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14mm low profile design
Measuring only 14mm in thickness, the NF-A9x14 is much slimmer than standard 92x25mm fans. This makes it ideal for all applications where standard fans would take up too much space, such as low profile CPU coolers in HTPC builds or server environments.
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Flow Acceleration Channels
The NF-A9x14 impeller features suction side Flow Acceleration Channels. By speeding up the airflow at the crucial outer blade regions, this measure reduces suction side flow separation and thus leads to better efficiency and lower vortex noise.
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AAO frame
Noctua's AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) frames feature integrated anti-vibration pads as well as Noctua's proprietary Stepped Inlet Design and Inner Surface Microstructures, both of which further refine the fan's performance/noise efficiency.
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Stepped Inlet Design
Noctua's Stepped Inlet Design adds turbulence to the influx in order to facilitate the transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow, which reduces tonal intake noise, improves flow attachment and increases suction capacity, especially in space-restricted environments.
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Inner Surface Microstructures
With the tips of the fan blades ploughing through the boundary layer created by the Inner Surface Microstructures, flow separation from the suction side of the blades is significantly suppressed, which results in reduced blade passing noise and improved airflow and pressure efficiency.
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Integrated Anti-Vibration Pads
Integrated Anti-Vibration Pads made from extra-soft silicone minimise the transmission of minute vibrations while maintaining full compatibility with all standard mounting systems and fan clips used on heatsinks.
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SSO2 Bearing
The NF-A9x14 features the further optimised second generation of Noctua's renowned, time-tested SSO bearing. With SSO2, the rear magnet is placed closer to the axis to provide even better stabilisation, precision and durability.
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Custom-designed PWM IC with SCD
Supporting fully automatic PWM speed control, the NF-A9x14 uses Noctua's novel, custom-designed NE-FD1 PWM IC that integrates Smooth Commutation Drive (SCD) technology. By providing smoother torque impulses, SCD suppresses PWM switching noises and thus makes the fan quieter at lower speeds.
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Stops at 0% PWM
When the fan is set to 0% PWM duty cycle by the motherboard or PWM fan controller, it will stop. This makes it ideal for creating setups with semi-passive cooling that automatically turn the fans off and thus run completely silent at idle if thermals allow.
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Low-Noise Adaptor
The NF-A9x14 is supplied with a (L.N.A.) that reduces the maximum fan speed from 2200 to 1700rpm. The L.N.A. can be used either to run the fan at a fixed speed of 1200rpm or to cap the maximum speed when using automatic PWM control.
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Extensive cabling options
The fan's short 20cm primary cable minimises cable clutter in typical applications while the supplied 30cm extension provides extended reach when necessary. Both cables are fully sleeved and a 4-pin y-cable allows the connection of a second NF-A9x14 fan to the same PWM fan header for automatic control.
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6-year manufacturer’s warranty
Noctua fans are renowned for their impeccable quality and outstanding longevity. Like all Noctua fans, the NF-A9x14 features an MTTF rating of more than 150.000 hours and comes with a full 6-year manufacturer's warranty.
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Size
92x92x14 mm
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Mounting hole spacing
82,5x82,5 mm
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4-pin PWM
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Cable length
20cm + 30cm NA-EC1 extension cable
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Bearing
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Blade geometry
A-Series with Flow Acceleration Channels
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Frame technology
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Rotational speed (+/- 10%)
2200 RPM
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Rotational speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
1700 RPM
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Min. rotational speed (PWM, +/-20%)
500 RPM
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38,1 m³/h
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Acoustical noise
19,9 dB(A)
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Acoustical noise with L.N.A.
13,5 dB(A)
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Static pressure
1,64 mm H₂O
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Static pressure with L.N.A.
0,92 mm H₂O
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Max. input power
1,32 W
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Max. input current
0,11 A
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Operating voltage
12 V
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MTTF
> 150.000 h
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Scope of delivery
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6 years
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
In questa recensione ci siamo realmente resi conto di quanto Noctua sia attenta ai dettagli e alla cura dei propri prodotti anche in delle “semplici” ventole che poi, in questo caso specifico, semplici non sono visto l’elevata cura nella produzione e nelle tecnologie adottate.
