Overall and Final Verdict
I find it interesting how my choices in hardware have evolved over time. When I was a fledgling PC builder my choice in fans was determined by the price and of course L.E.D. color. As my taste broadened I championed high CFM/RPMs, this inevitably led ironically to fan controllers. Now my interest drifts into overclocking, and water cooling and my fan choices has become strictly performance orientated. Regardless if you are just starting out or are a connoisseur of all things hardware related the Noctua NF-F12 is an excellent cooling solution.
As you can see on the graphs 1and 2, out of all the 1500RPM fans chosen, the NF-F12 has the best combined CFM and noise level of any fan in its class. Unfortunately you pay for what you get, and the Noctua NF-F12 is no exception. At an MSRP of $29.99, this is one pricey fan. Multiple fans in a push-pull configuration could get really expensive. If your looking for a case fan maybe the Noctua NF-S12B would be a better choice. After all the NF-F12 is designed to maximize your CPU cooler's preformance. With that said, there is a lot of value here as well. The focused flow system is an exciting new innovation in fan design. The sleeved accessories cables, and rubber mounts are a welcomed surprise. The NF-F12 is honestly the quietest 1500RPM fan this reviewer has ever heard. Noctua ‘s legendary build quality did not disappoint. With all the factors considered, I’m confident the Noctua NF-F12 is the best all-around 1500RPM fan on the market today.
