Test System:

• CPU - Intel i5 760
• CPU Cooling – Noctua NH-D14 (as supplied by Noctua) + Test Fan
• Motherboard - MSI P55-GD65 (as supplied by MSI)
• GFX Card – Inno3D GTX580 OC
• Sound – X-Fi XtremeGamer
• Memory - 4GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3 with Thermal Sensor (as supplied by Crucial)
• Disks – Crucial RealSSD C300 128GB & 1TB Samsung F1
• Optical - Generic DVD RW
• Case – BitFenix Raider
• PSU - Chieftec Nitro 85+ BPS-850C (as supplied by Chieftec)
• On Review – CPU Fan – NF-F12 PWM

To test this new fan, I hooked it up to the Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler (review available here, website page here). Personally I have found this cooler works fine with just 1 fan (it normally comes with 2) as such – this is how I will be testing the NF-F12 – proving its ability to both pull and push air through a cooler.

Up against the NF-F12, I will be testing the:

1. Noctua NF-P12 120mm
2. Noctua NF-P14 140mm
3. Titan Kukri 120mm (TFD-12025H12ZP/KU(RB))
4. BitFenix Spectre Pro 120mm (BFF-SRO-12925KK-RP)

Temperatures were taken from delta readings. For more information on delta temperatures, click here. Testing was carried out by running Prime95 for 30minutes on all 4 cores for load, or left at idle for 30minutes for idle.

In terms of cooling performance, the Noctua NF-F12 comes in joint second place alongside the NF-P14. At 50% it beats the NF-P14, but at 100% the the latter just pulls ahead (it’s so marginal to be honest, I would say they are on par – which is no bad feat given the fact the P14 is a whole 20cm larger than the F12!).

The Titan Kukri may have pulled head by just over 2.25 degrees C, but this fan was really loud in comparison to the Noctua’s, as such, its win is one of function over form and asthetics. As far as noise vs performance goes, I’m confident the Noctua NF-F12 is the winner here.                                                     

It is also worth mentioning that the Titan runs at 2300@100% and 1300@50%, compared to the Noctua which was showing (from SpeedFan) as spinning at 1390@100% and 778@50%. The Noctua has managed to achieve only 2.25 degree warmer cooling, at half the fan speed – this is no small feat.

To try and provide some comparison of performance vs noise, I’ve listed the fans, reported RPM’s and my impression of their noise. I’ve graded them essentially as – are they audible above other sounds? Are they noticeable? Are they intrusive?

As seen above, at 50%, all but the Titan were inaudible above other system sound. When comparing the fans at my desk, I found the BitFenix, and the 140mm Noctua both had some minor bearing noise, other than that though, the fans were all pretty much in the same playing field.

At 100%, I found the 140mm Noctua fairly intrusive – I certainly could hear it above other system noise. The Titan - the “cooling winner” was actually very intrusive and loud – I couldn’t wait for testing of this at 100% to end!

Overall I’ve been impressed with the NF-F12 – the developments in the design over the NF-P12 have certainly aided the F12’s abilities in cooling, generally achieving a 2-3 degree C advantage over the P12, at no additional noise.

Next Page - Conclusion