Question Dark Rock pro 4 or Nh D15

[MSYF27]

I just want opinions on which to get, a DRP4 or NHd15. My desktop is for animation and probably video production. I live in a tropical country so it is humid and hot. Ambient temps most of the time are 31c-34c during summer which is approaching it goes to 38c.

Some may recommend an AIO but I dont want to add the off chance of a pump failing as I dont have much of a budget to cover it incase of a sudden emergency.
Also I want to consider this as a good investment in the long run incase of an upgrade in the end, which the noctua wins but the aesthetics of DRP4 trumps it. (Cant get the chromax in my country).

Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor
Motherboard: MSI B450M MORTAR TITANIUM Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory
Storage: Crucial P1 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
Power Supply: Corsair TXM Gold 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply

*Edit : Case clearance 180mm

 

[LordVile]

I just want opinions on which to get, a DRP4 or NHd15. My desktop is for animation and probably video production. I live in a tropical country so it is humid and hot. Ambient temps most of the time are 31c-34c during summer which is approaching it goes to 38c.

Some may recommend an AIO but I dont want to add the off chance of a pump failing as I dont have much of a budget to cover it incase of a sudden emergency.
Also I want to consider this as a good investment in the long run incase of an upgrade in the end, which the noctua wins but the aesthetics of DRP4 trumps it. (Cant get the chromax in my country).

Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor
Motherboard: MSI B450M MORTAR TITANIUM Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory
Storage: Crucial P1 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
Power Supply: Corsair TXM Gold 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply

Look at RAM clearance those are tall modules and both these coolers have issues with tall RAM

 

[Phaaze88]

NH-D15S is available for you?

 

[MSYF27]

Look at RAM clearance those are tall modules and both these coolers have issues with tall RAM

Yes I've checked, the clearance for both ram and case, I forgot to mention my case clearance is 180mm.
The only one i'm not sure is the DRP4 for the very first ram slot. But i've seen builds where a Vengeance LED (45mm) fit with a bit more wiggle room.

 

[MSYF27]

NH-D15S is available for you?

It is but I dont think my retailer gives a free am4 bracket like noctua suggests unlike the nhd15 am4 that already comes with the bracket. Plus I'd lean to getting the dual for cost efficiency ($4 difference where I'm from) or does the S version have a better fan?

 

[Phaaze88]

It is but I dont think my retailer gives a free am4 bracket like noctua suggests unlike the nhd15 am4 that already comes with the bracket.

Makes sense.

Plus I'd lean to getting the dual for cost efficiency ($4 difference where I'm from) or does the S version have a better fan?

The S version is a more space friendly version of the original and manages to do so without sacrificing performance.
-5mm shorter, thus will fit in more cases than the original(165mm).
-Asymmetrical heatsink design that gives it better compatibility with a wider selection of motherboards. On some motherboards the regular D15 will actually block the top PCIE x16 slot.
-Heatsink is more compact, allowing for better compatibility with tall ram.

 

[MSYF27]

-5mm shorter, thus will fit in more cases than the original(165mm).

I've got 180mm height clearance with the case. Forgot to add that to the info mb.

Asymmetrical heatsink design that gives it better compatibility with a wider selection of motherboards. On some motherboards the regular D15 will actually block the top PCIE x16 slot.

So if I check the compatibility list on the noctua site for my motherboard does it also take into consideration clearance for a gpu with a backplate?

Extra question: Will more surface area (DRP4 vs D15) be better in my case because of high ambient temps?

 

[Phaaze88]

So if I check the compatibility list on the noctua site for my motherboard does it also take into consideration clearance for a gpu with a backplate?

Yep.

Extra question: Will more surface area (DRP4 vs D15) be better in my case because of high ambient temps?

Also yes.
And between those 2 coolers, the heatsinks are very similar in size. What sets them apart are the fans, where Noctua pulls ahead ever so slightly.

 

[MSYF27]

Yep.

Okay good thing noctua does extensive compatibility research.

Also yes.
And between those 2 coolers, the heatsinks are very similar in size. What sets them apart are the fans, where Noctua pulls ahead ever so slightly.

How about for long term use? ie. Which would be more likely usable if I'd change setups down the line? maybe 5 years

 

[Phaaze88]

How about for long term use? ie. Which would be more likely usable if I'd change setups down the line? maybe 5 years

The only thing you have to worry about air coolers is when the fans break down. The heatsinks themselves are good for a lifetime.
IF by some crazy coincidence, both fans died at the same time, you could likely still run the PC with the case fans still cooling the heatsink, at least.

Whereas for the over-hyped AIOs...

 

[MSYF27]

The only thing you have to worry about air coolers is when the fans break down. The heatsinks themselves are good for a lifetime.
IF by some crazy coincidence, both fans died at the same time, you could likely still run the PC with the case fans still cooling the heatsink, at least.

Whereas for the over-hyped AIOs...

Makes sense. Thanks!

Yeah I agree with that opinion of an aio, although they do give you an option of saving space but not a good option for me because of RMA difficulties

 

[Phaaze88]

they do give you an option of saving space

They actually don't. Instead of a big ol' block sitting over the cpu, it's simply relocates a block to a less noticeable part of the case.

 

[MSYF27]

They actually don't. Instead of a big ol' block sitting over the cpu, it's simply relocates a block to a less noticeable part of the case.

The illusion of space being saved may be a better statement then. There are also good down fire coolers now anyways rather than using a 120 AIO for itx builds