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Being a 5V fan, the NF-F12 5V PWM cannot be run at 12V and will be damaged when used with typical 12V power sources such as PC motherboard fan headers. |
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5V PWM version
5V fans are used in various devices and applications. With the included USB power adaptor cable and OmniJoin™ adaptor set, the NF-F12 5V PWM is a proven premium solution that gives you full flexibility both for replacing existing 5V fans and for new, custom applications.
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Focused Flow™ frame
Designed for pressure demanding applications such as heatsinks and radiators, the Focused Flow™ frame features eleven stator guide vanes that straighten, channel and focus the airflow, which allows the NF-F12 to rival the performance of conventional fans running at much faster speeds.
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Varying Angular Distance and Vortex Control Notches
The NF-F12's stator guide vanes are set out in Varying Angular Distance and feature Vortex-Control Notches. Both measures help to spread the noise emission over a broader frequency spectrum and thus make the fan's sound pattern more agreeable to the human ear.
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Heptaperf™ Impeller
Custom designed for the new Focused Flow™ frame and to work in tandem with the eleven stator guide vanes, the NF-F12's seven blade Heptaperf™ impeller has been carefully optimised to achieve a perfect balance between power and quietness.
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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 screws and other mounting systems.
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Custom-designed PWM IC with SCD
Supporting fully automatic PWM speed control, the NF-F12 5V PWM uses Noctua's novel, custom-designed NE-FD3 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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Polarity protection
As many devices using 5V fans feature proprietary connectors, and documentation of the pin alignment may not be available, the fan features an integrated diode for polarity protection. This way, you're on the safe side if you accidentally connect it with reverse polarity.
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SSO2 Bearing
The NF-F12 is the first fan to feature 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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Metal bearing shell
In order to guarantee the highest possible degree of manufacturing precision, minimum tolerance and excellent long-term stability, the NF-F12 sports a CNC milled bearing shell made entirely from brass.
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OmniJoin™ Adaptor Set
Many devices featuring 5V fans use proprietary fan headers, so the NF-F12 5V PWM comes with Noctua’s OmniJoin adaptor set. Just cut the original fan’s cable, fix it to the adaptor using the supplied 3M Scotchlok™ connectors and you can plug the NF-F12 5V PWM to proprietary fan headers!
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USB power adaptor cable
The fan includes a USB power adaptor cable that allows it to run on power banks, devices with USB host ports or USB power supplies such as those used for smartphones, giving you near endless possibilities for using the fan in your home, in your car or wherever a need for cooling occurs!
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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.
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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-F12 features an MTTF rating of more than 150.000 hours and comes with a full 6-year manufacturer's warranty.
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Notes and warnings
Being a 5V fan, the NF-F12 5V PWM cannot be run at 12V and will be damaged when used with typical 12V power sources such as PC motherboard fan headers.
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Size
120x120x25 mm
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Mounting hole spacing
105x105 mm
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4-pin PWM
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Bearing
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Blade geometry
Heptaperf™
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Frame technology
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Rotational speed (+/- 10%)
1500 RPM
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Min. rotational speed (PWM, +/-20%)
300 RPM
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Acoustical noise
22,4 dB(A)
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Static pressure
2,61 mm H₂O
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Max. input power
0,75 W
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Max. input current
0,15 A
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Operating voltage
5 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-F12 5V PWM Review
Salta a la vista que cuanto más grande es el ventilador más se nota la diferencia de temperatura del router, si bien es cierto que el NF-F12 gracias a su tecnología que hace que el aire salga más recto, se comporta incluso mejor que el modelo de 140 mm. También es sorprendente que con el pequeño NF-A4x10 de solo 40 mm de diámetro, se logra bajar la temperatura del router un par de grados; sinceramente, yo esperaba que su efecto fuera nulo, ya que depende mucho de en qué zona del router lo pongamos dado su pequeño tamaño.
No obstante, también hay que decir que algunos de ellos son bastante ruidosos dado que conectados por USB funcionan siempre al máximo. El modelo de 200 mm es prácticamente inaudible, y me ha sorprendido también el poco ruido generado por el NF-A12x25 y el gran flujo que ambos son capaces de mover. En definitiva son los dos que me han parecido mejores en todos los aspectos.
