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be quiet! Dark Rock Elite vs Noctua NH-D15 G2

27 of 46 fields differ

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  • 16 different values
  • 11 known for one only
  • 9 the same
  • 10 missing for both

Biggest differences

Each bar uses the scale of all 66 CPU coolers.

  1. RAM clearanceA: 42mmB: 32mmbe quiet! is 10 mm higher.

Size, drawn to scale

Front and side.

Weight

0 to 2,500 g

A1,340g
B1,525g

All 54 fields

Every value links to where we found it.

Abe quiet! Dark Rock Elite
BNoctua NH-D15 G2

General

7 of 12 differ
Successor
Not available
Not available
Markets
Not available
Cooler type
Base material

Compatibility

3 of 3 differ
CPU sockets
RAM height clearance

Heatsink

1 of 3 differ

Liquid cooling

None of 7 known
Radiator size
Not available
Not available
Radiator dimensions
Not available
Not available
Radiator material
Not available
Not available
Tube length
Not available
Not available
Max pump speed
Not available
Not available
Pump power connector
Not available
Not available
VRM fan
Not available
Not available

Fans

1 of 2 differ
Included fans
Abe quiet! Dark Rock Elite
ModelSize (mm)FansMax speed (rpm)Airflow (CFM)Static pressure (mmH₂O)BearingConnector
Silent Wings 135mm13522,00080.22.41Fluid dynamic (FDB)4-pin PWM
Source3Retailer pagestore.arsenalpc.com/be-quiet-BK037/Product/3257328Read 16 October 2026Fan specifications: Silent Wings, 135 x 135 x 25 mm, speed at 100% PWM Q 1500 / P 2000 rpm, airflow at 100% PWM / 12V 80.2 CFM (136.2 m3/h), air pressure 2.41 mm H2O, Fluid Dynamic Bearing, 6-pole motor, 4-pin PWM, Y-cable yes, two fans. Q and P are the quiet and performance modes of the speed switch, so the top speed is 2000 rpm. The airflow and pressure are not in the launch-time copy of the table at APH Networks and Tom's Hardware lists them as unlisted, so they come from this copy only. The overall noise of 11.0 / 19.5 / 25.8 dB(A) at 50 / 75 / 100% is for the whole cooler in quiet mode and is not stored as a fan figure.4Reviewaphnetworks.com/reviews/be-quiet-dark-rock-eliteRead 16 October 2026Speed at 100% PWM / 12V 1500 / 2000 rpm, fluid dynamic bearing, 6-pole motor, 4-pin PWM, Y-cable. The table has no airflow or pressure row.5Reviewtomshardware.com/pc-components/cooling/be-quiet-dark-rock-pro-v-and-dark-rock-elite-review-kings-of-quiet-coolingRead 16 October 2026Two Silent Wings 135mm fans on the Dark Rock Elite, up to 1500/2000 rpm in the quiet and performance modes, fluid dynamic bearing, no lighting on the fans. Airflow and pressure are unlisted. The top speed is 2000 rpm in the performance mode.8Reviewbasic-tutorials.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/be-quiet-dark-rock-eliteRead 16 October 2026The two fans are connected to each other with a proprietary connector. The cooler connects to a regular PWM fan header.
Fans
2
2

Display and lighting

3 of 7 differ
Screen size
Not available
Not available
Screen resolution
Not available
Not available
Software
Not available
Not available
Needs a USB header
Not available

