{"id":34145,"date":"2013-03-21T06:28:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-21T06:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=34145"},"modified":"2013-05-05T16:42:59","modified_gmt":"2013-05-05T15:42:59","slug":"noctuas-nf-a15-pwm-and-nf-a14-140mm-premium-fans-quiet-and-cool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/noctuas-nf-a15-pwm-and-nf-a14-140mm-premium-fans-quiet-and-cool\/","title":{"rendered":"Noctua&#8217;s NF-A15 PWM and NF-A14 140mm Premium fans &#8211; Quiet and Cool!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"left\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ < ![CDATA[\ngoogle_ad_client = \"pub-7021221536180758\"; \/* 468x60, created 11\/11\/09 *\/ google_ad_slot = \"1949837292\"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60;\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\n\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Fans are never interesting.\u00a0 Or are they?\u00a0 This evaluation of\u00a0three Noctua premium fans\u00a0became an ABT\u00a0project to turn a moderately noisy high-performance PC into a super-quiet rig without sacrificing\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0its\u00a0performance.\u00a0 Is it even possible to have a highly overclocked Ivy Bridge CPU and a $1000 overclocked GeForce Titan\u00a0video card in a truly quiet PC with 9 cooling fans?\u00a0\u00a0What\u00a0are the minimum number\u00a0of\u00a0fans necessary\u00a0to cool\u00a0a highly overlocked CPU together with a high-performance video card?\u00a0 We went looking for answers.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34146\" title=\"7-fans\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7-fans.jpg?resize=480%2C360\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7-fans.jpg?resize=480%2C360 800w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7-fans-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We received three\u00a0newly redesigned\u00a0fans from Noctua late last year and we have been putting them through their paces for you.\u00a0 Over the past few years, we have been privileged to evaluate Noctua fans, and we\u00a0have always\u00a0found them to be efficient at cooling and very quiet compared to their competition.\u00a0 This time, we changed out the stock cooling fans of our Thermaltake Chaser MK-I to &#8220;all Noctua&#8221; including installing an optional 150mm\u00a0side case fan for a total of 9 fans &#8211; 8 Noctua premium fans\u00a0and 1 Cooler Master PSU fan.<\/p>\n<p>As part of a three-fan\u00a0package from Noctua,\u00a0ABT\u00a0received the NF-A15 PWM and two NF-A14 140mm fans &#8211; one is named FLX for &#8220;flex&#8221; and the other is &#8220;ULN&#8221; for &#8220;ultra low noise&#8221;.\u00a0 These fans are also premium-priced because of their high quality and 6-year warranty.\u00a0 Retailing for twenty-five dollars, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Premium-Quality-Cooling-NF-A14-ULN\/dp\/B00AED7X6W\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Premium-Quality-Cooling-NF-A14-ULN\/dp\/B00AED7X6W', 'NF-A14 ULN is $19.99 at Amazon.com ']);\" >NF-A14 ULN is $19.99 at Amazon.com <\/a>whereas the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Premium-Quality-Cooling-NF-A14-FLX\/dp\/B00AEGRGNO\/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1363779467&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=Noctua+140mm+Premium+Quiet+Quality+Case+Cooling+Fan+NF-A14\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Premium-Quality-Cooling-NF-A14-FLX\/dp\/B00AEGRGNO\/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1363779467&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=Noctua+140mm+Premium+Quiet+Quality+Case+Cooling+Fan+NF-A14', 'PWM version is twenty cents less']);\" >PWM version is twenty cents less<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 Amazon carries\u00a0a twin pack of NF-A15 PWM fans for $52 but you can get a single pack at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608036&amp;Tpk\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608036&amp;Tpk', 'Newegg.com for $29.49 shipped']);\" >Newegg.com for $29.49 shipped<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34324\" title=\"3-boxes\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/3-boxes.jpg?resize=480%2C350\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/3-boxes.jpg?resize=480%2C350 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/3-boxes-300x218.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The new NF-A15 PWM (power managed) 150mm fan (below, left)\u00a0has 120mm mounts so\u00a0it is usable\u00a0on most 120mm CPU coolers including Noctua&#8217;s flagship cooler &#8211; the NH-DH14.\u00a0\u00a0 It is a very unique fan\u00a0featuring a round frame with a\u00a0150mm width and 140mm height.\u00a0 \u00a0While its 150mm width matches those of most high-end heatsinks, its 140mm height doesn&#8217;t make it extend on top, and like <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=14237\">the NF-P14 which was introduced in 2009<\/a>, standard 120mm mounting holes (with 105mm spacing) also make it an ideal performance upgrade for many\u00a0120mm case or CPU fans.