Ci ha stupito moltissimo il fatto di ritrovare tutte le tecnologie citate nell’introduzione anche nelle ventole di dimensione ridotta come le NF-A4. Siamo decisamente soddisfatti sia dalle prestazioni in termini di efficienza/rumore, sia dal bundle che dai prezzi decisamente in linea con quelli di altri produttori ma assolutamente superiori in termini di caratteristiche e prestazioni.
Attribuiamo a tutta la NF-A Series il premio Gold Award per l’innovazione tecnologica e la cura dei particolari che L’azienda ha dimostrato in questa serie di ventole super-efficienti.
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Test verdict: "Ventole per ogni tipo di esigenza. Noctua con la serie NF-A ha pensato proprio a tutti e a tutto proponendo prodotti di altissima qualità e tecnologia mantenendo un ottimo rapporto qualità/prezzo. Decisamente apprezzata la cura dei dettagli e del bundle che rendoni queste ventole il TOP DI GAMMA sul mercato." (Davide Torno, QWERTYmag.it)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
Cijene manjih (A4x10/A6x25/A9x14
12,90/14,90/16,90), kao i većih 140mm modela
(21,90) su uglavnom u skladu s dosadanjom politikom
Noctua proizvoda, koja se i dalje bazira na principu
kvaliteta prije svega, uz odgovarajuću cijenu. Nakon svega
viđenog, zaista im ne moemo puno zamjeriti na tome, s
obzirom na sve prednosti njihovih proizvoda iz nove A-serije za
koje imamo gotovo isključivo riječi hvale.
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Test verdict: "Noctua nam je ovom prilikom priredila mnoga iznenađenja po
pitanju novih proizvoda raznih veličina i namjena. Od
minijaturnog 40mm A4x10 modela, preko A6x25 i A9x14, pa sve do
140mm inačica, svaki od testiranih ventilatora odaje onu
poznatu Noctua kvalitetu i uglađenost u radu uz visoku
funkcionalnost i bogatu dodatnu opremu. Za svakoga poneto, bi
moda bio najslikovitiji opis nove A-serije ventilatora, a
to se nas osobno tiče, itekako bismo voljeli vidjeti par
140mm ULN modela i u naem testnom računalu. Za korisnike
koji zahtijevaju veliku efikasnost i relativno umjeren nivo buke,
tu su naravno A14 FLX i A15 PWM modeli, koji svojom
fleksibilnoću, elegantnim radom ali i visokom
kvalitetnom izrade itekako zasluuju nau preporuku."
(Domagoj Hodak, PC Ekspert)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
Ξεκινώντας από τον "μεγάλο" της παρέας, ο NF-A9x14 ήταν ο ανεμιστήρας που ξεχώρισα από την πρώτη στιγμή. Η διάμετρός του ανέρχεται στα 92mm, αλλά το συνολικό του μέγεθος είναι αυτό που κερδίζει τα βλέμματα, καθώς οι διαστάσεις του ανήκουν στην κατηγορία ... "Super-Slim". Ναι, το ύψος του συγκεκριμένου ανεμιστήρα, μαζί με το πλαίσιό του φτάνει στα 1,4 cm! Ταυτόχρονα, υπόσχεται βέλτιστη στατική πίεση μέσω της ιδιαίτερης σχεδίασής του ανεμιστήρα και των flow drivers του. Παράλληλα, ο sleeved bearing μηχανισμός τους εγγυάται πρακτικά αθόρυβη λειτουργία στα 19,9 dB, διατηρώντας έναν χαμηλό ρυθμό περιστροφής με μέγιστο τις 2220RPM στα 12v, και όλα αυτά με υπολογισμένη διάρκεια ζωής (MTBF- Mean Time Between Failure) που αγγίζει τις 150000 ώρες - περίπου... 17 χρόνια 24/7 λειτουργίας θα χρειαστείτε μέχρι να χρειαστεί να τον αντικαταστήσετε. Ο συγκεκριμένος ανεμιστήρας έρχεται να σπάσει πολλά από τα "ταμπού" και τους μύθους που κυκλοφορούν γύρω από την αγορά ανεμιστήρων και συστημάτων ψύξης- ένας από τους οποίους είναι ότι μόνο ανεμιστήρες > 14cm εγγυώνται αθόρυβη λειτουργία και χαμηλό ρυθμό περιστροφής, για να μπορέσουν να "σπρώξουν" αρκετά λογική ποσότητα αέρα εντός του συστήματος.
