Noctua NF-F12 PWM Focused Flow Cooling Fan Review

://

Introduction

________First off let me start by saying I have been a huge fan of Noctua products since they sent me my first cooler to test so many years ago. In the time gone by, Noctua was one of the only companies driven to the perfection to search for a noise free user environment while still delivering some of the best cooling results on the market. To be bluntly obvious, there is only so long a company can utilize one basic concept before technology passes it by and they are no longer competitive. Well, Noctua thought ahead and really came up with a wonderful fan that is one of the most thought-out designs on the market today.______I know, the first thing you are going to say is that Noctua fans are ugly and the colors don't match the theme in your chassis. To that I say simply this, get over it already. These colors have made Noctua fans famous over the years and can be discerned in a crowd at long distances. The technology involved in designing a fan like this newest submission far outweighs the concern for color. Then again I am a function over form sort of guy and the only one to see my rigs is me, unless I choose to host images of it.____That being said I would give up a noisy working environment for some super performing fans that may not match and let's be honest, you can only see a couple through the window of your chassis and if you don't have a window in your chassis, then there isn't anything to complain about now, is there?____This_is_a_first_for_us_at_TweakTown_as_we_don%27t_typically_do_a_fan_only_review_for_anyone%2C_but_we_made_an_exception_when_we_saw_what_Noctua_offers_in_the_NF-F12_PWM_Focused_Flow_fans_they_just_brought_to_the_market__I_tried_a_bunch_of_testing_ideas%2C_some_worked_and_some_just_looked_lame_once_I_got_images_and_results_in%2C_so_I_decided_with_the_approval_of_Noctua_to_go_ahead_and_test_like_as_if_it_were_a_cooler_review__Since_I_was_sent_three_of_these_fans_for_testing%2C_I_decided_it_best_to_strap_them_up_to_my_Swiftech_Edge_H20-320_HD_kit_and_see_if_there_are_any_benefits_to_be_had_besides_the_incredibly_low_noise_levels_that_we_have_all_come_to_know_and_love_about_Noctua_products_____Let%27s_get_through_the_specifications_and_see_what_these_gems_are_going_to_cost_you_and_just_what_sort_of_performance_the_NF-F12_PWM_fans_bring_to_the_table___%5Binsertprice%5D=%22Specifications-Availability-and-Pricing%22%3ESpecifications%2C+Availability+and+Pricing%3C%2Fh2%3E%3Cbr%3E____%5Bimg%5D99%5B%2Fimg%5D____On+the+very+basic+level+the+NF-F12+is+just+a+25mm+thick+120mm+fan+like+most+others.+It+rides+on+a+SSO2+bearing+with+a+metal+shell.+When+the+4-pin+fan+header+is+connected+to+the+motherboard%2C+the+NF-F12+uses+a+NE-FD1+PWM+sensor+to+determine+the+fan+speed+for+the+temperature+reading+from+the+motherboard.+The+fan+can+spin+with+a+rotational+speed+of+up+to+1500+RPM+delivering+93.4+cubic+meters+of+air+through+the+fan+per+hour.+For+you+who+only+know+it+by+CFM%2C+that+is+roughly+55+CFM.+Pushing+2.61mm+of+water+in+static+pressure+while+only+registering+22.4+dBA+isn%27t+anything+to+pass+up+either.+While+the+maximum+voltage+is+set+for+12V+they+do+take+only+5V+to+get+them+rotating%2C+where+previous+Noctua+fans+took+a+little+bit+more+to+power+them+up.____%5Bgooglead%5D__On+the+more+advanced+level+the+NF-F12+PWM+offers+things+that+go+above+and+beyond+in+fan+design.