Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX 40mm Fan Review

Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX 40mm Fan Review-

Noctua is well known for their cooling products, especially their fans. I for one love them, they’re quiet and they work great. I always swap out the fans in a case for Noctua ones and I use a Noctua CPU cooler as well of course. Noctua has recently released a few specialized fans for uses other than inside of your PC case. The news fans vary in size and today I have the 40mm version for review, specifically it’s the NF-A4x10 FLX fans which is 40mm by a mere 10mm thick, which means it will fit in tight places easily. I wasn’t sure how exactly to review a fan like this, but then I started thinking harder about what I use in my computer and found something that I use all the time that happens to use a 40mm fan. I went about swapping the fan out and overall I’m happy with the results. Read on to learn more about the fan, and see just what I did with it…

Product Name: Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX 40mm Fan

Author: Kristofer Brozio

 

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info

Featuring advanced aerodynamic design measures such as Flow Acceleration Channels and Noctua’s AAO frame, the NF-A4x10 FLX is a highly optimized, premium quality quiet fan in 40x10mm size. Smooth Commutation Drive technology and Noctua’s reference class SSO2 bearings guarantee superb running smoothness and excellent long-term stability. Topped off with modular cabling, a Low-Noise Adaptor and OmniJoin Adaptor Set as well as 6 years manufacturer’s warranty, the NF-A4x10 is a premium choice for the highest demands.

Features:

Flow Acceleration Channels
The NF-A4x10 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.

Reduced Motor Hub Size
Thanks to its streamlined, compact motor design, the NF-A4x10’s motor hub is smaller than with conventional 4cm fans. This allows for more blade surface area and thus contributes to the NF-A4x10’s superior airflow and pressure performance.

AAO Frame
Noctua’s AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimization) 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 minimize the transmission of minute vibrations while maintaining full compatibility with all standard mounting systems and fan clips used on heatsinks.

Smooth Commutation Drive 2
The latest version of Noctua’s advanced Smooth Commutation Drive system ensures superb running smoothness by eliminating torque variations and switching noises. This makes the NF-A4x10 remarkably quiet even at very close distance.

SSO2 Bearing
The NF-A4x10 features the further optimized 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 stabilization, precision and durability.

Low-Noise Adaptor for full flexibility
The NF-A4x10 FLX (Flexibility) is supplied with a Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.) that reduces the maximum fan speed from 4500 to 3700rpm so that it can be fine-tuned for superior airflow or maximum quietness.

3 to 2-pin Adaptor and Polarity Protection
The NF-A4x10 comes with an adaptor from 3-pin Molex to the 2-pin connectors used on many graphics cards or network and storage devices. An integrated diode provides polarity protection on 2-pin connections.

OmniJoin Adaptor Set
Many devices featuring 40mm fans use proprietary fan headers, so the NF-A4x10 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-A4x10 to proprietary fan headers!

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

6 years manufacturer’s warranty
Noctua fans are renowned for their impeccable quality and outstanding longevity. Like all Noctua fans, the NF-A4x10 features an MTBF of more than 150.000 hours rating and comes with a full 6 years manufacturer’s warranty.

Specifications:
Size: 40x40x10 mm
Connector: 3-pin
Bearing: SSO2
Blade Geometry: A-Series with Flow Acceleration Channels
Frame Technology: AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimization)
Rotational Speed (+/- 10%): 4500 RPM
Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%): 3700 RPM
Airflow: 8,2 m³/h
Airflow with L.N.A.: 6,6 m³/h
Acoustical Noise: 17,9 dB(A)
Acoustical Noise with L.N.A.: 12,9 dB(A)
Static Pressure: 1,78 mm H2O
Static Pressure with L.N.A.: 1,21 mm H2O
Max. Input Power: 0,6 W
Max. Input Current: 0,05 A
Voltage: 12 V
MTBF: > 150.000 h

Scope of Delivery:
-Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.)
-3:2 Pin Adaptor
-OmniJoin Adaptor Set
-30cm Extension Cable
-4 Vibration-Compensators
-4 Fan Screws

Warranty: 6 years

Price: $16.95 (from Amazon at time of review)