Noctua's new line of fans

where?wolf · Post by **where?wolf** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:06 am

I recieved this mail from one of the Noctua technical directors, that I got to know some.

Vienna, November 5th, 2007 - Only 14 months after the release of the NF-S12 series, which has received more than 100 awards and recommendations from leading international websites and magazines, Noctua expands its line-up of 120mm fans with the NF-P12 high-impedance fan. The NF-P12 has been specifically developed for high-impedance applications such as CPU coolers, water-cooling radiators or cases with tight fan grills and features psychoacoustic optimizations that make it less annoying to the human ear.

"One of the main difficulties in the design and development of axial fans is to achieve a good balance of the three key parameters of airflow, pressure and noise", explains Mag. Manfred Stadler from the Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology (Ã–sterreichisches Institut fÃ¼r WÃ¤rmeÃ¼bertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, Ã–IWV). "Even in the field of PC cooling, each application has different requirements though: Whereas CPU coolers require high static pressure, it's mostly the airflow to noise ratio that counts when it comes to case fans. Common fans are usually designed to be all-round solutions compromising in certain areas in order to achieve solid results in all typical applications. Noctua, on the other hand, is following a two-fold approach with its NF-S12 and NF-P12 fan series in order to achieve optimal results at various applications: While the NF-S12 was optimized so as to provide a class-leading airflow to noise ratio in the lower speed ranges and therefore makes for an excellent case fan, the NF-P12 was designed to produce high airflow and an outstanding amount of static pressure, which makes it perfect for use on CPU coolers and other high-impedance applications."

With its nine large, closely spaced blades, the NF-P12 achieves no less than 1.68mm HÂ²O and 92.3mÂ³/h at 1300 rpm. Thanks to psychoacoustic optimizations, the NF-P12 is nonetheless surprisingly quiet: The Vortex-Control Notches at the trailing edges allow for the flows along the suction and pressure side to mix more smoothly and spread the noise emission over a wider range of frequencies. As a result, the NF-P12's noise pattern is perceived as much less annoying.

Like the NF-S12, the NF-P12 is equipped with Noctua's tried and tested SSO-Bearing that guarantees maximum long-term stability and excellent running smoothness. On top of that, the NF-P12's running smoothness is further increased by Noctua's new Smooth Commutation Drive system, which ensures a smoother transition between the stator coils.

The NF-P12 has an MTBF of over 150.000 hours and comes with 6 years manufacturer's warranty. Using the supplied Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise adaptors, the fan's speed can be reduced to 1100 resp. 900 rpm.

Price and availability:
The NF-P12 is available with immediate effect at a recommended price of
EUR 19.90 / USD 24.90.

About Noctua
Noctua comes from a cooperation between the Austrian Rascom Computerdistribution Ges.m.b.H and the Taiwanese Kolink International Corporation and has a development partnership with the Austrian Institute of Heat Transmission and Fan Technology (Ã–sterreichisches Institut fÃ¼r WÃ¤rmeÃ¼bertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, Ã–IWV). These connections form the key to the development of sound-optimised premium components "Designed in Austria": The partnership with the Ã–IWV permits the application of latest technology in methods of scientific measurement instrumentation, calculation and simulation in the R&D process. Rascom's long, customer-orientated experience in developing and distributing sound-optimised high-end components ensures a clear focus on the users' needs. The use of Kolink's advanced manufacturing technology and ultra-modern production plants allows Noctua to efficiently implement its technical edge and provide solutions of the highest standard in quality and performance to the customer.

Links:
Specifications:
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=prod ... g=en&set=1
Photos: http://www.noctua.at/inc/imageviewer.ph ... r=0&lng=en
Nine Blade Design with VCN:
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=nine ... ign&lng=en
Smooth Commutation Drive:
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=smoo ... ive&lng=en
NF-S12 & NF-P12 - Technical Backgrounds:
http://www.noctua.at./main.php?show=nf_ ... son&lng=en
Overclock3D.net Review:
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php? ... ling_fan/1

*** As always, we'd greatly appreciate a news post on your site. Thank
you very much! ***

Sooty · Post by **Sooty** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:33 am

WOW! Overclock3D.net reckon it's better than the Sharkoon 1000! Nice find, thanks.

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:42 am

Blades look wicked. I hope these do not have such evil howl as some noctuas. But these were designed for environtment with lot's of backpressure so it looks promising.

where?wolf · Post by **where?wolf** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:13 am

Lol! Yeah, those fan blades, looks like you could slice lemons or fingers with them.

A kind of heavy metal fan look.

Will be interesting to see a review of this fan here at SPCR.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:46 am

Greetings,

These are almost the polar opposite of their previous design: the blades are very broad, and their pitch is much lower. And it probably is much better in static pressure situations, w/o the "beating" noise of the previous design. This is a simplified trailing edge similar to this one:

Overall, the new Noctua fan looks like a 9-blade GlobalWin NCB with the notches on the trailing edges...

Felger Carbon · Post by **Felger Carbon** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 10:06 am

I just reviewed the specs:
Original 7-blade fan 16.9dBA 81m3/h 1200RPM
new 9-blade w/LNA 17dBA 78.5m3/h 1100RPM

I don't see the diff re noise and airflow, and very little diff RPM. Huh?

The new Scythe Slipstream fans do have substantially greater airflow (in m3/h or CFM) at a given RPM than a standard fan. I hope to measure this effect fairly accurately (in free air) soon - got some parts arriving today for this job.

andyb · Post by **andyb** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 10:41 am

Do any of the SPCR staff know if there is a review in the works, this looks to be a very interesting product for its intended application + all of the things Neil has already said.

