Our friends at Noctua have sent us there latest fan for review, it is the NF-R8, an 80mm fan based on the same technology as their 120mm fans I reviewed a little bit ago. I've found that Noctua makes some of the best quality silent fans around, and I happily use them in my system builds. The NF-R8 continues this tradition of quality, silent fans with three modes of operation and the addition of silicone vibration dampening fasteners. Read on to check out the Noctua NF-R8 80mm fan...

Noctua NF-R8 80mm Fan

Reviewed by: Kristofer Brozio AkA Dracos

Sponsor: Noctua

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:

Noctua NF-R8 80mm fan

Features:

Sound-optimized blade geometry and profile: The NF-R8 is the first fan employing a novel 80mm rotor which was developed by the Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV). Thanks to the special optimization of the blade geometry towards ultra low noise application, the NF-R8 is up to 10% more quiet than current high-end fans at the same flow rate.

Notes: Current silent fans frequently employ conventional blade geometries, which were developed for higher speed ranges and significantly lose efficiency at lower rotation speeds. The Noctua Raised-Blade-Design of the NF-R8 series was developed by the Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology (Österreichisches Institut für Wärmeübertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, ÖIWV) and specifically tailored to 80mm fans with extremely low rotation speeds. The result is a performance improvement of up to 10% compared to conventional blade geometries.

Both the angle of attack and the design of the blade area of the NF-R8 rotor are optimized for maximum airflow and minimum noise emission at speed ranges below 1800RPM. Raising the leading edge above the rotor hub and lowering the trailing edge below the bottom of the rotor hub results in an extended profile chord length, which compensates for the reduction in blade surface caused by the steeper angle of attack and hence increases the overall blade force. The continuous radial increase of the blade curvature towards the blade tips ensures sufficient static pressure despite of the slow rotation speeds. A significant reduction in noise emission is achieved through the rounding of the fan blades towards the rotor hub as well as the rounding of the rotor hub itself. This way, the NF-R8 is significantly more quiet than other high end silent fans at the same performance thanks to its specific optimizations for ultra low noise application.

Self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearing (SSO bearing): The NF-R8 series are equipped with a magnetically centered, self lubricating oil-pressure bearing that provides a new level of quietness and long-term stability.

Notes: Thanks to an optimized principle of operation, the self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearing (SSO bearing) of the Noctua NF-S12 and NF-R8 series surpasses current types of ball, sleeve or liquid bearings in terms of long-term stability and quietness.

The rotary motion of the axis generates pressure upon the special oil enclosed within the bearing. This causes the build-up of a dynamic pressure field that centers and stabilities the axis within the bearing shell. While conventional liquid bearings employ the principle of hydrodynamic pressure too, the SSO bearing is equipped with an additional magnet that supports the self-stabilization of the rotor axis. This allows for a faster, more precise and more reliable centering of the rotor axis and thus increases the long-term stability and quietness of the bearing: When the fan starts, the dynamic pressure field of the liquid bearing needs to build up first, which results in an initial precession of the axis, the so called gyro effect. This amounts to an increased abrasion until the axis is stabilized through the build-up of the dynamic pressure field, which may by and by lead to increased noise emission and bearing defects. Because of this, the SSO bearing possesses a built in magnet, whose field ensures the immediate self-stabilization of the rotor and hence reduces the gyro effect. In addition to the stabilization during the start-up phase of the fan, the supporting magnet allows for a more exact centering of the axis within the bearing shell and thus further reduces bearing resistance, abrasion and noise emission.

Specs:

Size 80x80x25 mm

Bearing SSO-Bearing

Blade Geometry Raised-Blade-Design

Rotational Speed (+/- 10%) 1800 RPM

Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 1300 RPM

Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 800 RPM

Airflow 53 m³/h

Airflow with L.N.A. 39 m³/h

Airflow with U.L.N.A. 26 m³/h

Acoustical Noise 17 dB(A)

Acoustical Noise with L.N.A. 10 dB(A)

Acoustical Noise with U.L.N.A. 7* dB(A)

Input Power 1,32 W

Input Current 0,11 A

Voltage Range 4-13 V

MTBF > 150.000 h

Scope of Delivery Ultra-Low-Noise Adapter (U.L.N.A.)

Low-Noise Adapter (L.N.A.)

Package Contents:

4 Vibration Compensators

3:4-Pin Adapter

4 Fan Screws

Warranty: 6 years

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