--- product_id: 48897421 title: "Noctua NF-S12A PWM, High-Performance Quiet Fan 120mm" brand: "noctua" price: "R1287" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Noctua" url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/48897421-noctua-nf-s12a-pwm-high-performance-quiet-fan-120mm store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # 1200 RPM max speed Ultra-quiet 17.8 dB(A) 4-pin PWM for smart speed control Noctua NF-S12A PWM, High-Performance Quiet Fan 120mm **Brand:** noctua **Price:** R1287 **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > πŸŒ€ Stay cool, stay ahead β€” silent power that works as hard as you do. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Noctua NF-S12A PWM, High-Performance Quiet Fan 120mm by noctua - **How much does it cost?** R1287 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/48897421-noctua-nf-s12a-pwm-high-performance-quiet-fan-120mm) ## Best For - noctua enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted noctua brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - β€’ **Smart Speed Control:** 4-pin PWM technology automatically adjusts fan speed from 300 to 1200 RPM for optimal airflow and energy efficiency. - β€’ **Whisper-Quiet Power:** Experience premium cooling with noise levels as low as 17.8 dB(A) β€” your workspace stays serene. - β€’ **Plug & Play Versatility:** Comes with extension and y-cables for easy dual-fan setups, making upgrades seamless and future-proof. - β€’ **Engineered for Longevity:** Built to last with over 150,000 hours MTTF, ensuring your system stays cool season after season. - β€’ **Vibration-Free Operation:** Includes anti-vibration mounts to keep your setup stable and noise-free, perfect for focused professionals. ## Overview The Noctua NF-S12A PWM is a premium 120mm PC cooling fan featuring advanced acoustic optimization and anti-stall knobs for superior quiet performance. It offers a broad 300-1200 RPM speed range controlled via 4-pin PWM for automatic, efficient airflow management. With ultra-low noise at 17.8 dB(A), anti-vibration mounts, and a robust lifespan exceeding 150,000 hours, it’s engineered for professionals demanding silent, reliable cooling in desktop and server environments. ## Description Premium 120mm fan with advanced acoustic optimization and anti-stall knobs for superior quiet cooling. Features 4-pin PWM control for automatic speed adjustment. Review: The king of quiet PC fans - no other device can match its low noise levels and decent airflow levels. Expensive though. - This is the king of quiet PC fans. I checked specs on a number of them, and none match this for both noise levels and airflow. It runs at a maximum of 1200 RPM, or can be limited to no more than 800 RPM using the provided low-noise adapter. Also provided is an extension cable, screws, and rubber mounting devices that can take the place of screws, providing a mounting system guaranteed not to have any vibration noise. All provided in a stylish book-like package, with a nicely laid out instruction manual. Performance is excellent. It's extremely quiet while still moving a good amount of air. It looks good too, if you're into that sort of thing. Makes a change from plain boring black or grey devices. Installation is easy enough using the screws provided. The rubber mounting devices are a bit trickier, especially if you're trying to install the fan in a cramped PC case and/or where you can't get full access. You need to pull them through the screw holes, and they are a tight fit, requiring them to be wiggled around to get them fully through the holes. This is OK if you can get full access to the holes, but can be very hard if you're trying to install it in a tight place. If you're trying to lower the noise of your PC fans, or any device that uses (or can use) a 12cm / 120mm fan, then I know of no fan better than this one. The only downside is the price. It's definitely priced for the enthusiast market, and is packaged as such: everything about it shouts quality, high-end product. That's fine, but I likely would have bought a couple more if I didn't have to keep paying for stuff I don't need. It's a shame that they don't offer a 'bare' version that doesn't include the accessory pack. While it's well put together, and will be appreciated in many installations, there are likely many users who, like me, only need the fan, and won't use the provided screws, rubber mounts, extension cable or low noise adapter (all of which can be bought separately if the buyer later changes their mind about needing them.) Noctua really should consider also making the fan available on its own so that users who don't need all the other stuff don't have to pay for accessories and