Keeping a computer cool is an important part of owning one, but keeping it cool requires fans and many times those fans can be quiet loud. Personally I like to keep my case cool, but I don't like having a loud computer at all, especially my home theater PC. Who wants to listen to fans running when you're watching a movie? No one, that's who!

Today for review I've got a pair of new fans from Noctua, they're called the NF-P14 FLX fans. They're 140mm fans making them fairly large of course, these 140mm fans are special in that they have round frames. The round frames make the fan essentially smaller, or at least the frame is smaller. The mounting holes in the frame will fit where any 120mm fan will fit, thus the end user can easily replace a 120mm fan with a 140mm fan for even more cooling ability. You can use the NF-P14 though in a 140mm space since Noctua has included adapters to help you do this. So read on to learn more...

Product Name: Noctua NF-P14 FLX 140mm Fans

Author: Kristofer Brozio

Sponsor: Noctua

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:

NF-P14 FLX

Following in the footsteps of the successful NF-P12, the NF-P14 is a highly optimized, premium quality 140mm fan with Vortex-Control Notches for superb quietness and outstanding aerodynamic efficiency. Metal reinforcements, SCD2 technology and Noctua’s premium grade SSO-Bearing guarantee exceptional running smoothness and excellent long-term stability. Using the same hole-spacing as common 120mm fans and achieving a superior airflow/noise ratio, the NF-P14 is ideal for upgrading 120mm CPU or case fans.

Features:

140mm Impeller with Vortex Control Notches

Thanks to its psycho-acoustically optimized nine blade impeller with staggered Vortex-Control Notches, the NF-P14 combines superb quietness with exceptional airflow and static pressure.

Metal Reinforcements

Both the impeller hub and the bearing shell of the NF-P14 are metal reinforced in order to achieve ultimate manufacturing precision, high durability and vibration-free running.

Round frame with 120mm mounting holes

Using a round frame with the same hole-spacing as common 120mm fans and producing more airflow due to its larger diameter, the NF-P14 is a perfect upgrade for 120mm CPU or case fans. Thanks to the supplied adapters, the NF-P14 also fits common 140mm mounting holes.

3 speed settings for full flexibility

Providing 1200, 900 and 750 rpm speed settings via the supplied Low-Noise and Ultra-Low-Noise Adapters, the NF-P14 FLX (Flexibility) can be fine-tuned for superior airflow or maximum quietness.

Smooth Commutation Drive 2

The latest version of Noctua’s advanced SCD drive system ensures superb running smoothness by eliminating torque variations and switching noises.

SSO-Bearing

Noctua’s time-tested SSO-Bearing technology has become synonymous with supremely quiet operation and exceptional long-term stability.

Specs:

Size: 140x140x25 mm

Bearing: SSO-Bearing

Blade Geometry: NF-P14 Blade Design with VCN

Rotational Speed (+/- 10%): 1200 RPM

Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%): 900 RPM

Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%): 750 RPM

Airflow: 110,3 m³/h

Airflow with L.N.A.: 83,7 m³/h

Airflow with U.L.N.A.: 71,2 m³/h

Acoustical Noise: 19,6 dB(A)

Acoustical Noise with L.N.A.: 13,2 dB(A)

Acoustical Noise with U.L.N.A.: 10,1 dB(A)

Static Pressure: 1,29 mm H2O

Static Pressure with L.N.A.: 0,77 mm H2O

Static Pressure with U.L.N.A.: 0,53 mm H2O

Input Power: 1,2 W

Input Current: 0,1 A

Voltage Range: 12 V

MTBF: > 150.000 h

Scope of Delivery:

* Ultra-Low-Noise Adapter (U.L.N.A.)

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

* Adapters for 140mm mounting

* 4 Vibration Compensators

* 3:4-Pin Adapter

* 4 Fan Screws

Warranty: 6 years

Price: $25.00

A Better Look at Things:

The NF-P14 fans comes packaged in nice looking boxes. Noctua sent me two of them for review.

Inside you'll find another plastic box that has compartments in it which house all of the various accessories:

Included with the fans are ULNA adapters that are color coded, silicone vibration dampeners or bolts, standard fan screws, Molex 3-pin adapter and metal 120mm to 140mm adapters.

