- Review -

24.01.2019 PC Gamer

If you care at all about case fans, chances are you know Noctua. It's a trusted favorite among many DIY builders, and for good reason. Noctua builds fans that last a long time, move a lot of air, and do it quietly. The problem: Until recently, buying Noctua fans meant committing yourself to an ugly khaki-and-mud color scheme straight out of the '70s. Noctua was the definition of function-over-form, an engineering wonder that would impress any enthusiast who looked at your PC but disgust everyone else. Noctua's recent Redux line finally rectifies this issue though, recasting time-tested designs in a modern gray-and-black look that won't detract from the rest of your PC build. And of the two Redux models Noctua sent over, the NF-S12B became a quick favorite. It's not as quiet nor as efficient as another blacked out Noctua model, the NF-S12A, but it is cheap. Time was, Noctua fans meant shelling out a lot of money on your build, but the NF-S12B redux balances great performance with a budget-friendly price tag, and looks great in the process.

"You'll find no RGB lighting here – no frills of any kind, really. But the NF-S12B's Self-Stabilising Oil Pressure Bearings will last for years, while moving more air at mid-range speeds than any non-Noctua fan we tested and somehow keeping quieter than the competition as well. It's a clear winner." (Hayden Dingman, PC Gamer)