Noctua NF-P12 Redux

[testman78]

Introduction

Noctua is a company that needs no introduction. There hasn't been a single product that they have released that was not up to their standards. Everything that they have released since they were founded in 2005 has been top-notch. Every company runs into quality issues with their products every once in a while but that's not the case with Noctua. Noctua is a well known name in the enthusiast market and they have gained a lot of respect for releasing high quality products one after another. We recently reviewed the NF-A12x25 fans and we were literally blown away by their performance. One thing that's for sure is that price has always been an issue for most people who want to buy Noctua fans which is why Noctua has introduced the Redux fans. The Redux line is geared towards budget oriented users who still want Noctua's high quality fans but in a more affordable package. Noctua has released four new Redux 120mm models with speeds ranging from 350 to 1700RPM. Noctua has given us the following Redux fans to test: NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM, NF-P12 redux-1300 PWM, NF-P12 redux-1300 and NF-P12 redux-900. The Redux fans come with Noctua's SSO bearing, over 150.000 hours MTBF rating and full 6 years manufacturer?s warranty and all of that in an attractive price point.



To cover all of the differences between Noctua's fans, the following list was copied from their website.
NF-P12 Redux - 1700 PWM.



NF-P12 Redux - 1300 PWM.



NF-P12 Redux - 1300.



NF-P12 Redux - 900.




Packaging & Contents

As we look at the packaging, the boxes for the Redux fans embrace simplicity at it's finest. A brown and grey colour choice appears to link both the traditional Noctua colours and the new fans, in an understated but elegant manner. All the carton boxes are absolutely identical and entirely made of rigid carton. Of course, on the front side of the boxes there are just the company logo, the series name, the size of the fans and the model name.



The full technical specifications regarding the products are located on the back of the packages on a white label. Here we can again see our model number along with dimensions, connector type, rotation speed, airflow, acoustical noise, static pressure, input power, voltage and the MTBF of 150,000 hours!



The only accessories in the box come in the way of 4 silver screws so users will be able to attach the fans to their cases. One way Noctua could save money on these fans is to eliminate all of the accessories that typically come with their standard fans. Extra accessories for this series can be purchased separately however including extension cables, y-cables, anti-vibration mounts and low-noise adaptors.




A Closer Look

Moving on to look at the full fans in all their glory, you will of course notice the fans have a square frame.



The grey on grey colour scheme is definitely a nice touch and still very unique which is what I would imagine Noctua was ultimately going for. While they want to please their fans, they also want to remain one of a kind, which they have succeeded in if you ask me. The NF-P12 Redux line from Noctua features a nine-blade impeller.



Quality of materials is very high, and fins are designed to achieve maximum efficiency and an excellent noise to air flow ratio.



The performance-oriented top speed of the 1700rpm PWM version is ideal for high efficiency case, radiator and CPU cooling as well as other applications that require both extended performance headroom and PWM for auto-matic speed control. Of course, PWM models has a native 4-pin connector and can be controlled via motherboard.



When you first go to the product page for the Redux fans on Noctua's website, you'll be bombarded with a feature list that's probably larger than any fan feature list you've seen in the past. Noctua has an incredible attention to detail when it comes to features and design choices on their fans and although it's hard to say just how much of an impact some of them have without having access to an aerodynamic test lab, they do do a great job of selling you on them. Let's take a closer look at some of the unique design features you'll see on these fans.



The "commutation noise" or "switching noise" can play a major role in the noise emission of axial fans with brushless DC motors. At each transition from one stator coil to another, the rotor receives a sudden torque pulse when the next coil switches on. Each of these torque pulses causes a minute deformation of the whole fan structure. Depending on rpm, torque and the material of the fan, this can result in noticeable noises. Noctua's Smooth Commutation Drive system provides more continuous switching in order to achieve a smoother transition between the stator coils and thereby significantly contributes to the fan's overall quietness. The second generation of this technology (SCD2) further improves running smoothness and reduces minute noises in close proximity to the motor.




Test System & Methology


Testing a fan such as the Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM is tricky and somewhat inaccurate given the tolerances of both a silent cooling device and the harsh environment found inside every computer case. Ambient temperatures are kept at 23C throughout my tests. The fans of the cooler work on 5(20% PWM), 7(50% PWM) and 12 volts(100% PWM). Temperatures are obtained after booting the PC and idling on the desktop for 30 minutes. To calculate the temperatures we use Prime and fix the value at 12k. Thus, the load remains the same and there are no fluctuations. When the maximums are reached, we subtract the ambient temperatures to obtain the Delta-K value used for our final results. To measure noise levels i disable the two front in-take fans, rear exhaust and GPU fan. The measurements are carried out with the help of a VOLTCRAFT SL-100 sound level meter.



Testing Setup:

Processor: Intel Ivy Bridge E i7-4820K@4.3
CPU Cooling:Alpenf?hn Ben Nexis Advanced
Motherboard: Asrock X79 Extreme 6
Case: NZXT S340 Elite
Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance 3x2 GB @ 1600 MHz
Video Card: XFX HD 7970
PSU: Antec TruePower New TP-750
Hard Drive: Corsair Force GT 240 GB
Optical Drive: N/A
OS: Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit SP1


Performance

As you can see the results, the Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM comes out with lower temperatures by 2 Delta-K from stock fan.



At lower fan speed, this fan will be impossible to hear over other parts in the average user's case. Thanks to Noctua's NE-FD1 IC on the PWM models, and Smooth Commutation Drive design on all fans, there was no motor clicking noise at all. Even air turbulence noise is kept at a bare minimum.




Final Thoughts

Noctua is a company that makes high quality products but at a high price so not everyone can afford them. The Redux line from Noctua address exactly just that. Noctua has made the Redux line for users who are on a budget and are looking for good quality fans. Noctua's Redux line comes in an attractive light grey color scheme that easily stands out. Since the Redux line is geared towards budget oriented users, Noctua has had to cut some corners to make these fans affordable. Noctua has tried to keep the cost as low as possible by not including their usual accessories and only including four screws. Most users can live without the extra accessories as most fans available in the market come just as bare anyway. Even though the Redux line is for price-concious users, they still come with Noctua's SSO bearing, Vortex-Control Notches, Custom-designed PWM IC with SCD, Smooth Commutation Drive 2, over 150.000 hours MTBF rating and full 6 years manufacturer’s warranty.



Overall, Noctua has done an excellent job at making the Redux line affordable while still offering great features. There is no denying that the Noctua Redux range of fans has a unique look to them, both in colour and the shape of the fan blades. Noctua has long been known to offer some of the best cooling products on the market and they have not let us down with their NF-P12 Redux offerings.