Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM fans now also available in “black”

For users who do not like the original brown-and-beige color scheme, Noctua is releasing NF-A12x25 G2 fans in the chromax.black variant. This combines more visually attractive styling with the exceptional aerodynamic properties associated with top-tier positions in charts measuring relative airflow per unit of noise. Yes, the foundation remains the highest possible cooling performance at the lowest possible noise level.

The technically highly refined Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM fans are now available in black, specifically in the chromax.black version. Testing has already shown these to be among the most efficient 120 mm fans available (in terms of aerodynamics, or cooling performance, however you want to call it).

That conclusion was reached through detailed analysis, which focused on the brown-and-beige models, but nothing should change with the black versions. Although color can influence performance characteristics (as observed, for example, in our comparisons between white and black Corsair AF120 Elite fans), Noctua’s position is that with its tuned LCP material (or “Sterrox”), the goal is achieving equivalent results.

Before the first-generation NF-A12x25 fans arrived in black, it took more than three years from the launch of the brown-and-beige versions. This time, that interval has been shortened to roughly one year, partly because the material itself (black Sterrox/LCP) is already functional and proven for practical deployment in a form Noctua considers acceptable. Recoloring a fan is not a trivial process when the goal is preserving original mechanical characteristics, particularly high rigidity. That, however, is exactly what Noctua promises, and until test samples become available, we’ll have to wait to challenge those claims.

The specifications are already known—the impeller geometry uses “Progressive bend,” characterized for example by its distinctive “humpbacked” blades. The purpose of this design lies primarily in higher efficiency toward the center of the impeller, near the hub. Efficiency naturally declines in these areas, and this modification is intended to improve yield across the blade’s full length. In addition to older micro-optimizations (FAC, ISM, and SID), there is also the “centrifugal turbulator,” or segmented hub surface, which is designed to distribute airflow streams more effectively ahead of the blades’ leading edges. The result is ultimately higher static pressure and airflow. The fan’s individual design elements were already covered in detail in last year’s analysis—specifically in the brown-and-beige variant, from which this chromax.black version does not differ geometrically.

The MSRP for a single fan is 34.90 EUR. In the case of the dual-pack (NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP chromax.black), which includes different PPA and PPB motor variants for achieving different speeds under the same PWM signal, the price is 64.90 EUR.

English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš