Noctua has teased the Chromax Black version of its flagship NH-D15 G2 CPU cooler, offering a full-black design from head to toe. Though the announcement didn’t specifically mention the NH-D15 G2, it is the only option possible based on the brand’s latest roadmap. As usual, every part of the cooler will be coated in black, including the dual-tower fin-stack, heatpipes, fans, and even the mounting hardware.
The chromax.black series should deliver the exact same performance characteristics as the original Marmite-like brown and beige variant, but this time mainly replacing the colour with a matte-black finish. I assume it will take advantage of all the design improvements featured on the NH-D15 G2 debuted last year, such as the revised fin geometry, updated heatpipe arrangement, and the latest mounting hardware. Thus, you can expect great heat dissipation, especially for an air cooler, beating even some premium liquid coolers into the bargain.
Based on our testing of the standard version, it’ll cool even the hottest of CPUs, including Intel’s Core i9-13900K at 253W. Those preferring to take advantage of Noctua’s renowned acoustics – and why not – can otherwise trade a slight thermal headroom (~243W) to lock the fans at a quieter 30.2dBA noise level.
Noctua’s Chromax Black variants are greatly appreciated by many enthusiasts as they allow for greater build flexibility. They are especially recommended on dark-themed configs where RGB is kept to a minimum. It brings nearly a decade of development to the market, most likely surpassing the venerable NH-D15 chromax.black. To put it simply, the NH-D15 G2 chromax.black is meant for those who want an understated appearance without compromising cooling.
Regarding its release, the brand hasn’t yet fixed a date, but when asked about how far it is from releasing, representatives on X responded by “very, very soon actually!” Logically, the NH-D15 chromax.black should release before the end of the year, if the company’s previous Q4 2025 target is to be believed.
As for pricing, it will likely arrive at a slight premium over its silver and beige counterparts. Based on the regular NH-D15 G2’s ongoing £127.95 on Amazon, we can expect the chromax.black to demand £140 to £150. Not cheap, but quality has a price.
