CPU Cooler Clearance Issues

[Samwise.Gamgee]

Currently running a Noctua NH-D15 chromax paired with an RTX 5090 — absolute beast of a CPU cooler. I’ve got the fan curve dialed in so it’s pretty much silent.

Only issue is, the cooler is physically touching the back of my GPU. From what I’ve read online, this shouldn’t impact performance or cause any problems, but I wanted to double-check with the community.

Would this setup be fine long-term, or should I consider swapping to a smaller cooler?
For reference, I’m on a 7800X3D.

Whats App Image 2025 08 12 at 11 19 08 ba115c71 — Postimages

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(Please note the only PIC I have is when I had my RTX 4070, but same issue exists with reference RTX 5090)

Thanks!

 

[deviation]

Does the NH-D15 allow you to offset it? Some HSF's do, although not as efficient going against the offset mountings intended direction, in your situation, it would gain you clearance from the GPU.

If you've got some spare thermal paste, it may be worth you seeing if you can flip the mounting 180 degrees. I know the Peerless Assassin and Phantom Spirit offer an offset AM4/5 mounting, to add the spread over the cache IIRC, as I've seen someone test fit it 180 degrees the wrong way.

Hope this helps, if not, I'd personally change coolers - the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120SE or Phantom Spirit 120SE can be had for very little (OCUK Sell both and other Thermalright HSF's ), and I'm sure you could easily sell the NH-D15 and have some change after covering a Thermalright HSF.
I personally wouldn't want any form of heat transfer from the CPU HSF or GPU, nor to risk scratching such an expensive GPU.

Hope this helps!

 

[Samwise.Gamgee]

Does the NH-D15 allow you to offset it? Some HSF's do, although not as efficient going against the offset mountings intended direction, in your situation, it would gain you clearance from the GPU.

If you've got some spare thermal paste, it may be worth you seeing if you can flip the mounting 180 degrees. I know the Peerless Assassin and Phantom Spirit offer an offset AM4/5 mounting, to add the spread over the cache IIRC, as I've seen someone test fit it 180 degrees the wrong way.

Hope this helps, if not, I'd personally change coolers - the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120SE or Phantom Spirit 120SE can be had for very little (OCUK Sell both and other Thermalright HSF's ), and I'm sure you could easily sell the NH-D15 and have some change after covering a Thermalright HSF.
I personally wouldn't want any form of heat transfer from the CPU HSF or GPU, nor to risk scratching such an expensive GPU.

Hope this helps!

I'm actually already using the Noctua offset bracket which allows for better cooling, however it pushes the cooler down even further to the GPU!

NM-AMB12

The NM-AMB12 are offset AM5 mounting bars for Noctua CPU coolers with 83mm mounting pitch that require their mounting points at the north and south side of the socket for optimal orientation, such as the popular NH-D15(S), NH-D14, NH-C14S or NH-D9L (see detailed compatibility list). By...

noctua.at

"If you've got some spare thermal paste, it may be worth you seeing if you can flip the mounting 180 degrees. I know the Peerless Assassin and Phantom Spirit offer an offset AM4/5 mounting, to add the spread over the cache IIRC, as I've seen someone test fit it 180 degrees the wrong way."

The above is a solid recommendation, however if I remember rightly it's only the G2 that allows for inversion. The standard version can only be mounted the one way. But I will reinvestigate.

If the above fails I may go down the route of another cooler, as I also don't like how close the two components are to one another, and it's a nightmare whenever I need to take the GPU out. Shame really as I'm a Noctua fan boy at heart!

 

[deviation]

I'm actually already using the Noctua offset bracket which allows for better cooling, however it pushes the cooler down even further to the GPU!

NM-AMB12

The NM-AMB12 are offset AM5 mounting bars for Noctua CPU coolers with 83mm mounting pitch that require their mounting points at the north and south side of the socket for optimal orientation, such as the popular NH-D15(S), NH-D14, NH-C14S or NH-D9L (see detailed compatibility list). By...

noctua.at

"If you've got some spare thermal paste, it may be worth you seeing if you can flip the mounting 180 degrees. I know the Peerless Assassin and Phantom Spirit offer an offset AM4/5 mounting, to add the spread over the cache IIRC, as I've seen someone test fit it 180 degrees the wrong way."

The above is a solid recommendation, however if I remember rightly it's only the G2 that allows for inversion. The standard version can only be mounted the one way. But I will reinvestigate.

If the above fails I may go down the route of another cooler, as I also don't like how close the two components are to one another, and it's a nightmare whenever I need to take the GPU out. Shame really as I'm a Noctua fan boy at heart!

So does that mean without the offset bracket, it will clear? Or do you mean that's the only way that you can mount it?

Thanks, yeah it's definitely worth checking mate, you might get lucky.
Yeah, you could easily sell your cooler secondhand for the price of a Thermalright and probably a bit of cash left over? Either way, you will gain what you need - checkout the reviews, they match your cooler pretty much, along with any competitor at the time of release. Cant go wrong for the money. The Phantom Spirit has an extra heatpipe, but from what I've seen in reviews, you barely gain much in terms of real world temps, maybe 1-3 degrees if you're lucky IIRC - so if it was me I'd just get the Peerless Assassin 120SE and have some money left over

I Personally would not be happy with them touching, regardless of if it doesn't transfer heat. It'll still scratch a very expensive GPU.

 

[Samwise.Gamgee]

So does that mean without the offset bracket, it will clear? Or do you mean that's the only way that you can mount it?

Thanks, yeah it's definitely worth checking mate, you might get lucky.
Yeah, you could easily sell your cooler secondhand for the price of a Thermalright and probably a bit of cash left over? Either way, you will gain what you need - checkout the reviews, they match your cooler pretty much, along with any competitor at the time of release. Cant go wrong for the money. The Phantom Spirit has an extra heatpipe, but from what I've seen in reviews, you barely gain much in terms of real world temps, maybe 1-3 degrees if you're lucky IIRC - so if it was me I'd just get the Peerless Assassin 120SE and have some money left over

I Personally would not be happy with them touching, regardless of if it doesn't transfer heat. It'll still scratch a very expensive GPU.

"So does that mean without the offset bracket, it will clear? Or do you mean that's the only way that you can mount it?"
If I remember rightly it clears without the offset, but by the smallest smallest amount, E.G 0.000001mm. With the offset bracket it 100% touches.

Will have a play round tonight and report back, but I think a new CPU cooler may be on the horizon!

 

[hornetstinger]

If it's very lightly touching I wouldn't see that's an issue, if it's forcing then yes.

 

[deviation]

"So does that mean without the offset bracket, it will clear? Or do you mean that's the only way that you can mount it?"
If I remember rightly it clears without the offset, but by the smallest smallest amount, E.G 0.000001mm. With the offset bracket it 100% touches.

Will have a play round tonight and report back, but I think a new CPU cooler may be on the horizon!

Haha, that offset bracket seems pointless if it's that close either way
Yeah, for the sake of sacrificing some paste, it's worth a go

If not, get on the Thermalright train, a search on here for Thermalright, be it air or AIO's. will provide you with all the reassurance you need

 

[mark 11:11]

alternatively and this is what i would most likely probably do [because theres no way im giving up my nhd15 either .... another massive noctua fan boy here lol]
get a riser cable and move the gpu a bit even just one pci slot or something......... just a thought move it just enough so its not touching or move it entirely if not anything to not have to lose my noctua cooler