We’ve taken a look at the packaging, fitting kit and cooling fans and now our attention focusses on the main attraction; the heatsink. As is the case with the original D14, the SE2011 version has a dual tower heatsink design with the same stacked fin configuration – 42 nickel plated aluminium fins, all with rather sharp, pointed tips.



The cooling fans which are supplied with the heatsink have their clips pre-applied and they allow a perfect and easy installation. Each tower has anti-vibration rubber to fit between the heatsink and the cooling fan.

The clips slot behind the grooves in which the heatsink design follows. Of all the coolers we have used so far the Noctua method is by far one of the most efficient. There is nothing worse than having to struggle holding onto the fan, the clips and trying to install them with the tension they usually require.





Passing through each plate of the heatsink are a total of 6 heatpipes which pass through the baseplate. Heat travels up and through these heatpipes, is dispelled over the plates and finally pushes away from the unit via the cooling fans. Each heatpipe goes into a different radiator so that heat can be distributed and dissipated.



A design choice which we’re very pleased to see making an appearance is the pre-installed mounting screws which have a tension coil. Again, just like the fans – having a fixed installation part helps enormously with the time taken during the process of fixing this cooler to the motherboard. All you have to do is focus on applying pressure and turning the screw rather than having to balance the screw with one hand and screw with the other. The value this small inclusion brings really is significant.



Lastly – the baseplate. This is has a semi-reflective finish. Rather than being completely smooth and have a mirror finish Noctua have chosen to go with a surface that lends itself to being partly rough. This is to prevent air pockets from forming when applying thermal paste.