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Test verdict: "Con esta nueva familia de ventiladores capaces de funcionar a 5V e incluso por USB, Noctua amplía el espectro de posibilidades que brinda añadiendo compatibilidad con dispositivos como impresoras 3D o NAS, con el añadido de que podremos aumentar el elenco de posibilidades hasta donde nos llegue la imaginación gracias a que son compatibles con USB, y todo con la calidad y el rendimiento a los que nos tiene acostumbrados este fabricante austriaco." (Rodrigo Alonso, HardZone.es)
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NF-F12 5V PWM Review
Вне зависимости от выбранной модели вы получаете отличную эффективность, очень тихую работу, а что самое главное – 6-летнюю гарантию, что означает полную уверенность производителя в качестве выпускаемой продукции. Да, стоимость всё-таки выше, чем у безымянных аналогов, но и сравнивать их с премиальными вариантами Noctua попросту глупо. Абсолютно все рассмотренные в данном материале модели вентиляторов совершенно заслуженно получают награды “Выбор редакции”!
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Test verdict: "Вне зависимости от выбранной модели вы получаете отличную эффективность, очень тихую работу, а что самое главное – 6-летнюю гарантию, что означает полную уверенность производителя в качестве выпускаемой продукции."
(Солонин Владимир, GreenTechReviews.ru)
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NF-F12 5V PWM Review
no tenemos sino palabras de agradecimiento a Noctua por la realización de estos productos, donde podemos observar que todos destacan en una calidad excepcional
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Test verdict: "no tenemos sino palabras de agradecimiento a Noctua por la realización de estos productos, donde podemos observar que todos destacan en una calidad excepcional" (Sergi Sanz, PCReviews.es)
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NF-F12 5V PWM Review
Mit dem NF-F12 5V u. NF-F12 5V PWM hat Noctua sein Sortiment um zwei weitere 120-mm-Lüfter erweitert, deren Einsatzgebiet aufgrund der Betriebsspannung von 5 Volt jedoch nicht direkt innerhalb des PCs zu finden ist, sondern überall dort, wo ein entsprechender 5-Volt-Lüfter arbeitet. Die beiden Lüfter können hier nicht nur als Ersatz für einen defekten Lüfter dienen, sondern auch dafür sorgen, das Geräuschlevel der entsprechenden Komponente zu senken.
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Test verdict: "Trotz der geringen Betriebsspannung können die beiden Lüfter die gleiche Kühlleistung wie die 12-Volt-Variante des NF-F12 erreichen. Durch den speziellen Aufbau, über welchen die Modelle der NF-F12 Reihe verfügen, können auch die beiden 5-Volt-Modelle einen hohen statischen Druck aufbauen, wodurch sie sich bestens für den Einsatz auf einem Kühlkörper oder Radiator eignen. " (Patrick Seus, mod-your-case.de)
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NF-F12 5V PWM Review
Noctua ha da sempre l’abitudine di portare sul mercato prodotti eccezionali, anche questa volta ci riesce sia a livello prestazionale che a livello qualitativo. Le proposte viste oggi si adattano in pratica a quasi tutti i possibili usi per quanto riguarda i piccoli e grandi elettrodomestici, l’interfaccia a 5v allontana in parte dal mondo dei PC queste proposte. Durante i nostri test abbiamo provato a vedere come sarebbe possibile usare questi prodotti con elettrodomestici che sicuramente tutti abbiamo in casa. Cominciamo dal modem, noi ci affidiamo ad un Fritz!Box 7590 che è tra i più potenti sul mercato, ma anche questo soffre il caldo estivo. Abbiamo adagiato una ventolina da 4 cm vicino ad una delle feritoie e dimezzato le temperature in un attimo, semplicemente alimentandola con l’USB dello stesso. Stessa cosa abbiamo fatto con un box android vecchio stampo, che dopo una decina di minuti cominciava a scaldare e attivava la sua fastidiosa ventolina, anche qui la piccola ventola da 4 cm ha fatto il suo miracolo. Abbiamo montato due fa 8 cm dietro una PS4 pro, diminuendo drasticamente il rumore prodotto dalla stessa. Gli elettrodomestici forniti di USB che potrebbero giovare di una ventola Noctua sono tantissimi.
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Test verdict: "Noctua ha da sempre l’abitudine di portare sul mercato prodotti eccezionali, anche questa volta ci riesce sia a livello prestazionale che a livello qualitativo." (Mauro Santoro, HWready.it)
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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 I use the NF-F12 in push/pull configurations?
How much torque should be used for fan screws?
How should I clean my Noctua fan?
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?
How can I find out the direction of airflow and sense of rotation?
Can I paint my Noctua fan in order to change its color?
What pin configuration do Noctua 5V fans use?
Which Noctua fan or CPU cooler should I buy? How to choose the right model?
Can I use the NF-F12 in push/pull configurations?
Where can I find a technical documentation and specifications of the PWM speed control system of Noctua’s fans?
How much torque should be used for fan screws?
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 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.
How can I find out the direction of airflow and sense of rotation?

Can I paint my Noctua fan in order to change its color?
What pin configuration do Noctua 5V fans use?

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