Throw Noctua alternatives at me pls

Octopuss · 2025-02-24T11:25:51+0000

I think I need a new rear case fan, 140mm.
I've happily and almost exclusively used Noctua fans for 20 years or so (ironically, there is Corsair ML140 in the case right now), but if there is something either better or just as good for half the price, I'm all ears.

GerKNG · 2025-02-24T11:28:11+0000

Not Thermalright. I know people are going crazy because three youtubers showed performance stats but the noise, build quality and longevity is abysmal. i have a whole shelf full of different Thermalright heatsinks and fans and most of them are broken.

W1zzard · 2025-02-24T11:29:04+0000

GerKNG said:
Not Thermalright. I know people are going crazy because three youtubers showed performance stats but the noise, build quality and longevity is abysmal. i have a whole shelf full of different Thermalright heatsinks and fans and most of them are broken.

Interesting. I just bought a Thermalright for a seconary rig, where I just need a semi-decent heatsink that's low cost and very happy with it so far

Rungar · 2025-02-24T11:40:36+0000

how do you break a heatsink? i can see a pump.. but a heatsink?

freeagent · 2025-02-24T12:01:56+0000

Funny, I have a lot more Thermalright heatsinks and fans, none of them are broken. Fans might be a little loud.. but nothing horrible.

Bomby569 · 2025-02-24T12:04:29+0000

GerKNG said:
Not Thermalright. I know people are going crazy because three youtubers showed performance stats but the noise, build quality and longevity is abysmal. i have a whole shelf full of different Thermalright heatsinks and fans and most of them are broken.

exactly my experience with the noise. But how do you break an heatsink?

I would recommend arctic

Dr. Dro · 2025-02-24T12:12:20+0000

That depends on budget, but I've been ogling those Corsair maglev fans for a while. Probably the next best thing when compared to Noctua SSO2 bearing system. ML140 I believe. $35 a pop though...

dgianstefani · 2025-02-24T12:16:20+0000

For 120 mm there's the Phanteks T30, for 140 mm not sure you can do better than Noctua A14x25 G2

Corsair fans only if you prioritize RGB and already use Corsair ecosystem.

FreedomEclipse · 2025-02-24T12:17:40+0000

GerKNG said:
Not Thermalright. I know people are going crazy because three youtubers showed performance stats but the noise, build quality and longevity is abysmal. i have a whole shelf full of different Thermalright heatsinks and fans and most of them are broken.

Have you ever considered that you might be a tad heavy handed with things?

I have two of their heatsinks in service and both are absolutely fine. PS120SE feels a little rough around the edges but I can excuse that due to the cost. Its performed extremely well for me.

R-T-B · 2025-02-24T12:21:45+0000

Those new fat Phanteks maglev fans I just recently purchased (model number evades me but they are the 120mm fatter profile maglevs) are amazing IMO. I use them both as blowers in my rig and I also recently used them in a whisper quiet build for a buddy, and they do both roles excellent. I recall them being pricey though. If they have a 140mm fan though I'd advise considering it based on my experience.

FreedomEclipse said:
Have you ever considered that you might be a tad heavy handed with things?

Punching computer parts is my job, anyways, guys...

FreedomEclipse · 2025-02-24T12:27:52+0000

R-T-B said:
Those new fat Phanteks maglev fans I just recently purchased (model number evades me but they are the 120mm fatter profile maglevs) are amazing IMO. I use them both as blowers in my rig and I also recently used them in a whisper quiet build for a buddy, and they do both roles excellent. I recall them being pricey though. If they have a 140mm fan though I'd advise considering it based on my experience.

Punching computer parts is my job, anyways, guys...

T30-120?

Dr. Dro · 2025-02-24T12:28:56+0000

FreedomEclipse said:
Have you ever considered that you might be a tad heavy handed with things?

I have two of their heatsinks in service and both are absolutely fine. PS120SE feels a little rough around the edges but I can excuse that due to the cost. Its performed extremely well for me.