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Test verdict: "Αν υπήρχε κάποιος από τους τρεις ανεμιστήρες που ξεχώρισα, αυτός είναι ο Noctua NF-A9x14 PWM, ο 92mm ανεμιστήρας που είχαμε στην διάθεσή μας. Δεν είναι μόνο το γεγονός μόνο ότι μπορεί να κάνει τα καταφέρνει εξαιρετικά σε θέματα απόδοσης και θορύβου, αλλά συνδυάζει και ένα super-slim profile το οποίο θα βοηθήσει την κατάσταση αρκετά ειδικά αν το σύστημά σας είναι αρκετά... "στριμωγμένο"! Η χρήση για μένα, μετά το πέρας των δοκιμών, ήταν να τον ενσωματώσω σε ένα Bitfenix Prodigy White σύστημα, στο οποίο η προσωπική μου ανοχή στον θόρυβο που παράγει είναι μηδενική! NF-A9x14 PWM με ικανοποίησε απόλυτα στο θέμα του θορύβου, σε σημείο που στα 7V δεν μπορεί κάποιος να ακούσει αν λειτουργεί ή όχι!" (Vasilis Galiouras, HWBox.gr)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
Hemos probado los tres ventiladores y gratamente nos ha sorprendido su bajo nivel de ruido generado. El modelo de A4x10 es el único mínimamente más audible, pero por sus altas revoluciones es normal.
Los modelos de 40 y 60 mm son perfectos para sistemas embebidos que requieren un ventilador para la extracción de aire, así como para los amantes del modding que deseen refrigerar zonas de su PC de menor superficie.
El modelo de 90 mm es ideal para equipos HTPC con disipadores de perfil bajo, que lo verán aún más reducido al cambiar los habituales ventiladores de 25 mm de grosor por este de 14 mm.
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Test verdict: "Los ventiladores Noctua Serie-A ofrecen en formato compacto el rendimiento esperado por un ventilador de esta prestigiosa marca: gran flujo de aire a un mínimo nivel sonoro. Su uso está limitado a necesidades concretas, por lo que gran parte de los usuarios no tendrán necesidad de ellos. Sin embargo, los que requieran productos de estas dimensiones agradecerán en gran medida el lanzamiento de estos ventiladores tan eficientes por parte de Noctua." (Iván Martínez, El Chapuzas Informático)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
Noctua has always made great products, and from this I see they still do. The new NF-A9x14 92mm fan is one that can be used for many things, replace a bad fan in your server, or use it to cool the CPU in your HTPC. The thin form factor of this fan allows it to be versatile as to where you might want to install it.
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Test verdict: "Plain and simple, if you need a good fan, you can’t go wrong with a Noctua." (Kristofer Brozio, Testfreaks.com)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
SSO2 rulmanlı fanın kanatlarının ucundaki özel FAC kanalları görülmekte. Normalde maksimum hız 2200 devir ama LNA adaptörle 1700 devirle sınırlamak mümkün. En düşük başlama hızı 300 devir. 2200 devirde gürültü 19.9 dBA ve akım 50.5 m³/h iken 1700 devirde gürültü 13.5 dBA ve hava akımı 38.1 m³/h
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Test verdict: "Uç kısımlarda darbe emici özel kauçuk kaplamalar dikkat çekiyor. PWM destekli ama 3-pin fan çıkışı ile de kullanılabilir. 12V fanın en yüksek güç tüketimi 1.32 Watt. 150 bin saat kullanım ömrü biçiliyor ve denemelerimize göre gerçekten inanılmaz derecede sessiz. 1 metre mesafeden sonra duymak imkansız." (Görkem Yildirimy, PCkoloji.com)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
Le ventole Noctua della nuova serie A, sono state veramente all’altezza delle nostre aspettative, qualità impeccabile ed una longevità eccezionale. Gli appassionati potranno utilizzare queste ventole per una durata di oltre 150.000 con una garanzia sul prodotto di ben 6 anni. Come tutte le fan delle varie serie, sono curate minimamente sotto ogni punto di vista.
