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Noctua fans not as good in performance as people think or there is other reason people buy them?

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34K views 134 replies 40 participants last post by  ciarlatano  
#1 ·
Hello,

I'm in a process of buying some case fans and im looking at comparisons, spec sheets. The no-brainer choice would be picking something from Noctua stable, because anytime someone asks for fans people recommend them.

But the thing is, i started looking into spec sheets and for example, the flagship NF-A14 PWM:
- 82.4 CFM and 2.08 mmH2O static pressure
The next to flagship, a stripped down REDUX version:
- 78.69 CFM and 1.91 mmH2O static pressure

Now lets compare it with other fans, for example NZXT Aer P that come with X62 cooling and people keep saying they are bad and had to be replaced
- 98.17 CFM and 2.71 mmH2O static pressure

There are few other fans, that are usually cheaper but give better results either on in both airflow and pressure. So it gets me asking, is there other reason why people like to pick Noctua, beside the brand recognition? Are they picking it purely because Noctua is more quiet (because it is according to spec sheets)?
 
#2 ·
Noise is a factor yes but some like myself buy them more because of their durability
I have Noctua fans that are 10 years old and are still working where every other fan which include Bitfenix, Cooler Master and NZXT has long stopped working

There are better fans than Noctua there are fans that are more quiet and there are fans that are cheaper but i dont know any fans that are more durable so thats why i buy them
I have been looking at Phanteks and Be Quiet fans from time to time but since its so rare i buy fans i have never gotten around to trying them

I would never buy fans from Thermaltake, Cooler Master, Corsair, Bitfenix or NZXT
 
#24 ·
...I would never buy fans from Thermaltake...
I do not disagree that Thermaltake fans are significantly less than stellar compared to others, especially when pulling through a dust filter, but the ones I had in my first build were still working just fine when the MOBO died after almost five years of 24/7 operation (not that I would ever use them again; just because they aren't as good as they claim doesn't mean they are completely no good).
 
#3 ·
Well I have Yate Loons that have been spinning for 10-15 Hours / day since 2008 on Thermochill Radiators without any proper cleaning (just compressed air) and they don't even make any funny noises. I am not saying they are better than Noctua of course (worse performers, louder) but they were really cheap and I am surprised that they are still working.
 
#53 ·
I've had similar results from Yate Loons -24/7 since 2010. I would second your notion of being louder and being perhaps inferior, but durable.
They do make a lot of noise when the room is very cool, and I dont think they would have lasted this long in a horizontal mounting position, but for a cheap sleeve fan, they've been rock solid.
 
#4 ·
NZXT just bamboozled you so mission accomplished on their part.

Do you know what the test methodology/setup is between manufacturers claimed performance specs? Nope.

Don't ever base a fans performance on spec sheet numbers, especially not numbers between different manufacturers.

Check out Thermalbench for objective testing.
 
#5 ·
You're comparing arbitrary numbers IMO. There is no standard for testing case fans so the numbers don't mean much. some are going to be more honest than others as well. Hell there are even RPM differences so if the Noctua is doing it's numbers at half the speed of the NZXT fans obviously the Noctua fans are much better as they are delivering similar performance at a much lower speed...that may not be the case here, that was just an example.

FYI there are different types of fan bearings and even different ones of the same type can have different standards for quality. Ball bearing and other high end bearings that last a long time tend to be more expensive than rifle or sleeve bearings.
Don't go by manufacturer alone, go by legitimate reviews from people that test fans. We have lots of threads on fans.

Ignoring all the above, Noctua is the best because they offer the best color options. :lachen:
 
#23 ·
You're comparing arbitrary numbers IMO. There is no standard for testing case fans so the numbers don't mean much....
The thing you dont seem to realize is that you cannot trust the manufacturers listed specs. You dont know their testing methodology and they often straight up lie...
Exactly!
 