My NH-D15S looks like it's been through a war for some reason. Like, the whole thing looks like it's oxidized... it looks fugly, temps are fine, though. Maybe that's what @GerKNG means? I never even touched it after I installed it. No insane humidity either, if anything it's been way drier than usual because I actually tried using those anti-mold packs that absorb humidity. :confused:

Waldorf · 2025-02-24T12:30:59+0000

@Octopuss
i havent seen anyone else beating flow at same nosie, even Noctua is ~2db louder while same/less airflow.
still gets 6 warranty, and the only brnd i ever used that didnt pick up any dust on the blades, because of special material.
but tend to be sold at a premium outside germany/eu.

NB eLoop

@Bomby569
the only problem with Arctic is varied quality for multi packs, and some retailer/online will sell you <5 out of a multi pack,
so unless you can make sure you have a single retail version, its 1 out of 4/5 chance you will have it go bad (bearing noise) within 1-2y.
i had purchased about 30 in the past 5y, and only time i had trouble is if i bought multi packs (for cost/matching amount of fans needed).

sure they got replaced for free, but still takes time to go thru support/wait for replacement, with a good chance you again get stuff from a multipack,
like it happened with me (2 out of 4 replaced now get noisy as well).

Octopuss · 2025-02-24T12:37:02+0000

I looked at current Noctua's offerings, and https://noctua.at/en/nf-a14x25-g2-pwm cost €40??? What the actual FUCK? For a fan??? Count me out :eek:

What are they thinking?!

Waldorf · 2025-02-24T12:39:27+0000

lets say 35$ for an eLoop isnt much better, but the only one brand i would actually consider spending this much, as i had them before.

ErikG · 2025-02-24T12:41:53+0000

Thermalright all the way.

Onasi · 2025-02-24T12:46:35+0000

Octopuss said:
I looked at current Noctua's offerings, and https://noctua.at/en/nf-a14x25-g2-pwm cost €40??? What the actual FUCK? For a fan??? Count me out What are they thinking?!

Noctua is… rather presumptuous with their pricing, that is to be sure. On the somewhat positive side, they ARE very reliable and long-living, so it might be considered as an investment for a “forever” fan, or close to it. They can still die though, just the chance of it is rather low. But yeah, unfortunately the 140mm fan market is kinda in a bad spot right now - you either pay out the ass for Noctua or go with something from Thermalright or Arctic and get arguably worse acoustics to deal with.

Octopuss · 2025-02-24T12:46:46+0000

Waldorf said:
@Octopuss
i havent seen anyone else beating flow at same nosie, even Noctua is ~2db louder while same/less airflow.
still gets 6 warranty, and the only brnd i ever used that didnt pick up any dust on the blades, because of special material.
but tend to be sold at a premium outside germany/eu.

NB eLoop

I don't speak german, but I don't see anything similar to Noctua's NF-A14x25 G2 PWM in there.

Chomiq · 2025-02-24T12:48:24+0000

Octopuss said:
I think I need a new rear case fan, 140mm.
I've happily and almost exclusively used Noctua fans for 20 years or so (ironically, there is Corsair ML140 in the case right now), but if there is something either better or just as good for half the price, I'm all ears.

Silent Wings 4 High Speed

dgianstefani · 2025-02-24T13:01:29+0000

Octopuss said:
I looked at current Noctua's offerings, and https://noctua.at/en/nf-a14x25-g2-pwm cost €40??? What the actual FUCK? For a fan??? Count me out What are they thinking?!

They can charge what they want due to being the best.

Noctua 25mm offerings compete with competing 30mm stuff.

Bomby569 · 2025-02-24T13:10:48+0000

Octopuss said:
I looked at current Noctua's offerings, and https://noctua.at/en/nf-a14x25-g2-pwm cost €40??? What the actual FUCK? For a fan??? Count me out What are they thinking?!

that's not more ridiculous than paying 2000usd+ for a gpu. Change my mind.