+There+is+something+called+Focused+Flow+that+uses+eleven+stators+to+direct+airflow+through+even+the+most+demanding+of+cooling+situations+such+as+being+bolted+to+a+radiator.+These+stators+are+also+designed+with+noise+in+mind+so+they+are+angled+for+the+best+flow+to+noise+ratio+possible.+The+blades+of+the+fan+use+a+Heptaperf+impeller+design+that+is+specially+designed+to+work+with+the+stators+to+get+all+of+that+55+CFM+potential+out+of+this+fan.____Things+like+the+stepped+inlet+and+microstructures+on+the+inside+of+the+frame+all+work+to+disturb+the+air+coming+in+so+that+it+doesn%27t+%22just+slide+by%22+it+is+pulled+into+the+impeller+and+utilized+as+far+as+technologically+possible+in+this+fan.+There+is+a+lot+more+involved+as+well%2C+but+I+need+to+save+some+of+the+juicy+information+and+features+for+the+rest+of+the+review.+____As+far+as+the+availability+of+the+NF-F12+PWM+fans%2C+I+found+over+twenty+listings+via+Google+Shopping%2C+so+there+are+plenty+of+choices+to+locate+these+fans.+As+far+as+the+pricing+goes%2C+well+that+depends+on+how+brave+you+are.+On+the+low+end+of+the+spectrum+I+found+the+NF-F14+at+an+Amazon+web+store+for+%2419.93+through+Cool+Tech+PC.+For+the+less+adventurous+sorts+out+there+be+prepared+to+spend+a+fair+bit+more+per+fan.+Looking+at+Amazon.com+the+fans+are+%2423.79+and+my+personal+favorite%2C+Newegg%2C+currently+isn%27t+even+showing+stock+of+these+newest+fans+from+Noctua.____In+the+end+you+just+have+to+be+prepared%2C+excellence+and+quality+components+come+at+a+price+and+from+what+I+have+seen+of+others%2C+%2420+a+fan+is+really+good+for+a+fan+that+offers+a+six+year+warranty.__%3Ch2+id%3D%22Packaging-and-Contents%22%3EPackaging+and+Contents%3C%2Fh2%3E%3Cbr%3E____%5Bimg%5D02%5B%2Fimg%5D____As+I+mentioned+I+received+three+of+the+NF-F12+PWM+fans+to+test+with.+The+packaging+is+mainly+taken+up+by+the+super+close+rendering+of+the+fan+included+inside+which+can+partially+be+seen+through+the+cut-away+window+nest+to+the+naming+of+the+fan.____%5Bimg%5D03%5B%2Fimg%5D____The+back+of+the+box+offers+a+brief+statement+from+Noctua+about+the+features+included+with+this+fan+design+and+why+you+should+choose+this+fan+over+others+hanging+on+the+shelves.+This+is+repeated+in+eight+languages+with+a+scope+of+delivery+and+a+small+specs+chart+at+the+very+bottom.____%5Bimg%5D04%5B%2Fimg%5D____Both+sides+have+this+dark+blue+band+that+offers+the+name+of+the+fan%2C+its+dimensions%2C+the+included+six+year+warranty+and+the+site+address.____%5Bimg%5D05%5B%2Fimg%5D____The+back+panels+of+the+box+actually+open+once+you+break+the+grip+of+the+Velcro+keeping+it+shut.+On+this+panel+there+are+descriptions+and+examples+of+why+all+of+the+features+and+technology+included+in+the+design+are+beneficial+to+you.____%5Bimg%5D06%5B%2Fimg%5D____The+next+panel+you+see+offers+an+exploded+diagram+of+the+fan+with+all+the+features+and+parts+labeled.+They+even+go+as+far+as+to+show+both+the+PWM+IC+and+the+SSO2+bearing+at+the+bottom+of+this+image.____%5Bimg%5D07%5B%2Fimg%5D____Splitting+the+back+panel+once+again+shows+us+even+more+information.+This+time+it+covers+the+bearing+design%2C+the+anti-vibration+pads%2C+the+Smooth+Control+Drive+of+the+IC%2C+the+variances+of+the+stators+and+ends+with+a+chart+of+the+noise+levels+with+and+without+the+VAD+technology.____%5Bimg%5D08%5B%2Fimg%5D____The+last+panel+covers+the+things+like+the+inner+surface+microstructures%2C+where+they+are+located+and+how+they+work.+The+bottom+offers+information+on+the+power+consumption%2C+the+cabling+options%2C+the+included+LNA+and+ends+with+the+warranty+include+on+the+NF-F12+PWM.