Noctua NF-P12 or NF-F12 for pulling on a radiator?

Derico · Feb 4, 2014

Which fan is better? I heard the P-Version with higher static pressure is better for pushing the air against the radiator out ofthe case and the F-Version has a higher CFM which is better for Pulling? Is that true? I want to replace the corsair h100i fans with it.

ihog · Feb 4, 2014

Wait, how are you trying to have your fans set up on the rad?

Derico · Feb 4, 2014

ihog :

Stupid me. Thought i had mentioned that i have them mounted as PULL.

ihog · Feb 4, 2014

Just because you want certain fans to pull doesn't mean you don't want certain fans to push!

I would have the same type of high static pressure fans pushing and pulling, but I'm not sure what would be best for solely pulling. Hopefully, someone can interject with some insight.

Derico · Feb 4, 2014

ihog :

Like i said, i heard in another thread that the NF-F12 are better for pulling due to higher CFM than static pressure. Anyone know if the F-Model is better for me if im planning to pull air from the radiator out of my case??

nukemaster · Feb 4, 2014

I do not think the difference will be that great unless you are pushing insane clocks.

In my testing on an H80i the NF P12's are only slightly better at the same speed than the corsair stock fans(but the sound of the NF P12 was better to me) and testing on a video card(GTX 670 with a LQ310 installed) the AP-15's spinning at about the same speed as the NF P12's are about 1 degree better than it.

If you are after quiet, make sure you get some PWM fans as most boards are starting to drop support for controlling non pwm fans on the cpu header and the Corsair hardware will only control pwm fans as well.

As far as restriction goes if you are pushing or pulling the fan is still working hard enough(i mean it still has to manage to pull air over the fins in the rad when in pull).

CFM drops as static pressure rises, fan CFM is rated in open air, once on a cooler, it drops off quite a bit.

Derico · Feb 4, 2014

nukemaster :

Thanks for your reply. I have a corsair graphite case and corsair a h100i. The case forces me to mount the fans outside the mesh on top of the case like this:

So, pulling the hot air through the mesh, out of the radiator, what would be the ideal choice?

I also found found this on noctua's website

So, the F12 appears to be "1 star" better with radiators than the P12 - whatever that means (maybe only referring to push-fan setup on radiators)?

The P12-Model is better at case ventilation (does that maybe mean it will perform better at drawing air out i.e. pull-setup on radiator like i have?

nukemaster · Feb 4, 2014

I have some S12's and can say they are great at moving air in the open.

I have no experience with the F12's unfortunately. In either case you want pressure so the fan fan pull air or push it. This makes the S12 "bad"(i was surprised to see it only about 2 degrees worse in my own testing, but I am not generating enough heat to separate my small fan collection.)

I almost find it hard to believe the F12's are more quiet than the P12's, but if it is, that would be my option for sure(of your options).

One thing to watch for is sometimes having the fan pulling with a case vent that close fan cause more noise. Some users cut the vent/grille out to fix this

Derico · Feb 4, 2014

nukemaster :

I ll try both the F12's and P12's. As for the grill, i should probably consider cutting out the mesh areas of the case where the fan is mounted on, right? Not the parts where the screws go through, obviously but all the part inbetween them,. I can imagine a decrease of the airflow sound as air is not being pushed against parts of the mesh while its being pulled out anymore as well as maybe a slightly better temperature?

nukemaster · Feb 4, 2014

i am not sure how much you will see temperature wise, but I have heard cases make quite some sound with vents close to pulling fans for sure.

Derico · Feb 5, 2014

But what else am i supposed to do? I have a corsair graphite case and that's pretty much the only way i can mount the h100i in it.
It's not about lowering the temperature (even though that would be a nice side effect). It's about finally losing the weird noise that both the h100i box-fans and the noiseblocker eloop produce.

While the corsair fans made a weird electric tickering sound (bearings?) as i would describe it, the noiseblocker eloops have this constant low hum on all rpm's (vibrations?).
Both sounds were irritating and unacceptable. And again, i am not describing this airflow "wooshing" sound which occurs seperately and (as i understand) is fully normal. It's about the operating noise that i finally want to get under control. This is why ive been looking into 2 different models of noctuas.

I've had a very silent pc before but i still dont think im too critical. Im convinced that if i had a friend or family member come by, they'd be asking me why the coimputer is so loud.

I will receive the Noctua NF-P12 today and i will test them, hoping to see some improvements in noise. And i will try the F12 aswell. I ll keep you posted how it goes.

Derico · Feb 5, 2014

Update: received an answer from noctua support. They say that the F12 version will perform best on radiators and P12 version would be slightly worse but with a benefit of more quietness. Will personally try out the P12 tonight and report back.

nukemaster · Feb 5, 2014

Keep us posted.

If you are up for modding, I would say cutting out that fan grille may have helped the eloops.

So you have no room on the underside for push instead?

Derico · Feb 5, 2014

nukemaster :

Will keep you posted tonight. As for available space in my case. That's what it looked like inside after i put all my hardware pieces together:

No way to have anything directly mounted to the h100i inside the case. It's funny, the case is practically designed for use with the h100i and yet they insist you mount it this way

nukemaster · Feb 5, 2014

corsair also wants the fans to blow into the case not out(so push down into the rad), this may make a noticeable difference in sound.

