Noctua’s highly anticipated announcement of new colour schemes, in the form of new models called Noctua redux and IndustrialPPC, was met with mixed reactions. On one hand, Noctua’s customers finally have the option of buying fans that they know will be high quality, with a colour scheme that potentially works better with their current design. On the other, the features seem to be quite limited.
Normally a Noctua fan will include rubber dampening pads, a low-noise adapter, an extension cable, a Y-splitter cable, and some rubber anti-vibration mounts. The Noctua redux includes the fan and four plain mounting screws; Noctua IndustrialPPC adds some dampening pads. The cables are 40cm in length rather than 20cm, which eliminates the need for extension cables, but may require some extra effort in cable management if the length isn’t required.
Noctua redux Review
We’ll look at the Noctua redux model first, since that’s what most PC builders will be interested in. The Noctua redux models are available in four basic dimensions, from 80mm up to 140mm. However, many different configurations are available, from default speed to PWM or 3-pin. In total, there are 11 different Noctua redux models:
NF-P14s redux | NF-P14r redux | NF-S12B redux | NF-B9 redux | NF-R8 redux | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 140x140x25mm square frame | 140x140x25mm round frame | 120x120x25mm | 92x92x25mm | 80x80x25mm |
| Model Variety | 4-pin 1500 RPM 4-pin 1200 RPM 3-pin 1200 RPM 3-pin 900 RPM | 4-pin 1500 RPM | 4-pin 1200 RPM 3-pin 1200 RPM 3-pin 700 RPM | 4-pin 1600 RPM 3-pin 1600 RPM | 4-pin 1800 RPM 3-pin 1800 RPM 3-pin 1200 RPM |
| MSRP (USD) | $20 | $20 | $18 | $16 | $15 |
| Noctua Equivalent | NF-A14 PWM (1500 RPM) $29 Retail NF-A14 FLX (1200 RPM 3pin) $25 Retail NF-A14 ULN (800 RPM 3pin) $27 Retail | NF-P14 FLX $29 Retail | NF-F12 PWM $27 Retail | NF-A9x14 $20 Retail NF-B9 PWM $24 Retail | NF-R9 1800 $17 Retail NF-R8 PWM $18 Retail |
As you can see, the lack of accessories is somewhat made up for in the cost. We don’t know what the final retail prices will be yet, but based on the MSRP, Noctua redux should be roughly 70% of the cost of their equivalent “normal” models.
We don’t have every single Noctua fan that exists, but we have several of the ones that are designed to be used in CPU coolers. The reason for the round frame is that it can use 120mm mounting points rather than 140mm. This makes the fans much more versatile in both cases and CPU coolers. Square fans are meant to be mounted in 140mm case mounting points. Since all our Noctua fans come from CPU coolers, all the 140mm models are round.
Here’s how the Noctua redux NF-P14r looks when sitting next to a normal Noctua NF-P14 PWM that came with the NH-D14 we reviewed several months ago, along with the NF-A15 that replaces it. The NF-A15 is Noctua’s latest round-frame 140mm model that comes packed with the NF-D15 and NF-U14S coolers. Despite having 150mm width to fit on these wide coolers, it’s still a 140mm fan with 120mm mounting points.
As you can see, the Noctua redux is closer to the older NF-P14 than it is to the NF-A15, in more ways than one. We’ll take a closer look later
On the 120mm side, we can include the IndustrialPPC model, which we’ll be looking at more closely later. The NF-F12 is the newer model, which comes with newer coolers like the NH-U12S we reviewed a while ago. If you look closely at the Noctua redux 120mm, the mounting points for the anti-vibration rubber pads are filled in, so they can’t be purchased or swapped from other fans. If you were to buy a Noctua redux to swap out the stock fan on an NH-U12S cooler for instance, you will have to install it without rubber pads, or buy some small ones you can stick on yourself. I have no idea why this was done, as surely it wouldn’t have added to the manufacturing cost.
In addition to the missing accessories, the Noctua redux models are also missing some features that have been added to Noctua fans over the years. Compared to the newer models like the NF-F12 and NF-A15, the Noctua redux looks a bit dated:
- Bearings are SSO instead of SSO2. This is a minor change, as SSO2 just means that the magnet is placed closer to the rotor axis, resulting in a more stable spin and better reliability. Also missing is the metal bearing shell.
- The frame does not feature the “AAO” Advanced Acoustic Optimisations. This refers to the stepped inlet on the bezel, and the little dimples that are etched into it (Noctua refers to these as “Surface Microstructures“).
- The good news is, the Noctua redux fans still have the same 6 year warranty.
So a lot of those small features that make Noctua’s fans special are missing in the redux lineup. As for how performance is affected, we’ll look at that on the next page, after testing them on CPU coolers.
Noctua IndustrialPPC Review
While the design philosophy of the Noctua redux is more about offering value, the Noctua IndustrialPPC lineup is all about durability and reliability. These are available in 140mm and 120mm sizes, with a total of eight different models. Unfortunately, there are no round 140mm models, so they aren’t easily installed on CPU heatsinks.