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34327\" title=\"na15-nfp14\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/na15-nfp14.jpg?resize=480%2C280\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/na15-nfp14.jpg?resize=480%2C280 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/na15-nfp14-300x174.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">We\u00a0easily replaced\u00a0the NH-DH14&#8217;s\u00a0stock\u00a0140mm NF-P14 (above, right) non-PWM fan with the power-managed NF-A15.\u00a0 We also replaced the NH-DH14&#8217;s\u00a012omm NF-P12 non-PWM fan with a 120mm\u00a0NF-F12 PWM fan,\u00a0so that the\u00a0NH-DH14 CPU cooler\u00a0is now fully\u00a0power managed by the BIOS as pictured in the very first picture of this evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>The NF-A14\u00a0FLX and ULN 140mm fans\u00a0could also\u00a0be tested on 140mm water cooling radiators, however, the issue is often one of pump noises as a watercooling radiator will often give good cooling for relatively low fan speed but becomes loud as cooling demands increase with a near maximum overclock.<\/p>\n<p>We tested these two\u00a0NF-A14 140mm Noctua fans\u00a0as case fans and we compared their ability to move air efficiently to the original noisier stock case fans that we replaced.\u00a0\u00a0 We also tested using as few\u00a0fans\u00a0as possible &#8211; just 3 including the CPU cooling fan\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0to see if it is possible to use our high performance overclocked i7-3770K Intel-based PC for a home theater setup and at what clocks we can safely\u00a0run without overheating.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s new?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Noctua introduced their three new\u00a0fans last year with this announcement:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Noctua today introduced its new NF-A14 FLX, NF-A14 ULN and NF-A15 PWM 140mm fans that complement the recently announced A-series of premium quality quiet fans. Like the previously presented NF-A4x10, NF-A6x25 and NF-A9x14, the new 140mm models feature Noctua&#8217;s novel AAO frames as well as the series&#8217; signature Flow Acceleration Channels for reduced boundary layer separation and improved aerodynamic efficiency. Reference class SSO2 bearing and 6 years manufacturer&#8217;s warranty make the NF-A15 and NF-A14 a stand-out choice for all noise-sensitive 140mm applications.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>These news fans are the next generation of Noctua&#8217;s case and CPU cooling fans which are refinements of their current designs.\u00a0 Like\u00a0Noctua&#8217;s new A-series fans, the NF-A15 and NF-A14 use Flow Acceleration Channels that improve the airflow to noise performance of\u00a0their evolving\u00a0blade shapes. Flow Acceleration Channels\u00a0have better efficiency and lower vortex noise.<\/p>\n<p>Along with these channels, Noctua has further refined their fan bearings as well as their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=aao_frame\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=aao_frame', 'Advanced Acoustic Optimisation (AAO) frames']);\" >Advanced Acoustic Optimisation (AAO) frames<\/a> which\u00a0feature integrated anti-vibration pads as well as Noctua\u2019s proprietary Stepped Inlet Design and Inner Surface Microstructures, both of which further\u00a0improve their fan\u2019s performance\/noise efficiency.<a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/aaoframe.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34337\" title=\"aaoframe\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/aaoframe.jpg?resize=550%2C405\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/aaoframe.jpg?resize=550%2C405 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/aaoframe-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Stepped Intet Design\u00a0induces turbulence to not only reduce the noise by spreading it over a broader accoustic band, but it causes more suction at the frame which\u00a0causes the impeller to move more air. The Inner Surface Microstructures allow for lower noise emission and better performance simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s unbox our 3 new fans and\u00a0take a look at some of the specific improvements and refinements since <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=14237\">we first tested Noctua&#8217;s NF-P14 and found it to be\u00a0a winner back in December, 2009<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle: Introduction--><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Specifications and Unboxing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Let&#8217;s look at some of the refinements of the NF-A15 PWM Premium fan and two NF-A14 fans. All three fans we tested use an attached 20cm cable and all of the kits include a 30cm extension with black sleeving.\u00a0 We will see excellent specifications regarding airflow and low noise as well as a well thought-out packaging, accessories,\u00a0and instructions on the box and at Noctua&#8217;s website.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34282\" title=\"fan-kit\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-kit.jpg?resize=480%2C455\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-kit.jpg?resize=480%2C455 800w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-kit-300x284.