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Great, As Expected
Review Summary
The Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 fans are a thoughtful upgrade to an already great fan line, combining better performance, quieter operation, and exceptional build quality. Noctua has improved the blade design, added new features like a centrifugal turbulator hub and flow acceleration channels, and included plenty of accessories for each fan variant. Whether you need strong airflow for radiators or a super quiet setup, there’s a version that fits. These fans are expensive, but if you’re after top-tier cooling with minimal noise, they’re a solid choice.
Hours Tested: 9
Overall
Pros
- Excellent Noise Levels
- High Cooling Performance
- Exceptional Build Quality
- Bundle of Accessories
Cons
- Expensive
When it comes to the fans, Noctua requires no introduction. They have made their best-performing fans even better, enhancing their performance and durability with their G2 fans. We’re taking a closer look at their brand new fans, the NOCTUA NF-12-25 G2 PWM, which was revealed at Computex 2025.
Noctua has made some meaningful changes, further optimizing its fans in performance to noise efficiency with its remarkably refined blade geometry and a novel motor design. The Fan comes in three different packs: NF-A12x25 G2 PWM, NF-A12x25 G2 LS-PWM (Low Speed Variant), and NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP (Dual Fan Set). All these variants maintain identical fan designs.
However, they have the LS variant tailored for low-noise operations for the setups requiring a near-silent function. The SX2-PP includes two fans, which are tailored for radiators of 240/360mm with a speed offset design. According to NOCTUA, the key acceleration feature that makes the G2 better than its predecessor are the flow acceleration channels and the new centrifugal turbulator.
Here are the specs of the three fans:
| NF-A12x25 G2 PWM (Single) | NF-A12x25 G2 LS-PWM (Low Speed SKU) | NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP (2x Fan Set) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 120x120x25 mm | 120x120x25 mm | 120x120x25 mm |
| Mounting hole spacing | 105×105 mm | 105×105 mm | 105×105 mm |
| Connector & pin-configuration | 4-pin PWM | 4-pin PWM | 4-pin PWM |
| Cable length | 20cm + 30cm NA-EC1 ext. | 20cm + 30cm NA-EC1 ext. | 20cm + 30cm NA-EC1 ext. |
| Bearing | SSO2 | SSO2 | SSO2 |
| Blade geometry | Progressive-Bend Impeller | Progressive-Bend Impeller | Progressive-Bend Impeller |
| Frame technology | AAO | AAO | AAO |
| Material | Sterrox® LCP | Sterrox® LCP | Sterrox® LCP |
| Rotational speed (±10%) | 1800 RPM | 1100 RPM | 1750/1800 RPM |
| Rotational speed (L.N.A.) | 1500 RPM | 850 RPM | 1500 RPM |
| Airflow | 107.3 m³/h | 66.3 m³/h | 107.3 m³/h |
| Airflow (L.N.A.) | 87.2 m³/h | 45.2 m³/h | 87.2 m³/h |
| Acoustical noise | 22.5 dB(A) | 11.8 dB(A) | 22.5 dB(A) |
| Acoustical noise (L.N.A.) | 18.1 dB(A) | 7.8 dB(A) | 18.1 dB(A) |
| Static pressure | 3.14 mm H₂O | 1.08 mm H₂O | 3.14 mm H₂O |
| Static pressure (L.N.A.) | 1.71 mm H₂O | 0.56 mm H₂O | 1.71 mm H₂O |
| Input power (max.) | 1.8 W | 1.8 W | 1.8 W |
| Max. input current | 0.15 A | 0.15 A | 0.15 A |
| Operating voltage | 12 V | 12 V | 12 V |
| MTTF | > 150,000 h | > 150,000 h | > 150,000 h |
Packaging & Accessories
The second generation of NF-A12x25 is a noteworthy upgrade over its predecessor, featuring several key technological advancements.
It is the same fan as the NF-A12x25 G2. Tailored for the low-noise operations, the RPM has been set to lower 1100RPM max at 11.8dBA.
Optimized for radiators, It’s a two-fan set. These fans carry the offset design (+/- ~50rpm), which means if they are installed side by side on the radiator, they will run at slightly different speeds, preventing them from creating humming or buzzing sound effects because their vibrations sync up.
| Product | Accessories Included |
|---|---|
| NF-A12x25 G2 PWM (Single Pack) | – NA-RC7 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.) – NA-YC1 4-pin PWM splitter cable – NA-EC1 30cm extension cable – 4x NA-AV2 anti-vibration mounts – NA-AVG1 anti-vibration gasket for water cooling radiators – Fan screws |
| NF-A12x25 G2 LS-PWM (Single Pack) | – NA-RC8 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.) – NA-YC1 4-pin PWM splitter cable – NA-EC1 30cm extension cable – 4x NA-AV2 anti-vibration mounts – NA-AVG1 anti-vibration gasket for water cooling radiators – Fan screws |
| NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP | – 1x NF-A12x25 G2 PWM PPA – 1x NF-A12x25 G2 PWM PPB – 2x NA-RC7 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.) – NA-YC1 4-pin PWM splitter cable – 2x NA-EC1 30cm extension cable – 8x NA-AV2 anti-vibration mounts – 2x NA-AVG1 anti-vibration gasket for water cooling radiators – Fan screws |
Each fan comes with a variety of accessories, including a low-noise adaptor, PWM splitter cable, extension cable, anti-vibration mounts, gaskets, and screws.
