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Noctua teases NF-A12x25 fan - almost 4 years development
You guys know it, for Noctua, cooling isn't an just an art, is a science. Over the years I have spoken many times with the company, and the level of detail and research they put in their cooling solutions is incredible. For years now we've talked about a new fan series, and after 4 years, they now are teasing it, ready to be released.
The guys behind Noctua are always modest, never aggressive with marketing, never did a viral. So if Noctua teases something this way, we take it seriously as we just know it'll be good. Initially, we've spoken and mentioned this series at our Computex coverage. The fan series in question is the NF-A12x25, slim and silent. From the looks of things, it will offer incredible silent cooling performance. The will be a fan series ideal for CPU coolers and radiators requiring high static pressure. To achieve a higher static pressure, Noctua went totally innovative in the design. For example, the distance between the frame and the fan blades is a staggering 0.5 millimeter, this normally is 1.5 and sometimes even up to 3 millimeter.
Check out how close that blade is to the housing frame!
Smaller tolerances need a rigid frame or else the fan blades could hit the outer frame. For this, a special material is used. I remember that when it was a prototype, they mentioned they wanted to use a liquid crystal polymer based fan, a raw material that is used in Kevlar, that would be Sterrox LCP. They have had these in development for a long time already.
Basically, it will stiffen the fan blades so that they can achieve smaller tolerances in the fan housing. This helps in airflow but also noise levels. At the time of writing is not yet known when the fans are actually available, but Noctua indicates within a few weeks, we're excited to find out.
Irenicus
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#5537295 Posted on: 04/13/2018 09:01 AM
If only they would offer alternative colour schemes
If only they would offer alternative colour schemes
Kaarme
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#5537303 Posted on: 04/13/2018 09:12 AM
It doesn't matter to me personally since I don't like cases with windows or other sort of transparency, but considering how popular see-through is among other PC builders, I have always wondered the same thing. It's almost like their trademark, but if it hurts sales, is it worth it?
If only they would offer alternative colour schemes
It doesn't matter to me personally since I don't like cases with windows or other sort of transparency, but considering how popular see-through is among other PC builders, I have always wondered the same thing. It's almost like their trademark, but if it hurts sales, is it worth it?
Fox2232
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#5537308 Posted on: 04/13/2018 09:23 AM
Yes, it is worth it. People who buy noctua fans love this design and color. But, they may create blueish tinted version for people who have Blue taste. Green light may work well enough with regular color scheme.
But in the end of the day, those who consider lighting in PC case as main priority will get fans which have LEDs integrated, maybe even RGB controller compatible.
So, noctua is really not going to make entry to PC-Instead-of-Xmas-Tree crowd.
It doesn't matter to me personally since I don't like cases with windows or other sort of transparency, but considering how popular see-through is among other PC builders, I have always wondered the same thing. It's almost like their trademark, but if it hurts sales, is it worth it?
Yes, it is worth it. People who buy noctua fans love this design and color. But, they may create blueish tinted version for people who have Blue taste. Green light may work well enough with regular color scheme.
But in the end of the day, those who consider lighting in PC case as main priority will get fans which have LEDs integrated, maybe even RGB controller compatible.
So, noctua is really not going to make entry to PC-Instead-of-Xmas-Tree crowd.
Hilbert Hagedoorn
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#5537311 Posted on: 04/13/2018 09:36 AM
It's not just beige/brown these days for them, on the existing ranges they offer two extra color types and some modifications:
https://noctua.at/en/products/fan/redux
https://noctua.at/en/products/fan/chromax
For their default ranges, they'll stick to beige/brown though. It's their house color and the second your see such a fan, you know it's Noctua.
It's not just beige/brown these days for them, on the existing ranges they offer two extra color types and some modifications:
https://noctua.at/en/products/fan/redux
https://noctua.at/en/products/fan/chromax
For their default ranges, they'll stick to beige/brown though. It's their house color and the second your see such a fan, you know it's Noctua.
moeppel
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#5537312 Posted on: 04/13/2018 09:38 AM
Not too sure about that in particular. While I don't find Noctua ugly I couldn't claim them to be visually appealing, either.
The reason I opt for Noctua whenever possible is solely because I prefer functionality over aesthetics, which is where Noctua delivers like no one else - especially under consideration of their 6 year warranty.
A proper Noctua tower can easily last you a life time given their compatibility kit history if you're willing to replace the fans whenever (if ever) they're due for replacement.
Yes, it is worth it. People who buy noctua fans love this design and color.
Not too sure about that in particular. While I don't find Noctua ugly I couldn't claim them to be visually appealing, either.
The reason I opt for Noctua whenever possible is solely because I prefer functionality over aesthetics, which is where Noctua delivers like no one else - especially under consideration of their 6 year warranty.
A proper Noctua tower can easily last you a life time given their compatibility kit history if you're willing to replace the fans whenever (if ever) they're due for replacement.
RzrTrek
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#5537313 Posted on: 04/13/2018 09:54 AM
I don't quite understand why people like these expensive fans and from my experience, they were always louder than anything I had laying around.
I don't quite understand why people like these expensive fans and from my experience, they were always louder than anything I had laying around.
oli3
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#5537316 Posted on: 04/13/2018 10:00 AM
You should try out a Noctua fan and then you'll find that it actually is incredibly quiet.
I don't quite understand why people like these expensive fans and from my experience, they were always louder than anything I had laying around.
