As any computer enthusiast will know, keeping a cooled computer is essential. Cooled components will see an increased product life, improve performance, and provide better stability.
Whether you use a prebuilt computer, from companies like Dell or HP, or a custom built computer, they all need adequate cooling. Computer cooling is performed by the CPU cooler and most importantly the case fans.
Many computer cases already come with preinstalled fans, however, their quality and performance can be questionable. Plus, many computer cases can hold more fans than those which are supplied.
So where do you find quality fans with outstanding performance? Well you look at a company that specializes in computer fans. For years Noctua has been the standard for many other computer fan manufacturers.
With new Noctua fans hitting the market, their newest IndustrialPPC and Redux series are some of the best I have encountered. Each series is unique and offers different features. Throughout this dual review I will be covering the following topics: the design, performance, features, and my final thoughts. I would like to thank Noctua for providing me with both fan series for this review.
The Design
For as long as I can remember, Noctua has stuck with their same design for all of their computer fans. With their tan and brown colored accents, the colors at times made users question whether or not they actually needed them. It is true that their performance is like no other, but for users who stick to certain color schemes the strange colors may have caused them to avoid the fans.
The new IndustrialPPC and Redux series change the color and design completely. Beginning with the IndustrialPPC series, users will notice the new colors of brown rubber bumpers and a black fan/body.
The IndustrialPPC series have rubber silencers around the four corners that reduce vibration while the fan is in use. The fans themselves are built out of a strong fiber-glass reinforced polyamide. This allows the fans to be extremely sturdy as well as withstand temperature up to 140C! Users will also find that the fan’s wiring is fully covered to the fan header with a black sleeve, so don’t worry about ugly colored cables.
Next, we take a look at the Redux series. With their all silver color scheme, Noctua stuck with a simple design for these fans. Being the lesser model of the two series, on the Redux model you will not find any rubber corners, but you will find a full sleeved cable. Users will also notice that the Redux series provides two extra fan blades. Look above and you will notice that the IndustrialPPC has seven fan blades while the Redux offers nine. The Redux model also comes is many different sizes and even has a circle shaped design for certain users.
Once installed inside a case, whether it is a windowed case or all enclosed, both the IndustrialPPC and Redux fans look premium and stylish. I much prefer the black and brown style of the IndustrialPPC over the previous tan and brown. While the Redux color scheme is simple and fits well with any build.
Finally, one of my favorite design aspects about both series, is not the colors or the way they look. It’s the fact that Noctua offers them in many different sizes. Anything from 80mm to 140mm, users should have no problem finding high quality fans from Noctua.
Performance
As I said above, Noctua fans have been the standard for the remaining computer case fan manufacturers. However, they did not achieve that in one day. Over years, and years of design, testing, and manufacturing they have made an outstanding name for themselves.
Just recently I had the opportunity to review the Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler. The IndustrialPPC and Redux series fan are similar in that Noctua ensured that they too provide an excellent service. As I quickly found out, the cooler offered, and provides, a high quality, premium service to my PC.
Starting off with the IndustrialPPC series, users will find that, with these fans installed, the amount of air moved by the fan itself is surprising. Being designed for 24/7 operation, never before had I seen a fan that offered such airflow. The IndustrialPPC series spins up to 2000 RPM, which is much higher than other fan models on the market. However, this does come with a disadvantage. Even though they move a massive amount of air, they also produce a lot of noise. In my main custom built PC, the noise became so loud that I actually had to swap to the Redux series. I decided to place the IndustrialPPC in my secondary machine where noise was not an issue. With the fans producing a noise of around 30 dB/A, it’s up to you if you can deal with the extra noise, but at least you will get adequate cooling inside your case.
Next, we have the Redux models. Unlike the IndustrialPPC series, the Redux only create 18 dB/A which is significantly quieter and are more preferable in a machine that is for quiet operation even though they lack the rubber bumpers. They still produce a large air flow by spinning at nearly half of the IndustrialPPC series. At 1200 RPM, the Redux kept the inside of the case cooler than my stock NZXT fans. I also used an 80mm Redux fan on an Intel P4 CPU cooler. By doing so I noticed that the CPU temperatures never rose above 40C.
In the end, I must say that these are the best performing fans I have ever used. Their operation is flawless and both series provide a great service. No matter what size you end up using, the fans will perform at their best performance for years to come. By years to come, I mean it, since Noctua offers a six year warranty on both series.
The Features
The review doesn’t end yet! In fact there’s still more to discuss about both series. For case fans, they actually come with lots of features.
The IndustrialPPC series are an award-winning NF-F12 design which has won over 150 awards. While the Redux model is an award-winning NF-S12B design. This just shows that Noctua has taken what has performed well in the past and added it into the new design.
Looking at the IndustrialPPC models, the fans are built using a three-phase motor that allows for smoother transitions between six slots and gives the fan a higher energy efficiency. The IndustrialPPC series are among the market leaders when it comes to efficiency. They have a 10% reduction in power consumption when compared to other 2000 RPM models. Noctua’s Focused Flow frame is designed for pressure demanding applications such as heatsinks and radiators. The IndustrialPPC’s do not have to simply be case fans, they can also act as CPU and radiator coolers. The air is optimized to channel the air in one direction thanks to the Focused Flow. Finally, there is one of my favorite features and it is the fact that the fans are IP52 certified. Thanks to Noctua’s varnish coating, the IndustrialPPC series are water and dust protected. Not that your computer is going to be operating under water, obviously but their protection is like no other.
Now we take a look at the Redux features. As I mentioned before, the Redux model is a lesser model compared to the IndustrialPPC. Not that it makes the Redux series any worse performance-wise, it just means that the Redux model is more economically friendly. The fan blades have a beveled edge that allows the fan to move air in a more efficient way. Likewise, the design of the Redux model is such that it offers high airflow at a low noise. Finally, they also have a SSO-Bearing meaning they support self-stabilization of the rotor axis. This gives the fan extreme long-term stability.
As I spoke about many of the popular features for both the IndustrialPPC and Redux series, there are some I did not cover. To see a full list for either the IndustrialPPC series, or Redux series click here or here.
My Final Thoughts
In the end, I am extremely happy with what Noctua has to offer. The IndustrialPPC and Redux series provide an excellent service, so much so I have now used Noctua case fans in all my PCs. The fans do come at a cost of around $29.99 for a 120mm IndustrialPPC model while the Redux 120mm is around $16.99.
As the IndustrialPPC series designed to operate in a 24/7 environment or server, the Redux series offers a more quiet environment that the general user will enjoy. If you can fit the cost into your budget, then I would say that you won’t find a better fan series than the IndustrialPPC and Redux series.
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