#6 · (Edited)
The thing you dont seem to realize is that you cannot trust the manufacturers listed specs. You dont know their testing methodology and they often straight up lie. If you tried out various fans from different manufacturers you'd quickly find this out. For instance the fans that come with the Fractal Define C have some pretty decent specs on paper and yet you can set them to 100% put your hand under it and literally feel nothing.

What makes a fan good is not CFM or static pressure, but its ability to provide these things at a reasonable noise level. It doesnt matter if the fan can provide 100000 CFM if it sounds like a jet engine.

Noctua fans are good because
1. They provide good airflow at tolerable noise levels.
2. They are high quality and so very durable and long lasting.
 
#7 ·
Hello,

I'm in a process of buying some case fans and im looking at comparisons, spec sheets. [...]

[...]

There are few other fans, that are usually cheaper but give better results either on in both airflow and pressure. So it gets me asking, is there other reason why people like to pick Noctua, beside the brand recognition? Are they picking it purely because Noctua is more quiet (because it is according to spec sheets)?
The airflow and pressure numbers in the spec sheets are simply a lie. You can't use them to compare fans. Perhaps try to find reviews where the fans are used in action somewhere, for example on an air cooler or on a radiator, then see how they compare there.

Even if the manufacturers are technically being honest in their spec sheet, there's something unpredictable happening the moment you move from testing them in free air to adding an obstruction like a grill, dust filters, a radiator, or air having to move around a corner at the case intake. The fans react differently, I guess depending on the shape of the fan blades?

Then adding to the raw numbers, there's the subjective noise created by the fan and this can also change when it's mounted as case intake or on a radiator. There's usually nothing annoying about what Noctua fans are doing so they are a safe choice. They are good if you don't want to experiment with different fans. Their motor makes no strange noises (like a ticking or a whine), and the fan blades usually don't cause the moving air to create any annoying noise besides just the normal "woosh".

The "Redux" line from Noctua is not as good as their newer models. The shape used for the fan blades on the NF-A14 works better. You can get this exact same fan blade shape from Thermalright as well (they were the first with this shape) and the Corsair ML140 fans use it as well.

There are better fans than the ones from Noctua. The "Silent Wings 3" from BeQuiet seem to beat them.

If you want cheap fans, check out the ones from Arctic. They are really hard to beat if you keep in mind their price. For example their 140mm PWM model is around $6 per fan if you buy the 5-pack, and with that 5-pack you get several to compare and it's not a big deal if one of them has an annoying noise. I would choose the Arctic fans over any random fan that I don't know. They are a rather good choice both in regards of performance and for noise as well.
 
#9 ·
Hi,
Yeah I can't get past the retched color they chose personally lol :)
 
#10 ·
Lots of good posts. I've included a link to how fan pressure to airflow curve relates to our uses and how static pressure and airflow ratings are determined in fan specs, Keep in mind most fan specs and related data are with fan at full speed and most of us rarely run our fans at full speed.

There are basically 3 basic types of bearing; 1/ sleeve bearings, 2/ ball bearings and 3/ magnetic bearings. All have good and bad depending on how well designed and made they are. Below is link to more information about bearings:
https://www.overclock.net/forum/23724082-post43.html

Some sites like CoolingTechniques ( http://www.coolingtechnique.com/ ), Thermalbench ( http://thermalbench.com/ ) test fans at different speeds and/or against load restriction like filters, grills, radiators. I suggest using them to determine what fan are good and which are not.

Phanteks PH-F140MP, PH-F140XP, PH-F140SP, PH-F120MP, etc. Thermalright TY-147A, TY-143, etc., some Noctua, some Silverstone, etc. are good. As already said, Arctic are a decent low cost option. What is available and prices in your area make a big difference too.
 
#12 ·
Half of my Noctua fans have developed issues in relatively short order and the ones that still work well were never anything particularly special, considering their price. My NF-P14s (multiple samples from multiple sources purchased at different times) in particular all became unbalanced and started vibrating or producing audible clicking noises after 6-12 months of use.
 
