Noctua NF-A12x25 5V PWM

The NF-A12x25 5V PWM is a PWM-enabled 5V variant of Noctua’s award-winning, premium-quality NF-A12x25 120mm fan. Featuring an AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) standard frame and sophisticated aerodynamic design measures such as Flow Acceleration Channels, the NF-A12x25 is renowned for its superior performance and outstanding quietness of operation. Smooth Commutation Drive technology and Noctua’s reference class SSO2 bearing guarantee superb running smoothness and excellent long-term stability. Topped off with the included USB power adaptor cable, OmniJoin™ adaptor set and 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, the NF-A12x25 5V PWM is a premium choice for demanding 5V applications that require PWM control.

Being a 5V fan, the NF-A12x25 5V PWM cannot be run at 12V and will be damaged when used with typical 12V power sources such as PC motherboard fan headers.

5V PWM version

5V fans are used in various devices and applications. With the included USB power adaptor cable and OmniJoin™ adaptor set, the NF-A12x25 5V PWM is a proven premium solution that gives you full flexibility both for replacing existing 5V fans and for new, custom applications.

Next-generation performance

Noctua’s 120mm fans such as the NF-F12 and NF-S12A are renowned as being among the best on the market and have received more than 400 awards and recommendations from the international press. With its further improved efficiency and novel, state-of-the-art engineering, the NF-A12x25 represents another step up in performance and manufacturing.

Highly optimised P/Q curve for all applications

The NF-A12x25’s sophisticated aerodynamic design allows for a pressure to airflow (P/Q) curve that is extremely strong in the critical mid-section. This means that the NF-A12x25 is a true jack-of-all-trades with excellent performance in both static pressure demanding and airflow demanding applications.

Excellent on-application acoustics

While many fans produce unpleasant, high-pitched noises when installed in typical applications such as on heatsinks or radiators, the NF-A12x25 has been carefully fine-tuned for optimal on-application acoustics. It produces a smooth, pleasant frequency profile and surprisingly low sound pressure levels (SPL) when working against back pressure.

Flow Acceleration Channels

The NF-A12x25 impeller features suction side Flow Acceleration Channels. By speeding up the airflow at the crucial outer blade regions, this measure reduces suction side flow separation and thus leads to better efficiency and lower vortex noise.

Ultra-tight tip clearance

The NF-A12x25 has a record tight tip clearance (distance between the blade tips and the inside of the frame) of only 0.5mm. This highly ambitious design sets a new benchmark for 120mm fans and helps the NF-A12x25 to work more efficiently against back pressure, such as on heatsinks or radiators, by reducing leak flows through the gap between impeller and frame.

Metal-reinforced motor hub

The centrepiece of the NF-A12x25’s motor hub is made entirely from steel and the axle mount is reinforced with an additional brass structure. In combination, both measures ensure ultimate precision and increased stability in the critical hub area.

Sterrox® liquid-crystal polymer compound

The NF-A12x25’s impeller is made from Noctua’s novel Sterrox® liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) compound that features extreme tensile strength, an exceptionally low thermal expansion coefficient and damping characteristics that are ideal for reducing resonance and vibration phenomena in advanced fan-blade designs.

AAO frame

Noctua’s AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) frames feature integrated anti-vibration pads as well as Noctua’s proprietary Stepped Inlet Design and Inner Surface Microstructures, both of which further refine the fan’s performance/noise efficiency.

Stepped Inlet Design

Noctua’s Stepped Inlet Design adds turbulence to the influx in order to facilitate the transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow, which reduces tonal intake noise, improves flow attachment and increases suction capacity, especially in space-restricted environments.

Inner Surface Microstructures

With the tips of the fan blades ploughing through the boundary layer created by the Inner Surface Microstructures, flow separation from the suction side of the blades is significantly suppressed, which results in reduced blade passing noise and improved airflow and pressure efficiency.

Integrated anti-vibration pads

Integrated anti-vibration pads made from extra-soft silicone minimise the transmission of minute vibrations while maintaining full compatibility with all standard screws and other mounting systems.

Custom-designed PWM IC with SCD

Supporting fully automatic PWM speed control, the fan uses Noctua’s custom-designed NE-FD3 PWM IC that integrates Smooth Commutation Drive (SCD) technology. By providing smoother torque impulses, SCD suppresses PWM switching noises and thus makes the fan quieter at low speeds.

Polarity protection

As many devices using 5V fans feature proprietary connectors, and documentation of the pin alignment may not be available, the fan features an integrated diode for polarity protection. This way, you’re on the safe side if you accidentally connect it with reverse polarity.

SSO2 bearing

The NF-A12x25 features the further optimised second generation of Noctua’s renowned, time-tested SSO bearing. With SSO2, the rear magnet is placed closer to the axis to provide even better stabilisation, precision and durability.

Metal bearing shell

In order to guarantee the highest possible degree of manufacturing precision, minimum tolerance and excellent long-term stability, the NF-A12x25 sports a CNC milled bearing shell made entirely from brass.

OmniJoin™ adaptor set

Many devices featuring 5V fans use proprietary fan headers, so the NF-A12x25 5V PWM comes with Noctua’s OmniJoin adaptor set. Just cut the original fan’s cable, fix it to the adaptor using the supplied 3M Scotchlok™ connectors and you can plug the NF-A12x25 5V PWM to proprietary fan headers!

USB power adaptor cable

The fan includes a USB power adaptor cable that allows it to run on power banks, devices with USB host ports or USB power supplies such as those used for smartphones, giving you near endless possibilities for using the fan in your home, in your car or wherever a need for cooling occurs!

Extensive cabling options

The fan’s short 20cm primary cable minimises cable clutter in typical applications while the supplied 30cm extension provides extended reach when necessary. Both cables are fully sleeved.

6-year manufacturer’s warranty

Noctua fans are renowned for their impeccable quality and outstanding longevity. Like all Noctua fans, the NF-A12x25 features an MTTF of more than 150.000 hours rating and comes with a full 6-year manufacturer’s warranty.