____%5Bimg%5D09%5B%2Fimg%5D____Removing+the+contents+you+can+see+there+is+some+paperwork+that+is+slid+down+behind+the+clear+plastic+tray+that+Noctua+uses+for+the+inner+packaging.____%5Bimg%5D10%5B%2Fimg%5D____This+inner+packaging+not+only+protects+the+fan+from+being+damaged+in+transit%2C+it+also+works+to+keep+all+of+the+parts+separated+and+easy+to+locate+once+the+package+arrives+to+your+door.__%3Ch2+id%3D%22Noctua-NF-F12-PWM%22%3ENoctua+NF-F12+PWM%3C%2Fh2%3E%3Cbr%3E%5Bheading%5DNoctua+NF-F12+PWM+%22Focused+Flow%22+Fans%5B%2Fheading%5D____%5Bimg%5D11%5B%2Fimg%5D____At+first+glance+you+don%27t+quite+absorb+all+that+went+into+making+the+NF-F12+PWM+fans%2C+but+I+will+give+it+my+best+attempt+in+the+following+images+to+bring+forth+the+features+and+briefly+explain+what+it+does.____%5Bimg%5D12%5B%2Fimg%5D____In+this+image+I+want+to+address+the+stepped+down+corners+of+the+frame+on+this+fan.+These+are+used+to+ruffle+the+air+as+it+comes+into+contact+with+the+outer+edge+of+the+fan+blades+as+it+enters+the+fan.+These+make+it+so+the+air+passed+over+and+gets+picked+up+by+the+fans+rather+than+passively+sliding+through+the+typical+frame.____%5Bimg%5D13%5B%2Fimg%5D____Each+corner%2C+including+both+sides+of+the+fan%2C+so+eight+in+total%2C+are+these+rubber+anti-vibration+pads.+They+can+be+simply+removed+by+pulling+them+out+of+the+frame%2C+but+really+why+would+you+want+this+fan+to+rub+and+cause+noise+on+something%3F____%5Bimg%5D14%5B%2Fimg%5D____After+the+air+gets+forced+through+the+Heptaperf+impeller+the+air+is+then+addressed+by+these+eleven+stators.+Noctua+found+in+the+designing+that+even+spacing+would+deliver+more+noise%2C+so+these+are+slightly+offset+in+their+angles+to+help+keep+noise+down+yet+forcing+the+air+through+whatever+this+fan+is+cooling.____%5Bimg%5D15%5B%2Fimg%5D____Even+with+the+angles+considered%2C+Noctua+found+a+need+to+notch+the+stators+this+time+versus+the+notches+we+got+used+to+seeing+in+the+fan+blades.____%5Bimg%5D16%5B%2Fimg%5D____The+sticker+on+the+back+of+the+fan+is+actually+a+thin+metal+plaque+that+has+been+stuck+on+there.+I+removed+it+to+see+what+was+underneath+of+it+and+I+was+greeted+by+the+brass+outer+covering+of+the+SSO2+bearing.+Being+a+sealed+system%2C+there+will+be+no+maintenance+required+from+the+end+user.____%5Bimg%5D17%5B%2Fimg%5D____It+was+hard+to+find+a+good+angle+to+show+off+the+microstructures+that+are+inside+of+the+frame+to+again+disturb+the+air+passing+near+it+to+allow+the+fan+blades+to+scoop+it+up+and+force+every+bit+of+the+flow+possible+through+this+fan.+Seriously+no+surface+was+left+untouched+in+this+design.____%5Bimg%5D18%5B%2Fimg%5D____From+the+fans+frame+to+the+4-pin+connector%2C+there+is+7.5+inches+of+black+braided+cable+to+get+this+fan+plugged+into+the+appropriate+motherboard+header.+If+you+plan+to+install+more+than+one+of+these+on+a+cooler+like+I+will+be+doing%2C+Noctua+offers+all+the+wiring+you+will+need+to+accomplish+that+as+well.__%3Ch2+id%3D%22Paperwork-and-Hardware%22%3EPaperwork+and+Hardware%3C%2Fh2%3E%3Cbr%3E____%5Bimg%5D19%5B%2Fimg%5D+____As+far+as+reading+materials+go%2C+most+of+the+information+you+need+is+included+on+the+outside+of+the+box%2C+but+Noctua+saw+to+it+that+even+more+literature+was+included+with+the+NF-F12+PWM+fan+so+that+they+made+sure+everything+was+covered+very+well.____%5Bimg%5D20%5B%2Fimg%5D____This+paperwork+folds+open+to+reveal+how+to+install+the+NF-F12+with+the+proprietary+clips+and+how+to+remove+the+anti-vibration+pads+from+the+fan+if+the+installation+requires+that+you+do+so.