Noctua aficionados are some of the most dedicated enthusiasts in PC building. Their custom builds often have Noctua fans on every open case mount and a distinctive Noctua cooler atop the CPU. The most die-hard of the bunch even mod their graphics cards to use this distinctive cream-and-brown hardware as replacements for their stock GPU fans. If there’s a place to put a fan in a system, you can bet that the Noctua faithful have found a way to make it happen.
It’s easy to understand the love, and it’s not just about looks. Noctua fans have smooth noise signatures, optimized airflow characteristics, and high reliability, making for cool, quiet PCs that are easy on the ear yet deliver high sustained performance over time. Our flagship ROG Ryujin series of CPU liquid coolers have used Noctua iPPC fans from the beginning for the same reasons.
Inspired by the spirit of Noctua enthusiasts and modders, we recently took this long partnership a step further by collaborating on a graphics card that’s tailor-made to take advantage of the unique strengths of Noctua fans.
ASUS and Noctua technologies come together in one superlative graphics card
The ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 Noctua Edition incorporates a pair of state-of-the-art NF-A12x25 fans to move air over a massive 2.3-slot heatsink developed in partnership between our own veteran thermal R&D team and engineers at Noctua. These engineers worked together to tune fin density and heat pipe arrangement of the heatsink, optimizing it for the airflow characteristics of the NF-A12x25. To prioritize low noise levels, a smooth acoustic signature, and high cooling performance while making room for this pair of 120mm fans, we expanded this card’s total volume to occupy 4.3 slots of space.
This cooperative development process resulted in some of the best thermal performance per decibel of noise emitted of any graphics card on the market. In comparison to our already excellent TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 OC Edition, the Noctua Edition produces a 10 dB lower sound pressure level when we control for the same power limit, ambient temperature, and thermal junction temperature. Users who are concerned first and foremost about the noise levels and noise characteristics of their system should take notice.
We know that Noctua enthusiasts care as much about the aesthetics of their builds as they do about high performance and low noise levels. We created a custom brown shroud for the duo of NF-A12x25 fans that complements their distinctive color scheme and provides a secure mounting system—no zip ties needed. ASUS and Noctua logos on the front and sides of the shroud, along with subtle graphics on the full-length alloy backplate, help this card coordinate perfectly with other Noctua components in a system.
Beyond its bespoke heatsink and state-of-the-art fans, we outfitted the GeForce RTX 3070 Noctua Edition with all of the signature features that ASUS graphics cards are known for. A dual-mode BIOS switch comes preset to Quiet mode for the optimal balance of noise and performance. A 0dB idle mode keeps noise levels to a minimum under light graphics loads. Our Auto-Extreme assembly technology assures precise placement and clean soldering of onboard components. A vented backplate design gives heated air a shortcut into a case’s natural airflow path. And our 144-hour validation process ensures that this card is ready to perform for the long run right out of the box.
Advanced Noctua technology makes the NF-A12x25 fan the ideal choice
The NF-A12x25 was an easy choice for this project because of the numerous innovations packed into its 120mm frame. An impeller made from Noctua’s proprietary Sterrox® liquid-crystal polymer has an exceptionally low thermal expansion coefficient, allowing the fan blades to sit just 0.5mm away from the outer frame. This extremely tight tolerance allows the NF-A12x25 to work more efficiently against back pressure by reducing the leakage of airflow between the blade tips and the outer frame. A metal-reinforced motor hub and axis further support this extremely precise gap between impeller and frame.
The NF-A12x25 fan. Image courtesy Noctua
A custom PWM IC with Smooth Commutation Drive technology reduces fan noise levels at lower speeds. An acoustic profile specifically tuned for a smooth and pleasant character, even against back pressure, is ideal for a GPU heatsink application. Flow Acceleration Channels at the tip of each impeller blade both improve efficiency and lower vortex noise. Inner Surface Microstructures on the fan frame reduce the noise from passing fan blades. Anti-vibration pads made from soft silicone prevent the transmission of sympathetic vibrations to the graphics card and on through the case. These advanced features have led to hundreds of media awards and a reputation as the best 120mm fan on the market.
Look for the ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 Noctua Edition worldwide starting in October 2021. For more information on pricing and availability in your region, please contact your local ASUS representative.