Akasa Apache OR Noctua NF-F12

GiraffePencils

GiraffePencils

GiraffePencils

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Hi,
I was looking at these two fans for use in my next system, but can't pick between them.

Apache seem almost the same spec, but cheaper.
But all the reviews I read say Noctua are better.
Anyone got personal experience who could help be choose?

Thanks
 
Neither
Enermax TB silence PWM :-)

Unless you really want one of these 2.
I have few akasa apache's and they are good fans.
Quiet and strong. I used them for watercooling before, now with Megahalems and they do the job.
But this time I decided to choose Enermax TB silence, as they are in same price range but with better stats and I heard good things about them.
 
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Bart_Hunt said:
Neither
Enermax TB silence PWM :-)

Unless you really want one of these 2.
I have few akasa apache's and they are good fans.
Quiet and strong. I used them for watercooling before, now with Megahalems and they do the job.
But this time I decided to choose Enermax TB silence, as they are in same price range but with better stats and I heard good things about them.
Click to expand...

The enermax seem to have quite low static pressure, Do they perform well or are they selected for looks more?
 
Well, seen a few people use them in watercooling setups to cool thick rads, so they can't be all that bad.
And the pressure you see there is max value and you will only get it by running fans on max speed. In which case, they won't be that quiet at all. I was looking at under 20 db fans with both good pressure and airflow and Enermax hit the spot there. Compare speed, airflow, pressure and noise on them.
But I also can't say anything wrong about apache's, they are very good fans as well.
I chose enermax's because I could paint the fans easily and they fit my rig better.
 
Are the noctuas pwm? The one I had wasn't,it was with a d14 cooler along with a bigger 140mm,I swapped em out for two akasa apaches and cooling is the same tbh and much quieter
 
Problem with the Apaches if you call it that - the airflow tends to diffuse relatively quickly and while at minimum speed they are far quieter than you will get out of pretty much anything else - the next step up will give you significantly better air flow/pressure for a little bit more noise. Once you hit about 900-1000rpm or so they sound fairly close to any other quiet fan at 900-1000rpm but below that they are much quieter than most.

I use a full set of Apaches in my 540 air as the airflow they provide is adequate and the noise levels are really low. (Aside from the pump - really must get around to binning the 1250).

EDIT: From my experience I prefer the apaches for case intakes/exhausts but I wouldn't use them for instance on a heatsink where the noctua and scythes, etc. seem to do better and generally being deeper into the case any extra noise is more buried away.
 
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Rroff said:
From my experience I prefer the apaches for case intakes/exhausts but I wouldn't use them for instance on a heatsink where the noctua and scythes, etc. seem to do better and generally being deeper into the case any extra noise is more buried away.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I was planning on putting whichever I choose on an XSPC AX Rad, you say they 'diffuse' quickly, so are they not the best when they creep down to a lower speed?
Or would they still be good at lower speeds?

If there's not much between them I'll probably go the cheaper route, it's not far off 2 apaches for the price of one Noctua, and I wouldn't have to paint the apache
 
Am running 3 x Apache to cool an xspc 360 rad - no problems as such.

I leave them running PWM (CPU fan header) - the speed fluctuates between approx. 700 and 1300 (latter under very heavy load i.e. IBT). Noise level is acceptable, just becoming a little loud for me when under load.

I do like the look of the Enermax and might try them in the future - problem is that you have to buy to try ! And I have not seen any review which replicates use of any fans on my system.

Noctua I believe are at silly prices - did try a couple when I was air cooling - went back to the Apache's.

Never tried but heavily recommended = Gentle Typhoons (Will one day have to give 'em a go )
 
AgedIdiot said:
Am running 3 x Apache to cool an xspc 360 rad - no problems as such.

I leave them running PWM (CPU fan header) - the speed fluctuates between approx. 700 and 1300 (latter under very heavy load i.e. IBT). Noise level is acceptable, just becoming a little loud for me when under load.

I do like the look of the Enermax and might try them in the future - problem is that you have to buy to try ! And I have not seen any review which replicates use of any fans on my system.

Noctua I believe are at silly prices - did try a couple when I was air cooling - went back to the Apache's.

Never tried but heavily recommended = Gentle Typhoons (Will one day have to give 'em a go )
Click to expand...

Well they don't make the Gentle Typhoons anymore :(
When I started my plans they were the fans chosen, I should have bought them a year ago :(
Now they're prices are through the roof and they're hens teeth to find
 
I have tried both the apaches and the f12. The noise difference isnt much but subjectively without any measurements to back me up the f12 is probably a bit noiser in use. My 2 favourite fans are the NF-P12 and gentle typhoon. The P12 doesn't perform quite as well but does a good job none the less.

If you get your post count up a bit then the typhoons appear on the Members Market from time to time.
 
+1 for the gentle typhoons. Again it's a shame they're no longer stocked. Users love them so much they don't like to part with them and tend to recycle rather than sell (I'm one of them). You may get lucky tho.
 
I am looking for 2 120mm fans for my av cupboard as it overheats.

I would like max airflow and no noise.

Am I right I don't need to worry about static pressure as no rad?

Any suggestions please?
 
If you are after airfow, try Alpenfohm Shamrock series, but can't really say there will be no niise at all. There always is some. But with 2 fans it probably won't be an issue.
 
thanks. what would be the best way to power them? I have mains obviously but no PC or permanently on USB.
going through a fan controller would be useful too to reduce speed. is there one with a temp sensor that will increase speed as needed?
 
GiraffePencils said:
Hmm, I was planning on putting whichever I choose on an XSPC AX Rad, you say they 'diffuse' quickly, so are they not the best when they creep down to a lower speed?
Or would they still be good at lower speeds?

If there's not much between them I'll probably go the cheaper route, it's not far off 2 apaches for the price of one Noctua, and I wouldn't have to paint the apache
Click to expand...

They aren't a bad choice but they seem to be tuned towards the lower end of the scale which is where they tend to stand out - once you start turning them up to give comparable performance through a rad they don't really stand out compared to any other quiet fan.
 
Bart_Hunt said:
If you are after airfow, try Alpenfohm Shamrock series, but can't really say there will be no niise at all. There always is some. But with 2 fans it probably won't be an issue.
Click to expand...
Had a few of the red clovers on my k2 heatsink up until recently, a very quiet fan though cooling wasnt as good as the faster wingboost models ive used.
 
Something Else said:
akasa piranhas are excellent pwm static pressure focused fans.

Used them on a megahlems and its a stunning fan, very quiet!
Click to expand...
Yep, got theese on my k2. 67c max in games compared to 77c max with the red clovers. Theyre loud though at full speed.
 
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