News Noctua Sterox 120mm x 25mm fans available May 5th on Amazon

For those of you who have been following the development of this fan it looks amazing. Will be available on Amazon in a couple of days in three variants - PWM, ULN (Ultra Low Noise) and FLX (3 pin, 3 speed):

(PWM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C5VG64V/?tag=theminutiae-20

(ULN) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C5Q2VW6/?tag=theminutiae-20

(FLX) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C5LRQD3/?tag=theminutiae-20

Here's the full release:

Vienna, May 2nd 2018 – Noctua today presented its much-anticipated next-generation 120x25mm A-series fan and the complementary NA-SFMA1 adaptors that allow it to be used on 140mm based watercoolers. The new NF-A12x25 is the first fan made of Noctua’s novel Sterrox® LCP material and integrates the company’s latest innovations in aerodynamic engineering in order to achieve an unprecedented level of quiet cooling performance. While the NF-A12x25 becomes the new flagship model in the 120mm range, the classic NF-P12 will be reissued in the streamlined, more affordable redux line.

“The NF-A12x25 is our most advanced fan today. We’ve spent more than 4.5 years developing it and it’s been easily the most thorny, intricate development project we’ve completed so far,” explains Lars Strömbäck (Noctua CTO): “In order to achieve our goal of surpassing our renowned NF-F12 and NF-S12A, we went for a completely different approach and had to use a tip clearance of only 0.5mm, which poses various new difficulties in manufacturing.”

Whereas the award-winning NF-F12 and NF-S12A are specialised solutions that are either optimised for maximum static pressure or maximum airflow, the new NF-A12x25 follows the approach of Noctua’s A-series in being a true all-rounder that yields superb results in all types of usage, regardless of whether it’s in low-impedance, airflow-oriented applications such as case cooling, or high-impedance, pressure-demanding scenarios such as on heatsinks and watercooling radiators. In practice, the NF-A12x25 not only outperforms the renowned NF-F12 on 120mm based watercooling radiators, but combined with the new, optional NA-SFMA1 adaptor frames, it also offers better efficiency than many 140mm fans on 140mm based systems.

One of the cornerstones of the NF-A12x25’s next-generation performance is its record tight tip clearance (distance between the blade tips and the inside of the frame) of only 0.5mm. This highly ambitious design helps the NF-A12x25 to work more efficiently against back pressure, such as on heatsinks or radiators, by reducing leak flows through the gap between impeller and frame. Manufacturing a fan with such a small tip clearance is extremely delicate and was only made possible by Noctua’s new Sterrox® liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) material, which features extreme tensile strength, an exceptionally low thermal expansion coefficient and excellent dimensional stability.

“We have never put so much research and effort into a single fan so far, both on the level of fine-tuning the aerodynamic construction and on the level of materials and manufacturing,” says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO): “Many challenges had to be overcome, but now we’re proud with the end result and confident that the NF-A12x25 will become a new benchmark for premium-quality quiet 120mm fans.”

The NF-A12x25 will be available in a 4-pin PWM version for automatic speed control, 3-pin FLX version with Low-Noise Adaptors for three different speed settings as well as a near-silent 3-pin ULN (Ultra-Low-Noise) version. As the NF-A12x25 becomes the new flagship model in Noctua’s 120mm range, the classic NF-P12 moves to the streamlined, more affordable redux line. It will henceforth be available in 1700 and 1300rpm 4-pin PWM versions as well as 1300 and 900rpm 3-pin versions.

NF-A12x25 further reading
Performance comparison to NF-F12 and NF-S12A: https://noctua.at/en/nf-a12x25-performance-comparison-to-nf-f12-and-nf-s12a
Technical backgrounds and manufacturing challenges: https://noctua.at/en/nf-a12x25-technical-backgrounds
Interview with Lars Strömbäck (Noctua CTO): https://noctua.at/en/nf-a12x25-interview-lars-stromback
Which 120mm fan is right for me?: https://noctua.at/en/which_fan_is_right_for_me?

