Testing

Test Rig:

Methodology

In order to test the Noctua NF-S12B FLX, I will be installing the fan into my NOX Coolbay HX Case and disabling all additional fans so as to only have system airflow generated from the fan being tested. The Stock Intel Cooler was used on the CPU.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the NF-S12 to test it against but I will be using the NF-P12 and a number of other high performing products for comparison purposes.
For idle testing, the rig is simply left for 30 minutes without loading any applications and then the system and CPU temperatures are recorded. Load testing involves loading 4 processes of CPU Burn In to load the core to 100%, after an additional 30 minutes the readings are again taken.

A further test was conducted to test the ability of the fan to push airflow through a heatsink; effectively looking at static pressure. I used Noctua’s NH-U12P heatsink with both the NF-S12B FLX and NF-P12 fans using the same idle and load testing as before.

Ambient temperature was 19 degrees.

Results

Fan Comparison

CPU Temperatures (Stock Intel Cooler)

System Temperatures

Clearly in terms of both the system temperatures and the core temperature of the CPU, the NF-S12B FLX is able to come on top by a good couple of degrees. It easily beats the NF-P12 which is Noctua’s other fan more suited to CPU Cooling through large heatsinks which requires a higher static pressure.

Static Pressure

As expected the NF-P12 is much better at pushing airflow through a large fin as the higher static pressure allows the fan to do this despite the added resistance. Still, the FLX isn’t too far behind and it does have a pressure of 1.31 (mm H20) as opposed to 1.68 for the NF-P12.

Noise

Much of Noctua’s marketing for the NF-P12 was to do with noise emissions and how the blades were able to alter the frequencies of the sound waves emitted in order to make them more ‘pleasant’. This technology was very good but astonishingly the NF-S12B FLX is even quieter and using the noise adapters it is really verging on being absolutely silent to the human ear.

Noctua’s anti-vibration mounts are also utilised again and are very good at their job.

Cost

The price for all this technology and innovative is fairly high though coming in at about £16-£18 (inc. VAT). This is definitely a lot for a fan but in my opinion its well spent as this fan really does perform well.