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The NF-A Series fans\u00a0are available\u00a0in three models: the NF-A15 PWM, NF-A14 FLX and NF-A14 ULN. The NF-A15 PWM features a round-style 140x150mm frame with 120mm mounting points.\u00a0 It operates\u00a0from about\u00a0300rpm to 1200rpm which makes\u00a0it ideal for use on CPU coolers and\u00a0an excellent\u00a0PWM replacement for our NH-DH14&#8217;s original non-power managed 140mm NF-P14 fan.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34334\" title=\"NHDH14]\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NHDH14.jpg?resize=304%2C300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NHDH14.jpg?resize=304%2C300 304w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NHDH14-300x296.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 304px) 100vw, 304px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It is possible to run the Noctua flagship CPU cooler with only the center fan, and low noise adapters can also be used to slow the fans rpm into inaudibility (from 1200rpm down to 900rpm at 13.8dBA) although your would not want to be aiming for a high overclock while lowering fan speeds.\u00a0The NH-DH14 is also flexible in that if you have room, a third 120mm cooling fan can easily be clipped to the other side of the heatsink for Push-Pull-Push although very little\u00a0improvement will be found in actual temperatures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Noctua NF-A15 PWM 140x150mm fan<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Noctua&#8217;s NF-A15 PWM round fan is the replacement for the NF-P14 round 140mm fan.\u00a0 Here is what Noctua has to say about it from their own <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=productview&amp;products_id=54&amp;lng=en\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=productview&amp;products_id=54&amp;lng=en', 'web site']);\" >web site<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The NF-A15 is a premium quality quiet 140mm fan with a round frame that complies with Noctua\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=aao_frame\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=aao_frame', 'AAO']);\" >AAO<\/a> (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) standard. The NF-A15\u2019s frame features 120mm mounting holes (105mm spacing) and has been enlarged to 150mm width in order to provide superior performance on today\u2019s high-end CPU coolers. Featuring sophisticated aerodynamic design measures such as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=flow_acceleration_channels\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=flow_acceleration_channels', 'Flow Acceleration Channels']);\" >Flow Acceleration Channels<\/a>, the NF-A15 further improves the renowned quiet cooling performance of the award-winning NF-P14. Noctua\u2019s custom designed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=ne_fd1_pwm_ic\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=ne_fd1_pwm_ic', 'PWM IC']);\" >PWM IC<\/a> for fully automatic speed control and reference class <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=sso2_bearing\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=sso2_bearing', 'SSO2']);\" >SSO2<\/a> bearings guarantee superb running smoothness and excellent long-term stability. Topped off with modular cabling, a Low-Noise Adaptor and 6 years manufacturer\u2019s warranty, the NF-A15 is a premium choice for the highest demands.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Here are\u00a0its specifications:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34335\" title=\"nfa15PWM-specs\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/nfa15PWM-specs1.jpg?resize=510%2C656\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/nfa15PWM-specs1.jpg?resize=510%2C656 510w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/nfa15PWM-specs1-233x300.jpg 233w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Replacing the NF-P14 fan with the NF-A15 PWM is as simple as removing the clips and slipping the old fan out and sliding the new fan in.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NHDH14-fanout.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34340\" title=\"NHDH14-fanout\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NHDH14-fanout.jpg?resize=480%2C350\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NHDH14-fanout.jpg?resize=480%2C350 800w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NHDH14-fanout-300x219.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Noctua&#8217;s NF-A15 PWM round fan arrives in a cardboard box packed with everything necessary to install as a case fan or as a CPU cooling fan.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34276\" title=\"box-1\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box-1.jpg?resize=480%2C656\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box-1.jpg?resize=480%2C656 600w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box-1-219x300.jpg 219w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here is the other side.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34277\" title=\"box-obv\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box-obv.jpg?resize=480%2C656\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box-obv.jpg?resize=480%2C656 600w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box-obv-219x300.jpg 219w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The box also proudly displays international awards galore and it will get another richly deserved one today from ABT.