Introduction
Noctua is a brand that requires no introduction as it is currently one of the market leaders when it comes to high-end CPU coolers and Case Fans.
The Noctua NF-A12x25 is the embodiment of their core values, as it provides great performance, exceptional build quality, and distinguied reliability. However, whether the NF-A12x25 are for everyone is debatable, which is why we will be comparing them to few locally available fans.
Unboxing
Noctua strives to provide quality products, the philosophy is seen in its packaging. As soon as you grab the Noctua NF-A12X25, you can feel the box is there to provide a premium unboxing experience.
On the front, you can find a snippet of the fan itself. The box has a white and brown design, similar to the iconic color of Noctua. You can also find few specifications of the fan printed on the front.
Once you open the flap that its held by Velcro, you can see a glimpse of the fan with the included components illustrated on top of it. On the left side, Noctua provides a P/Q curve comparison.
On the sides, you will find the model number, an illustration of the fan, and few bar codes.
At the back, Noctua provides a detailed specification regarding the NF-A12x25. Additionally, you can also find the product description in seven different languages.
Inside you will find the fan along with the additional components securely packed in a plastic enclosure. The NF-A12x15 follows the renowned beige and brown color scheme of Noctua products.
In addition to that, the box includes the follow components:
- NF-A12x15
- 30cm extendsion Cable
- 4-pin y-cable
- Low-Noise Adapter (L.N.A)
- NA-AV2 anti-vibration mounts
- Fan Screws
- Anti-vibration gasket for water-cooling radiators
- Manual
The NA-EC1 Extension Cable allows you to route your fan properly as it adds 30cm to the total length.
Specs
| Model | NF-A12x15 PWM |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 6 Years |
| Fan Blades | 7 |
| Fan Bearings | SSO2 |
| Static Pressure | 2.34 mm |
| SP W/ Low Noise Adapter | 1.65 mm |
| Dimensions | 120 x 120 x 25 mm |
| Rotational Speed | 2000 RPM |
| RS W/ Low Noise Adapter | 1700 RPM |
| Acoustical Noise | 22.6 dB(A) |
| Airflow | 102.1 m³/h |
| Airflow W/ Low Noise Adapter | 84.5 m³/h |
| Max Input Power | 1.68 W |
| Rated Voltage | 12V |
| Connector | 4-Pin PWM |
| Lifetime MTBF | 150.000 h |
Features
The Noctua NF-A12x15 brings a plethora of features to the table including its Ultra-Tight tip clearance of 0.5mm which improve the overall air pressure. This is possible due to the Sterrox material used in the 7 fan blades which reduces the Impeller Creep and allows for a tighter fan design. Once you pick up the fan, you can instantaneously notice the weight difference between the NF-A12x15 and a typical case fan. These fans are made to provide exceptional airflow within your PC, as they have a max RPM of 2000 with an acoustical level of 22.6 dB. If acoustics are an issue, you can use the Low-noise adapter (L.N.A) to bump it down to 1700 RPM which will produce an inaudible level of 18.8 dB.
Benchmarks
PC owners always try to achieve the lowest temperatures they can to not only overclock their hardware to its full potential but also increase the life expectancy of their components. However, in extremely hot climates, keeping temps below the red line becomes an arduous task which is where these enthusiast grade components become pivotal. To ascertain whether Noctua NF-A12x15 are worth the cost, we will be be comparing them with a few locally available fan offerings to see if there is a difference in temps in the hot climate of Pakistan.
| CPU | Ryzen 7 2700x |
|---|---|
| Motherboard | MSI B450 Tomahawk |
| GPU | Radeon RX 5700XT Sapphire Nitro+ |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB 8x2 3200Mhz |
| CPU Cooler | Gelid Phantom Black |
| Casing | NZXT H510i |
| PSU | Antec EAG Pro 650w 80+ Gold |
The fans under scrutiny include:
- Noctua NF-A12x25
- Thermaltake Riing 12 Sync
- Cougar Vortex SPB 120
- DIY
In order to garner the data, each set of fans were tested thrice. Each run entailed a 10 minute stress test on AIDA64. The ambient temperature was closely monitored to mitigate any inconsistencies within the results. Therefore, 35.7c was maintained throughout the testing period.
The results are presented below:
| Fan | Ambient Temp | Max Temp | Idle Temp | Fan Config. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noctua | 35.7c | 85.5c | 51.8c | 4 Noctua Fans |
| Noctua + Stock | 35.7c | 86.1c | 52.1c | 3 Noctua + 1 Stock |
| Thermaltake Riing | 35.7c | 87.3c | 53c | 3 Thermaltake+ 1 Stock |
| Thermaltake Ring + Noctua | 35.7c | 86.8c | 52.3c | 3 Thermaltake + 1 Noctua |
| Cougar | 35.7c | 91.2c | 53.1c | 3 Cougar + 1 Stock |
| Cougar + Noctua | 35.7c | 89.1c | 52.8c | 3 Cougar + 1 Noctua |
| DIY | 35.7c | 89.8c | 53 | 3 DIY + 1 Stock |
| DIY + Noctua | 35.7c | 88.4 | 52.7 | 3 DIY + 1 Noctua |
The results indicate the NF-A12x25 managed to keep the Ryzen 7 2700x the coolest at 86c during a synthetic stress load. The Noctua NF-A12x25 were running at their maximum 2000rpm. In terms of comparison, only the Thermaltake Riing were able to keep up a good result at 87.3c at a maximum RPM of 1500. The Cougar SPB 120 and the DIY fans presented a poor result where the Ryzen 7 2700x crossed the 90c mark.
Check out the NF-A12x25 here.
Noctua intends on releasing new fans and coolers. Learn more here.