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Test verdict: "Con questa recensione, non possiamo far a meno di consigliarvi queste ventole per chi utilizza un HTPC." (Victor Italiano, HD Technology)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
Dall’immagine si evince che, anche se siamo davanti a delle ventole molto piccole, la potenzialità che presentano è notevole anche rispetto alla sorella più grande da 92 mm, facendo registrare la stessa temperatura dell’hard disk utilizzando il modello A6x25 e, la ventola più piccola soltanto un grado di differenza rispetto alle sorelle più grandi. Segnaliamo infine la poca rumorosità di tutti e tre i modelli, confermando di fatto le specifiche proposte dall’azienda.
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Test verdict: "Come da copione, anche con queste nuove ventole Noctua non ci ha delusi, proponendo prodotti che anche se di piccole dimensioni svolgono bene il proprio lavoro sia per prestazioni che la qualità; tutti e tre i modelli sono ideali per chi cerca prestazioni ottimali per il proprio sistema senza tralasciare la rumorosità." (Michele Bruno, Hardware - HDblog)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
Вентиляторы форм-фактора 92 мм не столь популярны, как 120 мм варианты, однако и те и другие чаще всего используются в компьютерных корпусах и для охлаждения радиаторов процессорных СО. В ассортименте Noctua подобных моделей всего несколько штук, мы решили оценить технические возможности трех представителей из различных линеек.
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Test verdict: "В ассортименте Noctua представлено достаточное количество разнообразных вариантов. И самой универсальной стоит признать серию redux, а также модели с суффиксом FLX. Баланс тишины и производительности в них отточен с максимальной точностью." (Евгений Никифоров, ITNdaily.ru)
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NF-A9x14 PWM Review
Malgré la taille qui présageait des nuisances sonores horribles comme nous avons tous l'habitude d'entendre venant de ventilateurs comme ceux-ci, et bien il n'en est rien! Le ventilateur qui me faisait le plus peur était le tout petit Ax410, un ventilateur de 4cm qui, tournant à 4500 RPM, me donnait mal aux oreilles avant même de le brancher, mais au final il se révèle être extrêmement silencieux, du très bon pour Noctua qui pourra enfin vous réconcilier avec vos appareils utilisant des ventilateurs de cette taille.
Le A6x25 est le plus silencieux du lot, il n'y a aucun bruit parasite audible et il saura se faire discret même au maximum.
Le A9x14, qui n'est autre qu'un ventilateur 92 mm au format "low profile" est un modèle qui est très intéressant si vous êtes en manque de place dans vote HTPC (ou tout autre boitier avec peu de place), il a une grande plage d'utilisation et saura se faire très discret, à noter qu'il émet un léger son aigu à plein régime.
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Test verdict: "Que dire de cette série un peu spéciale de chez Noctua? Au départ un peu sceptique quant au bruit que génèrent généralement ces types de ventilateurs il faut avoué que j'ai été agréablement surpris. [...] si vous cherchez à remplacer un ventilateur criard (par exemple dans un switch, ou un NAS etc..) par un silencieux vous avez trouvé ce qu'il vous faut!" (Christian Marchini, Conseil Config)
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NA-SAV3
- 16 NA-AV3 silicone anti-vibration mounts for up to 4 fans
- Double-side design
- 5 defined, numbered pawls
- Compatible with all Noctua fans

NA-SAV4
- 16 NA-AV4 silicone anti-vibration mounts for up to 4 fans
- Flat case-side end for clean exterior look
- 5 defined, numbered pawls
- Compatible with all Noctua fans

You can either buy from our local sales partners or directly from us via our official Amazon and eBay stores:
FAQs
Can Noctua fans be used to make the Anycubic I3 Mega 3D printer run more quietly?