<\/p>\n<p>There are flaps that open to show the fan&#8217;s features:<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34279\" title=\"cover-inside1\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/cover-inside1.jpg?resize=480%2C438\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/cover-inside1.jpg?resize=480%2C438 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/cover-inside1-300x274.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The other flap.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34280\" title=\"cover-inside-2\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/cover-inside-2.jpg?resize=480%2C351\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/cover-inside-2.jpg?resize=480%2C351 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/cover-inside-2-300x219.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And now everything is out of the box. There are\u00a0instructions included\u00a0and the\u00a0package contains everything you need to install it except for a screwdriver &#8211; and there is even an alternate way to install it using the rubber extenders.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34283\" title=\"fan-obv\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-obv.jpg?resize=550%2C788\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-obv.jpg?resize=550%2C788 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-obv-209x300.jpg 209w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>All Noctua fans come with a 20cm connector and also a 30cm\u00a0extension.\u00a0 There is a low noise adaptor or two\u00a0also included to slow down the rotational speed of the fan so as to quiet it into inaudibility.<\/p>\n<p>The Noctua NF-A15 PWM fan&#8217;s design is round so that the fan enclosure holes are spaced to place it into the same normal 120mm fan space that a conventional square fan requires. Since it is 140mm high and 150mm wide, the blades can revolve more slowly than a 120mm fan and still move the same amount (or more) of air \u2013 but with less noise.<\/p>\n<p>However, by using\u00a0this round design with the same hole-spacing as common 120mm fans and while achieving a better airflow to noise ratio, the NF-A15\u00a0PWM is ideal for upgrading\u00a0CPU fans as we did with our Noctua NH-DH14.\u00a0 We didn&#8217;t necessarily achieve any better peak cooling temperatures\u00a0over the NF-P14 FLX\u00a0fan, but the BIOS maintained more even temperatures with less sudden\u00a0ramping up and down of the fans.\u00a0 \u00a0In some circumstances,\u00a0the NF-A15 fan\u00a0could also\u00a0replace 120mm case fans with the supplied adapters, making for an excellent upgrade especially for home theater PCs where quiet cooling is essential.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Noctua NF-A14\u00a0FLX and ULN\u00a0140mm fans<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The two NF-A14 fans differ from each other in their rotational speeds.\u00a0 The FLX &#8211; or flex &#8211; fan is suited to higher rpm operation and is still flexible enough to be used in a very quiet installation.\u00a0 The ULN &#8211; or Ultra Low Noise &#8211; fan is suited to home theater PCs (HTPC) where silence is golden.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the FLX Box<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34342\" title=\"box\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box1.jpg?resize=480%2C586\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box1.jpg?resize=480%2C586 600w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box1-245x300.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here is the ULN box:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34341\" title=\"box\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box.jpg?resize=480%2C665\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box.jpg?resize=480%2C665 600w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/box-216x300.jpg 216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The boxes and packing are identical.\u00a0 Here is the FLX:<a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/kit.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34343\" title=\"kit\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/kit.jpg?resize=478%2C560\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>Now here is the ULN:<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34344\" title=\"fan-obb\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-obb.jpg?resize=480%2C555\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-obb.jpg?resize=480%2C555 600w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/fan-obb-259x300.jpg 259w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>The NF-A14 FLX and the NF-A14 ULN\u00a0differ from each other by the slower rotational speed (and lesser cooling ability)\u00a0of the Ultra Low Noise fan.