When I was first asked to review the NF-P12 I was a bit dubious souly due to the maroon fan and cream-colored shroud. But then I asked myself, is that a valid reason for not reviewing it? The answer to that was a firm NO!

The fan turned up in a non-distinct brown box and I was pleasantly surprized at the care Noctua took to ensure the safety of the package. I took an instant liking to the packaging they use for their products; well laid out and easy to understand information, on an attractive but simple box.

About Noctua...

"Noctua aims at establishing a new level of quality and performance "Designed in Austria" through paying attention to the users' needs in a market burdened with all kinds of frills and furbelows and providing sound-optimised premium components, which serve their purpose in a smart, precise and reliable manner."

"Competence through cooperation"
Noctua arises from a cooperation between the Austrian Rascom Computerdistribution Ges.m.b.H and the Taiwanese Kolink International Corporation and entertains a development partnership with the Austrian Institute of Heat Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV). These connections form the key to the achievement of our goal: The partnership with the ÖIWV permits the application of scientific measurement instrumentation, methods of calculation and simulation technology in the R&D process. Rascom's long, customer-oriented experience in developing and distributing sound-optimised high-end products ensures a clear focus on the users' needs. The use of Kolink's advanced manufacturing technology and ultra-modern production plants allows us to efficiently implement our technical edge and provide solutions of the highest standard in quality and performance.

About the NF-P12...

Nine blade design with "Vortex Contol" Notches.
The NF-P12 has been designed to get as much performance from as quiet a fan as possible and they certainly have been doing their homework...

"While most conventional 120mm rotors possess seven comparably narrow fan blades, the NF-P12's Nine-Blade Design uses nine large, closely spaced blades with a relatively low angle of attack in order to achieve maximum static pressure and high airflow. As a result, the NF-P12 provides no less than 1.68 mm H2O at 1300 rpm, which is something that other fans merely achieve at 1600 rpm or more.

As a matter of principle, increasing the number of blades involves the risk of increasing the aerodynamic noise in general and noises caused by rotor-stator interaction in particular. Basically, an increase in static pressure usually brings about higher noise emissions. In the case of the NF-P12, this problem is dealt with by adding Vortex-Control Notches to the blades' trailing edges. Due to the two notches at the trailing edge, the flows along the suction and pressure side mix more smoothly. This allows for less turbulence and velocity loss, which leads to a significant reduction in noise emission as well as increased efficiency. In order to achieve the smoothest possible transition and maximum noise reduction, the Vortex-Control Notches are rounded in shape. "

Noctua goes on to explain how the Vortex design spreads fan noise over a wide band of frequencies thus rendering the noise levels more acceptable.

"The Vortex-Control Notches' effect of psychoacoustic optimization is further enhanced by the staggering of the notches. The Vortex-Control Notches are staggered from blade to blade so that each blade creates a different vortex pattern. As a result, the fan's noise emission is better spread over the frequency spectrum and thereby makes it yet more pleasant to the human ear. "

Extras...
Complimentory Noctua Ball point pen.
The NF-P12 ships with 3 connectors,-
One male/female 4pin molex - female 3pin.
One L.N.A. female 3pin - 3pin male.
One U.L.N.A. female 3pin - 3pin male.
and 4 vibration compensators.

Price...
U.S. - $24.90
U.K. - £13.99 (inc. VAT)