Closer Examination & Build Quality
The fan is no surprise and looks identical to its predecessor, carrying the beige-colored frame with brown corner accents equipped with Noctua’s SSO2 (Self-Stabilising Oil-bearing). It’s a metal bearing of very high quality. The fan features nine blades with a slightly curved shape optimized for airflow. It has extremely tight tip clearance between the frame and the tip of the blade, which helps reduce leaks through the gap between the frame and the impeller.
The impeller, the rotating part of the fan, is responsible for moving air through the fan. It features groundbreaking improvements, including a new centrifugal turbulator hub, which enhances the fan’s ability to draw in air more efficiently. The fan blades, equipped with winglets at their tips, help reduce turbulence and noise. On the surface of the blades, there are subtle indentations or grooves on the fan blade. Noctua calls them FAC (Flow Acceleration Channels), which can enhance the efficiency and performance of the fans. You don’t see that much in the fans, but NOCTUA has nailed it with the small details that could improve the overall experience.
G2 vs Older Generation
There are only subtle changes in the design overall. Noctua has made changes to the central hub area, including a new centrifugal turbulator hub, which provides an overall smoother hub design compared to the first-generation fans. There are also more pronounced winglet details.
Testing Methodology
We will test the fan’s cooling performance to determine how effectively it cools the CPU and also measure sound noise levels at various fan speed configurations. For the cooling performance benchmarks, we have installed fans on the radiator. The cooler in question is the Deepcool Mystique 360, installed on our Hyte Y70 case at the top as the exhaust and stress-tested using Cinebench R23 for 10 minutes.
For the noise testing, we measure the noise produced by the fan at various speeds at the distance of 30cm outside the case.
Here is our standard case fan configuration for cooling performance:
| Component | Fan Model | Size | Quantity | Position | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooler | Deepcool Mystique 360 ARGB | 120mm | 3 | Top | Exhaust |
| Rear | Lian-Li Uni Fan 120 | 120mm | 1 | Rear | Exhaust |
| Side | Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 120mm | 2 | Side | Intake |
| Bottom | Deepcool FD-12 PWM | 120mm | 3 | Bottom | Intake |
We are using a positive air pressure configuration in our case. All case fans are locked at 50% maintaining the adequate cooling in the case.
The following setup was used for testing:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, 105W TDP Unlocked
- RAM: XPG Lancer 16×2 6400MT/s CL28 (Tuned)
- Motherboard: MSI B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI
- Cooler: Deepcool Mystique 360 Liquid Cooler ARGB
- GPU: ZOTAC SOLID RTX 5080
- Case: Hyte Y70
- BIOS: 1N – AGESA ComboAM5 1.2.0.3c
- Windows Version: Windows 11 24H2 (OS Build 26100.4652)
- Sound Tester: UNI-T Decibel Meter UT353BT
Test Results
Let’s go over the results.
Noise Level dB(A)
Cooling Performance
Should You Buy It?
Buy It If
✅ You want the best: These fans exhibit decent performance with the exceptional noise levels.
✅ You want high quality and durability: NF-AF12x25 G2 fans are built with premium materials, including (SSO2) Self-stabilizing oil pressure bearings and a metal reinforced hub with an impressive mean time to failure (MTTF) of 150,000 hours.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You’re building a PC on a tight budget: Noctua fans are premium products. Investing in a better CPU cooler would be the right choice here.
❌ You want RGB: Noctua fans don’t have ARGB lighting.
Final Thoughts
NOCTUA has done it again with their G2 fans, which are built on the foundation of previous NF-A12x25 PWM. Noctua has sent us three packs of fans, which includes the NF-A12x25 G2 PWM, NF-A12x25 G2 LS-PWM, and NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP. They have made a couple of upgrades to the existing NF-A12x25, including an enhanced progressive-bend impeller with winglets. The winglets are inspired by aviation technology, which reduces static pressure and tip vortices. A new Centrifugal Turbulator Hub on the impeller hub guides incoming airstreams more effectively— NOCTUA has also done a great job in aerodynamic efficiency with a refined aerodynamic design.
With all the great technology combined, Noctua has done a tremendous amount of engineering to make the fans quieter and provide good performance. In our charts, NF-A12x25 G2 is leading the chart with its exceptional sound levels. It’s even better than the first-generation fans. However, the difference is not very huge.
We have tested the NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP fans on the liquid cooler, accompanied by NF-A12x25 G2 PWM, as we have a 360mm liquid cooler. Even at the maximum speed of 1800 RPM, it’s on par with the other fans from the competitor, such as ID-Cooling, which spins faster and louder. G2 fans have attained a similar level of performance at lower noise and speed, which is phenomenal.
The single-fan Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM fan is $34.90, The dual-fan NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP set has an MSRP of $64.90, The ultra-quiet NF-A12x25 G2 LS-PWM variant is also priced at $34.90 which is very of-course premium but if you want the lower noise levels at the best cooling then definitely some people wouldn’t mind that.
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I’m Usman Sheikh, I started my tech journey in 2014 with the largest Pakistani gaming community forum as the senior administrator. I have always been deeply passionate about PCs, testing new gadgets and hardware, and learning new things every day. As a Senior Hardware Reviewer at Tech4Gamers, I bring over a decade of experience and spend my days stress-testing graphics cards, CPU coolers, motherboards, and more. I also love overclocking and I occasionally share tips and optimization guides for CPUs and graphics cards.
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