Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM, High Performance Cooling Fan, 4-Pin, 1700 RPM (120mm, Grey)

I use my PCs all day, every day for everything from writing reviews to recording music. I also use them for gaming and running a driving / flight sim rig. I find the sound of the fans incredibly distracting, so it's been a bit of an obsession to find proper, silent fans.Years ago I discovered Noctua fans, and I haven't used anything else since then. I'm not sponsored and I buy my fans at full price just like everyone else. I say good things about them because I think they are really good, and because they work, reliably. I have fans in one of my PCs that must be 15 years old, and still work as well as the day I installed them.Noctua fans are a 'professional' product, in that you pay a premium price for a premium product. Noctua's standard range is beautifully presented, and the fans come with vibration mounts, splitter cables and a bunch of other 'case candy', some of which isn't really needed for every build.This is where the 'Redux' range comes in. Same quality, same performance, different colour and none of the extras - for a lower price.To be fair, you don't get any anti-vibration mounts. You don't really need them if you screw the fans in the conventional way, but they are an important part of the 'quiet fan' experience. No problem - if you prefer to use flerxible mounts, Noctua sell them as an optional extra, in a variety of colours.Wait, what? Colours? Yes. You no longer have to have boring beige and brown fans if you want a quiet PC. OK, there's no silly RGB on offer, and the new Redux fan colour scheme is an equally boring grey on grey, but it's neutral and does look classy. You can then add optional vibration mounts and pads in your choice of colours. Or not, if you don't need them.I'll admit, I was sceptical. The standard fans aren't exactly expensive compared with a gaming GPU, and I have been really happy with the noise level vs cooling quality of the standard Noctua fans for years. I felt no reason to compromise. Until I discovered that the fans I wanted for my latest project were out of stock. I was moving my mATX gaming PC from a 'cube' case to a conventional PC tower (reviewed seperately) so I could install a full-sized GPU, and I couldn't wait indefinitely for the new stock of fans to arrive. I decided it was time to try the Redux range, and ordered a pair of PF12 Redux-1300RPM intake fans and a PF12 Redux-1700 fan for the exhaust.I needn't have worried. The Redux fans are excellent. I use the fan tuning software provided with my motherboard, and at idle the PC is totally silent. I can see all three case fans turning through the window in my new case, and that's the only evidence that they are running. If I manually set all the fans to run at full speed, the sound is definitely noticeable, but not particularly annoying.Great. It's quiet. How cool does it keep the case? Very, as it turns out. I ran benchmarks using the 'standard' benchmark software, and I was pleased to find that my hardware was performing at the upper end of 'average' without any overclocking or excessive cooling. The motherboard temperatures were well under control.Interestingly, during the benchmark the case fans never got anywhere near their maximum speed. The CPU fan ramped up pretty fast, and the GPU fans went full-hovercraft, but the case fans were easily up to the job. The three fans are shifting more than enough air to keep the inside of the case at the same temperature as the room it's in, no matter what the PC is doing. And most of the time, they are doing it silently.

**Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM Review**The Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM is a standout choice for anyone looking to enhance their desktop cooling system. This 120mm fan is engineered for high performance, and it certainly lives up to its reputation.**Design and Build Quality:**Right out of the box, the NF-P12 showcases Noctua's trademark quality. The grey finish is sleek and unobtrusive, fitting well with any build. The fan blades are designed for optimal airflow and reduced turbulence, which is a testament to Noctua's attention to aerodynamic detail.**Performance:**Operating at a maximum speed of 1700 RPM, this fan delivers impressive airflow while maintaining low noise levels. The PWM control allows for dynamic speed adjustments based on your system's needs, making it versatile for various setups. Whether you're gaming, rendering, or just browsing, this fan keeps your components cool without generating distracting noise.**Installation:**Installing the NF-P12 is straightforward. It comes with all the necessary mounting accessories, and the 4-pin PWM connector makes it compatible with most motherboards. The fan's lightweight design ensures it can be mounted in any orientation without concern.**Cooling Efficiency:**The cooling performance is top-notch. Even under load, the NF-P12 manages to keep temperatures in check, contributing significantly to overall system stability. It’s an excellent choice for both case cooling and heatsink applications.**Value:**While Noctua products tend to be on the pricier side, the NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM offers excellent value for its performance and longevity. The brand is known for reliability, and this fan is no exception; it’s built to last.**Conclusion:**In summary, the Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM is an outstanding cooling fan that combines performance, efficiency, and quiet operation. Whether you're building a high-performance gaming rig or just need a reliable fan for everyday use, this model is a worthy investment. Highly recommended for anyone serious about keeping their desktop cool and quiet.

I recently bought a cooler with heatsink to replace one that was triggering my motherboard to throw a "CPU Fan Error" message on start up and would refuse to start unless the wire for it was jiggled or re-seated. I installed it a couple weeks later to find that it cooled the system well but the 120mm fan that came with it was making a horrible high pitched whine (as if the fan had been used for years). I didn't think much of it until I sat in silence with just the computer running and I can honestly say it was like a form of torture.I bought two of these fans (120mm) with the 4 pin lead to place on both sides of the cooler and they worked perfectly. Now all I hear is a gentle type of wind noise while my computer stays cool. These fans are worth the money and do the job just fine for cooling my Ryzen 5 3600.My set up is as follows:Two intake fans on the front of my machine pulling air into the case,One of these Noctua fans pulling air through the heatsink,The other taking air away from the heatsink blowing it towards the exhaust fan on the back of the computer.Monitoring temperatures, my computer idles at around 35 degrees C with some fairly cheap thermal paste and doesn't go above 60-65 degrees C when playing games such as various simulators.

Fitted to my AIO cooler, lovely, silent and easy to install even for someone not all that familiar with pc parts. Mounts easily to the case or the AIO. The quality feels premium which is surprising if you consider the price but not so surprising when you know what Noctua is known for. No issues so far.

Louder than expected but overall good temps