Keeping a computer cool is an important
part of owning one, but keeping it cool requires fans and many times
those fans can be quiet loud. Personally I like to keep my case cool,
but I don’t like having a loud computer at all, especially my home
theater PC. Who wants to listen to fans running when you’re watching
a movie? No one, that’s who!
Today for review I’ve got a pair of new
fans from Noctua, they’re called the NF-P14 FLX fans. They’re 140mm
fans making them fairly large of course, these 140mm fans are special
in that they have round frames. The round frames make the fan
essentially smaller, or at least the frame is smaller. The mounting
holes in the frame will fit where any 120mm fan will fit, thus the
end user can easily replace a 120mm fan with a 140mm fan for even
more cooling ability. You can use the NF-P14 though in a 140mm space
since Noctua has included adapters to help you do this. So read on to
learn more…
Product
Name: Noctua
NF-P14 FLX 140mm Fans
Author: Kristofer
Brozio
Sponsor: Noctua
Tech
Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
Following in the footsteps of
the successful NF-P12, the NF-P14 is a highly optimized, premium
quality 140mm fan with Vortex-Control Notches for superb quietness
and outstanding aerodynamic efficiency. Metal reinforcements, SCD2
technology and Noctua’s premium grade SSO-Bearing guarantee
exceptional running smoothness and excellent long-term stability.
Using the same hole-spacing as common 120mm fans and achieving a
superior airflow/noise ratio, the NF-P14 is ideal for upgrading 120mm
CPU or case fans.
Features:
140mm Impeller with Vortex
Control Notches
Thanks to its
psycho-acoustically optimized nine blade impeller with staggered
Vortex-Control Notches, the NF-P14 combines superb quietness with
exceptional airflow and static pressure.
Metal Reinforcements
Both the impeller hub and the
bearing shell of the NF-P14 are metal reinforced in order to achieve
ultimate manufacturing precision, high durability and vibration-free
running.
Round frame with 120mm mounting
holes
Using a round frame with the
same hole-spacing as common 120mm fans and producing more airflow due
to its larger diameter, the NF-P14 is a perfect upgrade for 120mm CPU
or case fans. Thanks to the supplied adapters, the NF-P14 also fits
common 140mm mounting holes.
3 speed settings for full
flexibility
Providing 1200, 900 and 750 rpm
speed settings via the supplied Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise
Adapters, the NF-P14 FLX (Flexibility) can be fine-tuned for superior
airflow or maximum quietness.
Smooth Commutation Drive 2
The latest version of Noctua’s
advanced SCD drive system ensures superb running smoothness by
eliminating torque variations and switching noises.
SSO-Bearing
Noctua’s time-tested
SSO-Bearing technology has become synonymous with supremely quiet
operation and exceptional long-term stability.
Specs:
Size: 140x140x25 mm
Bearing: SSO-Bearing
Blade Geometry: NF-P14 Blade
Design with VCN
Rotational Speed (+/- 10%):
1200 RPM
Rotational Speed with L.N.A.
(+/- 10%): 900 RPM
Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A.
(+/- 10%): 750 RPM
Airflow: 110,3 m³/h
Airflow with L.N.A.: 83,7 m³/h
Airflow with U.L.N.A.: 71,2
m³/h
Acoustical Noise: 19,6 dB(A)
Acoustical Noise with L.N.A.:
13,2 dB(A)
Acoustical Noise with U.L.N.A.:
10,1 dB(A)
Static Pressure: 1,29 mm H2O
Static Pressure with L.N.A.:
0,77 mm H2O
Static Pressure with U.L.N.A.:
0,53 mm H2O
Input Power: 1,2 W
Input Current: 0,1 A
Voltage Range: 12 V
MTBF: > 150.000 h
Scope of Delivery:
* Ultra-Low-Noise Adapter
(U.L.N.A.)
* Low-Noise Adapter (L.N.A.)
* Adapters for 140mm mounting
* 4 Vibration Compensators
* 3:4-Pin Adapter
* 4 Fan Screws
Warranty: 6 years
A
Better Look at Things:
The NF-P14 fans comes packaged in
nice looking boxes. Noctua sent me two of them for review.
Inside you’ll find another plastic
box that has compartments in it which house all of the various
accessories:
Included with the fans are ULNA
adapters that are color coded, silicone vibration dampeners or bolts,
standard fan screws, Molex 3-pin adapter and metal 120mm to 140mm
adapters.