\u00a0 Here are the ULN specifications from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=productview&amp;products_id=53&amp;lng=en&amp;set=1\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=productview&amp;products_id=53&amp;lng=en&amp;set=1', 'Noctua&#8217;s site']);\" >Noctua&#8217;s site<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; notice the almost silent\u00a09.1 dBA at the lowest stepped down speed!:<a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Specs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34345\" title=\"Specs\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Specs.jpg?resize=510%2C651\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Specs.jpg?resize=510%2C651 510w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Specs-235x300.jpg 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Let\u2019s look at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=productview&amp;products_id=52&amp;lng=en&amp;set=1\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.noctua.at\/main.php?show=productview&amp;products_id=52&amp;lng=en&amp;set=1', 'specifications for the FLX']);\" >specifications for the FLX<\/a> fan.<a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/specs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34346\" title=\"specs\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/specs.jpg?resize=510%2C737\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/specs.jpg?resize=510%2C737 510w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/specs-207x300.jpg 207w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle: Packaging-->We see 13.8dBA as the acoustical noise level with the ULNA adapter; 16.4 with the LNA and 19.2dB(A) without adapters.\u00a0 Although this is a very quiet fan compared to the competition, the ULN version is significantly quieter still and is most suitable for HTPC.\u00a0 Side by side, we could\u00a0hear almost no difference &#8211; it is hard to believe that they are making any noise at all when they are rotating\u00a0at the lower speeds!<\/p>\n<p>Here are all three fans pictured together:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/3-fans.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34347\" title=\"3-fans\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/3-fans.jpg?resize=480%2C441\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/3-fans.jpg?resize=480%2C441 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/3-fans-300x275.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Noctua fans all share incremental improvements over their older fans\u00a0that add up to real improvements in both improved air flow and less audible noise.\u00a0 However, just discussing the technical improvements are not going to tell us how quiet these fans are nor if they can keep our high performance PC cool enough to be a HTPC.\u00a0 We have\u00a0seen excellent specifications and well thought-out packaging and instructions included in the box and at Noctua&#8217;s website.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The problem with describing these new\u00a0fans is that the case fans that Noctua are replacing are already incredibly quiet.\u00a0 As we have shown before, the Noctua fans move at least\u00a0as much air as a Thermaltake or a Cooler Master fan, but they do it will less audible noise.\u00a0 And Cooler Master and Thermaltake fans are considered fairly quiet fans as long as they\u00a0do not run near their max rpm.<\/p>\n<p>On the next page we are going replace the Thermaltake case fans of our Chaser MK-I to put our now all-Noctua cooled PC to the test (below).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We replaced the 200mm Thermaltake front intake fan with two 120mm Noctua NF-P12 fans which now cool the HDD cage better; the large 240mm top exhaust fan was replaced\u00a0with two Noctua 140mm NF-A14s (1-FLX and 1-ULN fan used together and separately as top case fans) which now exhaust hot air more evenly which otherwise tends to pool at the top front of the case; \u00a0and we replaced the 140mm Thermaltake rear exhaust fan with a quieter\u00a0Noctua 140mm NF-P14 fan.\u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-34349\" title=\"7-fans-3\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7-fans-3.jpg?resize=480%2C424\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7-fans-3.jpg?resize=480%2C424 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7-fans-3-300x265.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>We also used a\u00a0Noctua 140mm NF-P14 fan as a side-panel case fan (not shown) and two fans in the Noctua NH-DH14\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0NF-A15 PWM and NF-F12 PWM fans &#8211; for a total of 8 Noctua fans (plus the Cooler Master 1000W Silent Pro Platinum PSU fan which intakes air from below the Overseer MK-I and exhausts it out the back of the PSU independently of the case air flow).<\/p>\n<p>Besides testing with all 8 Noctua fans, we also tested our overclocked CPU temperatures\u00a0just using\u00a0three Noctua fans &#8211;\u00a0only one 140mm fan\u00a0for the NH-DH14 CPU cooler, the\u00a0front 120mm Noctua\u00a0intake fan, and the top 120mm Noctua ULN fan.\u00a0\u00a0We were trying to see\u00a0if we could use our i7-3770K at 4.5GHz with the\u00a0GeForce Titan as a HTPC suitable for the quietest scenes and still maintain reasonable temperatures under maximum load.\u00a0 Did we suceed in this\u00a0near impossible test?\u00a0 Turn the next\u00a0page.<\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle: Specifications &#038; Unboxing--><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Noise &amp; the Test<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">We\u00a0replaced the Chaser MK-I Thermaltake case fans, which except for the PSU fan, became an\u00a0all-Noctua cooled PC.