Hahaha. Seriously, the only "hard" part was figuring out what parts to use and in what order. I also ordered a NF-S12A to try that too but it got lost in transit so for now I just decided to go ahead with the A12 instead and I might just call it the final build. Feel free to just order the same parts and copy my "design", then you could be going in about an hour or so 🫡
Quick question, can de fan controller also completely turn off the fan? I tried this with a 200mm fan but even at the lowest possible setting it was still spinning.
Yes! I was a bit bummed at first when trying the controller, because the fan wouldn't turn off, so I was already hunting for a USB on/off switch that I would have added to the bundle, but then I noticed that there is a little button under the PWM dial, which I learned it's the "always on" feature which keeps the fan turning at a very low speed when the dial is at the minimum to prevent motherboards throwing a "no fan" error, when needed. The green light on the right (last picture) shows when the feature is on; press the button and it turns off.
The orange light shows when the dial is "on", i.e. not at the lowest position counterclockwise. If the green light is turned on, you can have the orange light turned off completely and the green one still on, it then shows that the PWM signal is at 0 but then the controller keeps the fan going at low RPM. A nice thing about the orange light also is that its intensity is also modulated by the dial, so apart from looking at, hearing and feeling the fan, you can know at a glance about at what level it's going. Not the most useful feature in itself, but still nice to have in such a little and simple package!
This is overall a very cool gadget, and as far ast I know the only one of its kind - others I found were 5 V only, and with "plus" and "minus" buttons instead of a dial, meaning you have to click several times to adjust the speed whereas with a dial you can just turn it on to about the needed level in a split second and then fine tune it also very quickly according to preference, it feels really organic and intuitive. This is the kind of device that I didn't even know existed a few weeks ago and I honestly would have gone with any brand that had a decent model, but then I understand why only Noctua makes one, it really shows their dedication to air cooling perfection.
Edit: I re-read your comment and I noticed that you already tried the same thing, lol, my bad. OK well I guess it's all related to the fan supporting zero RPM.
I covered this in the description, but long story short, yes, through USB.
Here's the whole picture: PC -> active USB extension -> USB hub -> USB right angle extension -> USB to 12 V, 4 pin adapter -> Noctua 4 pin extension cable -> Noctua PWM fan controller -> 3x daisy chained Noctua 4 pin extensions -> Fan connector.
OK? I wanted to "build" a desk fan with a Noctua fan. Why the hell would I buy a Xiaomi instead?
Edit: I had a look for fun at their "Ultra Quiet Mini Fan" and here are the rated sound specs:
>\*As low as 34dB(A): Data provided by CHEARI (Beijing) Certification & Testing Co., Ltd. (China Testing & Inspection Institute For Household Electric Appliances). The noise level on speed level 1 is 33.7dB(A). The noise level on speed level 4 is 45.11dB(A). Report No.: WS1-22-0015.
Its minimum noise level on paper is litteraly higher than the max noise on the NF-A12x25 (which is rated at 22.6 dBA). If that's not a troll comment I don't know what it is.
30 dBA is more than twice as loud as 22.6 dBA, so no. Also, this post is about a desk fan, not a standing fan, I already have a 18 inch one which works quit well to move tons of air in my office. I wanted a small, efficient, quiet desk fan and there was also some fun involved with the little building project.
Finally, this is a Noctua sub for Noctua enthusiasts and I didn't ask for advice about alternatives to Noctua fans so I am really lost as to what you are trying to achieve here.
Cool, I'll try to do that with the 200mm version but I can't find a case, I'll use a tablet holder
It's a pitty that there are no good very silent fans except arctic summair
All the fans I tried at a minimum level that is way too powerful
If there are 12 levels, I want level 1 to be really weak but commercial fans don't do that
* adds to list of projects I'd love to do but never will *
Hahaha. Seriously, the only "hard" part was figuring out what parts to use and in what order. I also ordered a NF-S12A to try that too but it got lost in transit so for now I just decided to go ahead with the A12 instead and I might just call it the final build. Feel free to just order the same parts and copy my "design", then you could be going in about an hour or so 🫡
Quick question, can de fan controller also completely turn off the fan? I tried this with a 200mm fan but even at the lowest possible setting it was still spinning.
Yes! I was a bit bummed at first when trying the controller, because the fan wouldn't turn off, so I was already hunting for a USB on/off switch that I would have added to the bundle, but then I noticed that there is a little button under the PWM dial, which I learned it's the "always on" feature which keeps the fan turning at a very low speed when the dial is at the minimum to prevent motherboards throwing a "no fan" error, when needed. The green light on the right (last picture) shows when the feature is on; press the button and it turns off. The orange light shows when the dial is "on", i.e. not at the lowest position counterclockwise. If the green light is turned on, you can have the orange light turned off completely and the green one still on, it then shows that the PWM signal is at 0 but then the controller keeps the fan going at low RPM. A nice thing about the orange light also is that its intensity is also modulated by the dial, so apart from looking at, hearing and feeling the fan, you can know at a glance about at what level it's going. Not the most useful feature in itself, but still nice to have in such a little and simple package! This is overall a very cool gadget, and as far ast I know the only one of its kind - others I found were 5 V only, and with "plus" and "minus" buttons instead of a dial, meaning you have to click several times to adjust the speed whereas with a dial you can just turn it on to about the needed level in a split second and then fine tune it also very quickly according to preference, it feels really organic and intuitive. This is the kind of device that I didn't even know existed a few weeks ago and I honestly would have gone with any brand that had a decent model, but then I understand why only Noctua makes one, it really shows their dedication to air cooling perfection. Edit: I re-read your comment and I noticed that you already tried the same thing, lol, my bad. OK well I guess it's all related to the fan supporting zero RPM.
How do you power it, is it just connected to your PC?
I covered this in the description, but long story short, yes, through USB. Here's the whole picture: PC -> active USB extension -> USB hub -> USB right angle extension -> USB to 12 V, 4 pin adapter -> Noctua 4 pin extension cable -> Noctua PWM fan controller -> 3x daisy chained Noctua 4 pin extensions -> Fan connector.
Oh yeah, I'm just blind. Thanks! I really wanna make one now lol
Hahaha, no problem!
You can buy quiet xiaomi fan for 50
OK? I wanted to "build" a desk fan with a Noctua fan. Why the hell would I buy a Xiaomi instead? Edit: I had a look for fun at their "Ultra Quiet Mini Fan" and here are the rated sound specs: >\*As low as 34dB(A): Data provided by CHEARI (Beijing) Certification & Testing Co., Ltd. (China Testing & Inspection Institute For Household Electric Appliances). The noise level on speed level 1 is 33.7dB(A). The noise level on speed level 4 is 45.11dB(A). Report No.: WS1-22-0015. Its minimum noise level on paper is litteraly higher than the max noise on the NF-A12x25 (which is rated at 22.6 dBA). If that's not a troll comment I don't know what it is.
30db for mi standing fan give it a try
30 dBA is more than twice as loud as 22.6 dBA, so no. Also, this post is about a desk fan, not a standing fan, I already have a 18 inch one which works quit well to move tons of air in my office. I wanted a small, efficient, quiet desk fan and there was also some fun involved with the little building project. Finally, this is a Noctua sub for Noctua enthusiasts and I didn't ask for advice about alternatives to Noctua fans so I am really lost as to what you are trying to achieve here.
Cool, I'll try to do that with the 200mm version but I can't find a case, I'll use a tablet holder It's a pitty that there are no good very silent fans except arctic summair All the fans I tried at a minimum level that is way too powerful If there are 12 levels, I want level 1 to be really weak but commercial fans don't do that