Case Fan Suggestions: Noctua NF-S12A, NF-P12 & NF-F12

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J

JdotH

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Aug 27, 2011
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Hi All :)

Im looking to replace my NF-S12B Redux case fans because they arent PWM. Looking to be able to make everything silent when Im not rendering through PWM control. However, some fans seem to still be audible or worse yet not efficient when slowed down or put behind dust filters.
All fans need to be 120mm.

So Ive got 3 choices in mind:
Noctua NF-12A PWM
Noctua NF-P12 PWM
Noctua NF-F12 PWM

Ive heard varying reports on how loud these fans are. Read the S12A can be loud or perform lousy when placed up against a air filter. Also heard the P12 is loud as well....Read some people suggesting NF-F12 for intake fans.

So heres where I need some fans & thus your recommendations:

3 intake (all intakes have large honeycomb mesh grills+ dust filters infront of fans)
1 mid tunnel case fan located in the middle of the case internally and behind the middle intake fan (guess they wanted to direct that intake fan air right at the gpu)
1 side panel fan (large honeycomb mesh grill ) blowing directly on gpu

So again I'm looking for best airflow and quietness....
As a reference pointthe NF-S12B Redux fans are decently quiet at full speed (no motor noise just alot of air turbulent sound). However, not being PWM means I cant make them dead quite during normal PC use.

So far I believe I will place 3x P12 as intake if these are just as quiet and actually push more air behind the dust filters than my current NF-S12B Redux fans...if not then I will use S12A)
Then use 1x S12A in the middle tunnel of the case (it seems to be more of an unrestricted airflow fan)
And finally 1x S12A in the side panel for the gpu.

What about NF-F12 as intake fans due to my filter + honeycomb grill?

Any one had any experience with these and know if one is better or quiter than the other when put behind dust filters? ...Or should I just use S12A or P12 for all of the fans and not mix them up?

Thanks guys! :D
 
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T

Tuoni

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Jun 23, 2015
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I think you're thinking in the right direction.

The NF-12A will move the most air but only in unrestricted airflow situations. Mesh+dustfilter is not exactly a unrestricted airflow situation i would say.
NF-F12 is on the opposite side of the NF-12A. NF-F12 moves not nearly as much air as the NF-12A but it is capable of generating much more pressure then the NF-12A with a much more focused airflow which makes it ideally suited for heatsinks/radiators.
The NF-P12 is in between the NF-12A and the NF-F12. It moves more air then the NF-F12 but not as much as the NF-A12 yet it's capable of generating more pressure then the NF-12A but not as much as the NF-F12.

I think that the NF-P12 is the best option when there's restricted airflow due mesh panels and dustfilters so use the NF-P12 as front intake.
Use the NF-A12 for the mid tunnel position as it sounds like there will be not much restriction for the airflow there.
Side panel is a bit tricky as i don't know what mesh you're talking about. NF-12A good be a good option or maybe even the NF-P12 if it's a fine mesh panel.

I don't really see the need for the NF-F12 as intake fan fan unless you need either the focused airflow it provides or the very high pressure it can generate.. for the regular mesh panel with dustfilter the NF-P12 will generate enough pressure and generates more airflow then the NF-F12.
Personally i also find that the NF-F12 tends to generate a high(er) pitched sound when running at 900+ RPM which i find more annoying then the soft "hum" of the NF-P12/NF-12A when they run at full speed.
 
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