The NF-P14 fans are the standard Noctua colors, brown blades and a beige color for the frame. You'll notice the frame is round and not square like most other fans out there. It's round making it the same size as a standard 120mm fan essentially, the hole in the fame match up to the spacing for 120mm fans.

Here's a couple close up shots of the fan blades:

Installation, Testing and Comparison:

Here's some pictures of the NF-P14 fans and a 120mm fan thrown in for comparison, they're the same thickness.

The great thing about these fans is that they are 140mm in size but the frame is round making the holes in the same position as a 120mm fan would have them. This means essentially that you can easily replace a 120mm fan with this 140mm fan without any modifications or any adapters.

I'm installing these fans in my gaming PC / HTPC, the case is an NZXT M59 case (you can find my full review HERE over at Bona Fide Reviews). The case has two spots at the top for either 120mm or 140mm fans, since I'm using the NF-P14 fans I decided to use the 140mm holes so I could also demonstrate the adapters.

The adapters are metal, a nice touch I think, the metal makes it nice and sturdy. To attach the adapters you'll use the included standard fan screws. The adapters have little metal clips on them so they'll be lined up perfectly with the 140mm holes in your case making installation that much easier.

Installing the fans in the M59 case was a rather frustrating experience, but it was no fault of the fans themselves, it was the fault of the case and the very limited room at the top of it. I found I had to remove the CPU cooler at first, but then I found I also had to remove the back 120mm exhaust fan as well. I also found I couldn't even use the CPU cooler that I was originally using, the Noctua NH-C12P as it was too large for the fan to be installed. Not a problem though I just grabbed my Noctua NH-U12P cooler and used that. Then reinstalling the CPU cooler was difficult as well since it was so close to the newly installed NF-P14 fans. As you can see from the following pictures there's a lot of airflow arounf my CPU now, this should keep things nice and cool in the case and help keep the CPU cooler as well.

Here's the top view of the NZXT M59 case with the fans installed:

I'm fond of Noctua products, in fact in the M59 case I've got three other Noctua fans, one in the front, one as the exhaust and one on the side, and if you didn't notice I'm also using a Noctua cooler. Here's a side shot of the M59:

I was pleasantly surprised that even with the fans on full speed they're virtually silent, you can hear them, yes, but they're not loud at all. I'm using this system for both gaming and an HTPC, so I have to balance silence and the ability to keep the system cool.

My system was much cooler overall with the additional fans, in my opinion it was worth the hassles I ran into with the case to install these fans. I've since attached ULNA adapters to all of the fans in the case and it's much quieter and the temperatures are about the same as having them running at full speed, about one degree warmer which isn't much really and it will vary depending on the room temperature of course.

You can of course use the ULNA adapters to slow them down a bit to really make the fans run quietly.

As with all Noctua products the NF-P14 fans are very well made, they're nice and sturdy and they move quiet a bit a air.

Some people might not care for the colors of the fans, but personally I like them, it's different, not just plain black.

Summary and Comments:

The Noctua NF-P14 fans are an excellent choice if you need some additional cooling in your system. The fact that they are 140mm but fit 120mm size spaces adds extra value to them, you can easily replace a 120mm fan on your CPU cooler and get more cooling performance.

There's nothing wrong with these fans at all, there are no cons for them, they're an excellent choice if you're looking for quiet, dependable and good performing fans.

DragonSteelMods gives the Noctua NF-P14 FLX fans a 5 out of 5 score and our Editor's Choice Award as well.

Pros:

+Quiet even on high speed

+Keeps system nice and cool

+Easy to install

+Very well made

+140mm fan in 120mm housing

+6 year warranty

+Can easily adjust fan speeds with adapters

Cons:

-None really

I would like to thank Noctua for the chance to review the NF-P14 FLX 140mm Fans and for their continued support of DSM.

review# 623

You can find the Noctua NF-P14 fans at Acoustic PC for $24.95 each.

Disclosure: This product was given to DragonSteelMods for review by the company for review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for the review, we do not, never have, and never will, accept payment from companies to review their products.

To learn more about our review policy, testing methods and ratings please see this page.

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