#13 ·
When you're evaluating fans you look at noise and airflow/pressure, not just airflow/pressure (unless you're building a server and you don't care if it's loud). People like Noctua because their fans are among the best performers in each category in terms of noise per performance, and because they are very well built and last forever (they advertise 150K hours MTTF which is a very long time). I think they have 5 or 6 year warranties too.

The Be Quiet SW3 compares favorably to the NF-A12 and is quieter, but has less airflow and static pressure. If you throttled an NF-A12 down to the same level of airflow it would probably be about the same noise. I still go with Noctua's build quality, but no doubt both are good fans. However, if you just want airflow for a case fan and don't care about pressure, the Noctua NF-S12A has 25% more airflow than the SW3 and is only 1 db louder.

Their static pressure fans (NF-F series) also put out tons of static pressure for the level of noise they make, compared to most other fans on the market. There's a reason why Asus is using them on their new AIO coolers.
 
#14 · (Edited)
You can't rely on the spec sheets alone. You need to look at actual reviews (REAL reviews, like Thermalbench and Coolingtechnique). Fans act differently when some restriction is applied.

Noise is also a factor, since the dba numbers alone do not tell you the whole story. Different fans have different sound signatures, with different tonalities. Example: Vardar fans are often quoted as having low dba ratings for the speed they run at (and reviews also show they are quieter than most similar fans), but just ask anyone that has used them and they will tell you they have an unpleasant sound signature.


As for Noctua fans, at least for their regular fans (not the ippc ones or redux lines), they are good. Performance is top-notch and they are indeed silent, with no weird tonality issues (unless you have a very picky ear). However, there are fans out there that do 90% of what Noctua fans do for a fraction of the price. This is where the main issue is (at least for me). Sure, they bundle a lot of useful accessories with their fans, so it's not that bad. Their Chromax line is just a rip off in my opinion. $3-$5 extra just for the color change and LESS bundled accessories. It's like the whole line is a big middle finger to all the people that were complaining about their fans colors.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for all the replies, you shook my world, my whole life was a lie but you have enlightened me. I love you and hate you at the same time :p Before i would just pick a fan with higher number and be done with it but now i know what really matters... and now even picking a fan became a bit more complicated matter XD
 
#17 ·
Btw. yesterday i contacted Noctua support about P-Q curve about one of their fans (NF-A14 industrialPPC-2000 PWM) and just heard back from them (see attached). Do you think comparing these P-Q curves would be a reliable way to compare fans or the P-Q curves still suffer the same flaws as spec sheets (we dont know how the Static Pressure was measured and how they measured airflow)?
I might go and contact other fan manufacturers for extended spec information like these P-Q curves.
 

Attachments

#19 ·
Anyone can draw a nice chart and call it a P-Q curve, jeje. It's better than what most do, but I would still go to actual reviews. Also, I find general P-Q charts like that not that useful for real situations (they are still good to have). The chart like the one you posted shows how the fans perform at full rpm. Okay, but I don't run my fans like that all day. Graphs and charts like the ones from Thermalbench are far more useful, where they show performance from the same fan for different rpm steps. Most any fan will perform great at +2k rpm, but I want to know how they perform at 1k or lower rpm.

Sent from my Redmi 4A using Tapatalk
 
#18 · (Edited)
Last years before NF-A12x25 series Noctua had nice fans but they lived on old glory when other brands didn't had such good fans, some of them didn't even made fans or exist I think when Noctua had great fans.
But they lived on glory of best Air coolers, nicest package, nice material and impression better than Asian manufacturer.

But for 120mm fan customers had a lot a better choices 5 years in back.
Now finaly Noctua have products for next years to satisfied demands of their customers with Air coolers and customers of watercooling systems.
I always asked self why they never made some universal GPU cooling?
Maybe because price and because now vendors of GPU offer very good GPU coolers.

Now Noctua only need NF-A12x25 in 92mm version and 140mm version.
I look from side of normal user who don't OC or OC little, no way to use bigger cooler than NH-U9, no any way.
120mm CPU are big, I saw they prepare some new 120 CPU Cooler with NF-A12x25 PWM but most of people need smaller but good performer.