packaging they really don't need. I suppose they prefer to be seen as a luxury brand, but that's definitely costing them a few extra sales, at least from me. Review: Worth the price - I bought one of these to test out as potential replacements for the Cooler Master fans already within my computer. I was so impressed that I immediately bought 2 more to replace the rest of the fans in my case. The overall result is significant. Before I got these my computer sounded like it was preparing to take off, now, with the Noctua fans installed, it sounds like a cool summer breeze!? Additionally, my computer runs just as cold as before! Within the box you get included the fan (obviously), 4 screws to attach it to the case, 4 rubber pegs to attach the fan to the case and reduce the sound caused by vibrations (used instead of the screws), an extension cable (so you can plug your fan in from a larger distance from the mother board), a splitter cable (so you can plug in 2 fans into one fan port) and a Low-noise-adaptor (a cable you plug the fan into which reduces the max speed of the fan, reducing the max noise produced at the cost of a lower air flow - a piece of kit I feel is not needed as the fans are near silent anyway). As this was the first time I have really gone into computer fan replacement, I made some notes on this fan I'd like to share. These a PWM fans, they adjust their speed based on the temperature of the computer (when plugged into a 4-pin connector on the mother board), you can also get an FLX varient (which runs at one, constant speed - which you can adjust via supplied cables), and a ULN varient (which runs at one, constant speed, slow and quiet speed - which you can also adjust via supplied cables). You may notice other varients of this fan called the NF-S12 and NF-S12B, from what I can tell, for whatever reason the NF-S12A is the newest meaning the order of release goes (from oldest to newest) S12, S12B, S12A. Finally, these fans are best suited to case cooling. Noctua have a handy page which tells you which of there fans are suited for what sorts of roles: http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=which_fan_is_right_for_me To sum up, these fans have significantly reduced the amount of noise produced by my computer, and best of all, my computer still runs cold! ## Features - Premium quiet fan, 120x120x25 mm, 12V, 4-pin PWM, max. 1200 RPM, max. 17.8 dB(A), >150,000 h MTTF - Award-winning third-gen 120x25mm S12 fan with Anti-Stall Knobs and Advanced Acoustic Optimisation frame for superior quiet cooling performance - Airflow-optimised design for highly efficient, near-silent ventilation of PC cases and other chassis (intake & exhaust), cabinet cooling, etc. - 4-pin PWM version for automatic speed control via 4-pin PWM fan headers, broad 300-1200rpm speed range (900rpm max. with supplied Low-Noise Adaptor) - Includes anti-vibration mounts, fan screws, Low-Noise Adaptor, extension cable and y-cable for running two PWM fans on the same header ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B00BEZZBFO | | Air Flow Capacity | 107.5 Cubic Metres Per Hour | | Best Sellers Rank | 34,831 in Business, Industry & Science ( See Top 100 in Business, Industry & Science ) 382 in Thermal Management Products 658 in Fans & Cooling | | Brand | Noctua | | Compatible Devices | Desktop, Server | | Compatible devices | Desktop, Server | | Cooling Method | forced air | | Cooling method | forced air | | Country Of Origin | China | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 3,127 Reviews | | Global Trade Identification Number | 04716123314929 | | Included Components | Please see product Description for what is included | | Item Dimensions L x W x H | 12L x 12W x 2.5H centimetres | | Item Highlight | High Airflow, Low Noise, 25mm Thick Fan, for PC and Electronics Cooling, Rich Accessory Kit, 1200rpm 3-Pin | | Item Weight | 181 g | | Manufacturer | Noctua | | Manufacturer Part Number | NF-S12A PWM | | Material | Fibre-glass reinforced PBT | | Max Rotational Speed | 1200 RPM | | Model Number | NF-S12A PWM | | Noise Level | 17.8 Decibels | | Number of Items | 1 | | Number of Packs | 1 | | Power Connector Type | 4-Pin | | Power connector type | 4-Pin | | Product Warranty | 6 year manufacturer’s warranty | | Product dimensions | 12L x 12W x 2.5H centimetres | | UPC | 808111663660 863121543098 731215276828 846764214297 807320183181 842431014252 809394261574 803982961709 | | Voltage | 12 Volts | ## Product Details - **Air flow capacity:** 107.5 Cubic Metres Per Hour - **Brand:** Noctua - **Compatible devices:** Desktop, Server - **Cooling method:** forced air - **Material:** Fibre-glass reinforced PBT - **Maximum rotational speed:** 1200 RPM - **Noise