\u00a0 First, we replaced the 200mm front intake fan with two 120mm Noctua NF-P12 fans which now cool the HDD cage\u00a0more efficiently\u00a0and more quietly.\u00a0 The large 240mm top exhaust fan was\u00a0next replaced with two Noctua 140mm NF-A14s (1-FLX and 1-ULN fan used together and separately as top case fans) which now exhaust hot air more evenly which otherwise tends to pool at the top front of the case;\u00a0 and we replaced the 140mm Thermaltake rear exhaust fan with a quieter Noctua 140mm NF-P14 fan.<a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/TriFire-X3-1-300x296.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/TriFire-X3-1.jpg?resize=300%2C296\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We also used a Noctua 140mm NF-P14 fan as a side-panel case fan (not shown) and two fans in the Noctua NH-DH14 &#8211; NF-A15 PWM and NF-F12 PWM fans &#8211; for a total of 8 Noctua fans (plus the Cooler Master 1000W Silent Pro Platinum PSU fan which intakes air from below the Overseer MK-I and exhausts it out the back of the PSU independently of the case air flow).\u00a0 We also tested just using 3 Noctua fans &#8211; one 140mm fan for the CPU cooler, the front 120mm intake fan, and the top 120mm ULN fan to see if we could aim for absolute maximum quietness while still maintaining a ridiculously high overclock on our CPU under full load.<\/p>\n<p>First we attempted to compare the new Noctua fans to the older Noctua fans and also to the Thermaltake 120mm rear exhaust fan that we replaced.\u00a0\u00a0 We have no db meter that can measure 10 to 20 dbA. So, we must rely on our own\u00a0fairly trained ears to detect\u00a0audible\u00a0differences. Since there is no way to differentiate these rather\u00a0nearly\u00a0silent fans from each other with a running video card\u00a0even as quiet as a GeForce Titan\u00a0along with\u00a0the PSU fan\u00a0and CPU\u00a0fans, we took them individually out of the case and ran them from a silent 12V DC source.<\/p>\n<p>The older Noctua NF-P14\u00a0140mm fan is quieter than the 120mm\u00a0Thermaltake case fan at any equal rpm. Setting it along side any other Noctua fan was an exercise in frustration in trying to determine which fan was &#8220;louder&#8221;.\u00a0 Using the ULN adapters, we could see the fans continue to move air but their noise completely receded into a very quiet background.\u00a0 And from what we could tell, the Noctua fans moved at least as much air as the Thermaltake fan, only\u00a0they did it more quietly.<\/p>\n<p>We also ran all of 8 Noctua fans simultaneously on both the Chaser MK-I&#8217;s high and low case fan\u00a0speeds while also overclocking our i7-3770K to 4.8GHz.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At its most extreme, we\u00a0did notice the fans&#8217; volume on the highest speed as being intrusive.\u00a0 On the normal speed and with the case under the desk, the PC&#8217;s fan noised\u00a0receded into a very quiet background and was never noticeable during daily tasks or while gaming.\u00a0 But what about using even less fans and dropping the PC&#8217;s noise into complete inaudibility?\u00a0 Can we still overclock our CPU safely\u00a0to 4.5GHz while using only 3 fans &#8211; 1 CPU and 2 case fans?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Test Configuration<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intel Core i7 3770K at stock and overclocked<\/li>\n<li>EVGA Z77 FTW\u00a0Intel motherboard\u00a0(latest beta BIOS, PCIe 3.0 specification; CrossFire or SLI 16x + 16x using Plex chip).<\/li>\n<li>8\u00a0GB Kingston DDR3-PC1866 RAM (4\u00d72 GB in dual-channel; supplied by Kingston)<\/li>\n<li>GeForce GTX Titan (6GB, reference clocks) by Nvidia<\/li>\n<li>500 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 hard drive<\/li>\n<li>Silent Pro Platimum 1000 Watt power supply (supplied by Cooler Master)<\/li>\n<li>Noctua\u00a0NH-DH14 CPU cooler; supplied by Noctua &#8211;\u00a0replacing the non-PWM\u00a0stock fans with NF-A15 PWM and\u00a0NF-F12 PWM fans<\/li>\n<li>Noctua 140mm NF-P14 fan used as a side-panel case fan (supplied by Noctua)<\/li>\n<li>2 &#8211; Noctua 120mm NF-P12 fans used as front panel case fans (supplied by Noctua)<\/li>\n<li>Noctua 140mm NF-P14 fan used as a\u00a0rear case fan (supplied by Noctua)<\/li>\n<li>2 &#8211; Noctua 140mm NF-A14; 1-FLX and 1-ULN\u00a0fan used together and separately\u00a0as\u00a0top case fans (supplied by Noctua)<\/li>\n<li>Thermaltake\u00a0Overseer RX-I\u00a0full-tower case (supplied by Thermaltake)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Test Configuration \u2013 Software<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong> <\/strong>NVIDIA WHQL GeForce Driver 310.09; high quality filtering and optimizations off<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Windows\u00a07 64-bit; very latest updates<\/li>\n<li>Latest DirectX.<\/li>\n<li>All games and benchmarks are patched to their latest versions.<\/li>\n<li>OCCT 1.4.3<\/li>\n<li>Highest quality sound (stereo) used in all games.<\/li>\n<li>Windows\u00a064, all DX11 titles were run under DX11 render paths<\/li>\n<li>EVGA Precision X &#8211; Titan at stock clocks with Power and Temperature sliders maxed to right.