Noctua NF-S12 & NF-R8 Fans

Examination:

The most noticeable feature when pulling these fans out of the packaging was its color combination. The current selection of Noctua fans has maroon blades with off-white fan housing. Some may not like the color combination if using a side panel window or going after a particular appearance, but the Noctua fans look interesting nonetheless. Outside of the color combination, the case fans look like most any other case fan on the market, but Noctua has some hidden gems in the NF-S12 and NF-R8. The Noctua fans support sound-optimized blade geometry and profile, which claims to be up to 10% quieter than current high-end fans. The NF-S12-800 and NF-S12-1200 have a straight blade design, while the NF-R8 has a raised blade geometry design.

These Noctua fans also feature a self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearing (SSO bearing) technology. The SSO bearing is designed to run quieter than traditional sleeve or ball bearing fans and at the same time provides long-term stability -- presently with these products Noctua is offering a six-year warranty! All three Noctua fans also have sleeved three-pin fan cables. The Low-Noise Adapter and Ultra-Low Noise Adapters are simply a cable with a resistor to lower the voltage of the fan.