RGB and fancy colors don’t matter for the Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM fan, only quality and performance do! With a price exceeding 30 dollars it is not affordable, actually more expensive than the mighty Phanteks T30-120, so why prefer it? Read the full review to find out!
Noctua is probably the most popular brand regarding cooling solutions since it focuses on this territory alone. These guys don’t make chassis, PSUs, or other PC parts, only cooling solutions, so it doesn’t surprise me that they raised the bar so high! For over a decade now, Noctua has set the standards in air cooling, first with the NH-D14 and not with the NH-D15, and the same goes for its fans. In this review, I will use my super-expensive Longwin machine to evaluate the NF-A12x25 PWM. I don’t use any ghetto mods and low-grade equipment to perform fan measurements, but I decided to invest a considerable amount to get a Longwin machine for this job. When it comes to fan testing, you either do it properly or not at all. This is my motto, at least.
At the current price of $33, the Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM will have a tough time against the similar-priced Cooler Master Mobius 120 OC and the Phanteks T30-120 fans. The former comes with a lifetime warranty (!), while the latter is the performance king in my normalized noise charts. None of the abovementioned fans has RGB lighting, so if you are into fancy lights, you should look elsewhere, e.g., the Corsair AF120 RGB Elite.
Cybenetics Coolers Database
The NF-A12x25 uses Noctua’s self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearing (SSO-Bearing), an upgraded hydrodynamic bearing featuring an additional magnet to stabilize the rotor axis and decrease friction. According to Noctua, this fan can be used for all applications, cooling AIO radiators and heatsinks, or as a case fan. Its strong point is its high performance in the mid-fan-speed section, where it achieves high static pressure and airflow.
- Model Name: NF-A12x25 PWM
- Fan Speed (with LNA): 2000 RPM ±10% (1700 RPM ±10%)
- Fan Airflow (with LNA): 60.09 CFM (49.7 CFM)
- Static Pressure (with LNA): 2.34 mm-H2O (1.65 mm-H2O)
- Fan Noise Level (with LNA): 22.6 dBA (18.8 dBA)
- Fan Bearing Type: SSO2
- Fan Connector: 4-Pin PWM
- Fan Rated Voltage: 12 VDC
- Fan Rated Current: 0.14A
- Fan Weight: 250g
- Flow Type: Universal with emphasis on static pressure at mid speeds
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 120 mm x 120 mm x 25 mm
- Cable length: 20cm + 30cm NA-EC1 extension cable
- Price (excluding VAT): $33
- Warranty: 6-years
Could you test Be Quiet Silent Wings PRO 4? Most review mentioned that it is better than NF-A12x25 and it is 25mm thick as well.
I will ask from be quiet! to send them over!
Please test silverstone’s shark force fans, their performance is ridiculously good for their size, thickness and rpm but reviews are limited and I cant find any noise to performance ratings like ur extensive testing covers. I have verified from 2 or 3 reviews that the max cfm and static pressure ratings are accurate tho, in terms of raw performance they are very good.
Will ask for them, sure!
Oh nice, thanks!
My pleasure 🙂