Can I use Noctua fans in my system from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major brands?
How much torque should be used for fan screws?
I get a CPU fan error despite the fan is running!
My Noctua PWM fan starts to spin when the PC boots but then stops, what is wrong?
My Noctua PWM fan runs at a much higher minimum speed than advertised, what is wrong?
I get a CPU fan error using my Noctua PWM fan, is it faulty?
I'm experiencing fan speed issues with my motherboard from Supermicro, what can I do?
How can I check if my 4-pin fan header supports PWM?
Can I use Low-Noise Adaptors with y-cables / multiple fans?
How should I clean my Noctua fan?
Can I paint my Noctua fan in order to change its color?
How can I find out the direction of airflow and sense of rotation?
The supplied y-cable is missing a wire at one of the two connectors, is it faulty?
Can Noctua fans be used to replace noisy stock fans in switches, routers or other network devices?
Can Noctua fans be used to replace noisy stock fans in NAS devices?
Can I disassemble my fan for cleaning (or other purposes, e.g. painting)?
Can I run 4-pin PWM fans on 3-pin fan headers?
What pin configuration do Noctua 12V fans use?
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
Can Noctua fans be used to make the Anycubic I3 Mega 3D printer run more quietly?
- Replacing the hot-end fan with the NF-A4x10 FLX as described here or here.
- Replacing the power supply fan with the NF-A9x14 PWM using a custom 3D printed casing for the power supply as shown here or here (also see this PSU cover for the NF-A6x25).
- Replacing the motherboard fan with the NF-A9x14 PWM using a custom 3D printed fan holder frame (also see this mainboard fan holder.
Disclaimer: While many users have reported good results, Noctua can not verify and assumes no liability regarding the correctness of the information contained in such user reports, videos or tutorials. Noctua can generally give no guarantee that a certain fan will work with a specific third-party device because usually, there is no detailed specification regarding fan compatibility and control available for such devices. Please also note that fan compatibility and control can vary from model to model and even from revision to revision even if the devices stem from the same manufacturer. As a result, it is important to make sure that the information or guidelines you rely on when replacing your fans are applicable to your specific model as well as your specific hardware and firmware revision. Due to the possible issues listed above, Noctua recommends that only experienced users attempt to replace pre-installed fans in third party devices and that special care is exercised when handling sensitive components such as power supplies. Please note that since there are so many different devices and most of them lack detailed documentation for fan compatibility and control, Noctua customer support cannot assist you with compatibility issues when replacing pre-installed fans. Please contact your device manufacturer for any questions regarding aspects such as the device’s pin alignment or fan monitoring and control. The pin configuration of Noctua fans is detailed in this FAQ. Noctua can not be held responsible for any damage or losses that may occur when replacing fans in third party devices.
Can I use Noctua fans in my system from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major brands?
How much torque should be used for fan screws?
Where can I find a technical documentation and specifications of the PWM speed control system of Noctua’s fans?
I get a CPU fan error despite the fan is running!
My Noctua PWM fan starts to spin when the PC boots but then stops, what is wrong?

Note that mainboard manufacturers use different terms to indicate that Pin 4 is not being used for PWM control (e.g. “+5V”, “VCC” or “NC”), but if one of these terms is used, you can be sure that the fan header does not support PWM. If Pin 4 is described as “Speed Control” or “PWM” or the like, you can be sure that the fan header supports PWM.
Unfortunately, the description of Pin 2 is not always a clear indication as some manufacturers use terms such as “Fan PWR” or “Power” for both types of fan headers. However, if Pin 2 is described as “Speed Control”, you can also be sure that the fan header does not support PWM based speed control. If Pin 2 is described as “+12V”, this is a clear indication that the fan header supports PWM.
Please also note that in some cases, the descriptions of the pin layouts in the mainboard manuals may not be correct and some models actually allow you to switch the fan headers from voltage control mode to PWM control mode in the BIOS even though the pin descriptions do not indicate PWM support. We thus recommend to look for these options in the BIOS before taking other measures. In case of doubt, please contact your mainboard manufacturer.
