Noctua NF-S12A PWM, Premium Quiet Fan, 4-Pin (120mm, Brown)

Man these fans really, really suck! Or blow, it depends on your orientation. After seeing how popular Noctua has become since my last computer build I decided to try them out on my rebuild for case cooling.They are more expensive than other fansCheaper fans do exist but you definitely get what you pay for. With Noctua you get a highly engineered fan that moves a lot of air quietly with no fan noise. You also get accessories like a cable splitter, extension, silicone mounting devices, and regular screws. Factor in how many extras you get and these fans become highly competitive just on price.They're quietLike silent-but-violent kind of quiet (or silent-but-deadly but I prefer the former). I ended up using a total of five fans to cool my case (3x120mm, 2x140mm) which may be excessive to some but I was tired of hearing my old fans spin up under load and making more noise than I thought was acceptable. Now on an overclocked CPU with a current mid-range GPU in a smaller ATX case the most noise I hear is the air itself moving into the case through the magnetic dust filters. Absolutely no fan whine.They're as easy to install as any other fanIf you've put in one you've put in a million. I ended up not using the extra silicone mounts and just the regular screws because I prefer to have an easier time removing the fans rather than a slightly quieter experience. I'm not after complete quiet in my setup, just mostly quiet, and the metal screws are enough for me.I prefer using the PWM versions of fans since they can then be controlled by the motherboard. Auto up, auto down. These fans are great and I'm definitely going to buy more for my next computer, whenever that will be.

The Noctua NF-S12A PWM Fan is a top-tier cooling fan that offers exceptional performance and reliability. This fan has exceeded my expectations in terms of efficiency, noise level, and overall build quality, making it a standout choice for PC cooling needs.The fan's design is impressive, with advanced aerodynamic features that provide optimal airflow and static pressure. This results in efficient cooling of my PC components, ensuring they stay at a stable temperature even under heavy workloads.The PWM control of the Noctua NF-S12A allows for automatic speed adjustments based on the system's temperature, providing a perfect balance between cooling performance and noise level. Even at higher speeds, the fan remains surprisingly quiet, making it an excellent choice for those who value a silent computing experience.The SSO2 bearing technology ensures smooth and reliable operation, reducing friction and prolonging the fan's lifespan. I am confident in the fan's long-term performance and durability.The fan's anti-vibration pads and fan clips contribute to a noiseless and stable operation, further enhancing the overall quietness of the fan.

I ordered four of these to replace the six year old fans in my full size Thermaltake case while doing a computer upgrade. Along with this upgrade, I decided to also get the Noctua NH-U12 CPU heatsink and an additional Noctua NF-F12 fan for the heatsink. So six Noctua fans in total. There are now only two that haven't been replaced. One is a 220mm fan and the other is a hard drive cooling fan that does not even really have to be there and doesn't make any noise so I didn't replace it. All of the Noctua are 4 pin fans to provide more flexiblity over my 3 pin fans since I can now adjust the RPM with that extra pin using PWM on my motherboard.The packaging is very professional and easy to open. The accessories are well thought out and they make sure you have everything you need to hook up the fan with very little fuss. The fan quality also appears to be top notch. I like the rubber (or silicone) mounting hardware that replaces the screws. I was only able to use this in one location and, although was a bit of a pain to install, seems to work extremely well. And along with the rubber (or silicone) corner pieces on the fans, it creates a very quite setup.I ran the fan tuning on my motherboard and received a cooling rating of 0.4°C/Watt. I don't know if this is great but I know it's good and I'm happy with it. In silent mode in idle CPU conditions, all the Noctua fans will turn off except for the CPU fans which stay on at low RPMs. When the fans are running at lower RPM's, I cannot hear them even after unplugging the big 220MM case fan. But in turbo mode, I hear them all spin up and start pumping that air through the case keeping it nice and cool.The only downside is the color. I don't like it. But for anyone looking in my case that is knowledgeable of fans (this would be no-one), they would spot the Notua's immediately and know I went with quality.