The Noctua NF-S12-1200 120mm Fan is a high performance, low noise fan designed by the acclaimed CPU Cooler manufacturer, Noctua.

Sound-optimised blade geometry and profile:
The NF-S12 is the first fan employing a novel rotor which was developed by the Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV). Thanks to the special optimisation of the blade geometry towards ultra low noise application, the NF-S12 is up to 10% more quiet than current high-end fans at the same flow rate.

Self-stabilising oil-pressure bearing (SSO bearing):
The NF-S12 series are equipped with a magnetically centred, self lubricating oil-pressure bearing that provides a new level of quietness and long-term stability.

Noctua Straight-Blade-Design

Current silent fans frequently employ conventional blade geometries, which were developed for higher speed ranges and significantly lose efficiency at lower rotation speeds. The Noctua Straight-Blade-Design of the NF-S12 series was developed by the Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV) and specifically tailored to 120mm fans with extremely low rotation speeds. The result is a performance improvement of up to 10% and more compared to conventional blade geometries.

The Straight-Blade-Design of the NF-S12 series provides the maximum efficiency of a straight fan blade without the drawback of higher noise emission, which arises when straight blades are used at higher rotation speeds. At the low rotation speeds of the NF-S series, the Noctua Straight-Blade-Design achieves a significantly higher flow rate than forward or backward swept blade designs. Furthermore, among other measures to prevent vortices like the rounded rotor hub, the distance between rotor and stator (tip clearance) was increased in order to reduce the problem of tip vortices which plays an important part in the noise emission of axial fans. With its fan blade exactly tailored to ultra low noise application, the NF-S12 series is significantly more quiet than other high end silent fans.

Mag. Manfred Stadler MBA of the Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV) about the development of the Noctua Straight-Blade and Raised-Blade-Designs:

"In the area of PC cooling, the last years saw a growing demand for axial fans with the lowest possible noise emission, which manufacturers mostly met by simply reducing the RPM of existing models without sufficiently adapting the blade geometry and profile to the modified fluid dynamic parameters. The comparison of measured data and simulation outputs showed that the result was an average deficit of efficiency of 10-15%. The complete redevelopment of the blade geometry and profile was carried out with exact fluid mechanical adjustment to minimal noise emission in a speed range of 400-1800RPM at a height of 25mm and a radius of 40 and 60mm. Both fan blades possess 8-12% more flow rate than comparable products at the same total noise emission and static pressure." (Mag. Manfred Stadler MBA, Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV))


Noctua SSO-Bearing
Thanks to an optimised principle of operation, the self-stabilising oil-pressure bearing (SSO bearing) of the Noctua NF-S12 and NF-R8 series surpasses current types of ball, sleeve or liquid bearings in terms of long-term stability and quietness.

SSO Principle of Operation
The rotary motion of the axis generates pressure upon the special oil enclosed within the bearing. This causes the build-up of a dynamic pressure field that centres and stabilises the axis within the bearing shell. While conventional liquid bearings employ the principle of hydrodynamic pressure too, the SSO bearing is equipped with an additional magnet that supports the self-stabilisation of the rotor axis. This allows for a faster, more precise and more reliable centring of the rotor axis and thus increases the long-term stability and quietness of the bearing: When the fan starts, the dynamic pressure field of the liquid bearing needs to build up first, which results in an initial precession of the axis, the so called gyro effect. This amounts to an increased abrasion until the axis is stabilised through the build-up of the dynamic pressure field, which may by and by lead to increased noise emission and bearing defects. Because of this, the SSO bearing possesses a built in magnet, whose field ensures the immediate self-stabilisation of the rotor and hence reduces the gyro effect. In addition to the stabilisation during the start-up phase of the fan, the supporting magnet allows for a more exact centring of the axis within the bearing shell and thus further reduces bearing resistance, abrasion and noise emission.

SSO Compared to Conventional Sleeve and Ball Bearings
The sleeve and ball bearings currently predominating the fan market exhibit major drawbacks: While conventional sleeve bearings initially have very low noise emissions, they mostly possess unsatisfying long-term stability, which leads to a short overall lifespan and increasing noise after longer operating times. High grade ball bearings, on the other hand, while providing satisfying long-term stability operate at slightly higher noise levels from the beginning. The SSO bearing not only surpasses the quietness of conventional sleeve bearings but also the long-term stability of current top-of-the-line ball bearings.

Size:	120x120x25 mm
Bearing:	SSO-Bearing
Blade Geometry:	Straight-Blade-Design
Rotational Speed (+/- 10%):	1200 RPM
Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%):	600 RPM
Airflow:	81 m³/h 47.7 CFM
Airflow with U.L.N.A.:	41 m³/h 24.1 CFM
Acoustical Noise:	17 dB(A)
Acoustical Noise with U.L.N.A.:	< 6 dB(A) (extrapolated values)
Input Power:	1,44 W
Input Current:	0,12 A
Voltage Range:	4-13 V
MTBF:	> 150.000 h
Scope of Delivery:	Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (U.L.N.A.) 4 Vibration Compensators 3
Warranty:	6 years

02-16-2009
Reviewer: AudioInsight (1)
We replaced 6 120mm 110v Middle Atlantic rack fans (~$100 a piece) with 6 of these due to a customer complaining about the noise coming from the AV closet. After we replaced all 6 fans with these the DB drop was amazing, it went from sounding like a vacuum cleaner was running to just the sound of wind flowing through the open metal skeleton of the rack. Right away we noticed a temp drop and of course saving a lot of energy dropping to 12v from 110v fans. A must for silent AV cabinet installs.

10-09-2008
Reviewer: Very quiet (2)
I have 4 of these fans in my case. The system is in the living room used as a multi purpose machine (gaming, dvr, work, etc) so it has to be quiet and these fans definitely help me reach that goal. Highly recommended, you need to feel the air flow as you can''t hear it. The MB did run a little hotter so I turned the RPMs up a little and it solved the problem with NO increase in noise!

05-25-2008
Reviewer: Jerry (15)
These fans are quiet. I had two Scythe SFF21F''s and replaced them with these. The system is noticeably quieter but as already stated, it runs a few degrees hotter. If your cooling system is well designed it''s probably an acceptable tradeoff.

10-22-2007
Reviewer: FrozenAsset (1)
I bought three of these to replace the stock Lian Li fans in a PC-S80. These make the system run noticeably warmer (3-4 degrees C), but maybe a few decibels quieter. In this case, there are two Noctua 120mm intake, one Noctua 120mm exhaust, a Noctua 80mm exhaust, 8800 GTS exhausting out of the case and an Enermax Noisetaker on low exhaust. Also, I might add, I didn''t install the Ultra Low Noise Adapters so they should be running at full 48 CFM.

09-22-2007
Reviewer: Volken (2)
This fan is eerily quiet. I replaced the fan from my Corsair Nautilus 500 water cooloing unit and now I can''t hear it. I also replaced the 2 case fans and it has made a drastic difference. I am unable to hear the fans running, only the air as it passes my ear, its fan-tastic.

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