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Arctic P12 PWM PST vs Noctua NF-S12A PWM: Comparison

Arctic P12 PWM PST and Noctua NF-S12A PWM differ on bearing type: Arctic P12 PWM PST at Fluid Dynamic, Noctua NF-S12A PWM at SSO.

Specs

Specification
Arctic P12 PWM PST (120mm/56.3 CFM/2.2 mmH2O Static Pressure/22.5 dBA Max/Fluid Dynamic Bearing/No RGB/PWM PST Daisy-Chain/6-Year Warranty/~$7-8 per Fan in 5-Pack)
Arctic P12 PWM PST
Noctua NF-S12A PWM (120mm/44.9 CFM/1.06 mmH2O Static Pressure/1200 RPM Max/17.8 dBA/SSO Bearing/No RGB/PWM)
Noctua NF-S12A PWM
Fan Size120 mm120
BrandArcticNoctua
ModelP12 PWM PSTNF-S12A PWM
Bearing TypeFluid DynamicSSO
LightingNoneNo RGB
Static Pressure2.2 mmH2O1.06-52%
Max Speed1800 RPM1200-33%
Airflow56.3 CFM44.9-20%
PWM ControlYestrue

Price comparison

RetailerArctic P12 PWM PSTNoctua NF-S12A PWM
AmazonView on Amazon
NeweggView on Newegg

Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

Verdict

Arctic P12 PWM PST

9 / 10 Expert Rating

The smartest cheapest meaningful upgrade available — roughly 80% of premium performance at under one-third of the price, with matching warranty.

Noctua NF-S12A PWM

8 / 10 Expert Rating

An excellent quiet airflow fan for open cases, but expensive per-fan for how little static pressure it offers.

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