+I+recommend+they+stay+on+if+at+all+possible.____%5Bimg%5D21%5B%2Fimg%5D____The+bottom+two+thirds+of+the+same+area+covers+how+to+connect+the+fan+and+what+to+expect+when+using+the+included+LNA.+It+continues+to+explain+that+cleaning+of+the+fan+is+needed+to+keep+the+performance+levels+up+and+the+lack+of+need+to+mess+with+the+bearing+and+doing+so+can+void+the+warranty.____%5Bimg%5D22%5B%2Fimg%5D____On+the+back+side+of+the+paperwork+you+get+a+signed+congratulatory+message+on+purchasing+one+of+the+best+fans+on+the+market+in+my+opinion.+It+also+goes+on+to+tell+you+what+you+should+expect+during+the+life+of+the+fan+and+that+Roland+Mossig+%28CEO+of+Noctua%29+stands+behind+them+with+his+signature+adorning+every+one+of+them.____%5Bimg%5D23%5B%2Fimg%5D____As+far+as+the+wiring+is+concerned%2C+Noctua+includes+everything+they+think+you+may+need.+There+is+the+Low+Noise+adapter+that+limits+the+top+speed+and+also+the+noise+levels+of+the+fan+during+its+operation.+There+is+also+an+extension+cable+to+get+the+fans+powered+from+any+header+on+the+motherboard+with+four+pins+to+power+and+sense+on+the+fan.+If+you+plan+to+use+more+than+one%2C+there+is+a+single+4-pin+to+dual+4-pin+Y+splitter+to+use+in+those+instances.____%5Bimg%5D24%5B%2Fimg%5D____To+mount+the+NF-F12+PWM%2C+Noctua+includes+a+set+of+four+of+the+proprietary%2C+rubber%2C+anti-vibration%2C+fan+mounts%2C+along+with+a+set+of+four+screws+to+install+them+into+any+120mm+hole+in+a+chassis.__%3Ch2+id%3D%22Thermal-Testing%22%3EThermal+Testing%3C%2Fh2%3E%3Cbr%3E____%5Bimg%5D25%5B%2Fimg%5D____After+talking+with+Noctua+a+bit%2C+they+agreed+that+an+appropriate+test+would+be+top+run+them+against+a+stock+fan+with+a+water+cooling+solution.+They+had+an+AIO+solution+in+mind%2C+but+with+none+on+hand+I+looked+at+the+next+best+thing%2C+my+Swiftech+Edge+H20-320+kit+that+I+have+been+keeping+on+the+shelf+for+reasons+such+as+this.____In+order+to+get+my+results%2C+I+used+the+PWM+feature+as+it+is+shipped.+By+this+I+mean+that+I+didn%27t+mess+with+the+voltage+settings+as+I+typically+would%2C+I+let+the+IC+built+into+the+fan+do+all+the+work+to+see+just+what+this+fan+can+deliver+in+its+natural+state.+In+the+charts+you+will+see+an+air+cooler+just+for+reference+against+the+water+cooling+numbers+used+to+determine+the+fans+effects.+I+have+also+included+the+runs+to+incorporate+AVX+support+in+the+runs+of+Intel+Burn+Test%2C+so+there+should+be+fewer+complaints+about+the+heat+loads%2C+but+it+does+mean+that+I+have+to+start+a+new+chart+now.____%5Bimg%5D26%5B%2Fimg%5D____As+you+can+see+I+highlighted+both+the+Swiftech+kits+as+they+ship+from+the+factory+and+the+Noctua+NF-F12+PWM+fans+results+on+the+same+chart+for+an+easy+head+to+head+comparison.+To+tell+you+the+truth%2C+I+was+shocked+to+see+that+after+twenty+minutes+or+so+of+leaving+the+PC+to+idle+out+all+the+processes%2C+the+Noctua+fans+were+able+to+bring+the+CPU+right+down+to+ambient+temperatures.____%5Bimg%5D27%5B%2Fimg%5D____Even+more+shocking+is+the+fact+that+the+Swiftech+fans+included+in+the+kit+are+near+80+CFM+in+their+rating+and+even+so%2C+the+near+55+CFM+of+the+Noctua+prevailed+due+to+the+design+and+engineering+involved+with+using+every+last+molecule+of+air+within+grasp+of+the+NF-F12+PWM+resulting+in+yet+another+full+degree+drop+over+the+original+after+fifty+passes+of+the+IBT+testing+in+both+the+stock+and+overclocked+results.