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Sound-optimised blade geometry and profile: The NF-S12 is the first fan employing a novel rotor which was developed by the Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV). Thanks to the special optimisation of the blade geometry towards ultra low noise application, the NF-S12 is up to 10% more quiet than current high-end fans at the same flow rate.
Self-stabilising oil-pressure bearing (SSO bearing): The NF-S12 series are equipped with a magnetically centred, self lubricating oil-pressure bearing that provides a new level of quietness and long-term stability.
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Size
120x120x25 mm
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Bearing
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Blade geometry
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Rotational speed (+/- 10%)
1200 RPM
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Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%)
600 RPM
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Acoustical noise
17 dB(A)
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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-S12-1200 Review
Initially, we were quite skeptical that the unusually shaped fan blades could live up to their claim to provide better than usual airflow at low speeds. A similar blade design on an 80mm Mechatronics fan ended up being significantly less efficient when we compared it to more conventional designs. Additionally, the unusually wide clearance between the blade tip and the frame - intended to reduce turbulence noise - made us wonder whether the blades had enough surface area to move a significant amount of airflow.
Happily, the numbers proved Noctua's claims correct. A close analysis of the data showed that, rotation for rotation, the Noctua fans pushed about 20% more air than the rest of the fans in the test. Even better, the Noctua fans did not lose efficiency until the rotation speed dropped to ~400 RPM, while other fans typically dropped off around ~500 RPM. So much for airflow, but what about noise? Certainly, the Noctua fans had the advantage of spinning more slowly to produce the same airflow, but we've long since learned not to judge noise on the basis of rotation speed alone. Luckily, the noise character seemed to consist mostly of the quiet, broadband whoosh of airflow, making it very easy to ignore. Close listening revealed a very slight buzz hidden underneath that gave the noise a slight edge that is absent in the Nexus fan. In contrast, the Nexus sounded more tonal, with more emphasis in the deeper frequencies. Best of all, the better airflow efficiency meant that the Noctua was perceptibly quieter at equivalent airflow than the Nexus. The difference wasn't large, and at low speeds both were quiet enough to disappear entirely. Nevertheless, there was enough difference around ~40 CFM for this reviewer to give the Noctua the nod. |
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Test verdict: "The best fan of the bunch was the Noctua, which overcame our skepticism and lived up to its hype by producing more airflow at lower speeds. Its airflow-to-noise ratio is its best feature, which gives it enough of an edge to make up for its slightly rougher noise character. The Noctua has seen recommendations around the web, and we have no qualms about adding our own to the list." (Devon Cooke, SilentPCReview.com)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
Seriously though after reading in depth about the technology behind being used with the Noctua NF-S12 fans, I believe they have concept that will carry them to a high degree of popularity amongst Enthusiasts and the Silent PC lovers alike.
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Test verdict: "I must also mention that prior to this test I was sold on the Scythe fans and firmly convinced that they had the best volume output to silence ratio on the market. This test changed my opinion completely. The Noctua S12-1200 is far quieter" (Miles Cheatham, Bjorn3d.com)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
Si on se base uniquement sur la performance, on trouvera mieux que les Noctua car ils ne sont évidemment pas destinés à être des monstres. Si on se base sur un bon compromis performances/bruit, les Noctua sont par contre très bien placés. Si on se base à bruit identique par rapport un Papst 4412/FGL par exemple, les Noctua permettent un flux d'air légèrement plus élevé, donc potentiellement un peu plus de performances.
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Test verdict: "...l'impression finale est vraiment excellente..." (David Derosiaux)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
Die Lautstärke der Lüfter ist schon im 12V-Betrieb sehr angenehm. Der NF-S12-800 ist flüsterleise, der große Bruder mit 1200 U/min bleibt jedoch auch auf einem geringen Geräuschpegel. Mit Ultra-Low-Noise-Adapter sind beide Lüfter nur noch aus sehr kurzer Distanz wahrnehmbar.
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Test verdict: "Noctua hat mit der NF-S12-Lüfterserie ein tolles Produkt entwickelt. Die Lautstärke der Lüfter bleibt in beiden Fällen gering, während der Luftdurchsatz sich, zumindest ohne Ultra-Low-Noise-Adapter, durchaus sehen lassen kann. Ebenfalls die Lebensdauer von über 150.000 Stunden und die Garantie von 6 Jahren sind positiv zu erwähnen." (Philip Nadolski, HW-Center.com)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
Noctua NF-S12-800 vipper Tweak'O meter op til 90 points for det anderledes og
spændende design Noctua har forsøgt at lave på deres
blæsere. Noctua NF-S12-800 er kendetenget ved at være uhyggelig
støjsvag men det påvirker også ydelsen lidt og derfor skal denne
blæser hovedsagelig vælges hvis støj er vigtigere end performance.
Prisen virker ikke urealistisk når der ses på specifikationer og
tilbehør til modellen.
