{"id":275168,"date":"2026-03-18T11:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/?p=275168\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T11:03:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T10:03:15","slug":"is-noctua-bribing-hwcooling-definitely-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/en\/is-noctua-bribing-hwcooling-definitely-not\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Noctua bribing HWCooling? Definitely not! :)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We have encountered the claim several times that we somehow favor Noctua. To avoid any speculation, we can state this very clearly: no one has ever influenced any HWCooling tests, neither Noctua nor others. There have been attempts from other brands, but that\u2019s simply not something we would entertain. The tests at HWCooling are best described as \u201cunbiased content.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recently, a thread appeared on Reddit<\/a> (with some deleted posts, so we don\u2019t know the full context), where the question was raised: \u201cDo you guys think HWCooling was paid off by Noctua?\u201d Even though the question was directed at others, we feel the need to address it so everything is clear and official\u2014Noctua does not give us any money or barter for anything, and we believe similar standards apply to other outlets as well.<\/p>\n

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We respect Noctua as a brand for their work, and perhaps the feeling is mutual. It\u2019s possible that we sometimes give them more attention than others, but that\u2019s simply because of the above-standard products they make (there\u2019s more to write about…) and their generally excellent communication, which they are known for elsewhere as well. However, when something doesn\u2019t turn out well, we point it out.<\/p>\n

Just recall the last two Noctua fan tests (models NF-S12A<\/a> and NF-S12B<\/a>), where we even gave them the negative \u201cStay Away!\u201d award\u2014which we do not hand out often. But that\u2019s simply how things are, and Noctua seems to take it in stride.<\/p>\n

There are also public examples, such as a comment under older tests of the NT-H1 thermal paste<\/a> suggesting some kind of bribery. Noctua has never offered us anything like that, although there have been attempts from other brands. We have never accepted anything of the sort\u2014this is simply not something you should expect from HWCooling.<\/p>\n

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Yes, some companies pay for banner advertising or PR articles (which are always properly labeled and disclosed). Without that, we wouldn\u2019t be able to operate. But we do not accept bribes.<\/p>\n

From the position of editor-in-chief, I can add that there is no point even trying. While we won\u2019t publicly expose such attempts (our goal is to help, not harm), it would be futile\u2014HWCooling is built on values that are incompatible with any form of unfairness or corruption. We would never allow anything like that toward our readers or any company we work with. That\u2019s all on this topic.<\/p>\n

English translation and edit by Jozef Dud\u00e1\u0161<\/em><\/p>\n