Cheese grater?
Let's take a closer look at the heatsink. Firstly, we notice the striking fins array. All the fin plates are nickel plated aluminium with sharp indentations running along the length the radiators. All the plates are stacked up in parallel above each other unlike the last few previous coolers we have seen. This may indeed help with a more laminar flow of air, over a wide surface area. There are 42 fins in total, 6 more than Noctua's previous cooler, meaning the higher pressure Noctua fans will certainly be useful here with the high static pressure. For those who have noticed the grooves on the side of the fins, they are not suitable for a third fan installation using the old wire clips.


6 heat pipes!
Next up, the heat pipes. The number has been upgraded from 4 to 6 heat pipes for increased efficiency. Despite the base being the same size as the NH-U12P, the NH-D14 manages to fit six heat pipes in it, making more efficient use of the available space. The heat pipes also spread out to cover a larger surface over the radiator fins. Each end of the heat pipes go through their own radiator so heat can dissipate over a much wider surface area. Each fan is then able to carry the heat generated away from the two radiators.


The middle fan is big for a reason, in that it acts as both a push and pull fan
At the top are the tips of the heat pipes. Noctua have opted for each radiator to hold 3 rounded ends and 3 grooved ends. The fan setup has also been cleverly designed for the more powerful 140mm fan to act as a push and pull fan across the two radiators.


The base comes with part of the mounting pre-installed
The base of the cooler is fairly flat but doesn't have a mirror finish. Noctua's philosophy is targeted at better thermal paste application, hence the base being slightly rough to prevent air pockets forming. Micro grooves mean that high viscosity thermal paste is dispersed creating a uniform thin layer. Notice the white rubber strips running along the radiators, these are anti vibrations strips put in place for the fans. Noctua has also settled for a more traditional copper base rather than direct core contact technology and in this case, it's a good thing since there's a higher surface area of copper making contact with the core. The heat pipes are sufficiently close to the base to quickly transfer hear away.


This looks more like a weapon than a heatsink...
Even without the fans, the NH-D14 remains a very large heatsink. It's astounding to think that the heat pipes can hold those two massive radiators, so it's no surprise that Noctua has opted for an aluminium construction for the fins. One complaint I have with the shape is that the two radiators are too close to each other, making removal and installation of the middle fan unsettling as it scrapes the sharp fins.