You should try out a Noctua fan and then you'll find that it actually is incredibly quiet.
nevcairiel
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#5537319 Posted on: 04/13/2018 10:22 AM
Also you need to be sure to actually compare apples to apples. Noctua fans are also quite powerful, but they also ship with a Low-Noise-Adapter that reduces both their airflow and noise if you are so inclined. So when comparing fans, you also need to compare their airflow and/or static pressure at a given noise level. Some other fan could be quieter but also shuffle much less air - so you atttach the Low-Noise-Adapter and it probably outperforms it in both metrics.
Also you need to be sure to actually compare apples to apples. Noctua fans are also quite powerful, but they also ship with a Low-Noise-Adapter that reduces both their airflow and noise if you are so inclined. So when comparing fans, you also need to compare their airflow and/or static pressure at a given noise level. Some other fan could be quieter but also shuffle much less air - so you atttach the Low-Noise-Adapter and it probably outperforms it in both metrics.
RzrTrek
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#5537321 Posted on: 04/13/2018 10:34 AM
I've got 3 Noctua fans (2x120mm, 1x140mm) but had to remove all of them due to unwanted humming sound.
I'm now running on cheap Fractal Design case fans and temps are just as fine, so sorry for not falling for the hype.
You should try out a Noctua fan and then you'll find that it actually is incredibly quiet.
I've got 3 Noctua fans (2x120mm, 1x140mm) but had to remove all of them due to unwanted humming sound.
I'm now running on cheap Fractal Design case fans and temps are just as fine, so sorry for not falling for the hype.
OddGentleman
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#5537324 Posted on: 04/13/2018 10:44 AM
Yes, it is worth it. People who buy noctua fans love this design and color. But, they may create blueish tinted version for people who have Blue taste. Green light may work well enough with regular color scheme.
But in the end of the day, those who consider lighting in PC case as main priority will get fans which have LEDs integrated, maybe even RGB controller compatible.
So, noctua is really not going to make entry to PC-Instead-of-Xmas-Tree crowd.
That is not the point. You can have an RGB lighted PC with the performance similar to Noctua if not the same. Companies like Phanteks make fans that are on par with Noctua, yet they can have multiple colors and RGB. People ARE buying other fans because of style AND those fans are not worse then Noctua, or Noctua fans are 2 degrees C better yet no color options, and people will chose some other fans. So Noctua's color politics is absolutely counter-profitable.
Yes, it is worth it. People who buy noctua fans love this design and color. But, they may create blueish tinted version for people who have Blue taste. Green light may work well enough with regular color scheme.
But in the end of the day, those who consider lighting in PC case as main priority will get fans which have LEDs integrated, maybe even RGB controller compatible.
So, noctua is really not going to make entry to PC-Instead-of-Xmas-Tree crowd.
That is not the point. You can have an RGB lighted PC with the performance similar to Noctua if not the same. Companies like Phanteks make fans that are on par with Noctua, yet they can have multiple colors and RGB. People ARE buying other fans because of style AND those fans are not worse then Noctua, or Noctua fans are 2 degrees C better yet no color options, and people will chose some other fans. So Noctua's color politics is absolutely counter-profitable.
Kaarme
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#5537329 Posted on: 04/13/2018 10:55 AM
I'm not so sure of that, but who knows. I only buy Noctua fans, but it's definitely not for the colours. In fact the colours make them uglier than most fans I've seen, but like I said, you can't see the insides of my PC, so the colours don't matter to me. I just like the quality and performance they offer. Plus they are easily available in my parts. I don't like to wait two weeks to get a fan or two.
Though that being said, checking the links in Hilbert's post, Noctua seems to be experimenting with other colours as well.
Yes, it is worth it. People who buy noctua fans love this design and color.
I'm not so sure of that, but who knows. I only buy Noctua fans, but it's definitely not for the colours. In fact the colours make them uglier than most fans I've seen, but like I said, you can't see the insides of my PC, so the colours don't matter to me. I just like the quality and performance they offer. Plus they are easily available in my parts. I don't like to wait two weeks to get a fan or two.
Though that being said, checking the links in Hilbert's post, Noctua seems to be experimenting with other colours as well.
KissSh0t
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#5537331 Posted on: 04/13/2018 11:09 AM
These new Noctua fans look interesting, I wonder what the little V's on the fan blades actually do?
My favorite fans so far have been the Corsair Air Series SP120's... the body of the fan is black with rubberized parts and they have these little rings that you can take off to change the color around the fan...
These new Noctua fans look interesting, I wonder what the little V's on the fan blades actually do?
My favorite fans so far have been the Corsair Air Series SP120's... the body of the fan is black with rubberized parts and they have these little rings that you can take off to change the color around the fan...
nevcairiel
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#5537337 Posted on: 04/13/2018 11:34 AM
One of the reasons i buy Noctua is specifically because they don't cater to the RGB nonsense. I'll never buy a case with a window if I can avoid it, windows have terrible acoustic behavior, and the less I notice my tower even being there, the better.
That is not the point. You can have an RGB lighted PC with the performance similar to Noctua if not the same. Companies like Phanteks make fans that are on par with Noctua, yet they can have multiple colors and RGB. People ARE buying other fans because of style AND those fans are not worse then Noctua, or Noctua fans are 2 degrees C better yet no color options, and people will chose some other fans. So Noctua's color politics is absolutely counter-profitable.
One of the reasons i buy Noctua is specifically because they don't cater to the RGB nonsense. I'll never buy a case with a window if I can avoid it, windows have terrible acoustic behavior, and the less I notice my tower even being there, the better.
NewTRUMP Order
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#5537368 Posted on: 04/13/2018 01:25 PM
The new Noctua fans are a little too strong if you ask me 
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I was wondering what happened to those. I saw the preview on Computex and it sounded like some good innovation went into those. Now they just need to also release 140mm, since thats what I primarily use.