Noctua Redux Fan Series Review

NF-P14s and NF-P14r 140mm fans

The NF-P14 redux fans come in two versions: a typical square frame body and a round frame design denoted as NF-P14s and NF-P14r respectively in the redux lineup. The round frame NF-P14 fans were familiarly used on the NH-D14/NH-D14 SE2011’s center fan position although the new NF-P14s redux fans have a higher max RPM of 1500 compared to the original NF-P14’s 1200 maximum RPM.

The nine NF-P14 blade impeller design of the P14 series utilize notches on the trailing edge for vortex control . These notches are staggered and positioned differently per three blades so that the airflow along the suction and pressure side mix smoothly one after the other, reducing noise and allowing for less turbulence.

The P14s and P14r are similar in blade dimension but the two differ in frame mounting compatibility with the rounded frame NF-P14r using 120mm mounting holes while the NF-P14s uses standard 140mm mounting. Other options from the Noctua 140mm redux family includes 900 RPM and 1200 RPM versions of the NF-P14s with an extra PWM alternate version for the 1200 RPM model.

NF-S12B 120mm fans

For the 120mm range, Noctua has revived the S12B series, a precursor to their S12A silent fan series before the updated impeller design and anti-stall knobs. The NF-S12B’s 7-blade design is straighter than typical fan blades with steeper angles and both leading and trailing edges slightly curving toward the same point. The edges have beveled tips unlike the original NF-S12 design for improved static pressure.

The original non-redux NF-S12B did not come in a PWM version but the redux PWM version uses Noctua’s NE-FD1 IC for automatic speed control.  Similar to the NF-P14r and NF-P14s redux, uses industry SSO bearing with a 150,000 hour MTBF rating. In terms of silence and air-flow the NF-S12B is superior to the NF-P12 bundled with some of Noctua’s heatsinks although has lower static pressure in comparison. Only the NF-S12B model is currently available for the redux 120mm line with the regular NF-P12, NF-F12 and NF-S12A available only in the regular Noctua retail package.

NF-B9 92mm fans

Unlike the previous 140mm and 120mm redux fans, Noctua’s 92mm offering is not reanimated but is a model that is also available in a full-retail version. The NF-B9 redux 1600 PWM and retail NF-B9 are similarly specced and the NF-B9 PWM is also the fan bundled with the Noctua NH-U9B SE2 heatsink.

Similar to the S12B fan blades, the NF-B9 employs bevelled blade tips and also incorporates vortex control notches found on the NF-14r/14s fans. The blades are wider than the S12B however and although it produces less airflow compared to the NF-S12B redux, the blades running at 1600 RPM produce a higher CFM at 1.61 mm H2O which is why they are effective for heatsink use.

NF-R8 80mm fans

Similar to the NF-B9, the NF-R8 redux was not revived from discontinuity and have similar specifications as its retail cousin. The maximum RPM available is 1800, but a 1200 RPM redux version is also available.

Due to the smaller space, 80mm fans tend to run at higher RPMs and thus produce higher noise compared to 92mm or 120mm fans. Since Noctua prides themselves with creating silence-oriented fan products, the blade design of the NF-R8 employs some unique choices so that efficiency does not suffer when run at lower RPMs. The seven blades are positioned at a much steeper angle of attack with the leading edge raised above the rotor hub and lowering the trailing edge below it so that the reduced blade surface is compensated for. Strategically placed curves on the tips increase static pressure even at lower speeds while curves on the edges dipping toward the rotor hub decreases noise at higher speeds.