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>First Test with OCCT &#8211; 4.5GHz, all\u00a06 Noctua case fans on normal speed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We passed this first\u00a0test with flying colors using OCCT to load our CPU&#8217;s 4 cores 100% and using the BIOS to power manage the Noctua NH-DH14&#8217;s fans.\u00a0 88C was the highest peak temperatures we recorded on a single core and the 8\u00a0fans never became\u00a0intrusive although we could hear them if we listened for them over a quiet background.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Second\u00a0Test with OCCT\u00a0&#8211; 4.8GHz, all\u00a06 Noctua case fans on normal speed <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>First, we used OCCT to load our CPU cores\u00a0to its maximum as we overclocked it to 4.8GHz.\u00a0 The highest peak temperatures that we recorded with the case fans on low with the NH-DH14&#8217;s fans power managed by the BIOS on a single core was 100C and well in line with our previous attempts using stock case cooling.\u00a0 Our PC had the highest practical overclock the NH-DH14 could give us, and it was still reasonably quiet even though the CPU fans were spinning up near their maximum all the while being monitored and managed by the BIOS.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Third\u00a0Test with OCCT &#8211; 4.8GHz, all 6 Noctua case fans on\u00a0high speed <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We repeated the second test but this time we had our case fans at maximum rpm.\u00a0 The peak temperature of the hottest single core reached the same\u00a0100C\u00a0but the average temperature of the cores dropped by about 4C.\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, this time we could hear our case and CPU fans and although it was quieter than the stock fans that they replaced, the eight Noctua fans\u00a0now became\u00a0noticeable above a quiet background\u00a0although they were\u00a0not irritating.\u00a0 However, we much preferred to keep the case fans on low\u00a0even at 4.8GHz\u00a0as the audible noise\u00a0increase with the highest case fan rpm\u00a0is significant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Fourth\u00a0Test with OCCT &#8211; 4.5GHz,\u00a0only\u00a03 Noctua fans on normal speed.\u00a0 No adapters<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We knew it would not be reasonable to attempt 4.8GHz using only one CPU fan (the center NF-A15 PWM fan)\u00a0and two case fans (one NF-P12 120mm fan as front intake fan and\u00a0one 140mm NF-A14 ULN\u00a0as top case fan) so we dropped our overclock back to 4.5GHz &#8211; which is probably still pretty unreasonable.<\/p>\n<p>We are not using the step down adapters which would slow the fan into inaudibility but drop the cooling ability significantly.\u00a0 We would use these adapters with our CPU at stock speeds or at a much less aggressive overclock.\u00a0\u00a0However, this time even under maximum load at 4.5GHz, and with only three fans completely inaudible 3-4 feet away in the PC\u00a0under a desk, we peaked at 99C.\u00a0 If we were going to lower our fan rpm even further using the low noise adapters, we would certainly\u00a0advise for\u00a0using more than three fans for cooling.\u00a0\u00a0 And if we were going to use our PC as a\u00a0HTPC, we would never\u00a0use\u00a0the steep 4.5GHz\u00a0overclock that we used just to prove a point that Noctua&#8217;s fans can cool even a highly overclocked CPU\u00a0efficiently and silently.<\/p>\n<p>We actually have an overclocked i7-3770K at 4.5GHz and a GeForce Titan that is completely suitable for HTPC using as little as 3 Noctua fans total,\u00a0to almost silently cool the entire PC!\u00a0 Let&#8217;s head for our conclusion.<\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle: Noise &#038; the Tests--><!--nextpage--><!--pagetitle: Conclusion--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When it comes to cooling your overclocked hot Core i7 or Core i5 efficiently and especially quietly, Noctua is the company to turn to. If you have a high performance PC, you can also use it for HTPC without compromising performance, or as in our case, keeping our high CPU overclock.\u00a0 We\u00a0used an extreme series of tests\u00a0to overclock our HTPC CPU to 4.5GHz using only 3 Noctua fans and it worked out\u00a0amazingly well and\u00a0in near silence.<\/p>\n<p>There is really no comparison between Noctua fans and many other fans available, and the old adage, \u201cyou get what you pay for\u201d also comes to mind. If you have a Core i7 or i5 that you really want to push to its maximum overclock, Noctua may be for you. And if you want a near-silent overclock, then you need look no further than Noctua fans as they move a lot of air for their speed and\u00a0lack of noise.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Noctua fans\u00a0comes highly recommended by this reviewer!<\/p>\n<p>Like the NF-P14 FLX fan that we liked\u00a0when we\u00a0reviewed it\u00a0in 2009, Noctua&#8217;s new\u00a0140x150mm NF-A15\u00a0PWN fan is nearly unique in that it fits where only formerly 120mm fans could fit previously. For your money, you get a super fan that will fit into almost any home theater PC\u00a0while delighting\u00a0the audiophile and movie\u00a0fans with its ability to use either of its adapters to slow the\u00a0rpm into inaudibility while still maintaining good air flow.