Measured

6 of 6 differ
Cybenetics THETA, AMD AM5
Not available
Cybenetics THETA, Intel LGA1851
Not available
Overall performance at 30 dB(A), AM5 (measured)
Not available
Overall performance at 30 dB(A), LGA1851 (measured)
Not available
Thermal tests (measured)
Abe quiet! Dark Rock Elite
Test CPULoadCPU power (W)Fan settingNoise (dB(A))CPU temperature (°C)Above ambient (°C)
Intel Core i7-13700KNo power limits, CPU at TJ Max, maximum package power cooled231Low noise mode38.9Not availableNot available
Intel Core i7-13700KNo power limits, CPU at TJ Max, maximum package power cooled235Full speed43.4Not availableNot available
Intel Core i7-13700KNo power limits, CPU at TJ Max, maximum package power cooled at normalized noise22738.2 dB(A)38.2Not availableNot available
Intel Core i7-13700KCinebench multi-core at a 175 W power limit175Low noise mode37.3Not available57
Intel Core i7-13700KCinebench multi-core at a 175 W power limit175Full speed42.4Not available55
Intel Core i9-13900KCinebench R23 stress test, CPU held at 253 W in the BIOS, average of the performance core temperatures253600 rpm30.294.4Not available
Intel Core i9-13900KCinebench R23 stress test, CPU held at 253 W in the BIOS, average of the performance core temperatures2531200 rpm33.793Not available
Intel Core i9-13900KCinebench R23 stress test, CPU held at 253 W in the BIOS, average of the performance core temperatures253Maximum rpm41.891.8Not available
Intel Core i9-13900KCinebench R23 stress test, CPU held at 153 W in the BIOS, average of the performance core temperatures153600 rpm30.277.6Not available
Intel Core i9-13900KCinebench R23 stress test, CPU held at 153 W in the BIOS, average of the performance core temperatures1531200 rpm33.770.8Not available
Intel Core i9-13900KCinebench R23 stress test, CPU held at 153 W in the BIOS, average of the performance core temperatures153Maximum rpm41.867.7Not available
BNoctua NH-D15 G2
Test CPULoadCPU power (W)Fan settingNoise (dB(A))CPU temperature (°C)Above ambient (°C)
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, PBO enabled187.920 dB(A)2095.3Not available
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, PBO enabled190.325 dB(A)2595.2Not available
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, PBO enabled190.430 dB(A)3094.2Not available
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, PBO enabled193.135 dB(A)3593Not available
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, PBO enabled193.1100%36.693Not available
Intel Core Ultra 9 285KPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, Intel default mode295.920 dB(A)2089.8Not available
Intel Core Ultra 9 285KPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, Intel default mode297.625 dB(A)2588.5Not available
Intel Core Ultra 9 285KPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, Intel default mode296.930 dB(A)3087.4Not available
Intel Core Ultra 9 285KPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, Intel default mode297.135 dB(A)3585.7Not available
Intel Core Ultra 9 285KPrime95 Small FFTs, full CPU load, Intel default mode297.3100%36.685Not available
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95, 20 minutes, power level as published10040 dB(A)40Not available25.3
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95, 20 minutes, power level as published15040 dB(A)40Not available44.8
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95, 20 minutes, power level as published20040 dB(A)40Not available65
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95, 20 minutes, power level as published100100%41.6Not available23.2
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95, 20 minutes, power level as published150100%41.6Not available41.6
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XPrime95, 20 minutes, power level as published200100%41.6Not available64.1
Source13Reviewigorslab.de/en/noctua-nh-d15-g2-chromax-black-review-return-of-the-king-in-blackRead 14 October 2026Igor's Lab review of the NH-D15 G2 chromax.black. Ryzen 9 7900X on an ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero, open bench, Prime95 for 20 minutes, same paste for all coolers but the paste is not named, SecuFirm2+ with the AMD backplate. Temperatures are the CPU die average as a delta to the room temperature, which is not stated and not air-conditioned. The power levels 100, 150 and 200 W are as published, and the review does not say how they were set. The cpu_power_w value is that level, not a measured power. Noise was measured at 40 cm with a Voltcraft SL-10 meter in a room of 30.4 dB(A), so the dB(A) values do not compare with the Cybenetics rows at 1 m. The 40 dB(A) rows ran at 92% PWM (front fan about 1385 rpm, middle fan about 1325 rpm). The full-speed rows are at 100% PWM and 41.6 dB(A).16Measurementcybenetics.com/evaluations/coolers/72Read 14 October 2026Cybenetics Cooling Solutions Test Protocol, revision 1.8 (20 minutes per noise level, 10-minute cool-down). Ambient held at 25 C and 30% humidity in a climate chamber, open Cooler Master Test Bench, Prime95 Small FFTs, PBO enabled. The report does not name the paste. The current protocol states Arctic MX-4 for all tests. CPU power is measured at the EPS connectors. The AM5 rows are from the LBC version and the Default mount, and the LGA1851 rows are from the HBC report. The reports do not publish a temperature above ambient.17Measurementcybenetics.com/evaluations/coolers/20Read 14 October 2026Intel rows: Core Ultra 9 285K on an ASRock Z890 Taichi, open DimasTech Bench, Prime95 Small FFTs, Intel default mode, HBC version. Same protocol and climate chamber as the AM5 rows.

Dimensions and weight

4 of 4 differ
Dimensions
Heatsink dimensions

In the box

1 of 1 differ
In the box

Warranty

1 of 1 differ

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