Detailed specifications and photos
NF-A12x25 PWM: https://noctua.at/en/nf-a12x25-pwm
NF-A12x25 FLX: https://noctua.at/en/nf-a12x25-flx
NF-A12x25 ULN: https://noctua.at/en/nf-a12x25-uln
NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM: https://noctua.at/en/nf-p12-redux-1700-pwm
NF-P12 redux-1300 PWM: https://noctua.at/en/nf-p12-redux-1300-pwm
NF-P12 redux-1300: https://noctua.at/en/nf-p12-redux-1300
NF-P12 redux-900: https://noctua.at/en/nf-p12-redux-900
NA-SFMA1: https://noctua.at/en/na-sfma1

Prices and availability
All new models can already be purchased on Amazon and will be available via other retailers shortly:
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=noctua+nf-a12x25
Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/s/?field-keywords=noctua+nf-a12x25
Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?field-keywords=noctua+nf-a12x25
Amazon.de: https://www.amazon.de/s/?field-keywords=noctua+nf-a12x25
Amazon.es: https://www.amazon.es/s/?field-keywords=noctua+nf-a12x25
Amazon.fr: https://www.amazon.fr/s/?field-keywords=noctua+nf-a12x25
Amazon.it: https://www.amazon.it/s/?field-keywords=noctua+nf-a12x25

The suggested retail prices are as follows:
NF-A12x25 (all versions): EUR 29.90 / USD 29.90
NF-P12 redux (all versions): EUR 13.90 / USD 13.90
NA-SFMA1: EUR 11.90 / USD 11.90

Links and photos
Press-release: https://noctua.at/en/noctua-present...120mm-fan-140mm-adaptor-and-redux-line-nf-p12
High-res photos: https://noctua.at/en/press-images

About Noctua
Designed in Austria, Noctua’s premium cooling components are internationally renowned for their superb quietness, exceptional performance and thoroughgoing quality. Having received more than 6000 awards and recommendations from leading hardware websites and magazines, Noctua’s fans and heatsinks are serving hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers around the globe.
 
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smitty2k1

King of Cable Management
Dec 3, 2016
978
500
I'm interested in replacing some case fans in my mITX server with the new P12 Redux fans. Is there any reason to get the 1300 PWM version instead of the 1700 PWM version? If they are PWM controlled why does it matter?
 

MarcParis

Spatial Philosopher
Apr 1, 2016
3,662
2,770
Vardar's are NOT quiet. You can slow them down to reduce the volume of noise, but the volume of noise is rarely the issue when it comes to fan noise. It's typically the quality of that noise. Is it high or low frequency, is there a clicking, is it smooth or rough etc etc. The only place I've found that actually does this level of fan noise review is silentpcreview.com. Everyone else will either just take the dB rating from the manufacturer (almost always wrong), or will test fan noise volume with their own equipment but not subjective noise quality. Also I've noticed a lot of places that do their own noise volume validation tests have a really high noise floor, like 30dB or higher which is REALLY loud IMO. You need a room with a noise floor of AT LEAST 20dB to do proper testing, preferably lower.

I've found GT's are the best, especially the 800rpm version. The biggest problem with GT fans though is the noise quality goes down the drain if you try to undervolt them. I've heard the PWM version is better in this aspect. I haven't ever found any other ball bearing fans that i would describe as "quiet". Next down the list if i can't get my hands on a GT is Nexus > Scythe > Noctua > Noiseblocker. Nexus and Scythe fans have been difficult to get a hold of in the USA recently, so i usually go with Noctua lately just because they are available at major e-tailors. I personally don't feel like any other fans other than from those 4 brands (5 if you count Darkside branded GT's as a separate brand) are quiet enough to use.
I fully agree with Vardar...they demonstrated some issues with internal noise, and even, at best, they are still louder than Gentle Typhoon at same RPM.

here is the link for GT with PWM (in stock) : https://modmymods.com/gentle-typhoo...-58cfm-black-edition-pwm-d1225c12b5zpa65.html
 

EdZ

Virtual Realist
May 11, 2015
1,578
2,107
I'd really like to see some real-world tests of the NF-A12x25 PWM + NA-SFMA1 vs. the NF-A14 PWM (or comparable 140mm fans from other manufacturers). Intuitively I just can't see a 120mm fan - no matter how fancy - competing with a fan with more than 1/3 more surface area, and the NA_SFMA1 adapter design means the total bounding-box is the same as a 140x25mm fan.
 