__%3Ch2+id%3D%22Noise-Levels%22%3ENoise+Levels%3C%2Fh2%3E%3Cbr%3E____%5Bimg%5D28%5B%2Fimg%5D____The+sound+levels+recorded+during+these+tests+was+near+impossible+to+measure.____The+sound+of+the+pump+was+definitely+now+the+loudest+part+of+this+cooling+arrangement.+So+what+I+did+was+to+use+on+the+Enermax+cooler+at+both+stock+while+idling+for+the+idle+results.+With+the+PWM+IC+in+full+charge+of+the+fans+speed%2C+I+really+couldn%27t+hear+the+fan+operating+and+as+the+reading+on+the+meter+showed%2C+25+dB+at+this+level+is+really+great+results.____%5Bimg%5D29%5B%2Fimg%5D____Since+the+Enermax+cooler+was+reaching+eighty+degrees+I+figured+it+was+a+much+better+test+for+the+higher+end+of+the+PWM+scale+and+with+verification+of+the+fans+speed+in+AIDA64+I+saw+I+was+running+at+1276+RPM+and+at+this+point+I+was+hearing+a+slight+whine+from+the+fan%2C+but+still+it+was+able+to+keep+the+level+down+to+45+dB+at+this+end+of+the+spectrum.____This+is+very+impressive+for+a+120mm+fan+and+it+shows+that+Noctua+even+improved+on+their+own+numbers+from+previous+fans+they+have+designed+thus+far.__%3Ch2+id%3D%22Final-Thoughts%22%3EFinal+Thoughts%3C%2Fh2%3E%3Cbr%3E____For+those+who+follow+my+reviews%2C+you+know+right+off+that+if+there+was+in+fact+something+to+go+wrong+with+a+product%2C+I+am+sure+to+get+the+sample+that+has+an+issue+or+I+can+filter+out+the+nonsense+and+bring+up+something+that+will+detract+from+a+products+overall+points+and+my+personal+recommendations.+With+the+NF-F12+PWM+fans%2C+there+just+isn%27t+anything+at+all+to+complain+about.____%5Bgooglead%5D__All+I+am+left+with+is+a+great+performing+fan+under+even+the+toughest+conditions+of+being+bolted+right+next+to+a+radiator.+That+being+said%2C+the+lower+powered+and+seriously+well+designed+NF-F12+PWM+fans+took+on+something+rated+much+better+than+they+are+and+overtook+them+without+breaking+a+sweat+or+causing+much+if+any+noise+pollution+to+the+environment.+What+more+can+you+ask+for+in+a+fan%3F____When+I+say+that+every+surface+of+the+fan+has+been+touched+with+some+sort+of+redesign%2C+I+am+not+stretching+that+in+any+way.+From+the+edges+of+the+frame%2C+to+the+inside+walls%2C+even+down+to+the+stators+that+support+the+frame+and+direct+the+air+flow%2C+every+aspect+of+the+frame+was+taken+into+consideration.+As+for+the+fan+blades%2C+well+this+time+they+have+developed+the+Heptaperf+impellers+that+work+specifically+with+the+stators+and+the+angles+and+notches+used+in+them+to+deliver+some+really+impressive+results.+On+top+of+that+you+are+getting+a+fully+sealed+bearing+with+the+SSO2+and+a+six+year+warranty+saying+this+fan+will+be+running+in+that+time+frame+or+it+will+be+replaced+for+you.____I+know+you+can+find+plenty+of+%245+or+%2410+fans+on+the+market+and+yes+they+may+even+be+a+better+fit+for+the+theme+of+your+case%2C+but+you+are+going+to+be+hard+pressed+to+get+a+fan+that+delivers+what+Noctua+is+offering+in+that+price+range%2C+or+in+most+others+for+that+matter.+I+know+it+is+a+tough+pill+to+swallow+for+some+with+the+choice+of+colors+Noctua+uses+and+the+fact+that+the+NF-F12+PWM+fans+do+require+near+%2420+to+obtain+one+of+them.+Even+with+that+in+mind%2C+I+say+that+everyone+should+own+at+least+one+Noctua+fan+in+their+lifetime+and+get+a+personal+sense+of+what+they+offer+you.____With+the+release+of+the+NF-F12+PWM+fans+from+Noctua%2C+I+will+be+recommending+these+to+everyone+who+asks+me+about+a+new+fan+and+has+silence+in+mind+with+the+desire+for+top+tier+performance.+They+are+that+good.____%5Baward%5D1234%5B%2Faward%5D__&tag=twea-20