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Test verdict: "Noctua NF-S12-1200 bremser Tweak'O meter ved 95 points og dette er igen for det
anderledes og spændende design Noctua har forsøgt på deres
på disse blæsere. Ydelsen er absolut i top kombineret med et godt
støjniveau, men kan høres mere i forhold til den langsommere model.
Prisen er igen meget acceptabel når man ser på specifikationerne og det
tilbehør til modellen." (Kim Christensen, Tweakup.dk)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
La différence entre les deux modèles se situe au niveau de la vitesse de rotation. La version 1200 tourne entre 600 et 1200 tours/minute tandis que la version 800 est plus lente avec une vitesse comprise entre 500 et 800 tours/minute. Dans les deux cas, au régime minimum, la ventilation s'effectue dans le silence absolu.
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Test verdict: "Des ventilateurs véritablement silencieux ! Les 'must-have' si vous recherchez le silence absolu." (Régis Jehl, LesNumeriques.com)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
De NF-S12 is werkelijk een zeer stille fan, maar in het verleden hebben we al gemerkt, stille fans zorgen nooit voor goede koeling, dat is nu weggewerkt door Noctua. De fan is stil en heeft een redelijk grote lucht verplaatsing en dat maar op 1200rpm!
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Test verdict: "De Noctua NF-S12 en de NF-R8 zijn hoge kwaliteits fans die stil en een redelijke koeling geven. De huisstijl is misschien wat appart qua kleuren, maar als je geen casemodder bent en je zoekt stille fans dan is Noctua een merk om niet over het hoofd te zien." (Dennis Eskens, Casetrace.be)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
Después de probar este Noctua NF-S12, nos hemos quedado encantados.
Si buscamos el máximo silencio en nuestro HTPC, tenemos el ventilador ideal. Pero si buscamos un ventilador que refrigere algún equipo con problemas de calor, también lo tendremos. Esto es así gracias al adaptadores de corriente que nos trae como accesorio, consiguiendo tener dos ventiladores en uno. Un ventilador que funcionará a 1200 r.p.m. y un flujo de aire my bueno y otro ventilador que irá a 600 r.p.m., con un caudal de aire aun bueno, pero con menos de 6dB de ruido.
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Test verdict: "Un ventilador excelente, con un ruido extremadamente bajo, que no explica el gran caudal de aire que mueve. Imprescindible para cualquier usuario de equipos HTPC que busquen el máximo silencio pero que no quieran sacrificar la refrigeración de sus componentes." (Miguel Angel Peirats Tuzón, KubycSystem.com)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
NF-S12 to już klasa sama w sobie. Wydajność na
najwyższym poziomie, przy zachowaniu wzorowej wręcz
kultury pracy sprawia, że jest to produkt bliski ideału,
godny polecenia każdemu fanatykowi ciszy.
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Test verdict: "Reasumując, użytkowanie wentylatorów Noctua to
czysta przyjemność, dlatego też oba modele
otrzymują od nas rekomendację! Gratulujemy!" (Tomasz Wec, Overclock.pl)
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NF-S12-1200 Review
En este caso solo probaremos el ventilador a forma muy simple, conectandolo y viendo como funciona, logramos comparar el ventilador conectado de forma normal y despues con el U.L.N.A. (Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor), vemos una gran diferencia en cuanto a sonido del mismo y flujo, el flujo de aire depende si se usa el adaptador o no, pero es excelente en comparacion a otros que solo son esteticos y no completamente funcionables.
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Test verdict: "Estamos frente a un par de ventiladores excelentes, traen lo necesario para su conexion y estan tambien pensados para las personas que tienen problemas con el ruido al venir un adaptador especial para esto y no entrar en gastos en reguladores y aparatos para este fin, sus colores le dan un toque de elegancia y sus terminaciones son perfectas. Estos ventiladores por sus ventajas recibe el premio de Oro de nuestra pagina." (Gonzalo Avendaño Vidal, Review.cl)
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Information Sheet (PDF)
FAQs
Can I use Noctua fans on my fan controller?
How much torque should be used for fan screws?
Can I use Noctua fans in my system from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major brands?
Can I use Low-Noise Adaptors with y-cables / multiple fans?
How should I clean my Noctua fan?
What pin configuration do Noctua 12V fans use?
Can I disassemble my fan for cleaning (or other purposes, e.g. painting)?
Can Noctua fans be used to replace noisy stock fans in NAS devices?
Can Noctua fans be used to replace noisy stock fans in switches, routers or other network devices?
Can I run Noctua 3-pin fans on 4-pin PWM connectors and use my mainboard’s automatic fan controller?
My fan doesn’t spin when I start up the PC - is it faulty?
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
Can I use Noctua fans on my fan controller?
How much torque should be used for fan screws?
Can I use Noctua fans in my system from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major brands?
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.
What pin configuration do Noctua 12V fans use?
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 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 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 I run Noctua 3-pin fans on 4-pin PWM connectors and use my mainboard’s automatic fan controller?
My fan doesn’t spin when I start up the PC - is it faulty?
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
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