Noctua NF-S12B FLX Fan Review

Posted by: David Mitchelson () on: 04/29/2009 01:53 PM [ Print | -84 comment(s) ]

Testing
We have seen the difference between the original S12 and the S12B, but how does this difference compare in performance? Does it really give us any gains? Well to discover this we need to get the S12B installed and working. For the testing stage of this review I will be putting the S12B up against – Noctua S12, Antec TriCool and Yate Loon.

For the test, I will be putting all four fans through identical processes. Each fan will only be installed as a case fan and not a CPU fan (the S12B is predominantly a case fan). All fans will be running at 1200RPM. Although the fans will not be installed on a CPU heatsink, the CPU temperature will be recorded.

Test 1 (CPU temperature)
Report idle temperatures
Report load temperatures

Test 2 (Motherboard temperature)
Report idle temperatures
Report load temperatures

Test Setup

Processor: Intel 920 i7 @ 3.8GHz
Motherboard: Asus P6T Deluxe X48
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C12P
Graphics: XFX 7900GT 256MB PCI-e
Audio: Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic
Hard Disk: 1xSamsung Spinpoint 500GB SATAII 1xWD 160GB SATAII
PSU: Antec Signature Series 650W PSU
Case: Antec P183

Idle temperatures will be reported after 10 minutes of a cold boot. Whilst load temperatures will be reported after 20 minutes of running an OCCT stress test.

Results

Motherboard Temperatures

CPU Temperatures

The results speak for themselves, the S12B clearly shows some improvements over the original S12 fan. This bevel obviously supports this progression. I was surprised to see that the temperatures on the CPU side also dropped lower, I didn’t expect this. The S12B has some great air pressure performance and this shows in these results as the fan draws even more heat off the CPU heatsink also.