There aren’t many 140mm fans that are more popular than the NF-A14 (PWM). This Noctua model has maintained that for a long time, for over a decade. In the meantime, naturally, a host of newer competing solutions have come along, and the question is how Noctua’s still-flagship 140mm fan will hold up against them in the present day. By analyzing the NF-A14, we’ll also shorten a bit the interminable wait for its successor.
Results: LED to motor power draw ratio
Explanatory note: Lighting has a significant contribution to fan power draw. The ratios in these graphs express the relationship between LED power draw and motor power draw in standard modes from 31 dBA progressively to maximum speed. The LEDs are always set to maximum brightness. The lower the value in the graphs, the more dominant the lighting is in the total power draw. This is not necessarily “wrong”, hand in hand with this usually goes a higher luminance, which can be controlled to some extent. To what extent you already know from the previous chapter.
Why is there a missing value sometimes? There may be more reasons. Usually it is because the fan could not be adjusted to the target noise level. Some have a higher minimum speed (or the speed is low, but the motor is too noisy) or it is a slower fan that will not reach the higher decibels. But the results in the graphs are also missing if the impeller is brushing against the nylon filter mesh. In that case, we evaluate this combination as incompatible. And zero in the graphs is naturally also in situations where we measure 0.00. This is a common occurrence at extremely low speeds with obstructions or within vibration measurements.
Thanks.
I particularly like the minimum fan speed, that’s a must to me.