Conclusion

If one listens close the this model and the previous incarnation then the new one is ever so slightly louder. However this is not detectable by everyday use and will not change the overall score of the product. We appreciate the anti vibration pads which are placed at each corner of the fan ID-Est. where the stress and vibration areas are. Alpenfohn Wing Boost, though cheaper than Noctua are still very expensive and is a brilliant model for any enthusiast system. However once again it is a massive undertaking by Noctua to not only to equal the performance of this fan but to trounce it with ease and as such is an achievement in itself!

Once again Noctua have shown that with a creative mind backed up with quality engineering then the NF-F12 it can be placed ahead of the pack.

Now if only we can have fans based upon a different colour-if only as a limited run then everyone will be happy.

Not only is this product great for normal air cooling but by the evidence given above then the Noctua NF-F12 is leagues ahead when using in a water cooling based environment. If the enthusiasts are willing to pay a premium for those extra three degrees then this product should certainly be on their short-list.

We as a water cooling enthusiast Website do not often give gold awards out to fans as the reason for this is that most are optimised for case air intake fans only. However the Noctua NF-F12 seems to ‘fit the bill’ as a fan designed for us water cooling enthusiasts. As a result we give the NF-F12 a 9.1/10 and therefore a gold award.

Pros:

• Fantastic performance in water cooling
• Great ideas on the anti vibration pads at each corner
• Able to link a series of fan by using only one three pin connector

Author (Gilgamesh) Christopher Cressey