To resolve the issue, you can:
Choose a higher fan speed profile in the BIOS (e.g. „normal“ instead of „silent“, etc.) or deactivate automatic fan speed control and use a Low-Noise Adaptor instead.
Use the mainboard‘s fan speed control software or 3rd party tools like Speedfan to regulate the fan speed. Unlike BIOS based fan speed control, the supplied software usually checks whether the fan has stopped and increases voltage accordingly or at least offer more options to set up the fan properly.
If your mainboard features other 4-pin fan headers that use PWM for speed control, you can run multiple fans from these headers using Y-split cables. Make sure not to exceed the specified maximum power draw of the fan headers (usually 10-12W) though.
My Noctua PWM fan runs at a much higher minimum speed than advertised, what is wrong?
- Many mainboards do not go below 40%, 50% or even 60% PWM duty cycle on case fan headers. Please refer to your mainboard manual to verify whether the fan header actually goes down to 20% duty cycle. If that's not the case, in some cases you can use the fan speed control software supplied with your mainboard to overcome these limitations and reduce the fan speed even further. However, 3rd party tools like SpeedFan offer greater flexibility and better options to work around the limitations imposed by the mainboard vendors.
- Some mainboards feature 4-pin fan headers that actually don‘t use a PWM signal on Pin 4 to control the fan speed but rather reduce the voltage on Pin 2 (like a standard 3-pin fan header). As the fan speed at minimum voltage is usually higher than the speed at 20% PWM duty cycle, the fan can not reach as low minimum speeds under voltage control as under PWM control. Please refer to your mainboard manual to check whether or not your mainboard has 4-pin fan headers that control the fan speed by reducing voltage on Pin 2 rather than by changing the PWM duty cycle on Pin 4:
Note that mainboard manufacturers use different terms to indicate that Pin 4 is not being used for PWM control (e.g. “+5V”, “VCC” or “NC”), but if one of these terms is used, you can be sure that the fan header does not support PWM. If Pin 4 is described as “Speed Control” or “PWM” or the like, you can be sure that the fan header supports PWM.
Unfortunately, the description of Pin 2 is not always a clear indication as some manufacturers use terms such as “Fan PWR” or “Power” for both types of fan headers. However, if Pin 2 is described as “Speed Control”, you can also be sure that the fan header does not support PWM based speed control. If Pin 2 is described as “+12V”, this is a clear indication that the fan header supports PWM.
Please also note that in some cases, the descriptions of the pin layouts in the mainboard manuals may not be correct and some models actually allow you to switch the fan headers from voltage control mode to PWM control mode in the BIOS even though the pin descriptions do not indicate PWM support. We thus recommend to look for these options in the BIOS before taking other measures. In case of doubt, please contact your mainboard manufacturer.
If your mainboard features other 4-pin fan headers that use PWM for speed control, you can run multiple fans from these headers using Y-split cables. Make sure not to exceed the specified maximum power draw of the fan headers (usually 10-12W) though.
I get a CPU fan error using my Noctua PWM fan, is it faulty?
I'm experiencing fan speed issues with my motherboard from Supermicro, what can I do?
The BIOS of many motherboard models from Supermicro expects a certain minimum fan speed (usually 600 or 700rpm), which is higher than the minimum fan speed that can be achieved with Noctua's PWM fan models. The BIOS may interpret the low minimum RPM of Noctua fans as a fan error and thus try to run the fan at 100% for a short period before going back to automatic control. This can result in oscillating fan speeds and fan speed warnings in the BIOS or the fan management console.
Unfortunately there is usually no option to set a lower minimum value in the BIOS that would suit the low minimum speed of Noctua PWM fans. The issue can thus only be resolved by either disabling automatic fan speed control in BIOS, which will cause the fans to run at a constant speed, by using 3rd party tools like IPMItool or IPMIutil, or by requesting a modified BIOS file from Supermicro, which takes the minimum fan speed of Noctua fans into account (charges might apply). Please note that any modifications performed with 3rd party tools are done at your own risk and that Noctua can not be held responsible for any possible issues.
How can I check if my 4-pin fan header supports PWM?