Waldorf · 2025-02-24T13:13:57+0000

@Octopuss
sorry, my bad, dont care for noise, so i basically dont look at anything above ~19 db.

cant talk about Nocuta, but outside of noise, a big problem for me was the need for higher starting voltage with some brands, and with any Noiseblocker/Blacknoise fans i never had an issue there

even at identical perf, the eLoop still have the advantage of not collecting dust, so i personally would still go with those.

Onasi · 2025-02-24T13:16:18+0000

Bomby569 said:
that's not more ridiculous than paying 2000usd+ for a gpu. Change my mind.

It’s actually arguably less ridiculous since, as I pointed out above, there’s a good chance that those fans will survive multiple builds and will just keep on trucking. Unless a fan dies on you it’s still performing its function. An outdated GPU is outdated and cannot run what you might want, unlike a more modern one.

Octopuss · 2025-02-24T14:48:01+0000

Yea, but it still WAY more than what I'd comfortably pay for a bloody fan

R-T-B · 2025-02-24T15:52:38+0000

FreedomEclipse said:
T30-120?

Thats the one. Not sure if there are 140mm versions though.

Octopuss said:
Yea, but it still WAY more than what I'd comfortably pay for a bloody fan

Yeah, the great/excellent ones do charge a lot that's for sure.

Processor	Ryzen 5800X
Motherboard	Asus TUF-Gaming B550-Plus
Cooling	Noctua NH-U14S
Memory	32GB G.Skill Trident Z Neo F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC
Video Card(s)	Sapphire AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Nitro+
Storage	HP EX950 512GB + Samsung 970 PRO 1TB
Display(s)	Cooler Master GP27Q
Case	Fractal Design Define R6 Black
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster AE-5
Power Supply	Seasonic PRIME Ultra 650W Gold
Mouse	Roccat Kone AIMO Remastered
Software	Windows 10 x64

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	ASRock B650E Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling	Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280
Memory	2x16GB Corsair Vengeance RGB 6000 CL30 (A-Die)
Video Card(s)	RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio
Storage	1TB Samsung 990 PRO, 4TB Corsair MP600 PRO XT, 1TB WD SN850X, 4x4TB Crucial MX500
Display(s)	Alienware AW2725DF, LG 27GR93U, LG 27GN950-B
Case	Streacom BC1 V2 Black
Audio Device(s)	Bose Companion Series 2 III, Sennheiser GSP600 and HD599 SE - Creative Soundblaster X4
Power Supply	bequiet! Dark Power Pro 12 1500w Titanium
Mouse	Razer Deathadder V3
Keyboard	Razer Black Widow V3 TKL
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S
Software	~2000 Video Games

Processor	Ryzen 7 5700X
Memory	48 GB
Video Card(s)	RTX 4080
Storage	2x HDD RAID 1, 3x M.2 NVMe
Display(s)	30" 2560x1600 + 19" 1280x1024
Software	Windows 10 64-bit

Processor	AMD R9 9900X
Motherboard	Asus Strix X670E-F
Cooling	Thermalright Frozen Edge 360, 3x TL-B12 V2
Memory	2x16GB Lexar Ares @ 6000 26-36-36-68 1.45v
Video Card(s)	Zotac 4070 Ti Trinity OC @ 3045/1500
Storage	WD SN850 1TB, SN850X 2TB, 3x SN770 1TB
Display(s)	LG 50UP7100
Case	Asus ProArt PA602
Audio Device(s)	JBL Bar 700
Power Supply	Seasonic Vertex GX-1000, Monster HDP1800
Mouse	Logitech G502 Hero
Keyboard	Logitech G213
VR HMD	Oculus 3
Software	Yes
Benchmark Scores	Yes

Processor	Ryzen 5 5700x
Motherboard	B550 Elite
Cooling	Thermalright Perless Assassin 120 SE
Memory	32GB Fury Beast DDR4 3200Mhz
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte 3060 ti gaming oc pro
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo 1TB, WD SN850x 1TB, plus some random HDDs
Display(s)	LG 27gp850 1440p 165Hz 27''
Case	Lian Li Lancool II performance
Power Supply	MSI 750w
Mouse	G502

