Noctua NF-P12 vs SP-120

[sherlockfan99]

Which fans would be better to use on the corsair h105? The Noctua NF-P12 or Corsair SP-120 Quiet Edition. I'm aiming for a quiet build.
Thanks.

 

[TanFrash1]

Both are good, but I think the Corsair is quieter.

 

[Y0GI]

Which fans would be better to use on the corsair h105? The Noctua NF-P12 or Corsair SP-120 Quiet Edition. I'm aiming for a quiet build.
Thanks.

Here are the specs for both fans.
Corsair: http://www.corsair.com/en-us/air-series-sp120-quiet-edition-high-static-pressure-120mm-fan
Noctua: http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=12&lng=en&set=1
http://HERE is the conversion for cu. M./hr. to CFM.

/////////////////// Corsair ///////////// Noctua
Airflow, CFM: 37.85 //////////// 54.33
Static Press. 1.29 /////////////// 1.68
(mm H2O)
Sound Level: 23 dBA ///////// 19.8 dBA

So, to summarize, The Noctua has greater airflow, higher static pressure, and generates less noise in the process of cooling.

Get the Noctua!

Yogi

 

[Calculatron]

Is there a way you could just simply run the Stock fans at a lower RPM?

I think the Stock fans are just the Corsair 120SP fans, but with a higher RPM limit. (Of which, the Quiet Editions have a lower RPM limit.)

 

[Y0GI]

Is there a way you could just simply run the Stock fans at a lower RPM?

I think the Stock fans are just the Corsair 120SP fans, but with a higher RPM limit. (Of which, the Quiet Editions have a lower RPM limit.)

You could prolly get an adapter with an in-line resistor which would drop the voltage from 12 v. to 7 v., but performance would suffer.

Yogi

 

[Calculatron]

No joke; but why spend $20+ replacing fans when you could have the same effect for free.

 

[Y0GI]

No joke; but why spend $20+ replacing fans when you could have the same effect for free.

Because, as I said, performance will suffer.

Yogi

 

[Calculatron]

So, if you take a Performance Edition Corsair SP120, and dial it down to 1450 RPM, the same as a Quiet Edition, it will not perform approximately?

 

[Y0GI]

So, if you take a Performance Edition Corsair SP120, and dial it down to 1450 RPM, the same as a Quiet Edition, it will not perform approximately?

Look at the airflow and static pressure that I posted above. At lower RPM, the SP120 can't match the Noctua. And it is still noisier too.

Yogi

 

[Bojangle12]

I tried out the corsair SP fan, and it didn't have good performance when blowing air through a radiator. I wouldn't go with it.

 

[Calculatron]

But how do box specifications translate out into real world performance, and, secondly, does spending an extra ~$40 dollars to switch out fans justify the end result? I'm not convinced, especially when the same result might be achieved for free.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi46_1BnPPw

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-4_24.html#sect0

(These results were with NF-F12; the airflow/static pressure optimized version of what Noctua has to offer.)

 

[Bojangle12]

But how do box specifications translate out into real world performance, and, secondly, does spending an extra ~$40 dollars to switch out fans justify the end result? I'm not convinced, especially when the same result might be achieved for free.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi46_1BnPPw

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-4_24.html#sect0

(These results were with NF-F12; the airflow/static pressure optimized version of what Noctua has to offer.)

I have learned you can't go by specifications on a box when determining fan performance. The design is important. Like how many blades it has, the spacing between the blades, the shape of the blades, and the bearings.

Check out the 2012 Fan Roundup sticky at the top of the Components sub forum. Good companies are Silverstone and Noctua.

And I wonder if it is worth it to spend $20-30 to replace a fan on an already expensive cooling unit... In the end I think if it's quieter and has better performance, yes it is worth it.