Note that mainboard manufacturers use different terms to indicate that Pin 4 is not being used for PWM control (e.g. “+5V”, “VCC” or “NC”), but if one of these terms is used, you can be sure that the fan header does not support PWM. If Pin 4 is described as “Speed Control” or “PWM” or the like, you can be sure that the fan header supports PWM.
Unfortunately, the description of Pin 2 is not always a clear indication as some manufacturers use terms such as “Fan PWR” or “Power” for both types of fan headers. However, if Pin 2 is described as “Speed Control”, you can also be sure that the fan header does not support PWM based speed control. If Pin 2 is described as “+12V”, this is a clear indication that the fan header supports PWM.
Please also note that in some cases, the descriptions of the pin layouts in the mainboard manuals may not be correct and some models actually allow you to switch the fan headers from voltage control mode to PWM control mode in the BIOS even though the pin descriptions do not indicate PWM support. We thus recommend to look for these options in the BIOS before taking other measures. In case of doubt, please contact your mainboard manufacturer.
If your mainboard features other 4-pin fan headers that use PWM for speed control, you can run multiple fans from these headers using Y-split cables. Make sure not to exceed the specified maximum power draw of the fan headers (usually 10-12W) though.
Can I use Low-Noise Adaptors with y-cables / multiple fans?
Yes, Low-Noise Adaptors (L.N.A.s) can be used with y-cables, but please make sure to use one L.N.A. per fan and to place the L.N.A.s between the y-cable and the fans as shown below. Never use one L.N.A. for two (or more fans) by placing it between the mainboard and the y-cable!
How should I clean my Noctua fan?
In order to ensure flawless operation over many years of usage, Noctua’s premium grade SSO bearings are fully sealed to prevent the entering of fine dust particles. Please note that the fan is not designed to be taken apart by the user. Removing the impeller from the frame will break the sealing of the bearing and results in a loss of warranty.
Can I paint my Noctua fan in order to change its color?
How can I find out the direction of airflow and sense of rotation?

The supplied y-cable is missing a wire at one of the two connectors, is it faulty?
Can Noctua fans be used to replace noisy stock fans in switches, routers or other network devices?
Noctua fans such as the 40, 60, 80 or 92mm NF-A series models are ideal for replacing noisy stock fans in switches, routers and other network devices in order to make them quieter and thousands of users have managed to significantly reduce the noise levels of their units this way. However, while it is easy and straightforward to replace the fans in some cases, it can be very difficult in others, so Noctua strongly recommends that users carefully research if it is possible to easily replace the fan(s) of their network device before purchasing a Noctua fan for this purpose. Some of the common issues that can occur when replacing pre-installed fans are:
- Different pin assignment: Whereas Noctua fans use the standardised pin assignment for PC fans (see this FAQ for details), some network devices use different assignments. For example, some devices have the power and GND or rpm and PWM pins swapped. Therefore please carefully verify that your device uses the same pin assignment as standard fans. Experienced users may also change the pin assignment by cutting and resoldering the fan cables, but please note that this will void your Noctua manufacturer’s warranty.
- Different pin functions: Noctua fans use the standardised pin functions for PC fans (see this FAQ for details); however, some network devices use fans where certain pins serve a different function. For example, some devices use the RPM pin for “power good” signals. Therefore please carefully verify that your device uses the same pin functions.
- Firmware speed control: Some network devices demand a certain maximum or minimum fan speed. If the new fan doesn’t have the same or similar maximum or minimum speed, the device may display errors or even shut down.
- Different starting voltage: Most network devices use voltage-based speed control. If the new fan has a higher starting voltage than the original fan, it may not start up right away. This may lead the device to display errors or even shut down because it suspects a fan failure.
- Different power draw: Some network devices monitor the fan’s power draw. If the new fan has a lower power consumption than the stock fan, the device might display errors or even shut down.
Please note that most network device manufacturers don’t provide detailed documentation regarding fan compatibility and control, so users who want to replace the fans of their devices usually have to rely on “How to” guides, blog and forum posts or video tutorials. Please also note that fan compatibility and control can vary from model to model and even from revision to revision even if the devices stem from the same manufacturer. As a result, it is important to make sure that the information or guidelines you rely on when replacing your fans are applicable to your specific model as well as your specific hardware and firmware revision.