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VegetableStu

Shrink Ray Wielder
Aug 18, 2016
1,949
2,619
i just had a thought:
notcua's RMA involves them sending the user a fan on condition that the user breaks a blade off their current unit. how hard is it to break this blade? o_o
 

comagoosie

sff is life
May 8, 2018
72
86
I'd really like to see some real-world tests of the NF-A12x25 PWM + NA-SFMA1 vs. the NF-A14 PWM (or comparable 140mm fans from other manufacturers). Intuitively I just can't see a 120mm fan - no matter how fancy - competing with a fan with more than 1/3 more surface area, and the NA_SFMA1 adapter design means the total bounding-box is the same as a 140x25mm fan.
Not 100% your ask, but I saw that someone compared the NF-A12 against BQ SW3 120, NF-P12, BQ SW3 140, NF-A15, and Corsair's ML120 and found only the NF-A15 could best the NF-A12 at temps:
 
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MarcParis

Spatial Philosopher
Apr 1, 2016
3,662
2,770
Not 100% your ask, but I saw that someone compared the NF-A12 against BQ SW3 120, NF-P12, BQ SW3 140, NF-A15, and Corsair's ML120 and found only the NF-A15 could best the NF-A12 at temps:
Lol all fans mentionned are not dedicated for watercooling..so it’s obvious that nf-a12 will win...:)

Personnally i want to see benchmark versus gentle typhoon or vardar on radiator..:)
 
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MarcParis

Spatial Philosopher
Apr 1, 2016
3,662
2,770
Unfortunately for Noctua, EK has just released EK Vardar EVO RGB....


https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-vardar-evo-120er-rgb-500-2200-rpm

Fan market is explosing right now..;)
 

MultiDoc

Airflow Optimizer
Feb 2, 2018
304
197
I must admit that I am a long time Noctua user. For years now I have been using Noctua fans in all my previous systems with great results.

As I said in my build's thread, I just swapped the 2 x NF-S12 Chromax pwm fans I had at the bottom of my Ncase as exhaust for the GPU (1080Ti) with 2 of these new NF-A12x25.

Long story short: by far the best fans I have ever used. They are far more silent than the NF-S12 for the same thermal performance and far better performing for the same acoustic performance. I can only highly recommend them.

I dont have any special proof or test that I can point you towards or show you, except for the fact that my GPU now tops up while benching at 75-76C (previously would top at 89C) while being more silent. Also it seems that the whole system benefits from the better exhaust of these fans since also the CPU now is able to run a bit cooler too. It tops while benching at 87C while previously would hit 90C (and also earlier). Note that both the GPU and CPU are overclocked for 24/7 operation in such way that I can get the best balance of performance, noise and temperatures (CPU is at 4.8GHz and GPU clock at 1733MHz)

P.S: pricey they are, but well worth it. And by the way, I haven't ever had a single Noctua fan fail on me and all fans I ever bought from Noctua are still operating in systems)

P.S: I hope they release 92mm fans with the same tech soon
 
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Arboreal

King of Cable Management
Silver Supporter
Oct 11, 2015
818
814
RGB < real technological progress. Noctua could be releasing a fan with pink frame and olive green fan blades, if it's a better performing fan, I'd buy it.

Pink & Olive you say? Bless you Noctua, that's just ideal for my next build....;) How thoughtful, I thought I'd never get a fan to match XD
Back in reality, these new fans look to be quite something, I look forward to seeing what @confusis makes of them.

For the sake of clarity, I have just bought a Corsair ML 120 Pro fan with LED, (white not the RGB model though), to replace my SG13 front fan, as I need PWM rather than manual control.

I unplugged the logo LED on my 1060 FE.
Stealth mode eh? The only illuminated logo that interests me is one that changes colour depending on the card's temperature; I believe EVGA offer that option on some models. Colour with a purpose, that I do like.
I use the illuminated intake fan as the power LED on my gamer, and have used the power led in the switch to show HDD us on occasion.
 

Walderstorn

Average Stuffer
Apr 29, 2018
84
37
I understand not wanting more lights...comes to a level that it's just too damn much but the noise is also really important to me and in the noise/performance/look department bequiet has Noctua beat. I really tried to like them but every damn time i look at my pc i want to rip them out, which i eventually did, although not by ripping but by "ripping".

If these new are worth while some plastidip awaits.
 

Howdy

Chassis Packer
Mar 30, 2018
16
9
I just picked up 3 of the ULN variations in anticipation of a Ghost S1 build. Currently mounted to a AIO radiator and, while it may go without saying, these are super quite! The unfortunate side effect is now my PSU is the noise culprit...

I don't have the included fan speed limiters installed but may do so once I get around to replacing my PSU. I am noticing slightly higher temperatures but totally worth the silence.

Let me know if there is any tests I should run or questions anyone has about these fans!