Throw Noctua alternatives at me pls

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System Name	"Icy Resurrection"
Processor	13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900KS
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15S upgraded with 2x NF-F12 iPPC-3000 fans and Honeywell PTM7950 TIM
Memory	32 GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB F5-6800J3445G16GX2-TZ5RK @ 7600 MT/s 36-44-44-52-96 1.4V
Video Card(s)	NVIDIA RTX A2000
Storage	500 GB WD Black SN750 SE NVMe SSD + 4 TB WD Red Plus WD40EFPX HDD
Display(s)	55-inch LG G3 OLED
Case	Pichau Mancer CV500 White Edition
Audio Device(s)	Sony MDR-V7 connected through Apple USB-C
Power Supply	EVGA 1300 G2 1.3kW 80+ Gold
Mouse	Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse (2017)
Keyboard	IBM Model M type 1391405
Software	Windows 10 Pro 22H2
Benchmark Scores	I pulled a Qiqi~

System Name	Silent/X1 Yoga/S25U-1TB
Processor	Ryzen 9800X3D @ 5.575ghz all core 1.24 V, Thermal Grizzly AM5 High Performance Heatspreader/1185 G7
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I, chipset fans replaced with Noctua A14x25 G2
Cooling	Optimus Block, HWLabs Copper 240/40 + 240/30, D5/Res, 4x Noctua A12x25, 1x A14G2, Mayhems Ultra Pure
Memory	64 GB Dominator Titanium White 6000 MT, 130 ns tRFC, active cooled
Video Card(s)	RTX 3080 Ti Founders Edition, Conductonaut Extreme, 18 W/mK MinusPad Extreme, Corsair XG7 Waterblock
Storage	Intel Optane DC P1600X 118 GB, Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB
Display(s)	32" 240 Hz 1440p Samsung G7, 31.5" 165 Hz 1440p LG NanoIPS Ultragear, MX900 dual gas VESA mount
Case	Sliger SM570 CNC Aluminium 13-Litre, 3D printed feet, custom front, LINKUP Ultra PCIe 4.0 x16 White
Audio Device(s)	Audeze Maxwell Ultraviolet w/upgrade pads & LCD headband, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Razer Nommo Pro
Power Supply	SF1000 Plat, full transparent custom cables, Sentinel Pro 1500 Online Double Conversion UPS w/Noctua
Mouse	Razer Viper V3 Pro 8 KHz Mercury White & Pulsar Supergrip tape, Razer Atlas, Razer Strider Chroma
Keyboard	Wooting 60HE+ module, TOFU-R CNC Alu/Brass, SS Prismcaps W+Jellykey, LekkerV2 mod, TLabs Leath/Suede
Software	Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 24H2
Benchmark Scores	Legendary

System Name	WorkInProgress
Processor	AMD 7800X3D
Motherboard	MSI X670E GAMING PLUS
Cooling	Thermalright AM5 Contact Frame + Phantom Spirit 120SE
Memory	2x32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO DDR5 6000 CL32
Video Card(s)	Asus Dual Radeon™ RX 6700 XT OC Edition
Storage	WD SN770 1TB (Boot)\|1x WD SN850X 8TB (Gaming)\| 2x2TB WD SN770\| 2x2TB+2x4TB Crucial BX500
Display(s)	LG GP850-B
Case	Corsair 760T (White) {1xCorsair ML120 Pro\|5xML140 Pro}
Audio Device(s)	Yamaha RX-V573\|Speakers: JBL Control One\|Auna 300-CN\|Wharfedale Diamond SW150
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus GX-850 80+ GOLD
Mouse	Logitech G502 X
Keyboard	Duckyshine Dead LED(s) III
Software	Windows 11 Home
Benchmark Scores	ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ

