X-bit labs

Roundup: 11 Fans for Two Super-Coolers and One System Case (page 4)

Category: Coolers

by Sergey Lepilov

[ 04/07/2008 | 07:35 PM ]

Noctua NF-P12

The new Noctua NF-P12 from the same manufacturer represents a completely different approach to designing fans. But let’s start from the very beginning.

The box is of similar color scheme, but now it contains even more information describing the key features of the fan and all technologies employed in it.

 The technical specifications are also there and now include the static pressure numbers as well:

The fan comes with the same accessories as the above discussed model. However, now the 5V and 7V adapters also differ by the color of their connector – 5V is blue, and the 7V is black:

It is much more convenient than checking out the manual every time. It is interesting that the reverse side of the box can be unfolded to reveal all the innovations made to the Noctua fans design:

After reading this booklet we can conclude that it is an impressive concentration of high-tech innovations. Besides the already mentioned SSO bearings (self-stabilized oil-pressure bearings) the new fan model uses nine fan blades instead of seven:

Besides, the fan blades are of completely different shape now than the ones we have just seen by Noctua NF-S12:

Look at the jags on the rear edge of each blade. These notches shifted from one another should reduce the noise and improve the fan’s acoustic comfort:

Noctua engineers called this technology Smooth Commutation Drive. It should smooth out the vibrations that emerge during DC motor operation and generate some crackling sounds. As you can see, this is another manufacturer that followed into Scythe’s footsteps and officially admitted the existence of this problem. Unfortunately, all the others haven’t joined them yet.

The nominal fan rotation speed is constant and equals 1300 (±130) RPM. According to the monitoring data, the fan actually runs at 1350~1400RPM depending on the way it is installed. The level of generated noise at this rotation speed is promised to be at 19.8dBA, but if you are not happy with this pretty low noise level 9according to the manufacturer), you can use one of the bundled adapters - U.L.N.A or L.N.A. They reduce the fan rotation speed to 900 (±90) RPM and 1,100 (±110) RPM respectively. From our subjective experience, the fan is very quiet at 1,100RPM already, while at the nominal 1,300RPM you can already notice the airflow noise. The fan motor doesn’t crackle or roar in its entire operational speed range.

The fan bearing MTBF remained the same: 150,000 hours. The cable is of the same length, and the silicon compensators are also the same. However, the new fa is more expensive and is priced at $24.