Due to the possible issues listed above, Noctua recommends that only experienced users attempt to replace their pre-installed fans in network devices. Please note that since there are so many different devices and most of them lack documentation for aspects such as fan compatibility and control, Noctua customer support cannot assist you with compatibility issues when replacing pre-installed fans. Please contact your network device manufacturer for any questions regarding aspects such as the device’s pin alignment or fan monitoring and control.
Can Noctua fans be used to replace noisy stock fans in NAS devices?
Noctua fans such as the 40, 60, 80, 92 or 120mm NF-A series models are ideal for replacing noisy stock fans in NAS devices in order to make them quieter and thousands of users have managed to significantly reduce the noise levels of their NAS units this way. However, while it is easy and straightforward to replace the fans in some cases, it can be very difficult in others, so Noctua strongly recommends that users carefully research if it is possible to easily replace the fan(s) of their NAS device before purchasing a Noctua fan for this purpose. Some of the common issues that can occur when replacing NAS fans are:
- Different pin assignment: Whereas Noctua fans use the standardised pin assignment for PC fans (see this FAQ for details), some NAS units use different assignments. For example, some devices have the power and GND or rpm and PWM pins swapped. Therefore please carefully verify that your NAS device uses the same pin assignment as standard fans. Experienced users may also change the pin assignment by cutting and resoldering the fan cables, but please note that this will void your Noctua manufacturer’s warranty.
- Different pin functions: Noctua fans use the standardised pin functions for PC fans (see this FAQ for details); however, some NAS units use fans where certain pins serve a different function. For example, some devices use the RPM pin for “power good” signals. Therefore please carefully verify that your NAS device uses the same pin functions.
- Firmware speed control: Some NAS devices demand a certain maximum or minimum fan speed. If the new fan doesn’t have the same or similar maximum or minimum speed, the device may display errors or even shut down.
- Different starting voltage: Most NAS devices use voltage-based speed control. If the new fan has a higher starting voltage than the original fan, it may not start up right away. This may lead the NAS device to display errors or even shut down because it suspects a fan failure.
- Different power draw: Some NAS devices monitor the fan’s power draw. If the new fan has a lower power consumption than the stock fan, the device might display errors or even shut down.
Please note that most NAS manufacturers don’t provide detailed documentation regarding fan compatibility and control, so users who want to replace the fans of their devices usually have to rely on “How to” guides, blog and forum posts or video tutorials. For example, there are excellent video tutorials available for changing the fans in popular Synology NAS models (DS416j, DS1515+ and DS1812+ in English, DS416/DS415/DS916/DS216/DS214 and DS1515+ in German). Please also note that fan compatibility and control can vary from model to model and even from revision to revision even if the devices stem from the same manufacturer. As a result, it is important to make sure that the information or guidelines you rely on when replacing your NAS fan are applicable to your specific model as well as your specific hardware and firmware revision.
Due to the possible issues listed above, Noctua recommends that only experienced users attempt to replace their NAS fans. Please note that since there are so many different NAS models and most of them lack documentation for aspects such as fan compatibility and control, Noctua customer support cannot assist you with compatibility issues when replacing NAS fans. Please contact your NAS manufacturer for any questions regarding aspects such as the device’s pin alignment or fan monitoring and control.
Can I disassemble my fan for cleaning (or other purposes, e.g. painting)?
It is thus recommended to clean your fans using a duster, slightly moist tissue or canned air. Please be careful not to use too much force in order to prevent any damage to the fan. Please don’t use a vacuum cleaner as this may apply excessive force to the fan.
Can I run 4-pin PWM fans on 3-pin fan headers?
PWM fans come with a 4-pin connectors for fully automatic speed control via your mainboard’s 4-pin PWM fan headers. Please note that 4-pin fans can also be connected to your mainboard’s 3-pin fan headers though. When connected to 3-pin fan headers, the fan will run at full speed (unless the mainboard supports voltage based speed control).

What pin configuration do Noctua 12V fans use?

Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
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