Noctua needs a high-RPM NF-A12x25 G2 variant
I am a Noctua fan. I buy Noctua because I want the best engineering, the best acoustic profile, the best accessories, the best long-term quality, and the least annoying sound character.
But after comparing the NF-A12x25 G2 against the Arctic P12 Pro used on the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, I think Noctua has a real gap in its 120 mm lineup.
This is about a missing product category: a modern high-RPM Noctua 120 mm fan.
The NF-A12x25 G2 PWM is an amazing 120 mm fan, but its official maximum is:
NF-A12x25 G2 PWM
>Max RPM: 1800 rpmMax airflow: 107.3 m³/hMax static pressure: 3.14 mmH2ONoise: 22.5 dBA
The Arctic P12 Pro used on the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 is specified as:
Arctic P12 Pro
>Max RPM: 3000 rpmMax airflow: 131 m³/hMax static pressure: 6.9 mmH2OCurrent: 0.33 A
On paper, the Arctic has:
Airflow advantage:
131 / 107.3 = 1.221 ≈ 22.1% more airflow
Static pressure advantage:
6.9 / 3.14 = 2.197 ≈ 119.7% more static pressure
For a 360 mm radiator with three fans, the free-airflow totals become:
3× NF-A12x25 G2:
3 × 107.3 = 321.9 m³/h
3× Arctic P12 Pro:
3 × 131 = 393 m³/h
That is a free-airflow gap of:
393 - 321.9 = 71.1 m³/h
Obviously, max airflow and max static pressure are not achieved at the same time. These are endpoints of the P/Q curve, and radiator performance depends on the full curve, noise level, radiator restriction, fan spacing, gaskets, case impedance, and air temperature.
The math is pretty simple if we use fan affinity laws as a first-order estimate:
>Airflow Q ∝ RPMStatic pressure ΔP ∝ RPM²Power roughly ∝ RPM³
Starting from the NF-A12x25 G2 baseline:
>1800 rpm107.3 m³/h3.14 mmH2O
To match the Arctic P12 Pro airflow of 131 m³/h:
Required RPM ≈ 1800 × (131 / 107.3)
Required RPM ≈ 2198 rpm
At that speed, estimated static pressure would be:
3.14 × (2198 / 1800)² ≈ 4.68 mmH2O
So a roughly 2200 rpm NF-A12x25 G2 variant could theoretically match the P12 Pro’s airflow rating, but it would still be far below the P12 Pro’s 6.9 mmH2O pressure rating.
To match the P12 Pro static pressure of 6.9 mmH2O:
>Required RPM ≈ 1800 × sqrt(6.9 / 3.14)Required RPM ≈ 2668 rpm
At that speed, estimated airflow would be:
107.3 × (2668 / 1800) ≈ 159 m³/h
So the target range is pretty obvious:
A 2200 rpm version would close the airflow gap.
A 2650–2700 rpm version would be the real banger option.
Estimated NF-A12x25 G2 scaling:
2200 rpm:
>Airflow ≈ 131.1 m³/hPressure ≈ 4.69 mmH2O
2700 rpm:
>Airflow ≈ 161.0 m³/hPressure ≈ 7.07 mmH2O
Of course, real fan design is not just spinning the same fan faster. Blade stress, motor torque, bearing load, tip clearance, turbulence, acoustic tonality, and efficiency all change. But this gives a reasonable engineering target.
What many Noctua fans actually need is not another low-speed variant.
We need something like:
NF-A12x25 G2 HS-PWM
>120 × 25 mmMax speed: 2400–2700 rpmTarget airflow: ~140–160 m³/hTarget static pressure: ~5.5–7.0 mmH2O4-pin PWM0 rpm stop supportNA-AVG1 radiator gasket includedSx2-PP version with RPM offset
Yes, Noctua has the NF-F12 industrialPPC-3000 PWM:
>Max RPM: 3000 rpmMax airflow: 186.7 m³/hMax static pressure: 7.63 mmH2ONoise: 43.5 dBA
But that is not the same product category.
The industrialPPC exists for industrial/high-speed use. It is powerful, but it is not a modern NF-A12x25 G2-class PC radiator fan with Noctua’s current acoustic refinement, radiator gasket, Sterrox-style tight-clearance design philosophy, and Sx2-PP-style RPM-offset option.
That is what I want.
A high-RPM NF-A12x25 G2 variant would not need to be silent at 2700 rpm. Physics exists. Nobody expects magic.
But I want the option to run it at 1000–1200 rpm most of the time, 1500–1800 rpm under normal load, and 2400–2700 rpm when I actually need maximum radiator performance.
Noctua, please fill this gap.
Give us a high-RPM NF-A12x25 G2 HS-PWM.
And please make an Sx2-PP version for 240/360 mm radiator arrays.