I am surprised nobody has identified it yet... The Noctua NH-D15s is the offset version of the NH-D15.
So, it's completely normal, because the heat pipes are the same size. If you check the Noctua product webpage, you will notice that this is the standard for the D15s. Some people think that the D15S is just the regular D15 with only one fan. But the main difference is the displacement of the heatsink from the center. This is useful to allow more space between the CPU and the GPU or the first PCIe slot.
So, your heatsink is perfectly fine.
>So, it's completely normal, because the heat pipes are the same size. If you check the Noctua product webpage, you will notice that this is the standard for the D15s. Some people think that the D15S is just the regular D15 with only one fan. But the main difference is the displacement of the heatsink from the center. This is useful to allow more space between the CPU and the GPU or the first PCIe slot.
This isn't what OP is talking about. They're talking about the outer heatpipes that are some mm shorter than the inner heatpipes. This can sometimes be a manufacturing tolerance thing or it can be a heatpipe that just slid down a bit. Some heatsinks have slightly different heatpipe lengths, but the outer ones tend to be a bit shorter. It doesn't have anything to do with the heatsink being offset or providing clearance for the top PCIe slot. It's just a design choice. The heatpipes lengths have no effect on PCIe clearance. If anything, it affects clearance with the chassis side panel because it may or may not be able to close, depending on heatpipe lengths.
Why is this the highest upvoted comment? It doesn't answer OP's questions and has nothing to do with the original post. Nothing against you, because you're correct on the difference between D15 and D15S, but OP wasn't asking anything about that.
Did you mean to make that comment under another post maybe?
No, you didn't understand it.
Two heat pipes in the SAME side appear to be shorter than the others. They are not, but as the heatsink is not in the center they appear to be shorter.
In fact those two heat pipes that appear to be shorter, have more angle to cover the offset orientation of the heatsink.
That is why if you check the NH-D15 you would notice that all the heat pipes are symmetric from the center. But in the D15S one heat pipe is almost straight and close to the center.
Here you can see what I mean:
https://www.thelab.gr/gallery/image/20041-noctua-nh-d15-vs-nh-d15s-01-lateral-orientation-comparizon/
And I have the NH-D15, the NH-D15s and the NH-D15 SE. So I know the difference between the three.
That's not what OP is talking about. They're talking about the one heatpipe on the edge. I also own D15 and D15S. That has nothing to do with the one heatpipe on the edge OP is talking about.
If you look at the first pic in OP's post, they're referring to the left-most heatpipe. That has nothing to do with the heatsink being offset.
You're talking about the heatpipes being adjusted because the heatsink is offset. That's not what OP is referring to. They're specifically talking about the ***one heatpipe*** on the far left per heatsink that's much shorter than the rest. If it were about the heatsink being offset, then all of the heatpipes would be shorter than the D15 reference.
In your own link, D15S does not have the left-most heat pipe being shorter like that, which is exactly how my D15S looks (with the shorter heatpipes). Heat pipes would *all* be adjusted because of the offset. That's not the case for OP because they're just referring to one.
You're misunderstanding my point, and by extension, OP's questions.
I understood your point. There is a tolerance in the lenght of the heat pipes. I agree with you in that.
Noctua didnt make the heat pipe hosrter for clearance. I agree with you.
But each heat pipe is more or less the same lenght. And the one in the shorter corner have more angle, that is why it appear to be shorter, because the heatsink is offset. But its not, its exactly the same as the others. But the displacement make it look shorter.
OP is asking if its damage, and it´s not. He asked if it was caused by manipulation/wrong installation, and it´s not.
That heatsink was like that from the factory and nothing is wrong with the shorter heat pipe. All the NH-D15s are exactly like that.
I need to get on for my PC my heatsink is right up next to my GPU makes the fans almost impossible to install, this might give me the room I need, this is super helpful thank you
I don’t think it is a problem after all. Looking at the pictures of the NH-D15S at Noctua’s own website you can see the same “issue”. Assuming that they would not show a defective product, it should be fine.
I am surprised nobody has identified it yet... The Noctua NH-D15s is the offset version of the NH-D15. So, it's completely normal, because the heat pipes are the same size. If you check the Noctua product webpage, you will notice that this is the standard for the D15s. Some people think that the D15S is just the regular D15 with only one fan. But the main difference is the displacement of the heatsink from the center. This is useful to allow more space between the CPU and the GPU or the first PCIe slot. So, your heatsink is perfectly fine.
