Pro 3. However, the truth is that it falls short of the NH-D15s.

NH-D15, however, is significantly quieter even when performing strenuous tasks. It performs quieter than the Pro 4 version during idle performance. At least about 1-3 dB less can be expected while using the Pro 4 version. 

The Speed of the Fan at Different Performance Levels

Fan Speed at 25%
Fan Speed at 25%
Fan Speed at 100%
Fan Speed at 100%

When you compare Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH-D15 at different CPU performance levels, there are some interesting aspects. If you expect your PC to run in a pretty silent manner, we strongly suggest Dark Rock Pro 4.

However, the truth is that both of these coolers come with somewhat similar performance in terms of cooling.

Let’s compare Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. NH-D15 in terms of the design as well. In fact, the former has a better appearance compared to NH-D15. The overall design is sleek, and the matte black coating adds more aesthetic value.

Because of that, this product looks perfect in any build. When it comes to NH-D15, however, it has a brown color appearance.

Brown, in general, is not the best color for many systems as opposed to black. However, black color works well with any color scheme with no trouble at all.

There are seven heat pipes in the case, which aid in removing excess heat from the CPU. At its core, the DRP4’s basis comprises entirely of two separate metals.

The upper portion of its base is aluminum, while the lower portion of the platform is copper. Also, it’s used to conduct heat to heat pipes from the processor.

These two air CPU coolers have shown outstanding value for the money you spend. You can get a proper idea about it by comparing Bequiet Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH-D15.

It’s entirely up to you which one you want for your particular PC configuration. In terms of performance, you can’t beat these coolers at the prices they’re selling for.

Is Noctua NH-D15 Good for Overclocking?

Noctua NH-D15
Noctua NH-D15

Compared to the other, it delivers a little greater cooling performance for overclocking.

It’s well-made and feels robust in hand.

You should go with the NH-D15 for optimum cooling performance.

The only drawback is that it is somewhat louder, but that won’t be an issue. Let’s continue with the Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH D15 comparison.

Is the Bequiet Dark Rock Pro 4 Worth It?

Bequiet Dark Rock Pro 4
Dark Rock Pro 4

In this Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH D15 comparison, we see that Dark Rock Pro 4 appears better than its counterpart at first glance.

With the beautiful black scheme, you can match it to any modern-day PC setup.

It’s also a little quieter, but the cooling performance is nearly identical.

Those looking for a quieter system can go no further than the Pro 4 of Dark Rock. 

FAQs

  1. Q: Which CPU cooler is quieter: Dark Rock Pro 4 or Noctua NH D15? A: Both coolers are exceptionally quiet, but the Dark Rock Pro 4 with its Silent Wings 3 fan offers slightly quieter operation.
  2. Q: Are the Dark Rock Pro 4 and the Noctua NH D15 compatible with Intel and AMD sockets? A: Yes, both coolers are compatible with a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets, ensuring broad compatibility.
  3. Q: Does the Noctua NH D15 come with thermal paste included? A: Yes, the Noctua NH D15 includes high-quality thermal paste in the package.
  4. Q: Can I install these coolers without any prior experience? A: Yes, both the Dark Rock Pro 4 and the Noctua NH D15 come with detailed instructions and mounting hardware, making installation relatively straightforward for most users.
  5. Q: Are these coolers suitable for overclocking? A: Absolutely! Both the Dark Rock Pro 4 and the Noctua NH D15 provide excellent cooling performance, making them ideal for overclocking and keeping temperatures under control.

Conclusion

Well, that’s our comparison of Bequiet Dark Rock Pro 4 vs. Noctua NH-D15.

Which is your favorite, and why do you choose it over the other?

Or, if you have other better options, please mention them below. Your input is so valuable to our readers.

Also, if you want to know anything else about CPU coolers and their functionality, please let us know.

Jack
Jack

Ten years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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