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Noctua
Noctua of Austria makes some boss-ass fans and tower coolers. When I first saw the magnificent NH-D15 chromax.black in 2019, I wept. They have no peer in air cooling (well, they *had* no peer), and their tower coolers can hold their own with AIO liquid cooling solutions.
NA-AVP1 anti-vibration corner pads come in various colors, and can be swapped. Round form factors are wider than their nominal size (150mm vs 140mm) with the mounting holes of a smaller form factor (120mm vs 140mm), and intended for use on tower coolers. NA-SAVP1 is a pack of NA-AVP1s.
I have similar tables for EK-Vardar and Phanteks. Disclaimers: data were taken from Noctua's site, and generally refer to maximum levels. Power, noise, pressure, and airflow are not generally linearly related. Performance curves were taken from wherever I could find them; I cannot speak to their accuracy, and they probably do not reflect equal testing conditions.
"Beherrscht dich ein Gedanke, so findest du ihn überall ausgedrückt, du riechst ihn sogar im Winde." (If you are possessed by an idea, you find it expressed everywhere.)
—Thomas Mann, Tonio Kröger (1901)
120mm fans
| Model | RPM | dB(A) | m³/h | mm H₂O | Color | Power(W) | Comments | Curves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NF-A12x25 PWM | 450–2000 | 22.6 | 102.1 | 2.34 | Brown | 1.68 | 4-pin PWM | 
|
| NF-A12x25 FLX | 1350–2000 | 22.6 | 102.1 | 2.34 | Brown | 1.68 | 3-pin | |
| NF-A12x25 ULN | 1200 | 12.1 | 55.7 | 0.82 | Brown | 0.6 | 3-pin No speed control |
|
| NF-A12x25 5V PWM | 450–1900 | 21.4 | 96.2 | 2.07 | Brown | 1.75 | 4-pin PWM | |
| NF-A12x25 5V | 1900 | 21.4 | 96.2 | 2.07 | Brown | 1.75 | 3-pin Single speed |
|
| NF-A12x25 chromax | 450–2000 | 22.6 | 102.1 | 2.34 | Black | 1.68 | 4-pin PWM NA-AVP1 corners |
|
| NF-A12x15 PWM | 1850 | 23.9 | 94.2 | 1.53 | Brown | 1.56 | 4-pin PWM | |
| NF-A12x15 FLX | 1400–1850 | 23.9 | 94.2 | 1.53 | Brown | 1.56 | 3-pin | |
| NF-A12x15 chromax | 450–1850 | 23.9 | 94.2 | 1.53 | Black | 1.56 | 4-pin PWM NA-AVP1 corners |
|
| NF-F12 PWM | 1500 | 22.4 | 93.4 | 2.61 | Brown | 0.6 | 4-pin PWM | |
| NF-F12 5V PWM | 1500 | 22.4 | 93.4 | 2.61 | Brown | 0.75 | 4-pin PWM | |
| NF-F12 5V | 1500 | 22.4 | 93.4 | 2.61 | Brown | 0.75 | 3-pin | |
| NF-F12 PWM chromax | 300–1500 | 22.4 | 93.4 | 2.61 | Black | 0.6 | 4-pin PWM NA-AVP1 corners |
|
| NF-F12 iPPC-2000 | 450–2000 | 29.7 | 121.8 | 3.94 | Black | 1.2 | 3-pin molex | |
| NF-F12 iPPC-3000 PWM | 750–3000 | 43.5 | 186.7 | 7.63 | Black | 3.6 | 4-pin PWM | 
|
| NF-S12A PWM chromax | 300–1200 | 17.8 | 107.5 | 1.19 | Black | 1.44 | 4-pin PWM NA-AVP1 corners |
|
| NF-S12A PWM | 1200 | 17.8 | 107.5 | 1.19 | Brown | 1.44 | 4-pin PWM | |
| NF-S12A FLX | 1200 | 17.8 | 107.5 | 1.19 | Brown | 1.44 | 3-pin | |
| NF-S12A ULN | 800 | 8.6 | 74.3 | 0.62 | Brown | 0.72 | 3-pin | |
| NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 450–1700 | 25.1 | 120.2 | 2.83 | Grey | 1.08 | 4-pin PWM | 
|
| NF-S12 redux-1200 PWM | 400–1200 | 18.1 | 100.6 | 1.31 | Grey | 0.9 | 4-pin PWM | |
| NF-P12 PWM | 300–1300 | 19.8 | 92.3 | 1.68 | Brown | 0.6 | 4-pin PWM |
140mm fans
| Model | RPM | dB(A) | m³/h | mm H₂O | Color | Power(W) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NF-A14 iPPC-2000 | 500–2000 | 31.5 | 182.5 | 4.18 | Black | 2.16 | 4-pin PWM |
| NF-A14 iPPC-3000 | 800–3000 | 41.3 | 269.3 | 6.58 | Black | 6.6 | 4-pin PWM |