Derico · Feb 5, 2014

nukemaster :

Really? Is that true? Push air in from the top into the case?

nukemaster · Feb 5, 2014

Corsair recommends(or at least used to) all its Hydro coolers pull outside air into the case. They do this for the lowest possible temperatures. The only problem is you need enough airflow out of the case to remove this extra heat.

I do not do it that way, but it was listed that way.

A quick look at the manual for the H80i and H100i seems to show they no longer have the pictures shown this way, but the text still reads "For the best cooling performance, we recommend mounting the fans as an air-intake to your pc case."

Derico · Feb 6, 2014

nukemaster :

Tried it out. Fans are now blowing into the case onto the radiator and the side door mesh right next to it has 2 fans move the hot air out (i hope).

CPU temps havent changed really

I have 2 Noctua NF-P12 on the radiator now. Definately more pleasant. The first tolerable configuration if you ask me. However, the max rpm (1300) is never reached with corsair link. These dont go beyond 1170 which concerns me a little bit. I want to have fans that are ready to deliver some more air when the cpu its under 100% load.

I wonder how much of an improvement cutting out the mesh between the fans and the radiator will bring temperature and noise wise?

nukemaster · Feb 6, 2014

Are those NF P12 PWM fans or just 3 pin. 3 pin are not controllable in Link. The fans are rated at 1300 +/- 10% may very well be the top speed(1170 would be exactly -10%). Lets hope not, but my AP15's are rated for 1850 and only get to about 1770(still within the specs).

If they are PWM, try a run of Prime95(while watching the cpu temps) and see how they do.

Now as far as cutting the fan grille, it is not that restrictive(not compared to many I have seen in the past), but that fan blades right near it cause more air noise(when the fan is flipped, you have a larger space before the blades because of the motor supports.). I can not even guess how much if any improvement in temperatures you will see.

Derico · Feb 6, 2014

nukemaster :

Hey. The NF-P12 are pwm. I will try out the NF-F12 now and try out removing the top grill this weekend.
Today i had one more crazy idea.

What if i mounted the radiator on the top 2 120mm holes of the Sidedoor-mesh? I could mount 2 120mm fans on top inside the case to pull in cold air that will then be pushed out.

nukemaster · Feb 6, 2014

It may be something to try.

If you find a fan that does not mind the grille, you can try fan pulling in on door then rad and then fans pulling out at the top since heat rises.

Just remember that will the rad on the door it may always be in the way if you like to tinker with the system from time to time.

Derico · Feb 7, 2014

nukemaster :

Hey. It's funny that you say that. I did exactly that yesterday. After giving it a lot of thought, i installed 2 Noctua NF-P12's on the top 2 sidedoor-mesh mounts (Pushing in) and 2 Noctua NF-F12 on the top outside mounts (Pull).
I simply feel more comfortable with these 2 fans pushing cold air in through the sidedoor and having the top fans pull it out through the radiator and the case mesh. A nice side-effect is that the ram gets cooled as well. What do you think?

Temperature wise it's the most effective solution ive tried to far. Im just not so happy with those 2 NF-P12. They start to hum at rpm's higher than 750

nukemaster · Feb 7, 2014

try to swap the F12's and P12's to see if the F12s handle the top better.

Also you have to watch out with fans. Sometimes they will hum at a certain speed, but loose it a bit higher. My S12's did something like that, they had been more quiet at 900 that than they had been at 700ish(I forget the exact speed, but it was the idle speed and it was quite a pain.).

To rule out an issue with the fan, you may also want to try each one at a time to see if one has more hum than the other.

Derico · Feb 7, 2014

nukemaster :

Okay. I have the NF-F12'S on top now Pulling air out.
I have also managed to install a 200mm front fan (Bitfenix Spectre Pro) without me actually having to remove the hard disk cage. Dont ask me why it works with my case but it fits in there. It's pulling air in.

The 2 upper 120mm fan mounts on the sidedoor mesh are equipped with the NF-P12's that are sucking in air from the outside and moving it against rams and h100i pump. I can tell you, these fans (P12) dont like anything beyond 800 rpm. You move 25rpm above it and it will gradually increase to loudly hum like a bumblebee passing by directly by your ear. Both fans do that, so it's surely not a defect.

The NF-12'S remain inaudible (except for the airflow sound obviously) up untill rpm's of 950. That's when you'll start noticing a mid-frequency motor noise. Temperature-wise this seems to be a good setup. I will probably exchange the P12's on the sidedoor mesh for 2 F12's as they seem to remain more inaudible at higher frequencies, more capable of cooling and also seem to convey more a sense of value with their rubber edges for less vibrations.

Tomorrow i will try to remove the front on top mesh grille.

nukemaster · Feb 7, 2014

Well that sucks. I have never noticed too much noise from my P12's(they are older stock, but have always been quiet for me.)

The blades design may create a deeper pitch than you are used to as well. This could be the issue you are hearing(I find a deeper noise less annoying than a higher pitched noise).

Noctua NF-P12 or NF-F12 for pulling on a radiator?

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