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Noctua 140mm NF-A14 FLX &amp; ULN fan<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Pros: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noctua 140mm NF-A14 FLX or ULN fan\u00a0are great *quiet* cooling solutions for a replacement\u00a0case or as an upgrade to a CPU cooling fan or radiator.<\/li>\n<li>A single quiet 140mm fan provide superb silent cooling with two additional adapters providing incremental step downs in speed, lowering noise (and cooling ability).\u00a0 The difference between the FLX and the ULN is that the ULN steps the rotational speed down even further into inaudibility.<\/li>\n<li>Everything is included for installation \u2013\u00a0perhaps have a Philips screwdriver handy.<\/li>\n<li>This 140mm fan works great as a case fan and the removable rubber pads make sure no vibration is transmitted.<\/li>\n<li>In every way, these fans are incrementally better than the ones that preceded them.<\/li>\n<li>6 year warranty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Price.\u00a0 But then silence is golden; especially in HTPC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Recommended especially for home theater PCs or where silence is appreciated.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Noctua 140mmx150mm NF-A15\u00a0PWM fan<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Pros: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noctua 140mmx150mm NF-A15 PWM\u00a0fan is a great *quiet* cooling solution for a CPU cooling fan\u00a0or perhaps also\u00a0as a case or radiator fan.<\/li>\n<li>A single quiet\u00a0power-managed\u00a0140mm fan provide superb silent cooling with two additional adapters providing incremental step downs in speed, lowering noise (and cooling ability).\u00a0 PWM is a big plus.<\/li>\n<li>Everything is included for installation \u2013 just have a Philips screwdriver handy.<\/li>\n<li>This 140mm fan is designed to replace 120mm fans by its unique round design and supplied adapters and because of its 140mm height makes an especially\u00a0great replacement for a CPU cooling fan where 150mm as a width is not an issue.<\/li>\n<li>6 year warranty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Price; but then it is a premium fan in every way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Noctua\u2019s 140x150mm NF-A15\u00a0PWm fan is a nearly silent fan that fits where\u00a0120mm fans could fit before. It is an excellent PWM replacement for the non-power managed fan in our NH-DH14.\u00a0 It is recommended especially for home theater PCs.<\/p>\n<p>All three of these fans are amazingly quiet and efficient and are improvements over the older Noctua fans, to say nothing of being great upgrades over the stock cooling in most cases and in most CPU coolers and radiators.\u00a0 Noctua continues to lead with superbly quiet HTPC solutions and they deserve our ABT Innovation Award!<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/Innovation_thumb1.png?resize=150%2C251\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We have a mystery card evaluation due shortly that you will like and we are going all the way back to 8800-GTX and 2900XT to see how much graphics cards have progressed.\u00a0 Stay tuned to ABT and make sure to join our forum discussions.<\/p>\n<p>Happy Gaming!<\/p>\n<p>Mark Poppin<\/p>\n<p>ABT Senior Editor<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Please join us in our <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/abt\/index.php\">Forums<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Become a Fan on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142', 'Facebook']);\" >Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Follow us on <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech', 'Twitter']);\" >Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For the latest updates from ABT, please <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?feed=rss2\">join our RSS News Feed<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Join our Distributed Computing teams<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Folding@Home \u2013 Team AlienBabelTech \u2013 164304<\/li>\n<li>SETI@Home \u2013 Team AlienBabelTech \u2013 138705<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1', 'World Community Grid \u2013 Team AlienBabelTech']);\" >World Community Grid \u2013 Team AlienBabelTech<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fans are never interesting.\u00a0 Or are they?\u00a0 This evaluation of\u00a0three Noctua premium fans\u00a0became an ABT\u00a0project to turn a moderately noisy high-performance PC into a super-quiet rig without sacrificing\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0its\u00a0performance.\u00a0 Is it even possible to have&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":34340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2533,7814,4454],"tags":[4824,6206,4942,765,6208,6209,6207,2560,6210],"class_list":["post-34145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abt-news","category-articles","category-mini-reviews","tag-a-series","tag-case-fan","tag-cpu-fan","tag-htpc","tag-nf-a14-flex","tag-nf-a14-uln","tag-nf-a15-pwm","tag-noctua","tag-quiet-fan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}