| NF-A14 chromax.Black.swap | 300–1500 | 24.6 | 140.2 | 2.08 | Black | 1.56 | NA-AVP1 corners 4-pin PWM |
| NF-A14 PWM | 300–1500 | 24.6 | 140.2 | 2.08 | Brown | 1.56 | 4-pin PWM |
| NF-P14s redux 900 | 900 | 13.2 | 83.7 | 0.77 | Grey | 0.84 | NA-AVP1 corners 3-pin molex |
| NF-P14s redux 1200 | 1200 | 19.6 | 110.3 | 1.29 | Grey | 1.44 | NA-AVP1 corners 3-pin molex |
| NF-P14s redux-1200 PWM | 350–1200 | 19.6 | 110.3 | 1.29 | Grey | 1.44 | NA-AVP1 corners 4-pin PWM |
| NF-P14s redux-1500 | 450–1500 | 25.8 | 133.7 | 1.91 | Grey | 2.4 | NA-AVP1 corners 4-pin PWM |
| NF-P14r redux-1500 | 450–1500 | 25.8 | 133.7 | 1.91 | Grey | 2.4 | Round fan 4-pin PWM |
| NF-P14 FLX | 750–1200 | 19.6 | 110.3 | 1.29 | Brown | Round fan 3-pin molex | |
| NF-P14 PWM | 900–1300 | 19.6 | 110.3 | Brown | 1.2 | Round fan 4-pin PWM Center fan of NH-D14 | |
| NF-A15 PWM | 300-1200 | 19.2 | 115.5 | 1.51 | Brown | 0.96 | Round fan 4-pin PWM Installed in NH-D15 |
80mm fans
| Model | RPM | dB(A) | m³/h | mm H₂O | Color | Power(W) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NF-A8 chromax.Black.swap | 2200 | 17.7 | 55.5 | 2.37 | Black | 0.96 | NA-AVP5 corners 4-pin PWM |
| NF-A8 | 2200 | 17.7 | 55.5 | 2.37 | Brown | 0.96 | 4-pin PWM |
Tower coolers
Tower coolers typically ship with a tube of NT-H1 thermal compound and LNA (low-noise adapter) cables.
| Model | RPM | dB(A) | Color | Fan(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NH-D15 chromax.black | 300–1500 | 24.6 | Black | 2x NF-A15 HS-PWM chromax.black |
| NH-D15 | 300–1500 | 24.6 | Brown | 2x NF-A15 PWM |
| NH-D15 SE-AM4 | 300–1500 | 24.6 | Brown | 2x NF-A15 PWM |
| NH-D15S | 300–1500 | 24.6 | Brown | NF-A15 PWM |
| NH-D14 | 900–1300 | 19.8 | Brown | NF-P14 PWM + NF-P12 PWM |
| NH-U14S | 300–1500 | 24.6 | Brown | NF-A15 PWM |
| NH-U14S TR4-SP3 | 300–1500 | 24.6 | Brown | NF-A15 PWM |
| NH-U14S DX-3647 | 300–1500 | 24.6 | Brown | NF-A15 PWM |
| NH-U12A | 450–2000 | 22.6 | Brown | 2x NF-A12x25 PWM |
| NH-U12S chromax.black | 300–1500 | 22.4 | Black | NF-F12 PWM chromax.black |
| NH-U12S | 300–1500 | 22.4 | Brown | NF-F12 PWM |
| NH-U9 TR4-SP3 | 400–2000 | 22.8 | Brown | 2x NF-A9 PWM |
| NH-L9i chromax.black | 600–2500 | 23.6 | Black | NF-A9x14 HS-PWM chromax.black |
| NH-L9i | 600–2500 | 23.6 | Brown | NF-A9x14 PWM |
Comparison of different sizes
I've selected a representative 120mm, 140mm, and 200mm fan (coincidentally, these are the same three sizes of Noctua fan that can be placed as designed into a MO-RA3 external radiator). Note that the 200mm has less than half of the static pressure of the other two fans, though it moves more total air (at less RPMs, and more quietly).
| Model | Size(mm) | RPM | dB(A) | m³/h | mm H₂O | Power(W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NF-A20 | 200 | 800 | 18.1 | 146.9 | 1.08 | 0.96 |
| NF-A14 | 140 | 1500 | 24.6 | 140.2 | 2.08 | 1.56 |
| NF-A12x25 | 120 | 2000 | 22.6 | 102.1 | 2.34 | 1.68 |
A MO-RA3 420 can equip (on both the front and back on the Pro, or just the front) 9 120mm fans, 9 140mm fans, or 4 200mm fans. Assuming we fully load it, the differences described earlier are exacerbated. Note that only the 9x140mm arrangement fully partitions the 420x420mm area of the MO-RA3.
| Model | Size(m²) | RPM | dB(A) | m³/h | mm H₂O | Power(W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NF-A20 x4 | 0.16 | 800 | 24.1 | 587.6 | 4.32 | 3.84 |
| NF-A14 x9 | 0.1764 | 1500 | 34.1 | 1261.8 | 18.72 | 14.04 |
| NF-A12x25 x9 | 0.1296 | 2000 | 32.1 | 918.9 | 21.06 | 15.12 |
