Cooling New Alphacool SL-15 (120x120x15mm) SFF fans - Noctua budget competitor?

Firebear

Trash Compacter
Original poster
Oct 17, 2019
35
14
Alphacool released their new SL-15 fans today

They price at € 11.69 (US$ 14,17).

Technical DataAlphacool SL-15Noctua NF A12x15 (as comparison)
Speed600 - 1800rpm450 - 1850rpm
Accoustics32 dB(A)23,9 dB(A)
Air Flow Ratemax 71,36 m³/hmax 94,2 m³/h
Static Pressure1,2 mm H2O1,53 mm H2O
MTTF50.000h150.000 h




Compared to the Noctua NF A12x15 (chromax) they definitely are cheaper (in Quality, too I suppose) and in terms of specs also a bit worse.
If you will run your fans failry low anyways tho, I suppose it won't make much of a difference to Noctua.
If you care about color and were to buy the Noctua Chromax NFA12-15 then you would save 10€ per unit. If you e.g. go for a 2 rad Ncase M1 style setup and you need 4 or more then you definitely save a a bit of money (although at that price point: would you cheap out?)

I'm tempted to buy and try it when I will build my Acat X2 dual rad buildin Q1 2021. Competition is always nice.

What are your thoughts?
 
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biopunk

Airflow Optimizer
Sep 24, 2020
248
359
These seem to be quite loud.

I think ID-COOLING NO-12015-XT might be a better budget alternative if they indeed have higher static pressure than Noctua A12x15 but they are also loud:

I found these specs on eBay but the official site doesn't list static pressure which is weird.
NO-12015-XT are sold on eBay for £8 and on AliExpress for less than £4.
 
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SFF Watercooled

Master of Cramming
Sep 26, 2020
398
172
In terms of specs, A12x15 is a lot better:
Lower noise
Better airflow
Better static pressure
Lasts longer

But again, the SL-15 is half the price
 
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Skripka

Cat-Dog Perch Manager
May 18, 2020
443
543
Remember when reading those spec sheets....noise comparisons across brands are never fair due to differences in measuring techniques and tools and setup. But, they are generally the best foot-forward attempt to make the data look better.

That being said. Presuming the tests are fair apples/apples....The Noctua moves air faster, with more pressure, and does it at half the perceived loudness. Remember dB are logarithmic. 10dB difference is double the loudness. Alphacool's own spec sheet makes its product look bad here. I mean yea, they're probably cheap--and it shows.
 

thelaughingman

SFF Guru
Jul 14, 2018
1,413
1,566
hope somebody can do a roundup sometimes soon. my expectation is that Noctua would still comes out on top in terms of noise-performance. need Arctic to jump into the ring on this also
 
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SFF Watercooled

Master of Cramming
Sep 26, 2020
398
172
With other options:

Technical DataID-Cooling NO-12015-XTProlimatech Ultra Sleek VortexScythe Kaze Flex SlimSilverstone FN123 SlimScythe Slip Stream Slim 12mm (1600 RPM)Scythe Slip Stream Slim 12mm (2000 RPM)Alphacool SL-15Cooler Master Xtraflo SlimRosewill RASF-141213Noctua NF-A12x15
Speed500 - 1600rpm400 - 1300rpm300 - 1800rpm2000rpm1600rpm2000rpm600 - 1800rpm500 - 1600rpm600 - 1600rpm450 - 1850rpm
Acousticsmax 30.2 dB(A)max 17 dB(A)max 30 dbA23.5 dB(A)28.89 dB(A)37 dB(A)max 32 dB(A)max 30 dB(A)max 30.32 dB(A)max 23.9 dB(A)
Air Flow Ratemax 53.6 CFMmax 56 CFMmax 50.79 CFM32.6 CFM38.05 CFM45.47 CFMmax 42 CFMmax 58.4 CFMmax 54.55 CFMmax 55.44 CFM
Static Pressuremax 1.81 mm H2Omax 0.9 mm H2Omax 1.35mm H2O1.52 mm H2O1.11 mm H2O1.35 mm H2Omax 1.2 mm H2Omax 1.76 mm H2O???max 1.53 mm H2O
MTTF???100,000 h100,000 h40,000 h30,000 h30,000 h50,000 h40,000 h50,000 h150,000 h
 
Last edited:
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jamescarter117

Chassis Packer
Mar 2, 2020
20
8
These seem to be quite loud.

I think ID-COOLING NO-12015-XT might be a better budget alternative if they indeed have higher static pressure than Noctua A12x15 but they are also loud:

I found these specs on eBay but the official site doesn't list static pressure which is weird.
NO-12015-XT are sold on eBay for £8 and on AliExpress for less than £4.
With other options:

Technical DataID-Cooling NO-12015-XTProlimatech Ultra Sleek VortexScythe Kaze Flex SlimScythe Slip Stream SlimAlphacool SL-15Cooler Master Xtraflo SlimRosewill RASF-141213Noctua NF A12x15
Speed500 - 1600rpm400 - 1300rpm300 - 1800rpm600 - 1800rpm500 - 1600rpm600 - 1600rpm450 - 1850rpm
Acousticsmax 30.2 dB(A)max 17 dB(A)max 30 dbAmax 32 dB(A)max 30 dB(A)max 30.32 dB(A)max 23.9 dB(A)
Air Flow Ratemax 53.6 CFMmax 56 CFMmax 50.79 CFMmax 42 CFMmax 58.4 CFMmax 54.55 CFMmax 55.44 CFM
Static Pressuremax 1.81 mm H2Omax 0.9 mm H2Omax 1.35mm H2Omax 1.2 mm H2Omax 1.76 mm H2O???max 1.53 mm H2O
MTTF???100,000 h100,000 h50,000 h40,000 h50,000 h150,000 h

Gonna say I second the IDCooling choice
 

Firebear

Trash Compacter
Original poster
Oct 17, 2019
35
14
Looks like a rebrand of Phobya G-Silent 12 Slim Edition



or

Gelid Solutions Slim


wow how come i didn't notice the phobya one? I'm like 24/7 at the aquatuning store XD
Yea phobya, alphacool, noiseblocker and be quiet sometimes share their fan designs or do rebranding appearantly.

I guess I will then either have a look at the ID-Cooling fan or just go for the noctua one. I mean whats an additional 40€ at a 2000€ budget lol when you want to do quality watercooling.
Thanks for all your input! Maybe out of curiousity I will still buy the SL-15 and try it and if not I just use it as a mainboard cooler for my 3d printer.
 

SFF Watercooled

Master of Cramming
Sep 26, 2020
398
172
wow how come i didn't notice the phobya one? I'm like 24/7 at the aquatuning store XD
The aquatuning store has terrible search results. When you search "slim fan" you get normal fans. When you specifically type "15mm fan" (because aquatuning has the dimensions of all of their fans listed) it still gives you 25mm thick fans. Most of the search results aren't even fans, they're just fittings, tubes, pads, etc.