System Name	Pioneer
Processor	Ryzen 9 9950X
Motherboard	MSI MAG X670E Tomahawk Wifi
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15 + A whole lotta Sunon, Phanteks and Corsair Maglev blower fans...
Memory	128GB (4x 32GB) G.Skill Flare X5 @ DDR5-4000 (Running 1:1:1 to FCLK)
Video Card(s)	XFX RX 7900 XTX Speedster Merc 310
Storage	Intel 5800X Optane 800GB boot, +2x Crucial P5 Plus 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs, 1x 2TB Seagate Exos 3.5"
Display(s)	55" LG 55" B9 OLED 4K Display
Case	Thermaltake Core X31
Audio Device(s)	TOSLINK->Schiit Modi MB->Asgard 2 DAC Amp->AKG Pro K712 Headphones or HDMI->B9 OLED
Power Supply	FSP Hydro Ti Pro 850W
Mouse	Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless
Keyboard	WASD Code v3 with Cherry Green keyswitches + PBT DS keycaps
Software	Gentoo Linux x64

System Name	Main
Processor	R7 5950x
Motherboard	MSI x570S Unify-X Max
Cooling	converted Eisbär 280, two F14 + three F12S intake, two P14S + two P14 + two F14 as exhaust
Memory	16 GB Corsair LPX bdie @3600/16 1.35v
Video Card(s)	GB 2080S WaterForce WB
Storage	six M.2 pcie gen 4
Display(s)	Sony 50X90J
Case	Tt Level 20 HT
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar AE, modded Sennheiser HD 558, Klipsch 2.1 THX
Power Supply	Corsair RMx 750w
Mouse	Logitech G903
Keyboard	GSKILL Ripjaws
VR HMD	NA
Software	win 10 pro x64
Benchmark Scores	TimeSpy score Fire Strike Ultra SuperPosition CB20

System Name	JustGaming
Processor	Ryzen 9 7950x3D
Motherboard	Asus ProArt X670E-CREATOR WIFI
Cooling	Thermalright Peerless Assassin 140 Black
Memory	G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5-6000 CL32
Video Card(s)	Inno3D RTX 4090 24Gb
Storage	Crucial T500 2TB x 3
Display(s)	Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM
Case	Asus ProArt PA602
Audio Device(s)	SSL 2+
Power Supply	SuperFlower 1200 Platinum
Mouse	Razer Deathadder v2
Keyboard	Montech Mkey TKL

System Name	The Workhorse
Processor	AMD Ryzen R9 5900X
Motherboard	Gigabyte Aorus B550 Pro
Cooling	CPU - Noctua NH-D15S Case - 3 Noctua NF-A14 PWM at the bottom, 2 Fractal Design 180mm at the front
Memory	GSkill Trident Z 3200CL14
Video Card(s)	NVidia GTX 1070 MSI QuickSilver
Storage	Adata SX8200Pro
Display(s)	LG 32GK850G
Case	Fractal Design Torrent (Solid)
Audio Device(s)	FiiO E-10K DAC/Amp, Samson Meteorite USB Microphone
Power Supply	Corsair RMx850 (2018)
Mouse	Razer Viper (Original) on a X-Raypad Equate Plus V2
Keyboard	Cooler Master QuickFire Rapid TKL keyboard (Cherry MX Black)
Software	Windows 11 Pro (24H2)

Processor	Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Motherboard	Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite
Cooling	Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Memory	2x16 GB Crucial Ballistix 3600 CL16 Rev E @ 3600 CL14
Video Card(s)	RTX3080 Ti FE
Storage	SX8200 Pro 1 TB, Plextor M6Pro 256 GB, WD Blue 2TB
Display(s)	LG 34GN850P-B
Case	SilverStone Primera PM01 RGB
Audio Device(s)	SoundBlaster G6 \| Fidelio X2 \| Sennheiser 6XX
Power Supply	SeaSonic Focus Plus Gold 750W
Mouse	Endgame Gear XM1R
Keyboard	Wooting Two HE