Noctua Redux "Cost Optimized" Fans

[LinusTech]

NCIX: http://bit.ly/1pV9NRM

Amazon: http://georiot.co/1Xph

 

Noctua's Redux line of fans brings their outstanding quality and technology down to a price that more people will be able to afford... But have they made too many compromises?

 

[Paralectic]

Yay! the AIRPLANE FANS are here.

[Jvagle875]

Did something on the set change? I'm noticing more echo in this video than in others.

[LinusTech]

Did something on the set change? I'm noticing more echo in this video than in others.

 

This was shot while everyone was away at E3... with my lavalier mic... I'm using a shotgun mic.

[nishank93]

I don't know. I feel like I need a noise and airflow/static pressure comparison (or just temperatures against standardised radiator) between this, similarly priced fans and the original Noctuas to make up my mind on whether the Redux series is worth it.

 

Since this is older generation technology, Noctua probably didn't have to invest a tonne of money (if any at all) to come up with this series of fans, so it makes sense for them to have a set of fans that hits a lower price point, as long as these fans are a cut above everything else at that price point. Why do they have to be better? Because of their reputation.

[Jvagle875]

This was shot while everyone was away at E3... with my lavalier mic... I'm using a shotgun mic.

Makes sense... do I detect a bit of bitterness about them stealing your mic?

[skullbringer]

black nf-f12 is all I ever really wanted, I never wanted them to be dust and water proof, I never wanted to have them spin faster, I never wanted to pay 30 bucks per fan. Just no, all Noctua did, is to blow up their good products with unnecessary features and demand a fortune for them (industrial ppc) and give us all their crap fans for 3 bucks less, and in an even worse color scheme (redux) IMHO

[Accursed Entity]

They're still not that cheap. I like how they look, but for a couple bucks more I'd still buy the brown ones. Performance over looks any day!

[GriggsCK]

Why is their fans so expensive, the other fans from corsair, bitfenix, etc do not perform as good as them?

[xentric]

Did Noctua over look the market or is there some market for these fans that we're overlooking? Aren't they great options for case fan upgrades?

[leosky]

After all this time I've still not understood the difference between airflow and pressure optimised fans, tried to search a little, but havent found a definition and distinction of both. Nice video!

[atrash]

After all this time I've still not understood the difference between airflow and pressure optimised fans, tried to search a little, but havent found a definition and distinction of both. Nice video!

There is a handy thread in the air cooling subforum explaining all the details about fans and airflow etc2. I'm on the phone now so I can't give you the link but you should go find out there.

[gutserker]

the short of it is if the redux line only shaves a few dollars off the cost I don't think it's worth it for me at least. I can live with fans that don't live up to 18dBA, as long as they're not 40+dBA like my scythe jyuni.

 

Without seeing a performance comparison, I have nothing to base these redux fans off of, since I haven't tested $20 noctua fans. owning the stock NZXT fans, scythe kaze jyuni 1900rpm fans, and B-gears Blaster 140mm and 120mm, I can say that the NZXT fans suck, the scythe jyuni fans are only airflow optimized while being loud as HELL doing so, while incorporating bushings, but my B-gear Blasters, while being cheap looking and having little data and research to back them up, are significantly quieter than my scythe fan while performing equal or better (double bearings), including the speced "3.5mm static pressure", all while being only $10.

oh, and the scythe fan was fragile. one of the only fans I've broken.

 

I'm with ya Linus on them being static optimized making a big difference.

as it is they're only good as a case fan.

[Leonard]

black nf-f12 is all I ever really wanted, I never wanted them to be dust and water proof, I never wanted to have them spin faster, I never wanted to pay 30 bucks per fan. Just no, all Noctua did, is to blow up their good products with unnecessary features and demand a fortune for them (industrial ppc) and give us all their crap fans for 3 bucks less, and in an even worse color scheme (redux) IMHO

I too don't understand why Noctua did this, To me these new fans, although they did say it is for industrial use, had spoiled what was almost perfection when comes to PC fans. I just don't get it and this coming from Z Germans.

[steffen_anywhere]

I too don't understand why Noctua did this, To me these new fans, although they did say it is for industrial use, had spoiled what was almost perfection when comes to PC fans. I just don't get it and this coming from Z Germans.

Sis in not from se Jerman Enjineers, sey ar austrian you bitsches!

Sorry

[Exotath]

The only real difference between the Redux series and the main line is .... TIME TRAVEL.

[Leonard]

Sis in not from se Jerman Enjineers, sey ar austrian you bitsches!

Sorry

I stand corrected.

[o3871]

I'm still just conna use the Corsair AF and SP series for cooling on my rigs

[_ASSASSIN_]

what a disappointing review, I actually wanted to see their performance and how truly quiet they are.

[atrash]

This video feels more of a personal rant than a proper review.

[Lord_Kitty]

@LinusTech I think in certain situations, those fans are really good.

 

For example, lots of cases have dual 140mm front fan mount, that has a grill, a filter and often a HDD cage next to them. Now, you're an advocate for pressure optimized fan in all situations yourself.

 

Some good PWM options for this are the Bitfenix Spectre Pro for £9.99, the Be Quiet Shadow Wings for £10.78 or the P14 redux for for £11.21. For reference, the NF-A14 is £15.82. £4.61 more and poopy colors.. If you buy 2 of these for air intakes, they are a really good deal if they perform as good as you claimed for years.

 

All prices are from specialtech.co.uk, excluding VAT.

[TheScorpio]

i think all they did is just change the color and lower the cost a bit, they are still the same as the old ones (brownish)

and i am sure that they didnt include 120 pressure optimize on purpose cause it would hurt their industrial lineup, people would buy these and get about the same performance,

unless they want 3000 RPM, which most people are going to use a fan controller anyways, so yeah

These fans pretty much, only useable if you wanted a good fan, for case airflow, and a cpu heatsink, and doesnt look bad (which they think it doesnt i like the old noctua color tbh)]

Note: these cost 50% less than the Industrial lineup

and i think around 10 CAD dollars less than the old lineup

i checked with NCIX website -> http://search.ncix.com/search/?qcatid=0&q=noctua

[ManWithBeard1990]

They're still not that cheap. And you are right, Linus, there should be a pressure optimised fan. The mufflers on my case won't be that restrictive, but not open either, so the performance of an NF-S12B in that setup would still be 'wimpy at best'. I think something like a NoiseBlocker eLoop would be better for my needs.

[Aristocrates]

Noctua is the Apple of fans.