But these NF-A12x25 no way to change them.
30cm distance, out of case, 2000RPM on radiator, you hear only air.
On 1200RPM you will significant ammout of air below Coolstream PE radiator.
No reason to keep them below 1500-1700RPM and in pair with some huge radiator as Nemesis GTR, 4th generation 5.5cm, best possible performance.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Just heard back from NZXT about P-Q specs...:lachen: You guys were right about them

Hello! We've got news for you: Your ticket xxxxxx has been updated. Feel free to reply to this email with any questions or follow this link to add an update: support.nzxt.com/hc/requests/xxxxxx

Good day!
Unfortunately we do not have a graph with this information available.

<name removed by OP>
NZXT
nzxt.com

Thanks,
Your friends at NZXT
 
#26 ·
They have had consistent quality control (other than a coloring fiasco when they started to produce fans in China) and a great warranty, at least that is what they are known for.
 
#27 ·
#28 · (Edited)
#33 ·
The Noctua IPPC versions are essentially the same as the standard NF-A or NF-F models, they just spin to a higher RPM and are obviously louder at those higher speeds. If you throttled down the IPPC fan to the 1500 RPM max of the normal fan then in theory the noise level and airflow should be the same as one of those at max speed. I like these because they give you more headroom if you need it, but you can also just use them at lower speeds and they're just like the standard fans.
 
#35 ·
They use a different motor, which is a tad louder and with a different sound profile. Some people find them irritating.

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#34 ·
Are Panaflo fans no longer good?
 
#36 ·
People usually got such fans to put on a fan controller and run them at 5V or so, ramp up as needed. Back then there were very few regular fans that could match them even at such low speeds. At 7V and beyond they would get loud, with the typical roaring sound of fans with such big hubs. These days you can easily find regular fans that will perform similar at more acceptable noise levels. I still have several medium and low speed Panaflos, but I find that my Noctuas and Phanteks outperform them when you factor in noise.
However, if you are looking for monster +3k rpm fans, things like Delta and Panaflo are unmatched.

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#40 ·
You can't compare the specification directly. They are different companies and they do the test differently. There isn't a scandalized test for fans that is done by everyone, most of them are inhouse test. So you need a third party that can test them in the same configuration to see if there is a difference. Steve from GamerNexus talked about it and that's why he is making a wind tunnel for testing to be consistent.
 
#42 · (Edited)
Overclockers.com also has a very extensive fan roundup with some data accounting for dust filters, air coolers, and more restrictive radiators, as well as free air cfm and spl. Sadly, they don't do noise testing with restriction, but you can still paint a good picture of a fan with their data along with referencing Thermalbench's and Coolingtechnique's data.

Those three websites are definitely the go-tos for in-depth fan testing. VSG, who owns Thermalbench, also does fan and watercooling component testing at Techpowerup, but they're not as detailed as the ones on his website (mainly because of a lack of line-graphs that show progressive data instead of "snapshot" bar graphs). Not bad data, but just not as much as the other three.

One of the big drawbacks of server fans is their motors and bearings can be pretty noisy, especially the thicker ones. I personally do not like their noise profile. Then again, I can only speak for the Delta fans that I have, the AFB1212SHE PWM. The Silverstone FHP141s also have some bearing and motor noise (some click), and I've been through around 4-6 of those. Not very reliable fans.

As far as the Noctua fanboyism, there are a few good points to why people like their fans. While they cost a bit more, they have great warranties, they have a good reliability track record, their customer support is great, and they also include some nice accessories with their products, namely those lna resistors and extension cables. They've come in handy a few times for me. Rubber dampening on the fans is also a nice touch.

Right now, they have overall the best 120mm fan out right now, and their A14s aren't bad fans by any stretch although there are some better performing ones on the market. I also find that the noise profiles on their fans are light on the ears.