Andy

walle · Post by **walle** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:54 pm

Looks interesting, that the fan allegedly performs slightly better than the Sharkoon ditto is a good sign too.

Thanks for the heads up Wolf.

christopher3393 · Post by **christopher3393** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:37 am

I contacted Noctua and was told "our sales partners in the US should have the new fan available in about 1-2 weeks".

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:20 pm

i got my NF-P12 today, along with a nice gift:

i'll probably keep the fan (not installing it) to show to my friends for promotional purposes, plus the 2 unused NF-S12-1200 and the NF-R8 (80mm) i have here. And after a while, i might use it somewhere...

right now i'm just waiting for SPCR to have a serious test of this NF-P12

fri2219 · Post by **fri2219** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:59 pm

It's not terribly informative compared to the reviews on this site, but it's a sign that they're on their way to the Western Hemisphere.

Hopefully, they'll provide competition for the 38mm Scythe Fans and work well in applications like internal hard drive enclosures.

http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/misc ... -nf-p12/1/

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:06 pm

they NF-P12 are up for sale on http://www.ncix.com/

fri2219 · Post by **fri2219** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:11 pm

RaptorZX3 wrote:they NF-P12 are up for sale on http://www.ncix.com/

Take note of the NCIX product listing:
"Special Order, Usually 1-2 weeks"

I'd bet the peanut butter sandwich in my lunch that they're ordering from AU or EU retailers, and reselling them.

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:48 pm

at least they don't sell them 30$ + shipping each

christopher3393 · Post by **christopher3393** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:06 am

Amen to that! NCIX says Dec. 7.

slimeballzz · Post by **slimeballzz** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:11 pm

RaptorZX3 wrote:i got my NF-P12 today, along with a nice gift:

Raptor where did you get your fan from?

Spare Tire · Post by **Spare Tire** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 11:27 pm

Wonder how they'd do in suck orientation instead of blow.

slimeballzz · Post by **slimeballzz** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:46 am

Guess I'll be waiting for NCIX to stock them..

Already need 3 of them for my rad (Thermochill PA120.3)... but for the price premium, are they going to be quieter and perform better than 3 Scythe Jyuni fans?...

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:24 am

if you want to slow them down, the NF-P12 come with the "L.N.A" and "U.L.N.A" (Low Noise Adapter and Ultra-Low Noise Adapter), i think they lower the voltage to 9V and 6V respectively.

as you can see in my signature, i have 3 x NF-S12 in my computer, the front fan using the L.N.A. i got with my NF-R8 (80mm), the other 2 are al full speed and still pretty quiet. the NF-S12 is perfect for the Scythe Ninja (and others like it), since the fins are spaced enough it doesn't need much air pressure.

DJ RA · Post by **DJ RA** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:28 am

Felger Carbon wrote:I just reviewed the specs:
Original 7-blade fan 16.9dBA 81m3/h 1200RPM
new 9-blade w/LNA 17dBA 78.5m3/h 1100RPM

I don't see the diff re noise and airflow, and very little diff RPM. Huh?

If this is true, Whats the big fuss over the new fan design? who cares about .1DB? is he wrong or is everyone just crazy?

fri2219 · Post by **fri2219** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:39 am

DJ RA wrote:Whats the big fuss over the new fan design? who cares about .1DB? is he wrong or is everyone just crazy?

CraZy would explain a lot, but I think the attraction is that the fan allegedly moves more air against resistance than the 7-blade. So, if you wanted to create a positive pressure case silently, it would increase your options. Not just CFM/dB, but CFM/P/dB.

DJ RA · Post by **DJ RA** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:09 pm

Ahhhh, I see. makes much more sence now, Thanks

JazzJackRabbit · Post by **JazzJackRabbit** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 11:57 am

Just wanted to let you know guys that jab-tech has 1300rpm model in stock:
http://jab-tech.com/Noctua-NF-P12-1300- ... -4046.html

I won't be buying it because I don't think it will be that much better and because it costs an arm and a leg (plus speed is too high), but some guys here seem very eager to spend >$20 for a fan...

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:31 am

Hello,

Is the 1300RPM model the only version of this fan?

Both JabTech and FrozenCPU have it for nearly $21:

http://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=4046
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6661/ ... 9_dBA.html

...and a place called EastLuna (that I have never heard of before) has it for exactly $21:
http://www.eastluna.com/hardware/detail ... 3068&id2=b

slimeballzz · Post by **slimeballzz** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:43 pm

NeilBlanchard wrote:Hello,

Is the 1300RPM model the only version of this fan?

I believe so. Noctua's website only shows a 1300rpm version as well.

edlight1 · Post by **edlight1** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:55 pm

coolerguys.com has them.

williamn6133 · Post by **williamn6133** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:07 pm

Or www.QuietPC.com
-

Can I just ask.. this whole low pressure issue smells like bull- to me. I have a Noctua 12cm sitting right by my Scythe and I can't see any problem. In another thread someone says he has a Noctua in his Power Supply.

What is the real problem?

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:35 pm

Hello William,

The older Noctua fan had very narrow and steeply pitched blades -- 7 of them, and it pushes air fine if there is not much back pressure. But if you try to use it on a HS with tightly spaced fins, then it loses it effectiveness, and it makes more noise.

The new Noctua has much broader blades than most fans -- 9 of them, and it should do better than most fans in the same situations that caused the older fan to have problems. IHTH

williamn6133 · Post by **williamn6133** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:50 pm

Ok so tightly spaced fins are a no no with the old fan design. What about as a case fan with a Scythe Ninja about 1 inch away?

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:05 pm

Hi William,

The Ninja has widely spaced fins, and they are quite thin, as well -- so it should be fine.

Noctua's new line of fans

Noctua's new line of fans

(UK) Review Posted