Noctua has unveiled the NM-IMB8, a new set of offset mounting bars designed to optimize the performance of its NH-D15 G2 CPU cooler for Intel’s 20- and 24-core LGA1851 processors.
By shifting the heatsink 3.7mm north and 2mm east on the CPU socket, the NM-IMB8 aligns the cooler more directly over the CPU’s thermal hotspot, improving cooling efficiency by up to 3°C in some cases.
This new mounting solution targets chips like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and Core Ultra 7 265K, which have an off-center hotspot due to their high core count architecture. When under heavy multi-threaded loads, these CPUs tend to generate the most heat toward the northeast quadrant of the package—an area that the NM-IMB8 aims to address through improved contact pressure.
Noctua says users can expect up to a 3°C temperature drop when using the offset bars with the High Base Convexity (HBC) version of the NH-D15 G2, and up to 1°C improvement with the standard model. Although the HBC variant benefits more from the offset, the standard NH-D15 G2 still holds a performance edge overall, which is around 2°C cooler than the HBC model when both are mounted conventionally.
The NM-IMB8 replaces the default mounting bars and reuses the existing spacers and screws, making installation straightforward. It’s compatible only with select Noctua models – including the NH-D15 G2 (standard, HBC, and LBC), NH-D12L, NH-L12S, NH-L12Sx77, and NH-L12 Ghost S1 edition and is not intended for use with other coolers.
Price and Availability
The Noctua NM-IMB8 goes for EUR/USD3.90 on the official website or EUR/USD4.90 on Amazon respectively, and can be ordered starting today.