The NF-P14 fans are the standard
Noctua colors, brown blades and a beige color for the frame. You’ll
notice the frame is round and not square like most other fans out
there. It’s round making it the same size as a standard 120mm fan
essentially, the hole in the fame match up to the spacing for 120mm
fans.
Here’s a couple close up shots of
the fan blades:
Installation,
Testing and Comparison:
Here’s some pictures of the NF-P14
fans and a 120mm fan thrown in for comparison, they’re the same
thickness.
The great thing about these fans
is that they are 140mm in size but the frame is round making the
holes in the same position as a 120mm fan would have them. This means
essentially that you can easily replace a 120mm fan with this 140mm
fan without any modifications or any adapters.
I’m
installing these fans in my gaming PC / HTPC, the case is an NZXT
M59 case (you can find my full review HERE over at Bona Fide Reviews). The case has two spots at the top for
either 120mm or 140mm fans, since I’m using the NF-P14
fans I decided to use the 140mm holes so I could also demonstrate the
adapters.
The adapters are metal, a nice
touch I think, the metal makes it nice and sturdy. To attach the
adapters you’ll use the included standard fan screws. The adapters
have little metal clips on them so they’ll be lined up perfectly with
the 140mm holes in your case making installation that much easier.
Installing
the fans in the M59 case was a rather frustrating experience, but it
was no fault of the fans themselves, it was the fault of the case and
the very limited room at the top of it. I found I had to remove the
CPU cooler at first, but then I found I also had to remove the back
120mm exhaust fan as well. I also found I couldn’t even use the CPU
cooler that I was originally using, the Noctua
NH-C12P as it was too large for the fan to be installed. Not a problem though
I just grabbed my Noctua
NH-U12P cooler and used that. Then reinstalling the CPU cooler was difficult
as well since it was so close to the newly installed NF-P14 fans. As
you can see from the following pictures there’s a lot of airflow
arounf my CPU now, this should keep things nice and cool in the case
and help keep the CPU cooler as well.
Here’s the top view of the NZXT
M59 case with the fans installed:
I’m fond of Noctua products, in
fact in the M59 case I’ve got three other Noctua fans, one in the
front, one as the exhaust and one on the side, and if you didn’t
notice I’m also using a Noctua cooler. Here’s a side shot of the M59:
I was pleasantly surprised that
even with the fans on full speed they’re virtually silent, you can
hear them, yes, but they’re not loud at all. I’m using this system
for both gaming and an HTPC, so I have to balance silence and the
ability to keep the system cool.
My system was much cooler overall
with the additional fans, in my opinion it was worth the hassles I
ran into with the case to install these fans. I’ve since attached
ULNA adapters to all of the fans in the case and it’s much quieter
and the temperatures are about the same as having them running at
full speed, about one degree warmer which isn’t much really and it
will vary depending on the room temperature of course.
You can of course use the ULNA
adapters to slow them down a bit to really make the fans run quietly.
As with all Noctua products the
NF-P14 fans are very well made, they’re nice and sturdy and they move
quiet a bit a air.
Some people might not care for the
colors of the fans, but personally I like them, it’s different, not
just plain black.
Summary
and Comments:
The Noctua NF-P14 fans are an
excellent choice if you need some additional cooling in your system.
The fact that they are 140mm but fit 120mm size spaces adds extra
value to them, you can easily replace a 120mm fan on your CPU cooler
and get more cooling performance.
There’s nothing wrong with these
fans at all, there are no cons for them, they’re an excellent choice
if you’re looking for quiet, dependable and good performing fans.
DragonSteelMods gives the Noctua
NF-P14 FLX fans a 5 out of 5 score and our Editor’s Choice Award as
well.
Pros:
+Quiet even on high speed
+Keeps system nice and cool
+Easy to install
+Very well made
+140mm fan in 120mm housing
+6 year warranty
+Can easily adjust fan speeds with
adapters
Cons:
-None really
I
would like to thank Noctua for the chance to review the NF-P14
FLX 140mm Fans and for their continued support of DSM.
review# 623
You
can find the Noctua
NF-P14 fans at Acoustic PC for $24.95 each.
Disclosure: This product was given to DragonSteelMods for review by the company
for review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for
the review, we do not, never have, and never will, accept payment
from companies to review their products.
To
learn more about our review policy, testing methods and ratings
please see this page.