- Review -

10.09.2012 Neoseeker.com

Noctua's NF-F12 proved to be a formidable competitor in all three of our tests, though it fell behind the SP120 PE from Corsair by a single degree celsius in both the GPU and chipset portion of the testing. However both Corsair's SP120 PE (35dBA) at 2350rpm and the AF120 QE (30dBA) at 1650rpm produced more noise when compared to Noctua's NF-F12 (22.4dBA) at 1500rpm. Just a little something to be considered when looking at the overall performance of the fans. When it came to the overclocked CPU test, Noctua's NF-F12 took the lead. With the addition of all the new technologies, it probably comes as no surprise that Noctua's NF-F12 is a strong competitor. The most important of the new features include the Stator Guide Vanes, which as mentioned before serve to help to focus the airflow coming into the fan. Another new feature is the (ISM) or Inner Surface Microstructures. As the fan blade tips slice or pass through the periphery layer generated by the ISM, flow separation from the suction side of the blades is greatly decreased, resulting in reduced noise from blade movement along with an increase in airflow and pressure performance. Overall the performance of the NF-F12 was outstanding and the fans were extremely quiet as promised thanks to the second generation SSO2 bearing. The included bundle of accessories was extensive to say the least, with the included 30cm extension cable, Y-cable adapter to add a second NF-F12 fan, and the (LNA) Low Noise Adapters which in my opinion are not required because again these fans run quiet as they are.

"Once again Noctua has delivered a high quality product in terms of craftsmanship and performance with the NF-F12 fans." (Roger Cantwell, Neoseeker.com)