level:** 17.8 Decibels - **Power connector type:** 4-Pin - **Product dimensions:** 12L x 12W x 2.5H centimetres - **Voltage:** 12 Volts ## Images ![Noctua NF-S12A PWM, High-Performance Quiet Fan 120mm - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81ySZPL-MXL.jpg) ![Noctua NF-S12A PWM, High-Performance Quiet Fan 120mm - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81tnl-sqbHL.jpg) ![Noctua NF-S12A PWM, High-Performance Quiet Fan 120mm - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81g1F59jPHL.jpg) ![Noctua NF-S12A PWM, High-Performance Quiet Fan 120mm - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71xhITxV9mL.jpg) ![Noctua NF-S12A PWM, High-Performance Quiet Fan 120mm - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61-lOYuAhyL.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: Which 120mm Noctua fan is best for the rear vent of my case? (Air flow is normal front to rear).** A: Hi mate! I've got the noctua industrial PPC ones which is moving a lot of air when on full speed, but it is noisy indeed, but if you have a motherboard that has the 4pin fan connectors and you can set the speed then this fans are truly amazing! I've got all my fans from noctua and when I'm playing games I used them on 75% of their speed and you can bearly hear them. Otherwise you can get the supersilent ones but they don't move as much air as the industrial ones! Have fun! **Q: Can i use this on the same pwm circuit (using the extension and y cables) as the nf-a9 92mm fan (different rpm)?** A: Y cables typical only have the 4th pin on one connection, and thus the other doesn't report it's rpm to the motherboard or controller. The second fan just receives the same voltage as the first. It'll work at loosely the same percentage as the first fan, but that rpm will obviously differ. Put the more powerful fan on the fully enabled connector and the second fan will always be quieter. Other way round and it'll always be the faster one. **Q: Does it come with a filter?** A: No it does not, IV never come across a fan that does..... **Q: can you change the anti vibration mounts for the multi coloured ones?** A: Yes you can change them ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The king of quiet PC fans - no other device can match its low noise levels and decent airflow levels. Expensive though. *by M***T on 11 April 2018* This is the king of quiet PC fans. I checked specs on a number of them, and none match this for both noise levels and airflow. It runs at a maximum of 1200 RPM, or can be limited to no more than 800 RPM using the provided low-noise adapter. Also provided is an extension cable, screws, and rubber mounting devices that can take the place of screws, providing a mounting system guaranteed not to have any vibration noise. All provided in a stylish book-like package, with a nicely laid out instruction manual. Performance is excellent. It's extremely quiet while still moving a good amount of air. It looks good too, if you're into that sort of thing. Makes a change from plain boring black or grey devices. Installation is easy enough using the screws provided. The rubber mounting devices are a bit trickier, especially if you're trying to install the fan in a cramped PC case and/or where you can't get full access. You need to pull them through the screw holes, and they are a tight fit, requiring them to be wiggled around to get them fully through the holes. This is OK if you can get full access to the holes, but can be very hard if you're trying to install it in a tight place. If you're trying to lower the noise of your PC fans, or any device that uses (or can use) a 12cm / 120mm fan, then I know of no fan better than this one. The only downside is the price. It's definitely priced for the enthusiast market, and is packaged as such: everything about it shouts quality, high-end product. That's fine, but I likely would have bought a couple more if I didn't have to keep paying for stuff I don't need. It's a shame that they don't offer a 'bare' version that doesn't include the accessory pack. While it's well put together, and will be appreciated in many installations, there are likely many users who, like me, only need the fan, and won't use the provided screws, rubber mounts, extension cable or low noise adapter (all of which can be bought separately if the buyer later changes their mind about needing them.) Noctua really should consider also making the fan available on its own so that users who don't need all the other stuff don't have to pay for accessories and packaging they really don't need. I suppose they prefer to be seen as a luxury brand, but that's definitely costing them a few extra sales, at least from me. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Worth the price *by R***C on 3 October 2014* I bought one of these to test out as potential replacements for the Cooler Master fans already within my computer. I was so impressed that I immediately bought 2 more to replace the rest of the fans in my case. The overall result is significant. Before I got these my computer sounded like it was preparing to take off, now, with the Noctua fans installed, it sounds like a cool summer breeze!? Additionally, my computer runs just as cold as before! Within the box you get included the fan (obviously), 4 screws to attach it to the case, 4 rubber pegs to attach the fan to the case and reduce the sound caused by vibrations (used instead of the screws), an extension cable (so you can plug your fan in from a larger distance from the mother board), a splitter cable (so you can plug in 2 fans into one fan port) and a Low-noise-adaptor (a cable you plug the fan into which reduces the max speed of the fan, reducing the max noise produced at the cost of a lower air flow - a piece of kit I feel is not needed as the fans are near silent anyway). As this was the first time I have really gone into computer fan replacement, I made some notes on this fan I'd like to share. These a PWM fans, they adjust their speed based on the temperature of the computer (when plugged into a 4-pin connector on the mother board), you can also get an FLX varient (which runs at one, constant speed - which you can adjust via supplied cables), and a ULN varient (which runs at one, constant speed, slow and quiet speed - which you can also adjust via supplied cables). You may notice other varients of this fan called the NF-S12 and NF-S12B, from what I can tell, for whatever reason the NF-S12A is the newest meaning the order of release goes (from oldest to newest) S12, S12B, S12A. Finally, these fans are best suited to case cooling. Noctua have a handy page which tells you which of there fans are suited for what sorts of roles: http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=which_fan_is_right_for_me To sum up, these fans have significantly reduced the amount of noise produced by my computer, and best of all, my computer still runs cold! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Genuine retail package *by V***N on 25 April 2022* Contains all the bits and bobs you would expect. I particularly enjoy the short 15cm cable with 30cm extension for case fans allowing me to choose which fans go to which headers on the motherboard no problem. Very quiet fan. Great for low static pressure situations like case cooling, not suitable for radiators or heatsinks. You should get high static pressure fan for those situations. Make sure to have a look on Noctua's website before buying to make sure you get the right fan for your situation - they have a lot to choose from and all of them have very specific purposes. My motherboard has 12V 1A PWM fan headers and it can read and control the fan speeds, good for this fan (12V 0.05A) so make sure you buy the right fans for your motherboard or fan controller for the best result. Additionally, the included splitter cable allows me to connect both fans to a single fan header. Quote from Noctua website: "The NA-YC1 Y-Cables make it possible to run two 4-pin PWM fans on a single fan header and to let the mainboard control the speed of both fans simultaneously. Multiple NA-YC1 can be daisy-chained to control more than two PWM fans via one header." which is great since my headers provide 1A each. I got two of these to replace front fans in my case connected with a splitter and then one at the back with an extension because both of the case fan headers I'm using are at the front of the motherboard. I can control the front fans simultaneously and the rear fan separately for the best balance of noise and airflow, but it's generally so quiet anyway that the only real benefit of running these fans slower is that my dust filter will require less cleaning. Regarding price and value for money, the price is comparable to any decent RGB PWM fan, but with this fan we trade the RGB nonsense for a 6 year warranty, excellent build quality and probably the least noise of any 120mm fan you can buy. ## Frequently Bought Together - Noctua NF-S12A PWM, Premium Quiet Fan, 4-Pin (120mm, Brown) - Noctua NF-A14 PWM, Premium Quiet Fan, 4-Pin (140mm, Brown) - Noctua NF-F12 PWM, Premium Quiet Fan, 4-Pin (120mm, Brown) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/48897421-noctua-nf-s12a-pwm-high-performance-quiet-fan-120mm](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/48897421-noctua-nf-s12a-pwm-high-performance-quiet-fan-120mm) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-09-30*