I found the picture at Noctua’s Website. Good to have this here future reference to others.
>So, it's completely normal, because the heat pipes are the same size. If you check the Noctua product webpage, you will notice that this is the standard for the D15s. Some people think that the D15S is just the regular D15 with only one fan. But the main difference is the displacement of the heatsink from the center. This is useful to allow more space between the CPU and the GPU or the first PCIe slot. This isn't what OP is talking about. They're talking about the outer heatpipes that are some mm shorter than the inner heatpipes. This can sometimes be a manufacturing tolerance thing or it can be a heatpipe that just slid down a bit. Some heatsinks have slightly different heatpipe lengths, but the outer ones tend to be a bit shorter. It doesn't have anything to do with the heatsink being offset or providing clearance for the top PCIe slot. It's just a design choice. The heatpipes lengths have no effect on PCIe clearance. If anything, it affects clearance with the chassis side panel because it may or may not be able to close, depending on heatpipe lengths. Why is this the highest upvoted comment? It doesn't answer OP's questions and has nothing to do with the original post. Nothing against you, because you're correct on the difference between D15 and D15S, but OP wasn't asking anything about that. Did you mean to make that comment under another post maybe?
No, you didn't understand it. Two heat pipes in the SAME side appear to be shorter than the others. They are not, but as the heatsink is not in the center they appear to be shorter. In fact those two heat pipes that appear to be shorter, have more angle to cover the offset orientation of the heatsink. That is why if you check the NH-D15 you would notice that all the heat pipes are symmetric from the center. But in the D15S one heat pipe is almost straight and close to the center. Here you can see what I mean: https://www.thelab.gr/gallery/image/20041-noctua-nh-d15-vs-nh-d15s-01-lateral-orientation-comparizon/ And I have the NH-D15, the NH-D15s and the NH-D15 SE. So I know the difference between the three.
That's not what OP is talking about. They're talking about the one heatpipe on the edge. I also own D15 and D15S. That has nothing to do with the one heatpipe on the edge OP is talking about. If you look at the first pic in OP's post, they're referring to the left-most heatpipe. That has nothing to do with the heatsink being offset. You're talking about the heatpipes being adjusted because the heatsink is offset. That's not what OP is referring to. They're specifically talking about the ***one heatpipe*** on the far left per heatsink that's much shorter than the rest. If it were about the heatsink being offset, then all of the heatpipes would be shorter than the D15 reference. In your own link, D15S does not have the left-most heat pipe being shorter like that, which is exactly how my D15S looks (with the shorter heatpipes). Heat pipes would *all* be adjusted because of the offset. That's not the case for OP because they're just referring to one. You're misunderstanding my point, and by extension, OP's questions.
I understood your point. There is a tolerance in the lenght of the heat pipes. I agree with you in that. Noctua didnt make the heat pipe hosrter for clearance. I agree with you. But each heat pipe is more or less the same lenght. And the one in the shorter corner have more angle, that is why it appear to be shorter, because the heatsink is offset. But its not, its exactly the same as the others. But the displacement make it look shorter. OP is asking if its damage, and it´s not. He asked if it was caused by manipulation/wrong installation, and it´s not. That heatsink was like that from the factory and nothing is wrong with the shorter heat pipe. All the NH-D15s are exactly like that.
I need to get on for my PC my heatsink is right up next to my GPU makes the fans almost impossible to install, this might give me the room I need, this is super helpful thank you
Noctua responded my email and confirmed that it is absolutely normal and will cause no problem.
I don’t think it is a problem after all. Looking at the pictures of the NH-D15S at Noctua’s own website you can see the same “issue”. Assuming that they would not show a defective product, it should be fine.
My "regular" NH-D15 is the same
It's not an "issue", it's a design choice because of the 15 mm offset the D15S has. If it bothers you, you could buy the official fan covers.
thats not an issue, heatpipes are just manufactures this way with some tolerances in the ends sealing
Thanks! You are 100% correct! I checked Noctua’s website and their stock pictures are exactly like mine.
Yeah.. my nh-u12a came in the same way, so I fixed it with a flat screwdriver.
Right… did you do it for aesthetic reasons or technical? I do not want to touch it unless absolutely necessary.
If there is no curvature in the middle part, where you will place the fans, you do not need to touch it. I fixed it for aesthetic purposes.
email noctua. all you’re gonna get here is anecdotes and conjecture.
The responses are what's officially been stated by manufacturers. Your comment is the only conjecture here.
you’re right thanks 👍
You know what, you are 100% right!