Noctua NF-P12 120mm Fan Review

The Technical Bits and Bytes

Before we go into all the intricate details and pictures of the fan itself, there are a number of technical features about the NF-P12 which make it stand out from the crowd. Some of the terms used here seem to be marketing gimmicks upon first glance but I have been told by no less than two engineers (one of whom actually work with wind turbines) that the application of the terminology is completely sound. What does this mean? It means that the design innovations which Noctua claims will benefit these fans are not just idle boasts; they are well-grounded in the real world of engineering.


Specifications



As you can see, the Noctua NF-P12 can operate at three speeds with the included attachments; 1300 RPM (which we will use for all the tests), 1100 RPM and 900 RPM. It should also be noted that to convert M3/H into the more readily used CFM, please use this conversion calculator: Conversion Factors / Conversion Tables / Conversion Charts - convert between differnet units

Basically, this is how it should read:

1300 RPM = 54.3 CFM
1100 RPM = 46.2 CFM
900 RPM = 37.3 CFM

All in all those are very respectable stats. Something else to look at very closely is the MTBF (mean time between failures) which is quite high but on-par with other high end fans. The normal lifespan of a sleeve bearing fan is about 20,000 hours while a normal ball bearing fan usually tops out at around 50,000 hours. This high MTBF means a greater lifespan due to the advanced bearing design which we will look at a bit closer later in this review.


Nine Blade Design



Many of the most popular fans on the market have seven blades which are great for moving air in an open environment but start choking when part of their incoming or outgoing airflow is blocked. Noctua has decided to use a 9-bladed fan design which is made especially for high impedance applications where its static pressure benefits of more blade surface area can come into play. In principle, this type of design can move more air through restrictive spaces than its seven-finned counterparts.

For more information about this Nine Blade Design, please go here: Noctua.at - sound-optimised premium components "Designed in Austria"!


Vortex Control Notches



Another feature that distinguishes the NF-P12 from all of the other fans on the market is the distinct notches on each fan blade. Noctua dubs these indents “vortex control notches” and they are slightly offset from one blade to the next. They are supposed to cut down on the vortices generated by the leading edge of each blade so it doesn’t interfere with the movement of the next blade. This in turn should cut down on the amount of noise generated by this product.

For more information about these notches, please go here: Noctua.at - sound-optimised premium components "Designed in Austria"!


SC Drive



This part is a bit more technical than I can accurately describe but “SC Drive” stands for a Smooth Commutation Drive. This technology basically cuts down on the amount of motor noise emanating from the NF-P12.

For more information about the SC Drive, please go here:
Noctua.at - sound-optimised premium components "Designed in Austria"!


SSO Bearing



By now all of us should know that bearings play a huge roll in both the noise output and the life expectancy of fans. Some fans use fluid dynamic bearings while others use sleeve or ball bearings but Noctua has gone a different route with their SSO bearing. With an MTBF of over 150,000 hours and more technical jargon than you can shake a stick at, it is best if you read Noctua’s technical page to learn more about this marvel of engineering: Noctua.at - sound-optimised premium components "Designed in Austria"!