NF-A14 industrialPPC | NF-F12 industrialPPC | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 140x140x25mm square frame | 120x120x25mm square frame |
| Model Variety | 4-pin PWM, 2000 rpm IP52 4-pin PWM, 2000 rpm IP67 3-pin, 2000 rpm IP52 4-pin PWM, 3000 rpm IP52 | 4-pin PWM, 2000 rpm IP52 4-pin PWM, 2000 rpm IP67 3-pin, 2000 rpm IP52 4-pin PWM, 3000 rpm IP52 |
| MSRP (USD) | IP52 Models: $30 IP67 Models: $35 | IP52 Models: $27 IP67 Models: $35 |
| Noctua Equivalent | NF-A14 PWM (1500 RPM) $29 Retail NF-A14 FLX (1200 RPM 3pin) $25 Retail NF-A14 ULN (800 RPM 3pin) $27 Retail | NF-F12 PWM $27 Retail |
While some accessories like the rubber case mounting pins and such are missing, the Noctua IndustrialPPC actually restores many of the features that are missing on the Noctua redux. For instance, it has the “AAO” frame, uses SSO2 bearings with metal shells, and even comes with anti-vibration pads. It also adds a three phase motor, which you can read about here. Apparently this makes the Noctua IndustrialPPC even more energy efficient than the already efficient standard Noctua models.
They also changed the construction from PBT to an unspecified polyamide material. This is what gives it its water and dust resistant properties. In fact, the Noctua IndustrialPPC fans have been certified for two different IEC 60529 standards, which you can read about here. IP67 means that the fan is safe for “dust tight” and can be immersed in 1m of water for 30 minutes and will work fine when dried off. The IP52 models are good for “dust protected” (dust can enter, but will not lower the performance of the product) and is protected against dripping water such as rainfall for 10 minutes at a 15 degree angle.
As you can probably tell, Noctua IndustrialPPC fans are marketed more towards industrial use. The slowest models spin at 2000 RPM (normally the fastest Noctua fans at 120 and 140mm are 1500 RPM). However, if you are looking for dust and waterproof fans that you can install and never have to worry about, maybe these are for you. The PWM models can have their speeds adjusted. Strangely, despite the certified protection, the warranty is still 6 years.
Noctua redux & IndustrialPPC Performance
We’ll be focusing on CPU cooling performance today, as it is much easier to determine a fan’s performance based on how well it can cool a hot, high TDP overclocked processor. As usual, we’ll be using our Intel Core i7 3960X, overclocked to 4.4 GHz at 1.3v. We used the Noctua NH-U12S to test the 120mm fans, and the Noctua NH-U14S for the 140mm models. Normally, the Noctua IndustrialPPC can’t be mounted on coolers this size, but we got it done anyway, just for theory.
The test is a LinPack x64 full core load, running for 10 minutes on an open bench. Ambient temperature was around 33 Celsius during testing.
We also performed noise level measurements, from 10cm from the side of each cooler.
The precise fan models tested were:
- Noctua redux NF-P14r – 1500 RPM
- Noctua IndustrialPPC NF-A14 – 2000 RPM
- Stock: NF-A15 PWM – 1200 RPM
- Noctua redux NF-S12B – 1200 RPM
- Noctua IndustrialPPC NF-F12 – 2000 RPM IP52
- Stock: NF-F12 PWM – 1500 RPM
Note that on the 140mm side, the Noctua redux model spins faster than the stock fan, and on the 120mm side, the stock fan spins faster. Keep that in mind while looking at the results.
Let’s start off with 140mm:
Interestingly, we seem to have hit a performance wall with the NH-U14S cooler, and all scores are pretty much within the margin of error.
Noise level was another story, however, as the stock fans were much quieter than the faster-spinning Noctua redux fans. We expected results to be different based on rotational speed, but the NF-A15, with its extra sound dampening features, is significantly quieter than the Noctua redux.
Now let’s look at the 120mm NH-U12S. The scores shouldn’t be quite so limited here:
This time the results are much more interesting, although it doesn’t look like it’s worth switching to Noctua redux here either. The Noctua redux spins 300 RPM slower than the stock NF-F12 PWM here, so a lower score is expected. Likewise, the Noctua IndustrialPPC fans spin at 2000 RPM, so perform better, although in dual fan mode it’s probably not a big enough difference to be worth considering.
Looking at noise level, the Noctua IndustrialPPC fans are extremely loud. When paired up on a CPU cooler, they combine to create a high pitched whine that to most people would be unacceptable. On the other hand, the Noctua redux, with their lower RPM, is actually almost just as quiet as the stock NF-F12 PWM.
Conclusions
Since we’re looking at two completely different products here, we’ll consider each separately.
Noctua redux
If anything, the Noctua redux models prove how effective the advanced features are on Noctua’s other models. On the 140mm side, the Noctua redux spin a bit faster than the NF-A15 PWM, but are significantly louder, and don’t offer much of a performance benefit. The 120mm models are a bit closer in noise level, but are actually slower than the NF-F12 PWM, and don’t perform nearly as well.
Who are these fans for then? If you like the colour scheme, they are going to make some decent case fans if noise level isn’t a huge concern (I never thought I would write that about a Noctua product). If you do decide to get one, make sure to use a low noise adapter, or get a PWM model that can be easily modulated.
Noctua IndustrialPPC
If you are looking for a fan in the 2000 or 3000 RPM range, where noise isn’t a concern, you have a lot of very good low cost options. However, the Noctua IndustrialPPC isn’t one of them. Instead, the focus here is on providing a durable, long lasting fan. This isn’t the type of fan you’d buy and strap to a CPU cooler or case that is easily accessible. Instead, it should be installed in a system that you put together and tuck away somewhere, without worrying about dust or moisture getting to it. You could install any fan on the system that sits at your desk; if it fails, simply replace it. However if you are putting something together that you need to keep running but can’t access easily, it’s probably worth considering something like the Noctua IndustrialPPC. Some examples may be a home server or bitcoin miner you keep in a closet or attic, or a mobile system installed in a car or RV, or a server kept at a remote farm somewhere.
